This is VERY FUNNY..stumbled upon this website and wanted to see what others said about the most rude and unfriendly RV resort owner I encountered in my 4 years camping. She actually made my family wait 30 minutes because we showed up a little early, or else we could pay extra ($20 bucks I think)...you must be kidding...she must have been a former school teacher or lawyer....she knew I was annoyed so she tried to make nice after checking in....great views, terrible owners. I find it real funny everyone else thinks so too. We camped here in a Motorhome.
Review Rating
[ 9 / 10 ]
October 2008
$36
This is a wonderful campground. The views of the Amish countryside are spectacular. The owners are very courteous and take great pride in keeping the campground neat, clean and accommodating their guests. Since this is not a campground with playgrounds and activities for children, those camping with children looking for entertainment would probably enjoy another campground. We are 2 retired travelers and would not hesitate to stay here again. We camped here in a Motorhome.
One of my worst experiences. Owner caters towards his regulars, either ignores or pesters newcomers. No store on premises, campground did not offer locations for nearby stores. Water quality is heavy with iron. WiFi was not available, apparently router was bad. Was told they were waiting for parts. Pet policy is selective - small dogs yapping while owners with standard sized dogs were constantly harassed. Campground caters to older campers. There is nothing for campers with kids not even a swing. Restrooms were not clean. Price exceeded value of campsite. The only plus is that the campground is situated on a hillside overlooking farm fields. I would not recommend this place to any of my friends. We camped here in a Motorhome.
Nice park great location and view. Campground owners not very friendly. Owners ruined weekend from checkin to checkout. We will not return. We camped here in a Motorhome.
Very well kept campground. Restrooms very.very clean. Quiet setting, overall one of the quietest campground we have ever been. Not much activities for children but thats what makes it so nice and peaceful. Owners very nice and helpful. Have stayed here many times and will definitely return. We camped here in a Motorhome.
This is well-kept park in a beautiful location. You can see Amish farmland for miles from the campground. The owners/managers are will go the extra mile to make your stay enjoyable. Although the campground serves big rigs they may have difficulty with longer fifth wheels pulled by HDTs (Heavy Duty Trucks). We camped here in a Fifth Wheel.
This is a very nice park with paved roads, grass sites, picnic tables and fire rings. There is cable TV with a large selecton of chanels. The owners were very friendly and helpful. We were in a "preferred site", which has the view of the valley, lots of Amish farmland and buggies going by. They are expanding their wifi coverage, and were having some growing pains, but it worked most of the time and was fast. The owner came by a couple times to alert us when it was going to be down and why, which was nice and no other campground has done that for us, a nice touch of their concern for guests. We will stay here again if in the area. We camped here in a Motorhome.
This is my sixth time visiting Country Haven, and it is my favorite of all the campgrounds I have visited in the three years that I have owned my RV. Beautiful views, friendly owners, quiet, relaxing and close to our favorite outlets and farmer's markets. The thing that I like best is that the owners have policies for the comfort of all the campers, and actually follow through with them. This is the only campground that I know I'll have a good experience. There won't be unleashed dog running around or noisy obnoxious neighbors. Some people don't like rules or think the rules don't apply to them. But by having common sense guidelines and following them, everyone can have a pleasant experience. Can't wait to go back! We camped here in a Motorhome.
We have camped here a number of times over the past few years and found this campground very pleasant and relaxing. If you are looking for a place to go with a lot of activities this is not the place. It sits on a hillside with a 'spectacular' view of the Lancaster area countryside. All of the premium sites are large and easily accessible with again, a view to die for. Cons are no store, no pool, no nothing else. In the heart of Amish country with plenty to see and do. If you are looking for a spot for some good old rest and relaxation this is the place. I know some others have posted some issues with some of the management, but in all of the times we have camped here we have never had any issues. We camped here in a Motorhome.
We stayed at this campsite in 2003 and were delighted with the condition of the campsite, the magnificent country views and the warmth and friendliness of the owners. Consequently we were dismayed and a little skeptical about the recent negative ratings and remarks about the new owners. We felt sure it must have been some sort of clash of personalities. Wow, were we wrong! We recently called in while we were in the area just to get a copy of their latest brochure and were greeted with an aggressive rudeness that was unbelievable, totally out of line and which got worse the more we tried to mediate. We assume that this person was the woman referred to in the previous comments and we can confirm that she clearly has some sort of major problem. Needless to say this campsite is off our list until we hear there are new new owners. We camped here in a Motorhome.
My husband and I spent 9 days at this campground. It is in a very quiet rural setting in the heart of Amish farmland. The campground is on a hill overlooking a valley with several farms. This is the view we had from our kitchen window. Beautiful! We thoroughly enjoyed our stay. We had no problem running our a/c or any other appliances, and we have had these problems at other campgrounds. We have learned to always reserve a site with a 50 amp hookup. If you are looking for a place to relax and get away from it all, this is the place. We camped here in a Fifth Wheel.
This used to be one of our favorite campgrounds. Unfortunately, it changed hands a few years ago and the new owners are jerks. You can read other posters remarks about the owners. I take issue with them not disclosing their power problems until after I paid in full. I couldn’t use my AC because the voltage was so low and they were constantly experiencing brown outs. When I inquired about the problem she got real defensive and said PPL only supplies them with 108 volts. Well it would have been nice of her to tell me that before I paid in full. I would have turned around a left since an AC requires 120 volts. Of course they don’t care because they can’t be held accountable because of the following statement that appears on your receipt: “The camper accepts camping privileges with the understanding that they carry their own liability and comprehensive insurance to protect against theft, pilferage, fire, windstorm, water damage, hail and vandalism. Camper does hereby release the Campground, its officers and employees of all liability for loss or damage caused by the Campground’s negligence or the negligence of its employees or officers, to property and injury to his person arising out of his use of its camping facilities, and agrees to indemnify the Campground, it’s officers and employees, against claims resulting from loss or damage to property or injury to the person or any member of the family or guest of the registered camper arising out of the use of it’s camping facilities.” “No refund for inclement weather or early departure.” I paid for nine days but departed after just one day. It was 98 degrees, no shade and I couldn’t run my AC. They can shove the money. I’m not going to let a couple of annoying idiots ruin my vacation. We ended up at another campground where we could run our AC, refrigerator and hot water on electric. Plus we didn’t have to put up with the owners harassing us the whole time. Sorry, but the view just isn’t worth it. We camped here in a Travel Trailer.
