Oil Spill Closes Two State Park Campgrounds

When California State Park rangers closed Refugio campground Tuesday after an oil spill was discovered flowing into the ocean, some campers moved a few miles away to El Capitan State Beach.

On Wednesday afternoon, they closed El Capitan, too.

Campers with tents and RVs were told they had two hours to pack up.

It was just enough time to watch dolphins pass by the boats and booms offshore cleaning up the spill from a ruptured onshore pipeline.

Hundreds of campers are disappointed. Richard Swanson said he has been coming to El Capitan State Beach for a Memorial Day weekend family reunion for more than a decade.

He checked out the El Capitan Canyon campground on the other side of the Pacific Coast Highway. It has no plans to close and offers what some people call glamor camping, or “glamping.” But cabins and furnished tents are more expensive than pitching a tent.

California State Parks is trying to notify campers not to come for the holiday weekend. Rangers said campers will be getting full refunds.

The parks are likely to send the bill to Plains All-American Oil, which is taking responsibility for the spill.

Refugio and El Capitan state beach campgrounds are closed until further notice.

For more information go to,@reservationamerica or call (800) 444-7275