Feeding the family at CP

What will a typical meal cost us at CP this summer? How are those picnic pavilions outside of the gate? I heard that they weren't even open anymore. Thank you.

We have always taken food and eaten at the pavilions outside the gate. Most people actually take their coolers over in the morning to save their table and then are back and forth throughout the day. I would suggest packing it in coolers and plastic bins because the birds are rather aggressive when no one is around. We always try to chase them away, but they are persistent. I hope the pavilions are still in use this year. If not, I guess we'll be eating in the parking lot!

I can't imagine that you could feed a family of 5 for under $50 inside the park.

I usually try to plan on $15.00 per person to eat in the park. You can go cheaper though.

Try to avoid leaving your cooler in the pavillions, people with sticky fingers like to enjoy a free meal.

I usually bring a cooler and keep it in the car, I show up early enough to get a good parking spot, and go to the car when I'm hungry. I don't trust anyone with anything in public, I never bothered putting my cooler on the pavilion picnic tables.

We've left coolers and assorted bags and boxes of food untended many times at the pavilions and never had a single item stolen.

Yeah, I've never had anything stolen either, and we brought coolers and left them in the pavilion over 20 times last year alone. I think someone moved it to another table once or twice, but never was anything taken.

The smaller pavilion on the lake side of the front gate looks like it's been permanently closed, but the large one closer to the season pass building is still there. All though the 90's my family would leave our cooler on a table all day and we never had issues with anyone messing with it. Although as long as you don't mind the extra trip to the car, I've never seen the pavilion crowded enough to warrant saving a spot early in the day.

bholcomb said:
I can't imagine that you could feed a family of 5 for under $50 inside the park.

You could always do the $6 bratwurst, chips and pop meal deal. Granted, that probably won't fill you up for a full day.

Has anything regarding the pavilions changed recently?

-cm

As of a couple of weeks ago they were the same as I described in my previous post.