This is one of our very favorite campgrounds because we like to be able to have a good view of the valley and be close to the road to observe the Amish going about their daily activities. However, it is just about impossible to get one of our favorite sites. Haven't been able to determine what you need to do to get one. There was a noticeable difference in attitude from the new owners' first year and their second year of operation. It seemed obvious that they had limited experience working with the public and they seemed to have been burned by previous guests. The bathrooms and laundry room were impecabbly maintained. If we are back in the area, we would give the campground another chance. We camped here in a Motorhome.
In the past we would go to this park periodically because it was a very nice, clean, and quiet park. To our dismay, this had changed on our last trip. The previous owners were very kind and gracious, but this was not the case with the new owners. It wasn't as clean as before, they were not nice, and they had increased the rates to what you would have expected if it were a resort and had resort amenities, and it is anything but a resort. We will not go back. We will go to Spring Gulch which is about 2 mile away in the future. We camped here in a Fifth Wheel.
Unfortunately for those of us who enjoy this campground, and it's rolling hills, so has the word "hospitality" seemed to have rolled right away with the recent addition of two new owners. I have never seen two people more unhappy in their current work situation. Nothing is more of a "put off" than to be greeted with a long list of rules and regulations, AND then have to deal with a grumpy, "I don't care if you stay here or not" attitude. This attitude was relayed to us, after we asked some simple questions. It is not always wise to choose a business for which you may be ill suited, which seems to be the case at this campground. Other than that, steer clear of the owners, and enjoy the best views of the Amish country in Lancaster County. Some shaded areas, quiet and clean. Watch out upon check-in for the pay if full, no refunds, no matter what, and signing your rights away on an insignificant waiver. AND DON'T ASK ANY QUESTIONS! We camped here in a Motorhome.
Read reviews on this site before selecting campground. One (broken awning) was troublesome, but balance of reviews were positive and thought maybe this was just a one crank. Not so. Owner or co-owner is a real piece of work. The campground advertises a playground. When we arrived our daughter saw two swings. She was very disappointed. We had asked if children were welcome. owner stated "she had no problem with children." Does this mean welcome? When we asked about the "playground," owner stated "I told you there is nothing here for children!" We had told campground we'd probably stay about two weeks. But, we also hesitated to pay in full for two weeks with no refund policy. Please note the campground was NOT even close to full--even on weekend. Owner insisted we must commit or leave. We committed for about 3 days. Then we left. Episode was strange because at times in same conversation she'd be nice then nasty. Odd. This seemed strange business practice since her insistence on control actually caused us to leave. The strangest of all was we were required to sign a waiver of liability INCLUDING negligence by the campground! We found this humorous since these waivers are worthless, but it surely reflects the attitude/control of these owners. After we moved to another campground, those owners told us they'd heard about New Haven and the poor attitude of new owners. Pros: Campground is shady. Sites are spaced okay. Some sites have a nice view, though no shade. Cons: Must sign waiver of liability including negligence at sign-in. Very remote location. Attractions are very spread out in the Lancaster area and this campground adds a 30 commute to most anything. Owner's rather strange/controlling nature. Her husband seems to be extra friendly. Showers are timed--have to keep pushing them on. Lack of playground, despite advertising a playground. Would never stay here again. We camped here in a Travel Trailer.
Beautiful and quiet campground. One you go to without the children, there isn't anything for them to do. Staff was very friendly. The view from the preferred sites is gorgeous. Very relaxing campground. We camped here in a Tent Trailer.
We camped here Friday & Saturday, 7/7-7/8 2006. This is the most relaxing campground we have ever stayed at. The staff was wonderful and all the people we talked to were very friendly. This is not the camp ground to go to if you are looking for childrens activities. This is basically an adult park that is very clean, quiet, and well cared for. The area is like a picture and the bakery across the street has the best baked goods I have had in a long while. This park is family run and they do a great job. We are going back again in August for a BBQ Cookoff in New Holland. We camped in a tent trailer in the wooded section. Bottom line --- a great place to stay! We camped here in a Tent Trailer.
We stayed at this campground over Thanksgiving in 2005, and again in the Spring of 2006. Owners are very nice. One of our group members ran out of LP and the owner offered to fill them late one night. Very quiet and they enforce their rules, which we appreciate. Incredible views of the valley from most/all sites. We camped here in a Motorhome.
Nice quiet CG. Beautiful view. Helpful, friendly owners. They are working hard to make some major improvements to the facilities. Don't know all the story of the other poster, but I didn't see any problems. Sites are level and good size. If we return to this area, we would stay here again. We camped here in a Motorhome.
We really enjoy this campground because of the view and how quiet it is. The facilities and grounds are immaculate. If you want to catch a glimpse of the Amish countryside, sites, and sounds then this is your place. If you are looking for activities for your children, they will probably be disappointed. We strongly recommend this campground. We camped here in a Travel Trailer.
