Apology to Wawaloam Campground
This is a formal notice to the campground at 510 Gardiner Rd, West Kingston, RI 02892 and to others who might make the same mistake that I did. While traveling this summer we had the occasion to stay...
Forum Discussion
Here's a nice review from someone, but doubtful if it will stir them any, considering the business they do in summer. Naturally in winter, the place is deserted or so I'm told....
Cat Lac
Wawaloam Campground, owned and operated by the Smith Family.
Rules, Rules, and more Rules...
I strongly urge avoiding this campground if you would like to avoid feeling like you are walking on egg shells your entire visit! Here are a few reasons we encountered during our visit for you to consider into your plans:
1. Unable to view the campgrounds website prior to our 2012 Memorial Day weekend arrival, due to virus warnings from my antivirus software if enter their site.
2. Found a note on the door of our RV in the morning, informing us our RV entrance mat was not regulation size and to remove it immediately. So many other nicer ways they could have handled this.
3. Inconsistent enforcement of rules observed, as other RV entrance mats where just as large if not larger than ours.
4. No chairs provided for your comfort at the pool, waterslide or mini golf area's to relax and watch your children from.
5. $20 per child for the use of the waterslide. No discounts offered, therefore expensive especially for a family with 4 children!
6. Unable to enter the mini golf area, unless you also pay, to assist your children play and keep score.
7. Children without a helmet not permitted to ride their bikes. Campground does not provide nor sell helmets.
8. Unable to reuse the same plate at the breakfast buffet to go through again. Must wait in a entirely different line for a new plate, first.
9. Children are not allow to have more than 1 bingo card to play candy bar bingo.
10. Must be under 18 yrs old to play candy bar bingo.
11. Our campsite was located among other weekend RV's parallel to a row of seasonal RV's where the seasonal residents, on Saturday morning Memorial Day weekend, where out with their motorized lawn mowers, leaf blowers and hedgers. Very unpleasant and noisy!
12. Out of 300 campsites, only approx. 20 have sewer hook-ups. Inconvenient.
13. Upon arrival after checking in at the office, pulled the car into our assigned campsite for ease of unloading into the RV. Before I had the opportunity to even shut the car off or open the car door, I was abruptly approached by the owners, aggressively driving up on me in their golf cart, scolding me "I can't park there, only one vehicle per site, you need to park in a visitors lot"...
Not a smile on their faces or in their voices, no hello, no welcome, is this your first time staying with us...!
Again, so many other nicer ways they could have handled themselves.
14. I even experienced another Smith family member (female) making a sarcastic remark as I held up my entrance ID at the gate upon re-entry after making a store run.
15. Beware, noticed a Asian long- horned beetle among the bundled firewood purchased from their campground store.
16. Also, the firewood bundles were mixed with old construction 2x4 wood as well.
17. Got the impression, the Smith family's priority is the manicure of their campground rather than with your family or children's enjoyment, quality of stay or convenience.
In addition, they want you to get the message, they are policing you and if you don't like it, don't come back!
Recommendation: There are plenty of other, more worthy, nicer and welcoming New England campgrounds to visit to call your home away from home for your family's enjoyment throughout the summer!
All the Best,
A fellow RV camper
Cat Lac
Wawaloam Campground, owned and operated by the Smith Family.
Rules, Rules, and more Rules...
I strongly urge avoiding this campground if you would like to avoid feeling like you are walking on egg shells your entire visit! Here are a few reasons we encountered during our visit for you to consider into your plans:
1. Unable to view the campgrounds website prior to our 2012 Memorial Day weekend arrival, due to virus warnings from my antivirus software if enter their site.
2. Found a note on the door of our RV in the morning, informing us our RV entrance mat was not regulation size and to remove it immediately. So many other nicer ways they could have handled this.
3. Inconsistent enforcement of rules observed, as other RV entrance mats where just as large if not larger than ours.
4. No chairs provided for your comfort at the pool, waterslide or mini golf area's to relax and watch your children from.
5. $20 per child for the use of the waterslide. No discounts offered, therefore expensive especially for a family with 4 children!
6. Unable to enter the mini golf area, unless you also pay, to assist your children play and keep score.
7. Children without a helmet not permitted to ride their bikes. Campground does not provide nor sell helmets.
8. Unable to reuse the same plate at the breakfast buffet to go through again. Must wait in a entirely different line for a new plate, first.
9. Children are not allow to have more than 1 bingo card to play candy bar bingo.
10. Must be under 18 yrs old to play candy bar bingo.
11. Our campsite was located among other weekend RV's parallel to a row of seasonal RV's where the seasonal residents, on Saturday morning Memorial Day weekend, where out with their motorized lawn mowers, leaf blowers and hedgers. Very unpleasant and noisy!
12. Out of 300 campsites, only approx. 20 have sewer hook-ups. Inconvenient.
13. Upon arrival after checking in at the office, pulled the car into our assigned campsite for ease of unloading into the RV. Before I had the opportunity to even shut the car off or open the car door, I was abruptly approached by the owners, aggressively driving up on me in their golf cart, scolding me "I can't park there, only one vehicle per site, you need to park in a visitors lot"...
Not a smile on their faces or in their voices, no hello, no welcome, is this your first time staying with us...!
Again, so many other nicer ways they could have handled themselves.
14. I even experienced another Smith family member (female) making a sarcastic remark as I held up my entrance ID at the gate upon re-entry after making a store run.
15. Beware, noticed a Asian long- horned beetle among the bundled firewood purchased from their campground store.
16. Also, the firewood bundles were mixed with old construction 2x4 wood as well.
17. Got the impression, the Smith family's priority is the manicure of their campground rather than with your family or children's enjoyment, quality of stay or convenience.
In addition, they want you to get the message, they are policing you and if you don't like it, don't come back!
Recommendation: There are plenty of other, more worthy, nicer and welcoming New England campgrounds to visit to call your home away from home for your family's enjoyment throughout the summer!
All the Best,
A fellow RV camper
