La Belle Woods Resort

I’ll try to be brief, but I want to present the facts.

(2/10/23) I called the office and no one answered. The voice mailbox was full (red flag, more on this later). I received a return call from a lady at 6 PM that evening. She stated the park was booked this year, but they could accommodate me beginning 3/1 since I was coming down to aid in the disaster recovery efforts. She told me to mail a deposit to reserve the site. I suggested coming by the park to leave the deposit Monday morning, since I was already in the area. She said that works, but they will release the site for reservation if the deposit is not received Monday morning (contradicting her comment about being booked, red flag).

(2/13/23) A guy in the office tells me that he cannot accept a deposit since the lady did not give me a site number (red flag). He tells me that I can fill out an application and bring the deposit back when I get assigned a site number (I should have taken his advice). I said I drove over an hour to get there and didn’t want to come back. I asked if we could contact the lady to figure out if there’s anything we can do. He called with the phone on speaker (I don’t think she knew it was on speaker) and she answered after a couple rings. She tells him to take my deposit, even though they don’t have a site available for reservation. One should be coming available in March (playing an unethical game, red flag). I am instructed to call back four days before 3/1 to see what my site number is, so I can get the electricity turned on.

(2/24/23) I called two times with no answer, and no return call (mailbox still full).

(2/27/23) I called four times with no answer and no return call (red flag). At this point, I start scrambling to find another place to stay beginning 3/1.

(2/28/23) I receive a call from the same lady in the morning stating she is returning my call. I tell her I left a deposit for a site starting 3/1. She said oh you did. I’ll have to check into it when I get in the office. She says she is on the way now and will call me when she gets in the office. I do not receive a call the rest of the day. I decide this is a lost cause at this point.

(3/1/23) I receive a text message stating this is a friendly reminder about electrical services for site 95. I call and the lady answers on the first ring. It appears the full mailbox is used to screen phone calls. I tell her I’ve made plans to stay elsewhere, since I felt I could not count on arrangements at LaBelle Woods. I asked for my deposit back. She stated no, the deposit was to hold the site. She said they held the site for me, this whole time, (contradicting prior comment about no site was available) after I said I felt I could not count on one being available. I feel one did not come available until 3/1. She starts repeating herself, over and over, and not giving me a chance to talk. She hangs up the phone when I say, hold on and start talking.

I have not received any further correspondence or a deposit refund. I’m extremely grateful that these issues came to light before I moved to the park. I sincerely hope this helps someone in their future endeavors. It definitely would have helped me.

Thanks,

Billy