6/1/05 Country Haven is a beautiful campground. I have been staying there for several years. However, new owners have taken over recently. Beware of the owners wife. She appears friendly but becomes very obnoxious and rude when she sees a "violation". When you check in you will get the dog speech, and complaining about insurance rates. She watches the campground, high above her perch, as if she was guarding a prison camp. I have always enjoyed my experiences there but many people have complained about the way they are being treated. A gentlemen who has been going there for twenty years was yelled at because he parked his car on the grass. It seems ironic when they have RV's parked all over the grass and yet she complains about a car. She also complains to parents when their children make noise on the playground???. I should say that her husband seems like a very nice gentleman. He seems to be the voice of reason! I hope that these recent experiences are because she is new to the business. People go camping to relax and enjoy the atmosphere, not to be treated like children. I plan to return for one more trip this year. If her behavior does not change I can assure you that it will be my last trip! 11/6/05 I wanted to update those campers interested in Country Haven Campground. I went back, even after the last bad experience, hoping that it was just a one time occurrence. I returned for Columbus Day 2005. During my stay it rained the entire weekend. Unfortunately, during the storm, my awning was broken in half and damaged beyond repair. I had to remove it from the camper because of the extensive damage. The day I was leaving I saw the owner. He was sympathetic but obviously there was nothing he could do. After speaking with him, I cleaned up and checked out - making reservations for 2006. When I was leaving I took the awning up to the dumpster and put it beside the dumpster. I folded it in half as best I could so it didn't take up a lot of space. There was no way I could take the awning with me since it barely fit in the truck. I thought I was being helpful by taking it to the dumpster. This week (Nov 2005) I received a letter from the owners (probably the wife) sarcastically thanking me for leaving the awning. See the below letter, exactly as it was written. I was really shocked by the tone of the letter and the action she took. If she had called me and told me it was a problem, I would have paid to have it removed or made other arrangements. Instead, she choose to write a nasty letter and cancel future reservations. Clearly she has no customer service skills or the decency of the average person, at best! After receiving this letter, there is no way that I would return to Country Haven. She is clearly a nasty woman with some type of apparent psychological issues. Maybe she will seek professional help and learn to deal with people in a professional manner. I obviously would not recommend this campground. The previous owners were great people and very welcoming. This tradition has not continued with the new owners - at least Bonnie. You can see whose name came first on the letter she sent to me. Good luck to anyone who decides to go there. I'm sure you will enjoy the view. I KNOW THE ATMOSPHERE SUCKS! - - - - - - - - - - - LETTER WRITTEN BY WIFE OF COUNTRY HAVEN CAMPGROUND: Thank you for leaving us your broken awning to dispose of when you left in October of 2005. Our garbage hauler would not remove it and we had to take care of the removal of it. This letter is to inform you that you will have no reservations at Country Haven Campground in 2006 or in the future. This campground is privately operated and owned and we ask that you not enter on to the property to visit any other campers or for any reason what so ever. Thank you, [Owners names omitted] Printed on: October 31 05 at 12:24pm We camped here in a Fifth Wheel.
Review Rating
[ 10 / 10 ]
August 2005
$32
Wonderfully Quiet and Peaceful! Their slogan is "The Quiet One". Two tiered loops overlooking beautiful Amish farmland and two wooded loops that are more private. We stayed at site 17 in the wooded section for a week with our 38' motorhome with plenty of room for our rig and towed vehicle. This park is very well situated right near everything you want to see in the Amish country but not right in all the crowds and traffic. There is a fantastic bakery right across the street with wonderful homemade pies and the best donuts in the world! Also a farmstand nearby with the juiciest peaches you will ever find. The owners are fellow RVers and the friendliest and most helpful people you could ever meet. We throughly enjoyed our stay and will be back! We camped here in a Motorhome.
This is a very nice small park run by a family. The sites are noise free, have a great view of farm land below, you can see about 7 miles across. Site is a nice place to see Penn Dutch or rest. The food is very good close by. The air is clean and you can see the people working on farms down below. Most all site are set into a hill so each unit can see down the hill. We like this place a lot. The park is full most of the time. Best to call for reservations. We camped here in a camper.
My family liked this campground. Very friendly staff and we loved fishing. The pond was great. We went in early May just to get away, and the fish were jumping. We also liked being in the middle of the country. It was a great time all in all! We camped here in a Travel Trailer.
Most sites are wooded and all are dirt,a little muddy when it rains and are tight back to back but not bad on each side. Amish buggies go thru roadway between the office & the sites daily! The campground is way out in the farm land! Went there in the fall & staff was burning leaves all around the sites which made a lot of smoke! Staff & other campers were very friendly. Poor TV reception and difficult to use satellite because of all of the trees. Nice small campground feel. We camped here in a Motorhome.
It's been 20 years since I've been to Red Run. It was my favorite campground then and now it's the favorite of my kids. Sites near covered bridge or more roomy than the ones down past the lodge. The squirt gun hay ride was the silliest hayride ever! We laughed so hard at all the campers coming at us w/ their garden hoses :-) The fishing pond was great!! The boys were pulling small fish in left and right! Only reason for giving a 9 is the DJ should consider being more of a family oriented DJ, particularly since younger children are their with their families. I'm not a bump on a log, but some of his songs have profanity and sexual overtones....not good for the little ones' ears. He could still provide a lot of fun without having to play that kind of music. We camped here in a Travel Trailer.
We just returned from camping here for the July 4 weekend. This is the most crowded campground we've ever been too. I can't believe how tight they squeeze in all these big rigs. I only counted about 4 or 5 tent campers, about the same amount of pop ups and the rest were HUGE fifth wheels or A class rigs. I wish we went back to Spring Gulch instead this year. We thought we'd try a something different but were very disappointed in how tight the campsites are. They did have plenty of activities -- hay ride (without the hay) horse shoe tournament, bingo (mostly adults, a kids candy bar bingo would have been nice) a band, karaoke, dj, and pool games. However I was very disappointed that during the band and dj at night there was plenty of drinking and smoking. Okay, I know it's legal to drink and smoke but if this is a "family friendly" campground, maybe the adults could have had a good time without pouring shots, drinking beer and chain smoking in the lodge with all the kids. It really got out of hand and we had to leave before too long because the room was so smoky (and we didn't think the excessive, flagrant drinking was too appropriate given the mixed ages). If it weren't so crowded and if I didn't feel we were out of place by bringing the kids, I'd like this place a lot. As it was though, unfortunately, we won't be returning. We camped here in a Tent Trailer.
Great little CG. Very clean, great sites. Owners are very nice and friendly. Pool is great. This is one of my favorite campgrounds. We camped here in a Motorhome.
