[willibeaux]

Clint! I retired from the NPS in 1986. Now I’m ashamed to tell people I worked there. :-(

[MeshugeMikey]

You were “old school”

which appears to have been pretty much dismantled to be replaced by a Daycare Center....built to resemble...a KENYAN HUT

[Fledermaus]

A few years ago on one of our frequent stays in Gatlinburg, TN and visiting the Smokeys we had a massive storm move through. They had to close the park a couple of days to clean up.

They got the road cleared but most picnic areas were down and the one they opened was so packed it was impossible to get a spot. We drove around to find another and saw a large space that was empty. It was for overnight camping but had plenty of tables. We stopped and started taking our stuff out. A park ranger came up to us and said he had to leave because we weren't “camping”.

I asked how much was the camping permit ($10) and I'd pay it. He said no, we had to actually camp and to picnic we needed to go to those areas. I said, they are closed and no one is here.

His response? “I don't care”. Frankly he's lucky he's still alive. Before we left both my wife and I gave him a tongue lashing and he threatened to call “the police”. I said, “please do, they might not be as STUPID as you, you overpaid piece of $%$$#^*_P(*(*(U)*UT#E#E%!!!!”

Lost all respect for NPS after that.