Park Passes - Wild Texas Forums: Parks, Travel & Recreation

basscaster · 02-03-2009, 10:59 PM

I haven't done much searching, but I was wondering if there was some type of state of Texas park pass? I head out to the power plant lake near Fayetteville from time to time, and it seems ridiculously expensive just to go in and hang out for a few hours.

Entry Fee To Park Per Day:
$4.00 Per Adult (14 or older)
$3.00 Per Senior (65 or older)

rockhill · 02-04-2009, 07:57 AM

Annual pass available at all state parks, valid at all parks. $60. Would soon pay for itself

basscaster · 02-04-2009, 08:07 AM

Quote:

Annual pass available at all state parks, valid at all parks. $60. Would soon pay for itself

Yep, that's my take on it anyway. Otherwise, I think it's more appropriate to charge different fees for people that camp and possibly for launching a boat. $4 a person to go to a picnic is a little steep.

rockhill · 02-04-2009, 12:07 PM

I do understand your point however once past the gate you could use most of the facilities. Now to be clear, campers pay the daily fee plus cost of camp site so they pay more. A four dollar per day charge, with freedom to launch boat, use picnic facilities, use restroom/showers, everything except a campsite is really probably not even covering the operating cost.

I for one think it is a good bargain, others may not and that is fine. My biggest complaint is with the legislature not fully funding the park system as directed by us, the voting public. If all of the funds 'earmarked' for the parks system were indeed passed along to them, perhaps the daily fee could be reduced.

If you go very often the annual pass is a good bargain.

campermom · 02-04-2009, 03:51 PM

Once you decide to get one, you make more of an effort to go get your money's worth out of it. I did that once with a gym membership thinking I'd stick to it...............well, I can say I've got my money's worth from the Texas Parks Pass!

srds · 02-04-2009, 04:44 PM

Park Passes are a good deal and don't forget to use your coupons are pass them on for someone else.

srds

have fun

Motorman355 · 02-05-2009, 11:59 AM

What coupons? I bought my new pass on January 10th. Have not received the permanent cards nor coupons. Personally, I think that buyers standing at the counter of a state park with a suv loaded with camping equipment should be able to use the discount at that time. I always get the two card pass and rarely get my money worth back.

rockhill · 02-05-2009, 02:35 PM

When you get your card there will be coupons with it. These coupons provide for free nights of camping.

Paying for two vehicle pass does make the payback problematic unless you are using two vehicles per trip. I used to have two vehicles, one pulling camper, another pulling boat so it was helpful then.

If you only go a couple times per year then the math does not work. In addition some parks have a higher daily use fee. As Campermom has suggested, having the pass tend to make one go more often thus increasing the likelyhood of positive payback. As always, one persons results may not be the same as others.

Shannon · 02-05-2009, 06:03 PM

We've been passholders for a decade or more now, back when they *first* gave you a nice laminated pass (like a credit card) but with no vehicle-tagging required. Some years we camped more than enough to make up for our dual passes (one for each car), some years like the past 2 we haven't been as fortunate about getting out and enjoying our parklands. Either way, we look on the passes as money well spent to support our parklands.

More info on the Texas State Parks Pass -> TPWD: Texas State Parks Pass

I also have the TPWD "Keep Texas Wild" horned lizard plates on our Ford Escape Hybrid. The plates cost a little more to renew annually but that money goes to fund TPWD's wildlife conservation efforts (and, of course, a small portion goes to administration fees of the program.)

More info on the TPWD-related Texas license plates -> Conservation License Plate
You can even see what particular projects your particular plate is helping to fund (nice new feature of their redesigned website; that wasn't there when I ordered our plates! -> Funded Projects: Conservation License Plate)

happybooker1 · 02-06-2009, 08:49 AM

My son & I always spend 6-7 days @ Garner in the summer. That would be a daily use fee of $6 for both of us in addition to the camping fee. Right there is $36-$42!

natureboyhays · 02-07-2009, 01:41 AM

Howdy all....I take a lot of day trips to parks, so for me the park pass is worthwhile. And, as has been noted on here, the park system is always hurting for funds, so I like to help out.

But the main reason I wanted to chime in is to respond to the original poster, to point out that the parks on the Fayette power plant lake are not part of the state park system; they are LCRA parks. So if that is where you go most often, the state park pass won't help you there. You might check LCRA's web site & see if they have an annual pass too; they might, but I'm not sure. The state park pass would be good for some other parks (state parks) not too far from there, such as Bastrop, Buescher, Nails Creek & Birch Creek (Lake Somerville), Palmetto, and Stephen F. Austin.

I have never been to the Fayette parks, but want to check them out soon. I go to parks mainly for hiking & wildlife observation/photography. I understand that there is a 3 mile trail connecting the 2 Fayette parks; I'm hoping to check that out before too long. LCRA usually does a great job with their parks.

Shannon · 02-08-2009, 05:18 PM

Latest update from TPWD:

Quote:

Notice to those who purchased a Texas State Parks Pass after January 29, 2009:

Because of unforeseen processing delays, all Texas State Park Annual Passes that were purchased on, or after, January 30th, 2009, will not be fulfilled until March 31st. This means that all fulfillment package contents including the permanent Pass card, fulfillment letter, and camping coupons may be delayed, and patrons will not receive these items until after March 31st. During the interim, only temporary state parks passes will be issued at the time of sale. These temporary passes will be valid until your permanent pass cards are delivered to you. Passholders should not discard their temporary state parks passes until they receive their new permanent pass cards in the mail. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
For customer concerns related to this delay please e-mail 2009parkpass@tpwd.state.tx.us.

MonkeyMamma · 02-11-2009, 05:03 PM

I'm so excited I just ordered my very first ever park pass yesterday!

The first overnight trip we have planned is for Village Creek Mother's Day weekend but I think we may take a couple of day trips to Battleship Texas and Brazos Bend within the next month or so.

Then in July we head to South Llano, Davis Mountains and Garner. In September we plan to go to Palo Duro and Caprock Canyon.

I'm trying to fit in a 4th of July trip too either at Pedernales Falls or Tyler.

rockhill · 02-11-2009, 05:38 PM

Sounds like a fun filled summer. Good to get out and enjoy our state parks. From your list you will see a variety of parks and attractions.

Repmac1 · 03-10-2009, 05:34 PM

Just visited the Battleship Texas March 8 and found that all 8 in my visiting party got in for free because I showed my Texas State Park Pass !!!!! Talk about a quick payoff, but I do feel a bit wierd geting in for 'free' when I know that the ship needs lots of $ to keep it open for us all to climb around on.

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