Very nice campground, located around the amish country. Sites where close but shaded, and required minimal leveling. Only thing stopping them from a 10 or 9 was there rate schedule. They offer a low rate, then charge for everything under the sun. If you use your AC be prepared to pay $ 3.00 additional per night! Very close to Amish Markets and Reading Outlet Malls! We camped here in a Fifth Wheel.
We liked this campground, but I don't know what makes it a "resort". We were very excited about this trip because of all of the high marks it received in the reviews. It is a very large campground and the premium sites are well laid out and spacious, even the lower sites were nice. Aside from that, it wasn't any better than any other campground we've been to. The bathrooms were as nice as most and fairly clean but could use some updating. Also, I paid in full in January ($96 or $48/day) and when I arrived was advised that there would be an additional charge for rate increases since then and was charged an additional $3.60. So I guess I was given a discount and only charged for 1 days increase. The price on their website states the rates are $52/day for weekends and I wasn't going to make a big deal about the pocket change, but make sure you get a clear explanation what you're paying. As far as the "resort", it's just a gimmick in my opinion, it doesn't make the place any better than most places. We would come here again but for the money you can find nicer places to camp. We camped here in a Travel Trailer.
Spring Gulch is not a "Resort" and should not be charging a "Resort Fee". That said, Spring Gulch is a large, very well run campground. The sites on the hill (1500-1600) are spacious and clean. Restrooms were imaculate with roomy showers (and changing stalls). Aside from barking dogs (why do some dog owners feel that's okay at 7 am?) the place is well run, with a friendly and courteous staff. Although it's a bit expensive, I would definitely stay here again if I were back in the area. We camped here in a Travel Trailer.
Nice campground and the facilities were clean. I would by no means call this a resort as the name implies. Typical family campground with swimming pools and a good amount of activities. The sites are stone, but big and level (we were in the upper section). Kids playgrounds are rundown and there are no swings attached to any of them. Pools are clean and well maintained. I felt the price was high for what we got, but overall it is a nice place. We camped here in a Motorhome.
This is a very large campground in heavy woods with a steep, windy road leading to the premium sites. We stayed during the week and received a discount reflected in the price. Nice people at the office. No activities going on while we were there. Our site was a very large back-in with a nice table and fire ring. No pull-through sites that I saw. All roads and sites are thin gravel except the main road which is paved. Services were located correctly. Water pressure was high and power (50A) was within acceptable range. Both swimming pools looked great but we didn't use them as it was very cold. Some seasonals but they are in a different section and appear well maintained. A few sites had loads of poison ivy growing in the immediate area. A nearby puppy mill can be heard when everything is quiet. Trees could use a trimming as I dragged one over my awning when leaving. Plenty to do in the area and nice places to eat. I would stay here again. We camped here in a Motorhome.
We camped here for Halloween weekend. We had a great time even thought it rained. The kids have fun at all of the activities. The showers and bathrooms were very clean and everyone was very friendly!!! We would definitely camp here again!! We camped here in a Tent Trailer.
Been camping here every October for years (15?) "Off-season", reserve 2 or more consec. weekends, leave RV on site all week, no charge. Large, flat, excellent sites (upper level, at least). Kind of on the expensive side, but lots to do, especailly during the Halloween time. Kids (grandkids) have great times. Fall foliage, farmers' markets and flea markets. Staff friendly, good store but I wonder if (due to suburbia marching up nearby hills) they might be pricing themselves out of business. For instance, 50 bucks a nite....65 during "holiday" weekends, and 4 grand + electric for "seasonal". Hope not. We like it. We camped here in a Motorhome.
We were somewhat disappointed with this campground. Perhaps the word "resort" threw us, but we just expected more. We were able to visit through a promotion so out cost was extremely reasonable, but we had friends who paid full price and for the price-it just wasn't worth the cost. The facilities are a bit outdated. Cost of things was high. For example, laundry was $2.00 a load to wash, but only cold water washing was available. The staff was incredibly indifferent the one and only time we asked them a question. I don't think we'd stay here again, unless it was due to the promotional cost. We camped here in a Fifth Wheel.
Always a good time to be had. One of the nicest if not the nicest parks in the area. Book early, almost always near capacity for good reason. We camped here in a Travel Trailer.
This is a great campground (especially up on the hill), however, some refreshment work needs to be done up there. The size of the sites are great, but the condition of the gravel on the roads and sites have deteriorated the last few years. When it is dry the dust is terrible and when it is rainy it gets muddy and extremely dirty. We really love this campground, but unless some improvement to the roads and sites are done, we will not return as often. We camped here in a Fifth Wheel.
A nice, large campground, but not quite a “resort.” Stay in 1500-1600 sites, which are wooded, wide and have full utilities. Sites there are spaced well apart, which enhances privacy. Streets in the campground are wide and easy to maneuver, but very dark at night. Permanent sites are well-maintained and predominantly segregated from transient sites. Events scheduled throughout the day. A well-stocked camp store, but prices are high. Staff was friendly. Firewood for sale was wet. WiFi is available for a fee, but signal is weak to non-existent in the 1500 sites. Sewer connection in the 1500 sites features a concrete pad, which made for a clean connection. Mini golf course in dire need of repair. Game room more expensive than most. Some of the play areas need repair. Two pools and several areas to play outdoor games. Located close to Amish farms, but Lancaster County’s tourist “traps” are 10-20 miles away. A Good Sam park. We camped here in a Travel Trailer.
Campground store was nice. Staff seemed less than friendly. Our site was in the back, the campground is too big to be maintained properly. Playground equipment had graffiti on it. If your in the area, try Country Haven on the hill instead. We camped here in a Fifth Wheel.
Stayed in the upper section. Sites are huge and fairly level. A number of them were seasonal rentals. Grounds are maintained. Bathrooms clean. Staff friendly. They advertise wifi for this section (1500) but I was not able to pick up signal at my site. Campground is located convenient to Shady Maple complex. Would stay here again if in area. We camped here in a Motorhome.
