COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — State parks, enjoying bumper business because of soaring gas prices, saw an erosion of campers last month because of constant rain.
Rentals for campsites, which run an average of $25 a night, were up 8 percent through May over the previous year. But in June, rented campsites dropped 13 percent compared to the same month a year ago.
With the price of gasoline running $3 to $4 a gallon, park officials said more Ohioans were vacationing in-state this year.
But when the rain fell steadily last month, the number of campers also fell. Campers rented 96,265 sites in June 2007. This year’s number was down to 84,112. The fall-off meant a $300,000 drop in parks revenue.
“It certainly would have been a major hit for us if we weren’t up already through May,” said John Hunter, assistant park system chief.
Overall, campsite rentals have still risen this year, and Hunter believes the numbers for the rest of the summer and fall might rebound if the rain abates.
In June, rounds of golf at state park courses and boat rentals at park marinas also were down, while cabin and cottage rentals rose a bit from last year. That indicates the decline in campsite rentals might be weather-related, Hunter said.
“We probably have a better chance of getting cooperation from the weather than seeing gas prices fall,” he said.
Guests who had reserved campsites in advance showed up despite the rain, Hunter said. Reservations for the rest of the year continue to be strong.
“It was the walk-up business that was really hurt,” Hunter said. “Those folks can easily say, ’It’s a rainy weekend, I’m not going camping.”’
Dick Eiden, who is camping with his wife at East Harbor State Park near Sandusky on Lake Erie, said he is certain that the rain has taken a toll.
Eiden is a volunteer who helps around the East Harbor campgrounds, the largest in the state, in return for a free campsite.
Camping was down at the park last month, Eiden said.
“I don’t think it’s having too much of an effect on (RV) camper camping, but in the area with the tents, that seems to be way down,” he said. “I think we can attribute a lot of it to the weather. We are getting all kinds of rain up here.”
Eiden’s 28-foot RV can be a little too snug when the weather turns rainy.
“I have two of my grandkids here this week, and trying to entertain a 2-year-old and a 5-year-old inside a camper for 24 hours at a time is tough.”
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