New GA State park - Don Carter. Underwhelming!!

[bodyshop_bob]

After waiting 2 years to have a State park in our county and on Lake Lanier; we drove out and got our first look at Don Carter SP. We were just broken-hearted. The sites are narrow and too close to each other. The majority are not level left-to-right and some slope aggressively down hill. The park is on Lake Lanier but only 5 or 6 sites had even a lake view. The lake is a long way off and down a steep hill. The designer of the CG placed many sites on the off side (you back in turning left and crossing the road) and the pads are no more than 6'X6'. They just placed crushed gravel over the dirt.
The sites are long and paved and the bath houses are new and very, very nice and the CG does offer cable TV as an amenity.
As a tax-payer and as an avid RV'er I feel like I got cheated.

[portscanner]

We recently stayed at Don Carter, but we stayed with some friends in one of the cabins. Is everything, perfect? No. Each cabin has an outdoor fire ring and picnic table - located in the silliest place possible. However, the back deck on the cabin was sweet! The trails are great. We drove through campground, and I have to admit that whoever laid it out had no idea how to lay out a campground. But I have seen worse. Far worse.

flyinjake wrote:
....We live in Coweta County, Ga. and were looking forward to Chattahoochee Bend SP opening a couple years back. Twenty minute drive for us. What a huge waste of money!....The park has such potential but unfortunately I do not think it will be realized.

We stayed in there just a few days after it opened - which was in July. We were coming home from another trip and decided to extend our vacation a few more days by going there. BIG MISTAKE. NO trees or shade in the campground. Never got below 83 in our 5er until after 5 p.m.! We live 5 minutes from there. We have gone back several times just to walk the trails. They are expanding them and if you are into hiking around and nature watching, that works well. Lots of critters to see and they have a nature observation tower. Go up into there and remain quiet for a bit and you get to see all sorts of critters (2 legged and 4 legged)

[Markiemark32]

:R 😛 :B


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Markiemark

[dahkota]

STELYN wrote:
CAN ANYONE TELL ME WHAT A "CHAR WOOD BUCKET" IS?

PS
I AM THE CAMPGROUND HOST AT DON CARTER SP.
FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW, THOSE "CHAR WOOD BUCKETS" ARE FOR LOW VOLUMN GREY WATER DUMPING. THE CHARCOAL FILTERS THE WATER BEFORE PERKING INTO THE GROUND. THEY ARE NOT FREE CHARCOAL AS SOME PEOPLE WILL TELL YOU.

Wow. This is good to know. Honestly, I would have assumed a char wood bucket was for charred wood - essentially, a place to pump your ashes/burnt wood so you don't leave a smouldering fire.

[SDcampowneroper]

STELYN wrote:
CAN ANYONE TELL ME WHAT A "CHAR WOOD BUCKET" IS?

PS
I AM THE CAMPGROUND HOST AT DON CARTER SP.
FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW, THOSE "CHAR WOOD BUCKETS" ARE FOR LOW VOLUMN GREY WATER DUMPING. THE CHARCOAL FILTERS THE WATER BEFORE PERKING INTO THE GROUND. THEY ARE NOT FREE CHARCOAL AS SOME PEOPLE WILL TELL YOU.

This can't be legal under EPA Ground Water Rules concerning discharge of waste I'd be also concerned that some might think it's free charcoal to cook over!
Ugh, I'd eat my steak raw.
Looks like a very nice park to me.

[JGRVING]

I would not have known that the charwood bucket was for grey water. Most grey water dumps I have seen in Ga state parks were gravel and covered with fencing wire.

Yes, that is what I am used to seeing at State Parks too.

[wannavolunteerF]

I would not have known that the charwood bucket was for grey water. Most grey water dumps I have seen in Ga state parks were gravel and covered with fencing wire.

By the way, a couple of weeks ago, watched a couple dump their dishwater on bushes at back of site on river bank instead of the gray water dump that was right next to their drive. In their defense, it wasn't marked well, but still they had to see it.

[JGRVING]

There, here's your charwood :B You gotta admit it looks similar...I don't plan on camping at Don Carter, but if I do, I promise not to use what's in the bucket to cook my burger. 😉

[JGRVING]

CAN ANYONE TELL ME WHAT A "CHAR WOOD BUCKET" IS?

PS
I AM THE CAMPGROUND HOST AT DON CARTER SP.
FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW, THOSE "CHAR WOOD BUCKETS" ARE FOR LOW VOLUMN GREY WATER DUMPING. THE CHARCOAL FILTERS THE WATER BEFORE PERKING INTO THE GROUND. THEY ARE NOT FREE CHARCOAL AS SOME PEOPLE WILL TELL YOU.

Well pardon my error. My husband is the one who told me it was char wood used as a fire starter. I had never heard of it so went home and "googled" char wood and the pictures looked exactly like what was in those buckets..sorry for misinforming anyone..now I know it is for grey water...never seen anything like that at any other State Park in GA or other States.

[tvfrfireman]

dahkota wrote:
Those sites look pretty nice. I noticed quite a few trees, most sites were level and paved, some were a little close but a vast improvement over most private campgrounds.
Compared to where I stayed this weekend, this campground is luxurious.

I agree that this place looked great. Here in Oregon, the State Parks were given their own budget and the general fund is not allowed to loot the parks revenue they generate
. They got a share of the lottery money and are well on their way. We have another new park opening in September and have found that interested folks like me were all given a chance for input. I hope the original poster and others start taking part in their states parks as they need responsible voices with input. I know here in Oregon it is up to us the public to help it all work.

[Lantley]

Well after looking at the photos I'm not sure what the OP is complaining about

[dahkota]

Those sites look pretty nice. I noticed quite a few trees, most sites were level and paved, some were a little close but a vast improvement over most private campgrounds.
Compared to where I stayed this weekend, this campground is luxurious.

[STELYN]

CAN ANYONE TELL ME WHAT A "CHAR WOOD BUCKET" IS?

PS
I AM THE CAMPGROUND HOST AT DON CARTER SP.
FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW, THOSE "CHAR WOOD BUCKETS" ARE FOR LOW VOLUMN GREY WATER DUMPING. THE CHARCOAL FILTERS THE WATER BEFORE PERKING INTO THE GROUND. THEY ARE NOT FREE CHARCOAL AS SOME PEOPLE HAVE GUESSED.
THE TERM "CHAR WOOD BUCKET" WAS CREATED BY ANOTHER PERSON'S POST, AND IS NOT THE CORRECT NAME. IT IS DESIGNED FOR LOW VOLUMN GREY WATER ONLY. IT IS NOT DESIGNED TO DUMP HOLDING TANKS EITHER.

[magnusfide]

JGRVING wrote:
Unicoi is a pretty State Park for sure, but the sites are just too close together for our liking...but I do enjoy day trips there very much...nice trails, mountains and lake.

Yup, can't disagree about that.

[JGRVING]

Unicoi is a pretty State Park for sure, but the sites are just too close together for our liking...but I do enjoy day trips there very much...nice trails, mountains and lake.