We were met at the gate by a guard on Friday of our arrival, who directed us to the registration office / camp store. The staff - then and throughout our stay - was very friendly. The camp ground is broken down into four sections - two parts in the lower half and two parts in the upper half. We were in one part of the lower section. Our area had nice level sites that were plenty roomy. Our picnic table even had a roof over it! The bigger pool was closed for the season but the one that was open was nice enough. The swimming lake is really a pond - I would bet it gets pretty crowded during the season. We did crafts with the kids and John Boy - the activities man. As the previous poster indicated he was a bit rough but we didn't let it affect our trip. The upper half is beautiful. Very big sites, very wooded, very private. The store was lacking; some shelves were empty and they weren't restocking due to the season being over, yet there were still plenty of campers in the campground. The "main" roads were paved and the site roads were stone. The bath houses / rest rooms were clean and well maintained. We will return. We camped here in a Travel Trailer.
We were disappointed in this campground. Our site was not shaded like we asked for, except for a line of trees at the back of the small site, and there was a shade structure built over the picnic table. We were in the lower section. There was an open sewer vent the diameter of a car tire on our site and I had to ask the office twice to have someone come and cover it. The pool was freezing cold! The game room, mini golf and activites were all very similar to every other campground we've ever been to so I don't understand why they call this a "resort" and charge $3.00 extra per night. This is a charge they don't put on their website or tell you about on your bill, unless you ask like I did. When I asked what the fee was for the lady at the registration said for the activities and amenities. But the activites were no different from the standard campground activities: crafts, dj dance, kids games. We will not be back to this overcharging campground. There are other nicer ones in this area to stay at. We camped here in a Travel Trailer.
Overall, the campground was OK. I wouldn't consider Spring Gulch a Camp Resort. We camped in the lower part of the campground. The first site we were given was extremely sloped and had a small rain washed gully going through it. Went to the office to request another site and they were friendly and helpful enough. Gave me several choices to pick from on the lower part. All the sites had a degree of slope to them. None were very level. So we picked one but it made setting up a bit of a hassle. The store had limited grocery items, but quite a few gift type items (amish craft, Spring Gulch shirts etc). No snack bar except for ice cream. The mini golf course was in very poor shape. A lot of ripped up carpeting. We didn't partake, but I believe they actually charged people to use it. The swimming lake was ok and the fishing lake was nice. The pools weren't to my liking. I don't like salty water when it's not supposed to be. The worst was the "entertainment" coordinator John Boy. We went to Bingo and it was dark. There must have been a sign on the door that said "No food or Drinks allowed". But again, it was dark and if there was a sign there, it was somewhat washed out. He called out several people in front of the crowd and sternly instructed "No Drinks!!". Quite a few folks around us were taken back by the demeaning way he addressed people. We went to the pie eating contest the next day and John Boy was officiating. Not much change in his personality. My wife did take our concerns to the office. We will not be back. We camped here in a Tent Trailer.
Beautiful RV Resort. We went in under Good Neighbor Parks that is Coast To Coast so it cost us 13.00 plus a 3.00 campground fee. We were on the Mountain part of the park; very private large beautiful sites. The staff was very friendly and helpful they have 2 pools 1 heated and a great hot tub. I just cant say anything bad at all about this park if i go back to the area this is the campground I would stay in. Loved it! We camped here in a Motorhome.
Clean, well run park. Don't know that I would call it a "resort", but a well run rv park. Was in 700 section pond front. For more privacy check out the upper campground. We camped here in a Tent Trailer.
We are here now. The hill was interesting coming up but once we set up everything was fine. The sites are large and there is plenty to do. We are in site 1571 and the WiFi works great, using it now. Check-in was quick and everyone was nice. Went to the Shady Maple as recommended and it was very good. When we are in the area again, we will stay here. We camped here in a Motorhome.
Camped here a few times and enjoyed every trip. Located near the attractions we frequent. Well kept campground with a friendly staff. Quite a few things to do for the children. I took advantage of the golfing lessons and they helped my game. We camped here in a Travel Trailer.
We loved this park. The sites are fairly level, and very large. We especially loved the size of the sites. The park is "divided" into upper and lower sections, each has a pool and facilities. The park was quiet in our section and very nice. We had a full hook up and everything was very convenient in that regard. Close to everything in Dutch Country. We plan to return again soon. We camped here in a Motorhome.
Beautiful park and amenities. Everything is top notch & it should be for the price! But you did not feel very welcome there because of all of the rules and signs. We camped here in a Travel Trailer.
We stayed here in a 35 ft fifth wheel. Our only mistake was coming on their folk festival weekend. Their rates were doubled $135 per person for Thursday thru Monday, that was $270 for two of us, and we did not think the festival was all that but surely some people would enjoy it. We love this campground but then we love to sit outside around a campfire with our friends. We like the mountain sites but it is just the two of us and the dog. People with kids will probably be better off at the bottom of the mountain near the activities. So too will be the people who want to spend their days sightseeing so they do not have to make the trek up and down the mountain. It is steep but quite manageable. You do have to be a little fit to walk it. This is the closest to camping in the woods as you can get with all the modern conveniences. The sites numbered 1500+ are large and setup so back in is easy for larger rigs. The sites are separated with a little patch of woods to give some privacy. We have been here twice in two years and plan on a trip or two here next year. We camped here in a Fifth Wheel.
