Forum Discussion

david1601's avatar
david1601
Explorer
Nov 10, 2020

Opinion on a campground?

I was wondering about everyone's thoughts about a camping experience we endured this weekend. We made a reservation some time ago to visit what is called a ranch and events center that included a campground. The place is very nice with lots of open spaces to stroll with several lakes. Lots to do.

We arrived on Wednesday and had two great days of exploring and hanging out in peace and quiet. Friday night a group of nine RVs arrived together for a fraternity reunion. Most of the campers were older and not youngsters. They were just a couple of spots down from us where all the sites are very close together.

They set up and then others in cars and trucks began to arrive. At least 25 other vehicles came by night fall. Seems it was a local group from a nearby college. They played the music loud, drank to excess and partied until after midnight Friday and Saturday night. Broke every rule known to any camper. I will not go into each and every rule.

I did not count how many people were there at any one time but it had to be more than 50.

Upon reading the campground rules we were given upon our arrival quiet time is from 11 pm until 6 am. An email sent to us when making the reservation states quiet time is 12:30 am until 6 am. WHAT? I failed to notice that one earlier.

Needless to say we complained Saturday and the owners promised to take care of the problem but never did anything. We have reservations through Wednesday but will be leaving tomorrow. I will not request any refund but just wondered what others thought about a campground with those times as "quiet time"?
  • david1601's avatar
    david1601
    Explorer
    Nov 11, 2020
    One last post and I am done with this. We can close this thing down as it has gone a totally different direction than I ever intended it to.

    The email I received about the 12:30 am quiet time was received AFTER I made the reservation by phone along with the receipt. I admit I did not notice the quiet time rule at that time. Nothing on their website says anything about quiet time. We were given a sheet of rules at check in that stated quiet time was 11 pm.

    Reservations can be cancelled but no refund under any circumstances. I stated I was not seeking a refund then or now. I will not name the campground. I never said the situation was totally out of control. It just disrupting what was to be a quiet peaceful week. We have moved on and will enjoy another adventure in another place starting today.

    By the way we travel extensively and have stayed in over 100 different campgrounds in the past 18 months.

    We have complained one other time and that was because our neighbors tied their Doberman to their RV and went to the beach for the day. It left the dog with no water, in the sun and he barked at everything that moved all day. Did I mention it was in July in Florida? The staff came over immediately and found the owners and resolved the problem.

    Thanks to everyone who understood my question and I hope to be a part of this forum for a long time in the future.
  • bucky's avatar
    bucky
    Explorer II
    Nov 11, 2020
    To the OP you aren't trashing the campground? The heck you aren't!
    What's the big deal about naming them?
  • Tvov's avatar
    Tvov
    Explorer II
    Nov 11, 2020
    12:30am quiet time does seem very late to me. Most campgrounds we've been to have a 10 or 11pm quiet time. The exception has been a couple campgrounds that have a "DJ Dance Party" or live band on Friday or Saturday night... sometimes the quiet time is extended until 12 midnight. We've always been informed in advance of the times, and especially if is late the management "warns" us of the late time at check in.

    Sorry about your experience at the campground. We've been to many different campgrounds - some are promoted as quiet campgrounds, others as "suitable for group gatherings".... that description always warns me that there might be a party atmosphere as it is very difficult to keep large party groups quiet.

    We have a private campground near us that is known as a "party" campground. If you are in the mood, it is a fun place where everyone is walking around saying hello. The issue is that the campground doesn't say this on its' website - but all the locals know it is party central.

    One of our favorite campgrounds is a "rustic" state park. No amenities, basically woods camping with an outhouse available. Beautiful place, quiet hours are 10pm and strictly enforced and you are told this when you check in. We go back there often.
  • Lantley's avatar
    Lantley
    Nomad
    Nov 11, 2020
    Tvov wrote:
    12:30am quiet time does seem very late to me. Most campgrounds we've been to have a 10 or 11pm quiet time. The exception has been a couple campgrounds that have a "DJ Dance Party" or live band on Friday or Saturday night... sometimes the quiet time is extended until 12 midnight. We've always been informed in advance of the times, and especially if is late the management "warns" us of the late time at check in.

    Sorry about your experience at the campground. We've been to many different campgrounds - some are promoted as quiet campgrounds, others as "suitable for group gatherings".... that description always warns me that there might be a party atmosphere as it is very difficult to keep large party groups quiet.

    We have a private campground near us that is known as a "party" campground. If you are in the mood, it is a fun place where everyone is walking around saying hello. The issue is that the campground doesn't say this on its' website - but all the locals know it is party central.

    One of our favorite campgrounds is a "rustic" state park. No amenities, basically woods camping with an outhouse available. Beautiful place, quiet hours are 10pm and strictly enforced and you are told this when you check in. We go back there often.


    The above sort of some it up. I don't think the OP was trashing the CG. I just think the OP was caught off guard by the large gathering...that was not really out of control for a large gathering.
    The bigger issue is that the OP was not made aware that there would be a large gathering.
    Maybe the CG has a reputation and history of allowing large gatherings that is understood by locals and most of its clientele.
    Either way it seems the was a communication issue that could have been handled better.
  • dedmiston's avatar
    dedmiston
    Moderator
    Nov 11, 2020
    bucky wrote:
    To the OP you aren't trashing the campground? The heck you aren't!
    What's the big deal about naming them?


    The OP has made it abundantly clear that he doesn't intend to name the CG. We should respect that.
  • garmp's avatar
    garmp
    Explorer II
    Nov 11, 2020
    For what's it's worth.
    There is a rather large commercial campground/float park relatively near our city and is very popular. The owner was smart with his layout of the park. ONE section near/on the gravel bar is the party section well separated from the family camp section. Does have quiet hours but isn't very strict about it. The two areas are a good distance apart and the sound hasn't been an issue that I know.
  • wapiticountry's avatar
    wapiticountry
    Explorer
    Nov 11, 2020
    We ask questions to try and avoid potential problems. We ask if the park is quiet in the evenings if that is a concern for us. Sometimes it is a concern, sometimes it isn't. We ask if there is anything we should be aware of that might impact our stay. The park knows when local events are happening, we do not. Otherwise, we take what we get and realize it is our fault for not asking those questions should something out of the ordinary occur. And if something spin way out of the norm, it sure gives us something to talk about for the next few weeks so it might be worth enduring for the theatrics.
  • sgfrye's avatar
    sgfrye
    Explorer
    Nov 12, 2020
    pitch wrote:
    I am going to say "suck it up and move on" Write your review and forget it.
    Campground owner looks at how high the stack of bills you payed as a single customer,compares them to the stack of bills that 25people and their guests left.
    What would you do? Seriously 300 bucks compared to 45. U think groceries and making payroll outweighs principal in this case!


    ^^^
    agree with this, real life answer
  • ppine's avatar
    ppine
    Explorer II
    Nov 12, 2020
    The world is not fair. Especially now. Some people are always going to break "the rules."
    Last year I tried a famous RV park after being invited by a group of friends. It is in the wine country. It has great facilities. It cost $75 a night. We gave it a chance.

    After 4 days I could not wait to leave. The density was way too high. Too much 1970s loud music, barking dogs and screaming kids, people playing cornhole. Too much pavement. Not my scene.

    After we left I was driving through the Foothills of the Sierra. I pulled over to take a leak. I realized at that moment it was the first time I heard silence in 4 days.

    Even when people are following the rules and being respectful I don't like RV parks and dense campgrounds. I go in the off season, I go during the week, I go to places with no reservations.

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