New camping fees under RMR leave some area residents unhappy

The U.S. Forest Service’s (USFS) decision several months ago to outsource the management of its concessions contract to Rocky Mountain Recreation (RMR) has left some residents and local businesses unhappy with the results.

Robin Peterson at the Golden State Surplus Store (GSSS) in Lake Isabella told the Kern Valley Sun that they are stuck with hundreds of passes they purchased from the USFS that are no longer accepted and cannot be returned.

Consumer dissatisfaction with pricing under RMR was discussed in an April 12 article in the Sun. Angler Charles Gholson said he suspected turnout was low due to an increase in camping and concession fees. [Editor’s note: The Isabella Lake Fishing Derby has not released an official tally of how many people participated.] 

In the April 12 article, former KRV Chamber president Fred Roach mentioned the fact that RMR was strictly enforcing camping fees – $12 per day – as a possible deterrent, but also blamed the pandemic.  

Ana Rodriguez, the administrative coordinator for RMR, sent the Kern Valley Sun a list of all passes sold by the Forest Service that are still accepted by RMR as well as information on the passes RMR currently sells. 

Laura Adams, one of many unhappy locals, suggested having a special pass for residents.

Four 2022 America the Beautiful Senior Passes are still honored by RMR for discounts on camping in the Sequoia National Forest and Giant Sequoia National Monument. Two are currently still sold by the Forest Service: The Annual Senior Pass and the Lifetime Senior Pass. Forest Service passes can be purchased in person in Bakersfield or Ridgecrest to save the $10 processing fee charged when ordering online or by mail.

The Golden Age Passport and Senior Pass were replaced with the Annual or Lifetime Senior Passes. These passes are for camping discounts of 50% for the cardholder’s site only and are not for day use.

For disabled campers, RMR offers the Golden Access Passport (a lifetime pass) and two other access passes. These passes are not for day use and provide a 50% discount for the cardholder’s site only. The passes are good for the Sequoia National Forest and Giant Sequoia National Monument.

However, RMR does not accept the Military Free Pass, nor do they offer a comparable one. RMR does sell an annual day-use pass for $60 that can be purchased over the phone (661-702-1420) and is valid from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31. Day-use fees are $12 per day. So, if you plan to use any of the areas managed by RMR more than five times, it would be wise to buy the annual pass. Day-use fees cost zero with this pass.

Be sure to print out the picture of the accepted passes and take them with you. I recently went to the Trail of 100 Giants and the RMR employee there said they were not accepting ANY passes. There is no cell signal there, but I was able to show him the email from RMR’s headquarters. Next time I will print out the page with all the passes accepted and take it with me.

RMR manager of the Kern Valley area, Katherine Stone, can be reached at kstone@goexplorus.com.