By:
Submission
From jct Hwy 46 & US 31: Go 6-1/2 mi on US 31, then 50 yards N on Russell Rd, then 1/4 mi E on Bard, then 1/4 mi S on Strand.
Adults 18+, Kids 0-17
We found this location on short notice and were thankful to get a camping spot in the area. The price was good for the location. We’re national forest campers primarily so we’re accustomed to roughing it more than this location allowed for. We appreciated the shower house, even if it was dirty from heavy use. That’s understandable, it was a rainy week there. The nearby car racing track was loud on a Saturday night, and you could hear the highway from your site but again that’s not the fault of the campground.
Our biggest problem was the management. We got confronted for gathering wood from the ground to use in our fire pit. We don’t like to buy wood, as it’s available at your feet and it helps keep the forest from being susceptible to forest fires. He was correct, we had gathered wood which was against their rules. He also accused us of cutting down trees and tearing up the wood perimeter of the campsite. That was not true but they slapped us with a 100 dollar damage fine anyway.
I understand expecting your campers to follow the guidelines you have in place, and working to politely enforce them. However they did not enforce other rules, especially the rule about leaving campfires unattended. People would leave camp for the day with a fire still blazing away! This is truly a hazardous rule to overlook and yet as far as we know leaving a burning fire when you go is standard practice according to some regulars at the camp.
Another rule they have is “don’t leave your wood stacked on the ground”. This is asinine. However it is a rule and as such they ought to enforce it if they have it in their contract. Again, didn’t see anyone called to account for stacked wood.
All the employees were quite pleasant save for the manager. If you get on his bad side, or he’s been drinking heavily, you could end up breaking whatever rule he decides you’ve violated. Maybe bring him a 6 pack at the start of your stay just to get on his good side
Bottom line- facilities were acceptable, price was good, employees great, manager awful
Our campsite & the 2 lakes on site were great. The trails around the lakes were great for walking & had a few spots to pull off and watch the water or fish. The campground is right off the highway which made for convenient travel to the beach & other day trips but also made for loud traffic sounds at night, fine for anyone who doesn’t mind the white noise.
Our main struggle with our experience was the bathrooms, similar to many other reviews listed. While we never expect much out of a camping bathroom, grateful for any kind of shower at the end of the day, the women’s bathroom did not appear to be cleaned for the duration of the 4 day stay, with two toilets remaining clogged for at least two days. The men’s bathroom had fecal matter smeared on the floor for over 12 hours & was not cleaned until complaints were made directly to the owner.
While the location is nice & the staff in general was friendly, the professionalism of the owner leaves much to be desired. Blaming the mess of the facilities on the campers (specifically kids) rather than take responsibility or offer any apology to the patrons left quite the sour taste by the time we made our departure. Overall we had a nice stay up until our last day.
This was our first time here and last. The camp is located very close to the highway and therefore the noise was unbelievably loud all day and night. Specially at night was impossible to sleep and because of that we left earlier than we planned. The bathrooms are very small and in very bad conditions. Only one out of two showers worked and the taste of the water to wash your mouth was horrible (take bottles of water). We love camping but this time was our worst experience ever.
We stayed here for the short commute to Michigan's Adventure and the beach for the kids. The lake was quite beautiful, we were able to see a bald eagle and the kids enjoyed the jump pillow and beach the whole time.
The downsides being accused of claiming there was only myself and no other adult in my party by the drunk guy working the front desk. I assume he can't be the owner since he drinks heavily to the point of not being able to form words and lives in a tiny camper on bricks. The campground was mostly empty except about 7 other sites yet he decided to make us stay right next to the only other group of tent campers. The drunk guy also started screaming and trying to instigate a fight with a mother from a different site. We went for a night walk on the trail and were almost ran over by the heavily intoxicated man on a golf cart and other campground resident. The man legitimately could not form more than a mumble and grunts and the other person had to inform us they thought they saw a fire out there. Even though we were using a phone light which is white. The lots are not grassy but all sand which was uncomfortable and not worth the extra money. When the man in question was able to speak he also insinuated that he had been "involved" with my friends grandmother at a Pink Floyd concert and did some "tripping" too. Only because my friend was wearing a Pink Floyd t-shirt. The bathrooms were also pretty shabby. With only the men's shower working and only one since the other was just a massive hole in the wall behind a locked stall door. I'll go elsewhere next. Especially if Drunky The Clown is still there. He needs to go. I felt the only safety issues were him.
I wasn’t expecting a whole lot but it still fell short of places we like to camp.
The first thing is either a love it or hate it complaint that can’t be fixed unless the campground were to be moved. It’s the location. It’s literally 30 yards from the guardrails on 31 North so it’s extremely loud. It was really hard to sleep. The noise of the 75-80mph traffic along the expressway penetrates the walls of even the finest coach’s.
The second issue is the water. I have no idea what is wrong with it but I’m flushing the pipes of our camper this week. I have a filter on the fresh water hose and a filter before the pump. Even then it still flows brown. I’ve never seen well water this dark. It was scary. Enough so that my wife would only brush her teeth with water bottles.
The third issue needs to be addressed by either the city, county or whoever maintains the road. It’s a washboard dirt road. One the will loosen your fillings in your teeth. Campers don’t do well on roads like this and we try to avoid them whenever possible. The road in needs serious attention and if I was the owners of the KOA I’d either be screaming to the road commission or paying to have it done. It’s only about a half mile but one way or another someone needs to grade it to make it more passable for patrons.
Other than that I didn’t think it was bad. It’s a KOA so you know what to expect. Fun activities and a pond. Good view inside the campground and pull through lots. What you’d expect at a KOA.