We have camped here with three other families for the past 6 years. This was definitely our last time here. We have noticed over the past few years since new management has taken over, that things have gone a little down hill. The campground rates have gone up significantly for just a water/electric site. They also now charge a $3 per night resort fee. We booked a year ago for this past trip and they charged us more when we checked in due to an "increase in rates". However, when we booked a year ago, they told us we were paid in full. There is also a $5 fee for a gate card, but you must use a credit card for a deposit on the key. They charge you the monies and then when you return the key, they refund your credit card. But, you must have the actual credit card when you return the key. I saw a few people losing their deposit because they came in two cars and the person that originally got the key had already left. We found the staff this time too busy to be bothered with things. The straw that finally broke the camel's back for our group this weekend was the camp store. We let our 11 year old boys go to the store to get ice cream. They charge $2.25 plus tax. When the boys got back they informed us that they did not get any change because the store did not have any. So instead of getting change from somewhere or down-charging, they upcharged the boys. They charged them each $3 and told them they didn't have change. Before the weekend was over, we had originally booked for next year, but when we got home we all cancelled our sites and will find somewhere else to keep our annual Memorial Day Weekend going. We camped here in a Travel Trailer.
We have stayed at this campground several times in the past and have always been pleased. This will be our last visit. Memorial Day of 2006 we reserved for 2007 Memorial Day and paid in full. When checking in we were told there was a rate increase of $3 per night. We were also told Spring Gulch now charges a $3 a night resort fee. But they would not charge us for that since we reserved before it was put into effect. In 2006 when we reserved we were told we paid in full. We were not told we would have to pay a rate increase. Our site was water and electric only. I do not know what the resort fee covers. But for $54 a night with no sewer and no cable we will not be back. When questioning the manager about the increases and resort fee we felt she could care less if we came back. We camped here in a Travel Trailer.
Beautiful park. We were in site 1573 in upper level. Steep hill but not insurmountable. Road into park is not a problem, as I passed a truck and fifth wheel on road into park so do not worry about that. We found staff busy, but very friendly. We were running late to check in due to nail in tire, and called Lisa and she stayed past closing to check us in. Once in, we had issues with our hot water heater and she sent someone up to assist. Dennis arrived and he was genuinely helpful and did not rush, despite the late hour. We would gladly stay there again. We camped here in a Travel Trailer.
Upon arrival, we thought this would be a fantastic place. We were disapppointed. Although the site was very large and was easy access for our 40' mobile home, the cable connection was filled w/snowy interference and the WiFi signal was non-existent. Worse, upon checking in, the first person was too busy to acknowledge that I was waiting. After a minute or so, she suggested a person at the other end of the counter would help me...and this second person was busy working on the computer. Ugh! Poor customer service. I went back to the office/store later to ask some questions and the same treatment was offered. I wondered if they understood customers were paying their salary. This is an Encore "resort" and my first experience w/Encore. Needless to say, we were not impressed. This place is hugh and should be a wonderful RV/campground; employees and services are poor. Last but not least, we inquired about using the "work-out" facility and were told it would be an additional $20 for a membership. Ugh, again! We will avoid this place in the future. We camped here in a Motorhome.
I made reservations for a site requesting cable and internet capability. I was informed that what I was being assigned had both. Upon hookup I found that the cable was bad in that area, apparently they knew about it, and that some areas could not get internet connection. The site I was on did not get a signal. I informed the front desk and they provided me with a list of other sites to choose from. Before I went through with a complete hookup I checked the site for both internet and cable, fortunately these were operational on the second site. The people at the front desk were extremely busy every time I approached with a problem and I had to wait. Make sure the sites have operational cable and internet if that is one of the things you are paying for! We camped here in a Motorhome.
Review Rating
[ 8 / 10 ]
November 2006
$36
A huge campground with decent scenery and very good sized campsites. We could easily fit 2 large trailers in the site we were in. The space between the sites was comfortable as well. We were there for a weekend in the Winter so the water was turned off except for at the main entrance. It wasn't hard to fill up on our way in and we carried water up 1 time during the weekend. We had taken showers which is why we went through so much water. The cable and electricity was included which was a bonus since one day it was wet and cold. We had the entire park almost exclusively to ourselves as it was the off-season for the park. I didn't find much to complain about the campground except a few minor items. One being a good sized hill which isn't extremely steep in it's grade but is a little intimidating in it's appearance. I lugged my trailer up without much effort but approaching it I had to take a deep breath. It would have been nice to access the internet from our site. The internet service is a Pay-Per-Use service that is similar to a good amount of the larger campgrounds. However, I only got reception next to the bath house and office. I did get good cell reception and used my phone as a modem when I needed to check e-mail or access the internet. I agree with some of the other reviews that a couple of the office ladies were kind of "Rough" in their demeanor. The lady I spoke with on the phone prior to staying at the park was very polite and seemed pleasant. Whereas the 2 women whose conversation I actually had to interrupt to pay for my reservation were much less than pleasant. Once you get past that and are settled in, the rest of our stay proved delightful. We camped here in a Travel Trailer.
Our site 1551 was spacious enough for our 43 foot MH. It was very easy to maneuver our rig through the roads, although the entrance is steep. The CG is beautifully landscaped and everything seems to be well-maintained. We were not able to enjoy the facilities because of the time of year, but there are two huge pools, miniature golf, a fitness center, pavilions, and a well-equipped store. The office staff was extremely helpful. The area itself is full of attractions, Dutch Wonderland, Lancaster, Shady Maple Smorgasbord, as well as gorgeous pristine countryside. This is definitely a place we will return to. Our rate was low because of the time of year we visited, but in the high season, rates are over $50. The water was being turned off on November 6th, so we had to leave early that morning. However, the staff informed us of this before our arrival. We camped here in a Motorhome.
nice CG with friendly staff. Our site was nice but do to recent rain the ground was soft which caused us to slide and spin when backing into the site. A camper next to us had 4 wheel drive and had to back us in. The power went out for one hour in the middle of the night during cold temperatures. Staff said it happens when there is an overload. The weekend was Halloween weekend and had allot of teen-agers hanging out around the CG. The CG offered hay rides, Halloween costume contests, haunted house and a Halloween dance. Overall very nice weekend. We camped here in a Travel Trailer.
