Rude camping neighbors

[Candi Woods]

Okay, this is a subject I've wanted to bring up several times but am finally getting up the courage.

I want to hear any stories of what you've done about the crazy camping neighbors that have kept you up to the wee hours of the morning with their loud music and rude behaviour. If you've been any of those rude campers, by all means, be brave and share your story as well.

This summer my family and I had our first annual reunion in a private campground outside of Yosemite National Park. One peaceful evening we watched as a giant bus coach pulled in to our quiet cul de sac. It was painted bright green from head to tail like an overgrown monster turtle. We watched in amazement as 30+ people piled off and started to set up camp in three campsites. As the evening darkened they began a drinking game in the pavilion picnic shelter. At one point my sister politely struck up a conversation with them and asked if they could hold it down, it was about 11pm. At 3am in the morning when a lusty voice began to sing and play the guitar my husband and I could stand it no longer and wandered out, he in his fashionably acceptable sweats, me in my red tartan flannel pajamas. We were not polite.

I was amazed that they were even allowed to stay at the campground. I assume that they were a touring company and paid much more than the going rate for the sites and the management gladly obliged to their needs. I was angry at the people on the bus it was the first time I ever truly felt like vandalizing another person's personal property, specifically, whoever gave permission for that many people to be staying in such a small space! Private campgrounds can do just about anything they want.

I'm normally a very happy and easy-going person. Really.

Candi

[Nancy Merigold]

Yes, it's experiences like that that can get the best of a person. Times that I encountered rude/obnoxious neighbors I try to see if there is another site I can move to. There was one time where a group of campers came and set everything up like they were at a tail gate party, also invaded our camping space as well! There were no other spots to move to, so we went and complained to the office, got our money back and left.

I run into rude neighbors more in private campgrounds so we tend to camp in state parks where the rangers make the rounds and enforce the laws, at least in MN state parks.

[Roger H]

Call local law enforcement and make a loud noise/disturbing the peace complaint. Call them back if need be until the situation is resolved. That's generally 99 44/100% effective.

Roger

[Donna D.]

You've made a point about the differences between private property and public property. Park rangers don't tolerate breaking the rules. In hindsight the best thing to do would have been to find out what the rules are when you checked in. If there's a "quiet" time in the park...typically 10pm-7am, I'd be tempted to go get the park owner/manager, even if I had to wake them up. Let them deal with the problem. If I couldn't sleep...neither would the owner/manager! I'd make certain of that.

We expect everyone to act in the same manner we do, but that's not reality.

I like Roger's comment, call in law enforcement.

[Colin]

You've made a point about the differences between private property and public property. Park rangers don't tolerate breaking the rules. In hindsight the best thing to do would have been to find out what the rules are when you checked in. If there's a "quiet" time in the park...typically 10pm-7am, I'd be tempted to go get the park owner/manager, even if I had to wake them up. Let them deal with the problem. If I couldn't sleep...neither would the owner/manager! I'd make certain of that.

We expect everyone to act in the same manner we do, but that's not reality.

I like Roger's comment, call in law enforcement.

Peaceful nights, (and days) and spotlessly clean bathrooms are the main reasons that I appreciate my over a decade of belonging to of one of the leading membership Campgrounds,( quite apart from the fact that the preserves are situated in very scenic areas.)

Colin

[Candi Woods]

We called management several times but there was little response. And yes, there was a set quiet time after 10:00pm but it was obviously not enforced. I wish I had thought to call the police. Especially since the rowdiness seemed to also have some alcohol involvement, another reason why national and state parks are a better choice. Isn't it illegal to drink alcohol on federal land?

[Gina D.]

Isn't it illegal to drink alcohol on federal land?

No. It is illegal to be drunk in public, however.

