| It's easy to understand the benefits of this pass. | | | | crystal-clear where they can be used and where |
| Simply stated, the benefits are free admission to | | | | they can not. Therefore, if you are planning to visit a |
| many Federal recreational facilities and 50% discount | | | | Federal recreation site you can eliminate surprises by |
| on many other charges, including camping fees at U. | | | | calling ahead and asking or checking their website. |
| S. Army Corps of Engineers (CoE) campgrounds! This | | | | Theoretically, these are not valid at any place other |
| makes it of great interest to many RVers! | | | | than Federal facilities. However, I have heard, but not |
| It's easy to become confused by this new pass; | | | | personally experienced, that state parks in some |
| maybe this little bit of history and background will | | | | states do use the card as justification for a hefty |
| make it more clear. In 2004, a new discount program | | | | discount on camping fees. My suggestion: Ask! The |
| for Federal agencies called the America the Beautiful | | | | worst thing that could happen would be that the |
| Interagency Pass Program was enacted. This act | | | | attendant would say, "No, I'm sorry. We do not |
| created the new pass. | | | | honor that card." While this article is about the pass |
| My research revealed that the pass is known by a | | | | and not about the specific uses of it, I will make a |
| variety of names. The full name, apparently, is | | | | couple of comments which may be of interest to |
| America the Beautiful Interagency Senior Pass. On | | | | those who have not camped at a Corps of Engineers |
| some government sites, it is referred to as | | | | campground. In short, some of them are pretty nice! |
| Interagency Senior Pass, or sometimes simply Senior | | | | And sometime you can spend a night in one of those |
| Pass. The best I can tell, they all refer to the same | | | | nice ones for well under $10! |
| thing. It's possible that you already have or have | | | | We have camped at Grant River, Potosi, WI, which is |
| heard of a Golden Age Passport. These passes | | | | adjacent to the Mississippi River. We have also |
| ceased to be issued on December 31, 2006. The | | | | camped at De Queen Lake, De Queen, AR. We |
| Interagency Senior Pass effectively replaces the | | | | consider both very nice and recommend them. We |
| Golden Age Passport. If you have one, please be | | | | have heard reports that the CoE park near |
| assured that it will remain valid for your lifetime and | | | | Thomson, IL, is very nice also. My suggestion: try |
| that the benefits are the same as they were before | | | | some! If you find one which you recommend, add a |
| its issuance was discontinued. | | | | comment to this article so others can enjoy it too. |
| There are a couple of points worth noting regarding | | | | The America the Beautiful Interagency Senior Pass: a |
| the Golden Age Passport, however. If you have a | | | | big name for a great bargain! You can easily recoup |
| paper Golden Age Passport, you may (but need not) | | | | the cost the first time you visit a national park or |
| exchange it at no cost for the new Interagency | | | | two or spend a couple of nights camping at a Corps |
| Senior Pass. If your Golden Age Passport is plastic, | | | | of Engineers park. And it's good for the rest of your |
| you may (but need not) replace it but the cost of | | | | life! |
| this will be $10. | | | | Effective January 1, 2007, United States citizens or |
| Interestingly, the Corps of Engineers does not issue | | | | permanent residents of the United States age 62 or |
| the Interagency Senior Pass but they do honor it, so | | | | older can purchase an America the Beautiful |
| if you want to use it at a CoE park, make sure you | | | | Interagency Senior Pass. The cost is $10 and the |
| get your pass before you go! You can get them at | | | | pass is good for the lifetime of the holder. |
| most Federal recreation sites which charge an | | | | A senior RVer's gotta love it! I know I do! |
| entrance fee or a standard amenity fee. It is not | | | | Copyright 2007 Keith A. |