I was torn on how to rate this campground. The sites at the top of the mountain looked great. Nice and roomy but the mountain might be a problem for some people. All the activities are at the bottom of the mountain and there is no bike riding down the mountain so most kids do not enjoy this aspect of the campground (it's a really long walk down!). The sites at the bottom of the mountain were smaller sites and seemed to be packed in a little tighter. Most of the sites were level though ours was not even close to level. The bathrooms were clean and the showers were private with a nice little separate area to change in. Pool at the bottom of the mountain was nice. My biggest problem with this campground was the location of the bathrooms. There are only a few and they are pretty far away from most of the sites. I felt this campground catered to the bigger RV's with bathrooms and showers. We were here in a pop up with no bathroom so this was a big problem for us! I'm not sure if we would stay here again just for that reason. We camped here in a Tent Trailer.
We love the sites at this cg! We were up on the mountain and the sites are beautiful. Nice size, gravel, plenty of privacy. We really enjoyed it here. The only drawbacks are walking up and down the mountain to get to the store or whatever is down below and the pool on the mountain is a little on the small side. But other than that it was very nice. We are definatley going back! We camped here in a Tent Trailer.
We had a full hookup site up on the hill, and it was beautiful. The sites were wide and easy to back into. Our site was level, and it was very nice to have wooded areas seperating you from your neighbors. We did not have any problems going up the hill-the road was well maintained and paved. Most of our stay here was during the week, and the camp was very quiet and fairly empty. On Friday afternoon it filled up, and there was a lot more activity going on. We did not have much interaction with the staff, but everyone seemed friendly. This was a great place to stay and see the area from. The wifi service that they now have was terrible. The first night we were able to connect for free. The second day we had no signal, and when we did get a signal on the third day it wanted to charge us. When we tried to register it kept rejecting us. That was my only complaint about the park. I would recommend it to others. We camped here in a Fifth Wheel.
This is a great resort to visit. Sites on hill are the best. Most roads in park are new blacktop. Roads that lead out to sites on hill and lower sites are gravel. All sites are gravel and level. Sites on hill are long, wide, and have trees from site to site. You have two pools, tennis court, mini-golf, dance barn, pond to swim in, fishing pond, softball field, fitness center, on and on. Park has a security gate 24/7. Park has 1667 sites but only 370 sites to rent. May be hard to find a site on weekends. We camped here in a Motorhome.
The park is a very nice place to stay. We stayed in our 33 ft MH. The site was very level and easy to back in. The majority of site are on top of the mountain. We did not have a toad and made on trip to the lower area were activities take place. Easy oing down but a killer going up. therefor we were stranded up on the mountain. We did vist the store which was small and crowded and pricy. All in all I like the park and will return. There seemed to be a lot of trah in the tree areas off the road. I assume they hadn't done their spring clean up yet. We camped here in a Motorhome.
This was our first visit to this campground and we chose it based on the reviews here. Excellent campground. The sites up in the 1500's are huge. A little hilly up there, but sites are level and on gravel. The main road going up to those sites was recently repaved and not a problem at all. If you want a camping experience in the woods, this is the campground. The sites on the lower level however,are smaller, less shady and buggy near the fishing lake. Bathrooms,lake, pool and spa well maintained and very clean. Staff very friendly. Great location. Shady maple buffet and supermarket just up the road. Both places excellent. We looked at three other campgrounds just north of Spring Gulch, but none compared. We liked the spacious sites here. Also a bit more expensive, but I'd pay extra for the prime site and privacy. We plan to return in the beginning of November and even considering a seasonal site for next year. We camped here in a Travel Trailer.
Review Rating
[ 7 / 10 ]
August 2005
$44
I'm not normally picky at all about campgrounds, but when I read all of these glowing reviews of Spring Gulch, I thought it must be "Fort Wilderness North"! Boy was I disappointed. Okay, if it didn't get such unanimous positive reviews here, I'd think it was a fairly nice, average campgound, which it is. But for the life of me I can't figure out why everyone is so in love with this place!? The bathrooms were nothing to write home about; a little worn and old but mostly clean, the showers were dimly lit and a little moldy. The bathroom nearest to the lower pool was absolutely filthy, I guess they don't get to that one to clean it as often. The sites up on the hill that everyone raves about is at such a steep incline that you better be pretty proficient at driving that rig to get up there. Those sites were heavily wooded but it is a major pain to drive up and down the hill for the activities or the store -- it's impossible and dangerous to walk it. Oh and the hot tub is up there. I passed on it, with 400 campsites and a small hot tub it was way to crowded to enjoy a soak with so many people in it. Oh, then they charge and extra $2 per child over age 6. Why I do not know. It is not because they have crafts and activities for the kids because you have to pay for the crafts as well. Even the Candy Bar Bingo game we had to bring our own candy bar to put in the collective prize bin. So we brought 4 Hershey bars and left with nothing. Each person brings 1 candy bar and the winners receive 4 candy bars. At .75 to .95 a candy bar at the expensive camp store, I think they do that just to make a little more profit. The campstore is nothing great. Average size, not very well stocked and very expensive: Bug Spray $7.99, Sweatshirts $35, candy .75 to .95. The pools were supposed to be heated, but they were pretty chilly. The game room was in a run down building with about 6 big garbage dumpsters behind it. The pictures on their website are not from this campground. Like the pic of the ladies doing aerobics. There IS NO aerobic studio here. There is a small weight room. That is what they call their "day spa" because you can also get a massage there for $55. Their website tries to call this a camp "resort" it's just a bunch of hype that I fell for as it is not any better than most and is not nearly as nice as others. On the positive side: it is a fairly clean campground, they have quite a few kids activities. The activities co-ordinators are a retirement-aged couple who keep the kids occupied with fun things (it seems the husband is more into it than the wife -- she can be a little cranky I thought). We enjoyed the Karaoke as well as the two man band. They have some delicious Turkey Hill Ice cream in the camp store for $2. 25 a cone with lots of great flavors. There is a nice modern playground. All in all, it's a nice place to visit but I wouldn't say it makes my list as places I MUST return to. If we are in the area again, we'll probably check out one of the other campgrounds. Don't believe all they hype, it's just a regular, decent campground. We camped here in a Tent Trailer.
