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tropical36's avatar
tropical36
Explorer
Sep 20, 2014

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 more than a week here and at $50/day, we thought it a bit pricey, like most things in NE. Anyway, we made the mistake of not completely reading the rules and brought in a family member for 1 1/2 hours from 8 - 9pm one evening. No facilities were used and they never left our site for this short stay that they expected to be paid for. Evidently, they have people and many who watch everything that moves, both night and day and quite an achievement, considering the size of this facility. I never did find out why the seasonal people who previously occupied our site paid for the whole season and then left early, even leaving the TV cable connected. Evidently they got paid twice for this site, as well.
Luckily we were only chastised for this rule infraction with a note found on our windshield the next morning. Needless to say, we promptly checked out and from the looks we got, we certainly weren't wanted after this incident, anyway.

Incidentally, I never charged them for pounded down the re-bar that was sticking up thru the wood ties surrounding the parking area. Just hope that I didn't run over any of it with the new tires I had just put on the day of arrival. Didn't see any sign of damage, so assume all is well with the tires.
  • Do they hide the rules? If not, you were the one in violation. They put a note on your windshield, crime of crimes. They didn't charge you the fee. What they should have done is hammer your credit card for the fee and at least then they would have been compensated for your attempts to harm their business. Apparently you are like most people on these forums, you want rules to be in place and enforced, keeping places clean and safe, but you want those same rules suspended for you, because you are special. You could have avoided that terrible note if you would have just informed the staff of your special status and told them the visitor rule does not apply to you.
  • Well as far as price that's the price you pay in these parts. I just paid almost $100.00 a night for a beach front site in Florida. I haven't been there in about 10 years but my kids loved that pool slide
  • 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
  • I have not stayed there, but have heard that they have weird rules and rule enforcement. I don't plan on staying there, either, in the near future. Some of the weird rules are 2'x3' max outdoor rug (basically a welcome mat) and you are charged for pets...Wonder what a 4lb chihuahua costs to spend the night?