1. PUBLIC USE-Restriction PLAN: The fee schedule defined in the plan included:
* $4 per person, per day; * Texas Conservation Passport accepted for the holder only; (keep this in mind when reading the next section)
* Children 12 and under admitted free when accompanied by an adult;
* Parklands Passport accepted as a senior discount pass;
2. ASSESSMENT: The park fee schedule has worked well and is known and accepted by park visitors.
3. RECOMMENDATION: No change.1. PUBLIC USE-Restriction PLAN: The provisions of the Public Use Restriction Plan removed the park from the Central Reservation System at Parks and Wildlife Department Headquarters in Austin, with all reservations made directly through Hueco Tanks State Historical Park Headquarters Office. Reservations are made for tours, the fifty North Mountain access slots, picnic sites, and camping, and can be made up to six months in advance. While not mandatory, reservations are recommended to guarantee access.
2. ASSESSMENT: Staff reports widespread abuse (it's not abuse to just try to get in - nearly impossible with the absurdly small numbers that are allowed) of the reservation system, particularly for North Mountain access slots. No limits were placed on the number of reservations an individual could make for any one date. Examples of the non-abuse has included visitors unsure of the number in their party making multiple reservations for numerous weekends, up to six months in advance, effectively tying up most available North Mountain slots for extended periods. Once the date arrives, the visitor(s) with multiple reservations commonly cancels half or more of the slots reserved. Although slots are freed up, it is generally too late for interested parties to take advantage of the available reservations/slots. Administratively, accepting reservations 7 days per week has proven difficult for staff to cover, particularly on busy weekends.
3. RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends that a $4 per person activity fee be charged as a non-refundable fee due at the time a reservation is made, and be assessed for each separate reservation made. The above fee will be applied to the activity fee assessed per visitor per day. Central Reservation Center policies regarding reservations and cancellations should be implemented as feasible. Reservations will be accepted Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (So, here is what happens now. People who can afford it, still make reservations for more people than they expect to bring, and then cancel at the last minute - yes, they give up the $4.00/person, but that is chump change for sponsored climbers or globe-trotting boulder-tourists. So. locals are still locked out - what local can plan six months in advance, the way a vacationing climber can? The root cause of the problem is the draconian and ridiculously low limits for users. Increase it from 70/day to 200/day on north mountain and the problem will disappear, and the park will still seem empty.)
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