[debbyj]

We were tent camping in a state park once and sleeping peacefully when fellow campers arrived about midnight and set up camp with their pop-up across the road from us. There was banging around, screeching metal, raised voices, thumping, and high pitched screaming for about half an hour. We thought "Oh great, cranky, over-tired children next door!" Things eventually quieted down except for a shriek or two. The next morning we met our neighbors--a nice family with two very well-behaved children and a pair of macaws!
Camping is always such an adventure!

[Bob Cupp]

I have had 2 really bad nights with terrible neighbors.

The first one was at a Michigan state park in the upper penninsula. There were about 15 sites that were partying together. They were still going at it very loudly at midnight and several other groups got together and approached them about being quiet. They go very verbal and talked about fighting. We left them alone and called the police. 2 hours later, an officer showed up and told them to end the party. They were quiet until the officer left and then ran around yelling until 3:00am. I normally wake up at 6:00am and was in the bathroom when a couple of other upset campers came in. I decided to write down all of the license nimbers involved and noticed that every car had a US Coast Guard entry permit on the bumper. Every one of them was currently assigned to the Coast Guard Station in Sault St. Marie. When I got home I called the base and asked to talk to the commander. I explained to the enlisted man that answered the phone why I wanted to talk to him and actually got transferred to him. I told him about the experience and gave him a list of every vehicles involved. I also gave him a list of the other upset campers and their phone numbers to confirm what I told him. He called me back about a week later and informed me that I would be getting an apology from everyone involved. He told me that he would call me back in a couple of weeks to talk. I did recieve a letter from almost everyone, and so did the other people that were upset. A couple of weeks went by and I thought that he forgot but he did call me. He asked if I thought that the offenders were sincere in their apologies. NO WAY, they wrote because the comanding officer told them to. I read a couple of the letters to him and he said that he would call back. The next day, he called and informed me that the offending parties had "volunteered" to reimburse us for ruining our trip and giving us such an ugly impression of the USCG. You may think "Big deal, you got your camping fees back." He made them pay us what we spent on our entire trip for camping fees, for me that was over $250. He also cancelled all leave, (including regular days off) for every sailor involved for 1 month.

The other bad experience took place outside Boston, Mass. We set up camp and about 10:00 a bunch of teenagers pulled in and set up 3 huge tents. All night the groans and moans of an orgy (literally, not just a figure of speach)could be heard throughout the campground. In addition, some of them were yelling and screaming until about 3:00.

I guess that if that is the only complaints I have in 40 years of camping, I have done pretty good but at the time, I was very upset.

[Candi Woods]

Bob,
That has to be the best retribution story I have ever heard! It's refreshing to hear that the commander really cared enough to 1)call you backseveral times, and 2) to really go all the way in teaching the sailors a lesson that they should have known already. It is very rare to find someone willing to go that far. Now they have a good story to tell their kids about.

Congratulations to you, as well. Your diligence paid off, literally.

[Jan Adams]

It is illegal to HAVE alcohol on state and federal lands - that way they don't have to prove you were drunk.

They won't bother you if you don't bother anyone else but if they get a complaint, you are gone.

[Jan Adams]

Last year, we were at Big Bend National Park. Apparently, a group of kids arrived and caused all kinds of problems - having sex on the bathroom floor, drinking and keeping people up all night.

People went up to the Ranger's Station the next morning and complained. The Rangers went down and made them pack up immediately, had the State Police come and they were escorted from the park - about 80 miles to the nearest town. Don't know what happened to them from there but I do know a citation was made up so I assume they were paying for the "escort" service.

The Ranger asked us if we heard or saw what they were doing. We didn't hear or see a thing because we were on the other side of the park from them.

