Easier Reservations

Sun., Dec. 22, 1996

Associated Press

Camping

Campers will once again be allowed to reserve their favorite spots at state parks in Oregon and Washington.

In January, the computerized phone reservation system that replaced a mail-in system created a lot of unhappiness with busy phone lines and new rules that eliminated specific campsite reservations.

Parks officials promise a smoother 1997. Among the changes:

Campers can select their spot when making reservations, making it easier for families and friends who need more than one spot to camp close together.

Campers will be able to cancel a reservation as late as 2:30 p.m. on the date of arrival and still get a refund of the initial night’s deposit.

Campers who pay their fees in full when making a reservation will be allowed to bypass lines at the campground and reservation booth.

Campers can expect a reduced likelihood of getting a busy signal when they call the reservations line because more operators will be on duty.

The changes follow a telephone survey of about 400 reservation customers and meetings with Oregon and Washington parks workers.

The reservation number is (800) 452-5687.

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