AUGUSTA – The Bureau of Parks and Lands, a division of the Maine Department of Conservation, has begun accepting campground reservations for the 2007 season.

The bureau unveiled its new “real-time” reservation system, which is available 24 hours a day and offers campers instant confirmation when a reservation is made.

“Our customers are Internet-savvy, often making all their vacation plans on the Internet,” said Willard Harris, director. “By using this new system developed by the software engineers at InfoSpherix, our virtual reservation office never closes.” Over the last five years, Internet reservation requests have grown to become nearly 80 percent of all reservations.

The campground reservations office still accepts phone and walk-in reservations, and many campers were waiting in line when the office opened recently

In 2006, the office received approximately 1,800 reservations in the first 24 hours. “Our staff is always geared up for the opening week of reservations,” said Harris. “Today was no exception, but with this new software in place, we will definitely see a new high in reservations processed by day’s end.”

The first two hours of the business day were hectic, as a glitch developed that essentially shut down the direct Internet application. The problem was solved by 11 a.m., and more than 1,350 Internet reservations were processed in the next three and a half hours.

The Bureau of Parks and Lands manages 12 campgrounds at state parks and has nearly 1,000 campsites available system-wide. Sebago Lake State Park continues to top the lists for reservations.

Campers can make Internet reservations by logging on to www.CampWithMe.com; calling (in state) 800-332-1501 (out-of-state) 207-624-9950; or mailing reservations to Bureau of Parks and Lands, ATTN.: Reservations, 22 SHS, Augusta, ME 04333-0022. Walk-in reservations are also accepted. Complete information, including a reservation brochure and campground maps, is also available from the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands, Department of Conservation, State House Station 22, Augusta, ME 04333; telephone 287-2209.

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