[Donald Stahl]

Bob's story was a real humdinger. Gads, Bob, you could make a movie of that one !
We have never come across anyone as rude as that. The closest to it happened one night in Zion National Park. The Mrs., our son and I had pitched our tent and retired for the night, content with the fact that we had the entire campground to ourselves. About 10:00 PM we were half awakened by a lot of chattering and giggling. The noise level increased with each passing minute. I finally got dressed and ventured into the open. Shining my flashlight around, I was dumbfounded to see that we were completely surrounded by 10 zillion girl scout tents. All of them had 'retired' for the night, so I guess you know what that means - a full night of giggling and yakkety yak. Coming up with the best idea my befogged brain could concieve, I yelled out in a voice that would scare a grizzly, " Hey, you girls keep quite. We have a very sick baby here who needs her sleep !" That having been hollered, went back into the tent and slept peacefully.

[Frederick L. Simson]

I decided to write down all of the license nimbers involved and noticed that every car had a US Coast Guard entry permit on the bumper. Every one of them was currently assigned to the Coast Guard Station in Sault St. Marie. When I got home I called the base and asked to talk to the commander. I explained to the enlisted man that answered the phone why I wanted to talk to him and actually got transferred to him. I told him about the experience and gave him a list of every vehicles involved. I also gave him a list of the other upset campers and their phone numbers to confirm what I told him.

This is a good example of clear thinking. These types of experiences are difficult to live through, but this is a proper way to get results. [b]Rest assured that Bob's incident lives on as instructions to the personnel of that base.

I would advise getting License Plate numbers, and noticing any other identifying decals. Look for University Parking Permits, or Employer's Parking Permits. Follow up calmly with a person in authority.

Frederick Simson USNR-Retired

[Gina D.]

From the USFS website FAQs

Q. Can you drink alcohol on the national forest while camping?
A. The use of alcohol is not prohibited on national forest lands except at specific sites at which there is a local ordinance or order which prohibits it. There are signs at these locations that make it clear drinking alcoholic beverages is prohibited. In Georgia, it is illegal to possess alcoholic beverages if you are under 21 years of age. The law also prohibits possession of open containers of alcoholic beverages while driving a motor vehicle. Laws that deal with driving under the influence of alcohol, drunk and disruptive behavior, and similar laws and regulations apply on national forests.

Taken from a Georgia District FS website.

Here

Beer coolers in state and FS parks are as common as tents. Not once have I ever seen a an official take it away or ban it.

I even induldge in one myself on occasion. Not often tho, fortunately, drinking is the one adult vice I never really picked up on as a frequent activity.

[Brian B-P]

I don't know anything specific about U.S. federal rules or any of the states, but in at least some provinces alcohol consumption at a campsite is handled the same way it would be in your home or a hotel room - it is your (temporary) residence, and therefore allowed under the same rules (ages, etc) as it would be at home. Just as people are not free to wander the streets of their neighborhoods with alcoholic drinks in hand, it seems reasonable to assume that they would not be free to roam the entire campground drinking.

Bob's story raises the issue of associated groups. The minority of rowdy idiots like this give military organizations a bad reputation, and the same problem occurs for universities and other schools, as well as other types of clubs and organizations. The big difference might be that a military or paramilitary organization is likely to be willing and able to protect its reputation by enforcing discipline, even regarding off-duty behaviour; perhaps it could still be worth pursuing for other identifiable organizations.

[Gina D.]

THIS group actually had a noise complaint lodged against us at the Oregon Gathering last year.

We are an unruly bunch, I tell ya.

[Donald Stahl]

Gina,
Everyone said you had a good time !!
Guess drinking is not taboo in Oregon, Bullards Beach being a State park. Are you going in 07? See you there. Don

[Gina D.]

That was not booze, it was medicine!

We were horrible. .... People walking, people talking, rampant wheelchair races.... sheez!

Yes, I am going in 07, this time with a trailer. I was going to bring a larger PA system for Nancy so the shouting is curtailed, but after the complaints about the small one there last year, I think it will stay at home.

[Susan Tiller]

A tad disapointed to see what Gina D. posted under this thread. I know there was some jokeing implied, but it sure says to me the Oregan Gathering was questionable on behavior for other camping neighbors.