Camping only for the rich, now.

[SpudBob]

That's the reason why states like Idaho or Wyoming are so popular for folks that don't like the way things have become due to population increases.

Don't start sending the IDIOTS our way. I think Oregon, Washington and Cali are just fine for them. I dount mean all of you people! I mean the IDIOTS!!!

 

[raylo]

I have a little timber acreage in Benewah County but am currently living in Columbia County, OR. I remember in the 1990's when the free US forestry circus campsites in ID started charging fees for sites that were used by locals for a few generations. Especially up in the Priest Lakes area the locals retaliated and destroyed most of the signs and refused to pay but eventually it took hold. Now the fees are enforced. Most of the wilderness areas also now charge for 'access permits'. Of course we already paid taxes for free use of that land. Schmitt happens...especially when we are complacent.
The property I live on here borders 100+ square miles of Weyerhauser timber holdings which was purchased a few years ago from Longview Timber. Longview allowed us to access the land although permission was required by all and some people were banned with enforcement. Weyerhauser wants $700 to gain access last time I heard. We don't report or police for Weyerhauser and deny them access through our gates to this corner of their property. We did allow access for Longview. Longview liked us and we liked them.
There are more issues of riff raff and squatters these days usually with meth labs and I know that I can't leave anything on my land in ID without it being vandalized or I'd have a small cabin there. I want to build a small steel container cabin with steel shutters and locks but today they have portable cordless grinders (which were likely stolen). All I can do is wait for more inhabitants and have a good neighborhood watch before I can put a home there and I've dealt with this since I bought the place in '93.
There is a big push in my county for local control of public lands. But we have zero federal land in the county. I hope to see the big push in counties that do have federal land.

 

[stickman]

We have a log cabin out in the middle of nowhere Washington which is surrounded by private timber company land. We pay a fee to use their roads every year. In the past, the place was overrun with drunken locals who started campfires during the no-fire season and left trash and empties all over. The yahoos used to sneak in and break into the cabins. We lost a bunch of power equipment and some folks had boats stolen. When the timber company instituted recreation fees everything changed for the better. It is a quiet place now and so much cleaner.

 

[GKPrice]

That's funny. Have you ever owned a farm? Paid the taxes on it?

I have and do. The rate is the same. The valuation of the land is the same whether it is a farm or not - except for the fact that many farm plots will not bring the same valuation as urban land of the same size - and the reason is simple; location. Washington county and many other parts of Oregon have restrictions on both farm and timber land as to what you can do with it.

The idea is that Oregon wants to preserve farm and timber land. So you cannot just go and subdivide the plots like you can urban land. You can't even put a dwelling on farmland unless the plot has at least $80K of farm income (and that was the amount 15 years ago when we sold our farm - the amount now is probably more).

I have ~20 acres, easily enough for two or three houses. I live in the only house that I can put on it. I might be able to put another house on it if it were a dwelling to close relatives and they worked on the land as a going agricultural concern. If they moved away, I think the house would have to be torn down. I can build another house here, but once it is finished and occupied, I have to remove the existing house.

I assure you, the percentage of valuation I pay on this property is the same percentage anybody else pays in the county. The valuation is about 75% in the land, despite a relatively modern (built in 1997) house with a nice 2K SF shop.



I don't think your assertion is true. I know it isn't for the property around me.

I spent 55 years on a 40 acre "farm" in Washington County and what you say is true in part BUT there are "legal" ways around it IF you are smart enough and want to put in the work …. AHH YES, THE "WORK" …..

 

[Oohrah]

Welcome to the future

Pretty much how every thing is now days. Everything has a price tag and once you are prepared with having those items for hunting, camping, or fishing, you find no longer is it free or a token payment, but evolved into something either over run or affordable. Or both! Every thing licenses, spots to stay, shorter seasons, lesser game with more restrictions. You have to be a lawyer, just to get through fish and game rules. Kind of takes the fun out of some things, but you better know ALL the rules or be prepared to spend more on fines that you didn't plan on!

 

[Flymph]

I thought this was going to be about places that charge $30 a night...

I'm staying at a place that charges $38 first night...

 

[Oohrah]

I'm staying at a place that charges $38 first night...

Wow, that's ridiculous! I don't think our Elks club charges that much. It's been so long since I have camped that lost track. Totally got out of shape when I found out a charge to drive through National Forest. Forgot about it until the subject was brought up. I haven't seen anything the government has taken over that they could even break even with. Shocked, but once over it, now I'm not shocked. Our Governor has plans on raising all taxes once again and still doesn't know where the money for schools that are failing and all the other needs she will ask for like the PERS that hasn't been fixed. Wouldn't be a surprise if she doesn't know what it is.