This was our first visit to this park. My family and I were very happy with facilities. Very clean and well maintained. I was surprised that some of the facilities were as old as they were but fine still the same. We would return in the future. We camped here in a Travel Trailer.
Review Rating
[ 10 / 10 ]
July 2005
$40
Been camping at Spring Gulch Campground for more than 30 years. My wife and I with our three daughters started camping there in a tent. We are now in our third travel trailer. We feel the Amish countryside must be heaven on earth and Spring Gulch is in the middle of it. Need I say more? We camped here in a Travel Trailer.
Review Rating
[ 9 / 10 ]
July 2005
$47
Very nice well kept park. Owners were very friendly and helpful. Would go there again. We camped here in a Travel Trailer.
Very nice campground. We got a site on top of the hill. Trees on 3 sides of the site. Fire ring and picnic table. Gravel sites and roads. Very peaceful except for the people who felt they needed to turn their TVs up at night outside to watch the race and the loud people across the street. But all in all, had a great time.. 2 swimming pools and a hot tub. Great country location and we will be returning when we are ready to go to the outlet malls and see the Amish. We camped here in a Travel Trailer.
It was a great campground. I really loved how large your sites were and the amount of privacy between you and your neighbors. Will positivly go back! We camped here in a Fifth Wheel.
This is a very nice campground. Mountain sites are very roomy and separated by about 20' of woods. Lots of hiking/walking trails makes it great for the pups. People are nice and the electric gate adds some security. We will return there, since we like the Lancaster area. We camped here in a Motorhome.
This is our favorite campground in the Lancaster area. We've stayed up on the mountain but usually choose the lower section because our kids enjoy being close to the activities. Big rigs are best accomodated in the upper section where the shade and large sites can't be beat! There is a tremendous variety in sites, so reserve early and state your preferences - shade, open, on a hill, near creek, near pond, etc. On holiday weekends the place is full and some of the seldom booked sites near the arcade are small. Lots to do both in and out of the campground. We camped here in a Tent Trailer.
This is one of the nicest campgrounds we've been to, and we will definitely be back! The
sites on the hill are HUGE, level, and private, and have ALL the amenities. The hilltop area definitely has a different flavor than the rest of the campground (ie closer to campground activities), but the whole resort is very nice. Clean and professionally run. A little pricey, but you get what you pay for. We camped here in a Fifth Wheel.
Review Rating
[ 10 / 10 ]
2004
$44
This is the best campground we have stayed at. We stayed in one of the prime spots up the
hill and it was worth it. Bathrooms and showers were exceptionally clean. Pool and hot tub were clean. Excellent lots with just the right amount of privacy. The other camping areas looked a bit more crowded but still pretty nice. Tons of things for the kids including a descent mini-golf and a lake which actually has fish in it. We can't wait to go back. We camped here in a Tent Trailer.
Review Rating
[ 10 / 10 ]
July 2003
$40
Wonderful location and great facilities in this park. Two sections to this park, the lower section with smaller sites but close to game room (barn), store, pond w/beach and the upper section that is heavily wooded with very large sites and with another pool (2 total in park). Both sections look nice and would stay in either. Store is well stocked and the staff is quite friendly. We would definitely stay here again. We camped here in a Motorhome.
One of the nicer campgrounds, two distinct areas, lower area more for families and kids and located near kid type activities (basketball court, lake, beach, game room, putt putt, etc.) and the upper area (up the hill) has bigger sites (almost 100') less kids, but still has pool and jacuzzi. Absolutely will return again! We camped here in a Fifth Wheel.
Review Rating
[ 10 / 10 ]
2003
$42
This is one of the nicest campgrounds that I have been to. The new section (up the hill) has large sites that can accommodate 40 ft motor homes. Trees on three sides line the sites. They have nice swimming pools. They have a spa with massages. My wife thinks it the best massage she has ever had. The staff is helpful and friendly. The campsite sites in the middle of Amish country and is not too far from the outlets. They have a sister campground with miniature Amish village. I took this tour (which is free of charge) with my children and found it very informative. A bit pricey in the in season. We usually go there May/early June when the prices are still low. We camped here in a Motorhome.
Review Rating
[ 10 / 10 ]
2003
$41
First time visit in May 2003. Very nice C.G. Friendly people, helpful staff. Can't wait to go back. Need to save some $$$ because it's not cheap for the preferred sites even during off peak. The "10" rating is based on the Water/Elec/Sewer/Cable sites "on top of hill" only. Rest of CG sites are average. It's like a different campground up there! Be prepared to walk up/down the medium grade hill if you plan to participate in CG activies. Mom loved the massage at the spa which was reasonably priced. We camped here in a Motorhome.
Review Rating
[ 9 / 10 ]
June 2002
$40
Very nice campground. Lets start with the only negative too spread out. Most of the activities are on the lower level. It is necessary to drive to store, game room etc. They have 2 pools upper and lower levels along with tennis court on upper level with jacuzzi. Store is well stocked and expensive. They have a very nice and free exercise / weight room. Great sites in the 1500 section. Most of the tourist activities are nearer to Strausberg, PA We camped here in a Travel Trailer.
The best private campground we have been to so far. If your building a campground this should be the model for it. We camped here in a Motorhome.
Review Rating
[ 9 / 10 ]
2002
$48
Very large clean sites. Family campground, about 15 minutes from Amish sites and attractions. Would give it a ten except needed more bathroom sites. Price is quite high, however they do offer alot of activities for adults and children.
Would go back. We camped here in a Motorhome.
Review Rating
[ 9 / 10 ]
2000
$29
This park is very nice, Amish farm at one time. You have a lot of room to play here. Large fish pond,
stream runs thru park, old fire truck, dance hall, ice cream bar, large open places and lot of trees on top of hill. Sites on top of hill were large a eazy to get in and out of. One pool down the hill and one at top of hill. Guard on gate on weekends, place may be full on weekends. Good place to see Amish farms, very good
places to eat close by. No road noise. We camped here in a camper.