Post by Mendi on Aug 2, 2010 10:34:39 GMT -6
Hi Sis,Well, we're back! Safe and sound! Wish you could have been there with us but of course we all understand and I told everyone you wish you were there! We had a good time and enjoyed being with family. The best part; as it should be, was being with family, Oh, and the float was a close second!
It was however discussed and decided by everyone that was able to attend this year, that this was the last year for Jason's Place Campground for our group. I recommended Park's Bluff or Bear Cat Campground. Both of those are off the Black River. I hope you're not too terribly disappointed but Jason's Place is absolutely awful. As much as I love the 20 miles of current river we have experienced floating with this company, the rest of the weekend should be enjoyable as well.
Our Aunt reserved an electric site. They moved her once because they had put someone else in her spot before she arrived. The electric on her site was broke so we used the electric on the site next to it. On Mom's site, the electric hook up was broke also so they had to move them as well. They promised her a site with electric and water and there wasn't a site avail that both the water and electric worked so they didn't have any water. She was pretty disappointed about that. She wanted to be able to use the restroom on her new camper for showers and this may be the only time they use the camper this year.
The swimming pool was NASTY. I'm not sure they realize that chemicals are required to maintain a swimming pool. I did not smell chlorine! I'm not sure what that smell was actually but it wasn't pleasant. I checked it out when we got there but wasn't about to get in it, so we just stayed at camp!
The bathrooms....OMG, THE BATHROOMS! When we arrived Fri. eve about 8:30 pm after that drive, I had to go! The bathrooms were bad, it got worse from there. Sure, some things are out of their control like the fact that there was ca-ca smeared on the door but they have entirely neglected the upkeep. It was not cleaned. I do expect for them to regularly show up and hose them out and stock up the paper supplies. This place, ugh. The one bathroom that was not disgusting could not be used because it was infested with spiders. It was just covered in webs. The only reason it wasn't gross was because no one could get passed the spiders!! You can't tell me that happened over night, all it would take is a broom to clear out the webs on a regular basis. There is a tree oil that is available in a spray that wards off insects without affecting wildlife.
Everyone knows to wear flip flops in public showers but they don't do much good when the mucky water wont drain! Icky. Poor Auntie! The showers at the front are coin operated and as Mom was in the restroom she heard the lady in the shower tell her daughter repeatedly "I need another quarter....I need another quarter." Don't think that since your paying to use it that means it will be clean either! The shower I used at the happy hollow area was free- it was gross but I turned others down before I decided on that one! At least it had a door! I turned the water on and it didn't even spray in the shower stall just passed it up entirely and sprayed in the area that is there for you to get dressed! I didn't mind that it got my clothes a little wet because I was just putting on my swim suit and next time I knew to use a plastic bag. I dropped my washcloth on the floor and decided that it wasn't worth picking up because I didn't have any gloves with me. It was there the next day, and the next day there was another one that joined it! There is no one taking care of this establishment.
The float, as I said was what we were there for and it was awesome. The beauty of the Current river was breathtaking and the people we encountered were all in good spirits. Getting there was however half the adventure! We were told to be in the back of the building by 9:30 am for the bus to come around 10:00 so we were. Our bus didn't come. Auntie & I went to the office to remind them that we were all there waiting. They had actually forgotten about us. The lady was like "Oh, there's still a few of you out there!" There were a lot of us waiting! They were supposed to have a trailer for our Inflated kayak. Instead they cram the kayak on the bus with us. This thing is huge! By the time they got all the people that were waiting for the bus loaded up and the coolers for all of them there were 2 and 3 to a seat and about a dozen people standing. Our uncle, brother, and my teenage son were all sitting on top of coolers because we were among first to load the bus and went straight to the back. As people were coming in from the front and coolers in from the back they had no where else to go! Oh, so we get moving and the bus made a stop to pick up tubes! We were joking that they were going to cram them in with us- SURE ENOUGH THEY DID!! They shoved tubes in and more people had to stand, our uncle, brother and my son were all wrapped up in tubes sitting on coolers while we did about 70 down those gravel roads. I've been on some pretty rough bus rides from this and other canoe rental companies but this topped them all- except maybe the one without brakes but at least on that one we were safely seated. Like I said the float was the best part of the trip and other than that we enjoyed each others company but our conditions were less than desirable.
You have to expect some wear on gravel roads but some of those roads inside the campground were barely passable with Jason's 4-wheel drive truck. The place just needs maintenance. Some of the reviews had comments from loyal campers excusing some of these conditions. There really is heavy machinery that can be rented or purchased with some of the money that you pay this establishment to upkeep the roads. It they choose not too than they should advertise that it is impassible by motorcycles, and low riding cars as our Uncle discovered who rode his motorcycle to the campground and had our brother drive his Camaro.
As far as the staff. I guess it's just who you are fortunate enough to come across. Some of the younger staff people were very pleasant, a little lost but they tried! There were others that were just down right rude under pressure. Yes, there was a rush of people checking in when we arrived but all of them were patiently waiting and browsing the store. The staff was frustrated with their own lack of organization skills and were downright rude to the people that they failed to recognize as paying customers. I went on the website the day before we left and had some warnings when I checked out the reviews but it didn't seem that bad before. Besides, the reservations were already made and we have been coming for 4 year now and having a great time. They are just really letting the place go down.
Don't get me wrong, we did enjoy each others company, the float, and made lemonade as they say! A lot of laughter was made from the campground's inadequacies but for the money spent here I expect better conditions as an experienced camper and floater I know what other establishments have to offer and will pay better attention to reviews. I am sorry this got so long but Just FYI, I will be omitting names and using my letter to you for a review so that others will be more informed as well to what they should be expecting for their money at this establishment. You should check out the reviews too, you'll find that we were not the only not so happy campers!
Love you sis,
Mendi