 

[The Heretic]

I spent 55 years on a 40 acre "farm" in Washington County and what you say is true in part BUT there are "legal" ways around it IF you are smart enough and want to put in the work …. AHH YES, THE "WORK" …..

Yes, I noticed some people have worked around it. E.G., on Clark's Hill, somehow the owners of the plot up there got an exception and are putting a second house on the plot. Granted, it is forestry land instead of Ag land because it is too steep, but still, I can't do that with my acreage and it is a lot steeper. Usually the "work" is knowing somebody in gov. who can push thru your app for an exception.

When we sold our farm, we four plots. Two of those had houses on them, the other two did not. We could have doubled out sale price, or more, for the two plots if WA county allowed even just one house on each.

Indeed, the one with the Ponzi winery on it now (my dad bought and cleared that land by hand when he was 19 years old) we could have sold for quite a bit more as it would be a really nice homesite and they could have still put the winery there. Maybe even the Ponzis couldn't get an exception for that land - I don't know if they tried. Had my dad or my grandparents put a house up there when they bought the land, it could have a house on it now.

 

[jeff68]

I'm from the Midwest. Most private land there is agricultural so trespassing is more of a personal affront to a farmer not a large corporation. I came out here after Weyerhaeuser started permitting. I think the $300/yr recreational permit is very reasonable. Especially if it keeps the tweaker trash away. 387k acres with a gate less than 5 miles away. That being said I can't afford it just yet.

 

[kmk1012]

Frankly though, a few hundred dollars for a private campsite year round would be attractive to me.

We have exactly that, called Taylor Park. It's a private campground that costs $520 per year. There are running water bathrooms all throughout as well as water faucets. We just renewed our fourth year and keep our new trailer up there. Everything is all set up so after work I toss some beer in the cooler, wife packs some food, change of clothes and we are done packing for a weekend of camping!

 

[Powderman]

This is a doggoned shame, charging people to camp. But I understand why. I understand all too well EXACTLY why.

Want to know the reasons? They have been mentioned throughout this thread. But--if you want to see, REALLY see why such measures are being taken now, simply look up the video, "Seattle Is Dying". Watch it through to the end.

You will see why the controls are being ratcheted down.

It's a true shame.

 

[GKPrice]

Yes, I noticed some people have worked around it. E.G., on Clark's Hill, somehow the owners of the plot up there got an exception and are putting a second house on the plot. Granted, it is forestry land instead of Ag land because it is too steep, but still, I can't do that with my acreage and it is a lot steeper. Usually the "work" is knowing somebody in gov. who can push thru your app for an exception.

When we sold our farm, we four plots. Two of those had houses on them, the other two did not. We could have doubled out sale price, or more, for the two plots if WA county allowed even just one house on each.

Indeed, the one with the Ponzi winery on it now (my dad bought and cleared that land by hand when he was 19 years old) we could have sold for quite a bit more as it would be a really nice homesite and they could have still put the winery there. Maybe even the Ponzis couldn't get an exception for that land - I don't know if they tried. Had my dad or my grandparents put a house up there when they bought the land, it could have a house on it now.

I forgot to add that if you are desiring a "tribute to your pride" type of home that narrows you options significantly - IMAGINATION is the key ….

 

[rcnpthfndr]

totally off the subject, but something like that would be awesome to lease so there was a place to have NWF events or whatever.

 

[GKPrice]

ALL of you whining because it will "cost" to camp, hunt, fish, RECREATE …. PULEASE ! We are lucky to have the opportunity to use private lands at nearly any cost out of our pockets, and SURE some costs more and some of "us" can afford more, IF you hate that then you are probably a "socialist" … As far as PUBLIC LANDS go …. there are simply too many people now which MEANS that "10%" that has always taken advantage of the system or abused what should be cherished, yes THAT 10%, is a whole lot more people than the "old 10%" used to be … remember "arithmetic" ? We pay about the same amount in taxes on our earnings, some more some less based on income and such, IF there are 1000 people using a recreational area that used to get 200 people then there will be one heck of a lot more "services" for clean up AND to keep the places running - IT AIN'T FREE, NOTHING EVER HAS BEEN - Buy one less $1000 scope, $2000 rifle, $20,000 Harley, WHATEVER ….. posting here is not gonna change what most call progress and whining about the "good old days" won't bring them back, I KNOW because I whine (in private) all the time about it ….

 

[MxOverkill]

So yes, the land is theirs, but only through chicanery and weaseling...

While enjoying the publicly paid for services of law enforcement, fire protection, public road access, and more while paying less property taxes on a section of land than a residential property owner pays on a mere acre.

 

[GKPrice]

what is done is DONE - you can all whine about it, I will do what I can to enjoy my years left - Let's see who "wins" …..

 

[v0lcom13sn0w]

yep, this thread has ran its course too.

nothing personal to the OP but the divisiveness here is not what NWFA is about.