Yates Place Fee Proposal

[tsshaw78]

I was at Yates Place this past weekend and saw a notice that a fee is being proposed. Quoted from the article.

Yates Place Camp - new $10 per night fee*

*As proposed, this fee would be implemented after site improvements are complete.

The full article can be found here:
https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/nfsnc...d=FSEPRD624890

I've only just started using Yates Place and I know others have been going for many years.
I get the need for fees to help maintain the forest. I wonder if site upgrades are what Yates needs? I like the wide open nature of the location where any two trees (or flat spots for non hangers) is a place to rest.

This hasn't been confirmed and public opinion is being accepted until May 31 via:

To provide comments about this fee proposal for the RRAC to consider, contact Logan Free at 828-257-4256, by email at [email protected], or by mail at:

ATTN: Recreation Fee Proposals

160A Zillicoa Street

Asheville, NC 28801

Since I hadn't seen a post here yet about this, I figured I let everyone know in case they wanted a chance to voice their opinion.

[TallPaul]

Thanks for sharing.
I don’t know what to think either.
What would they improve at Yates?
National Forest campgrounds are usually pretty sparse. A flush toilet maybe?

[Phantom Grappler]

Fees will not be fun and will not be free
I believe this has been caused by certain campers who have begun to actually live at Yates Place for extended periods of time—like all the time.
Some of these squatters and scofflaws are beggars and some others are drug addicts and fewer still are thieves.
My heart goes out to all people who find themselves mired in their personal problems.
On the other hand Yates Place is seriously degraded by some of their presence—mainly the vault toilet is really bad—Similar vault toilets in other camping areas are far better maintained; both cleaner and better operating seat and lid.

I really don’t know why fees have been considered—I’m guessing it’s a way to make squatters leave

[tsshaw78]

PG,
I didn't see the van with generator before the spring hang, but when I arrived there Friday evening there was a guy in a van with a generator. Maybe safe to assume that he was the same guy. He left shortly after I arrived. On our Saturday hike to the recreation trail I saw he holed up in another section of the woods. So I wonder if he ever leaves.

[Silverpalm2x]

Thanks for sharing.
I don’t know what to think either.
What would they improve at Yates?
National Forest campgrounds are usually pretty sparse. A flush toilet maybe?

it would take a long time of collecting fees to run the plumbing for a toilet out there. I think PG might be right to get rid of squatters.

Maybe a greater police/ ranger presence would be a good idea?

[Phantom Grappler]

I heard through the grapevine that local towns law enforcement was taking homeless to Yates. Not sure if this is true or not. And not sure if this was initiated by homeless man or by law man.
Some problems are not easily solved to everyone’s satisfaction...
I do intend to send a letter describing our needs for Yates Hang—trees for 20 to 40 hammock campers and either free or a good deal group rate.
I enjoy camping at Yates, with an “out in the woods” atmosphere. And if I wanted a strip mall campsite with tent pads, pull through campsites for trailers, I’d go elsewhere.
Progress and change is inevitable, and if they go the tent pad route, I hope they make some group sites with about a million trees spaced just right...
Phantom, dreaming in his hammock...