Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Dowling Aquatic Base

    2.5 (2 reviews)

    Dowling Aquatic Base Photos

    More like Dowling Aquatic Base

    Recommended Reviews - Dowling Aquatic Base

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    2 years ago

    This was not fun, canoes were not working please fix them, this was not enjoyable please don't make my son go here

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Sarah E.
    155
    19
    14

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Verify this business for free

    Get access to customer & competitor insights.

    Verify this business

    Runyan Ranches

    Runyan Ranches

    4.9(14 reviews)
    67.0 mi

    On a drive through the outside edge of the mountain range on our way back to Texas, we came across…read morethis roadside gem where there is nothing else around expect a few houses spread apart, hills, lots of dirt and desert brush, and a ravine behind the buildings were a small creek was running. Very serene and peaceful, mind you the rooster on side was being plenty loud. We stopped as we saw signs for "mountain apples", so curiosity got the best of us and we stopped. It's a run down barn building, wider than deep, and to the left... cages. With goats, chickens, roosters, a donkey, and a camel. If there were others, they were hiding. The camel was funny, as he/she was very vocal. Trying to compete with the rooster, maybe. The barn store had a lot of canned items, jams, beets, sauces, salsas, random veggies. It housed various souvenirs as well. The young lady there was super nice, a Texas Tech student that was home for the holidays. Very neat place. If you're in this area of nowhere, it's a fun place to stop and stretch the legs, get some actual apples that are grown in the area, and pet the camel.

    This place has been on my list after a little roadtrip through my homestate. Staying in Ruidoso,…read morethought this would be the perfect opportunity to stop by. 70 miles later, we didn't realize how far away it was. The place was packed! I was surprised at how many unique animals they have here- water buffalo, goats, turkeys, camel, zebra, capybara, kangaroo, donkeys, alpacas, pigs, emus, ostrich, bunnies, etc. We ending up spending a little less than an hour here. I asked them how business had been and they said they had been blessed during this time. We bought 2 pints of cider (one apple and one cherry for $2 each) and a pound of tart apples for $3. They had honeys and jams, nuts and mini pies. It's about $2 to feed the animals and admission costs are all covered by donation. The journey back was a lot quicker and we left happy and full of cider. 2020 #23

    Photos
    Runyan Ranches
    Runyan Ranches - The "I thought I was retired" look. lol

    The "I thought I was retired" look. lol

    Runyan Ranches - Happy horses in the orchard!

    See all

    Happy horses in the orchard!

    Carlsbad Caverns National Park - Carlsbad Caverns National Park

    Carlsbad Caverns National Park

    4.7(502 reviews)
    21.0 mi

    I'm always impressed at the lengths NPS goes to accommodate all visitors, from infants and toddlers…read moreto the elderly; from hardcore hikers to people with mobility issues. How cool is it that they installed elevators in a cavern this deep (750+ feet underground) just to help everyone enjoy the natural wonder? The park is small but packs a big punch. The cavern is obviously the main attraction, make reservations in advance if at all possible to secure your spot. There's a lot to see down there; just a walk to and around the big room will take 90-120 minutes round trip (take the elevator back up). The path is dimly lit and has guard rails throughout, so it's not particularly challenging. And there are restrooms at the very bottom in case nature calls. The cave is really unique, and there are lots of cool formations to learn about throughout the entire descent and in the big room. Well worth a visit!

    Free for active duty military!…read more Beautiful drive to the facility and wonderful inside. There's lots to do/look at while you wait for your elevator down to the cavern. They had sculptures, information about the caverns, and even a junior ranger section stocked with books, coloring pages (upon request), and things you could touch. Bathrooms were excellent and super clean. It's easier to make an online reservation to secure your spot, as tickets sell out quickly. The only downside was there was no separate line for online purchases vs in house ones and we ended up missing our 10:00 elevator and had to wait for the next one down. They have several cave tour options-- a descent from the surface, bat show, self guided, etc. We chose the self guided, as we had small children and it seemed easiest. Strollers are not allowed in the caverns (some-- most-- of it is wheelchair accessible though), so we carried our youngest in a hiking backpack. Inside the actual cavern, there are bathroom facilities, a small cafe, and gift shop. You can only eat in the area provided, otherwise you can bring water into the cave. The entire tour took about an hour and a half and was absolutely wonderful. Our kids are pretty young, so they weren't as impressed, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. The cave was well lit in most places and there were emergency phones scattered throughout. The path was walkable and had guard railings. I let my 20 month old son walk around for some of our time there, but occasionally picked him up because some spots he could duck under the railing and get into trouble/hurt. They recommend that all children be kept within arms length reach and for good reason. During our stay, a little boy got separated from his family. The rangers were extremely kind to him during his wait for his parents' return. Luckily, he didn't have to wait long, but the whole situation seemed to be handled well, especially communication between rangers to locate the boy's family. The gift shop is huge and stocked with everything from pressed pennies, magnets, ornaments, to shirts, gear, and jams/jellies. Outside, there's ample parking and even picnic areas/senic overlooks. If you're in the area, I would make a stop!

    Photos
    Carlsbad Caverns National Park - Fairy Land

    Fairy Land

    Carlsbad Caverns National Park - Carlsbad Caverns National Park

    Carlsbad Caverns National Park

    Carlsbad Caverns National Park - Bigggf cave

    See all

    Bigggf cave

    Living Desert Zoo & Gardens State Park - Living Desert Zoo & Gardens State Park

    Living Desert Zoo & Gardens State Park

    4.7(61 reviews)
    3.7 mi

    I wanted a hiking and an outlook experience and this place did not disappoint. Meandering through…read morethe grounds, there are is an aviary, pond, creature cave, outdoor elk & sheep pen, gardens and more. Lots of panoramic views. Indoors, there are a bunch of displays, restrooms and a gift shop. An easy 1 hour exploration of the grounds. Lots of free parking.

    *** mountain lions and a bobcat are here now! ***…read more My young daughters and I loved seeing black bear "Maggie" open her 20th birthday present on 1.18.2025. We had no idea this event was happening prior to our visit that Saturday, so it was a special treat. Adult admission is now $10. Kids ages 7-12 are $5. I will always be a fan of this park because of certain staff members and the animals... Chihuahuan desert animals are the absolute best! Note, this go around we did not see the bison or a single scorpion. In saying this, I would NOT plan a trip just for this state park. It's not where it should be. The map they handed us clarifies that a new Framework Plan is in the works, but its implementation has seemingly been prolonged. There needs to be certain renovations and maintenance done before I would ever recommend this as a key destination. Before you visit, check out their hours ahead of time and set aside at least an hour for a self-guided tour. The signage going to this place absolutely still sucks. I'll never understand why New Mexico is like this. How do non-natives of this area even find this place without a GPS? Seriously. Ample free parking for RVs, trucks, my Jeep, and the usual boring cars. Bring water, a hat, & comfy walking shoes.

    Photos
    Living Desert Zoo & Gardens State Park - Living Desert Zoo & Gardens State Park

    Living Desert Zoo & Gardens State Park

    Living Desert Zoo & Gardens State Park - Living Desert Zoo & Gardens State Park

    Living Desert Zoo & Gardens State Park

    Living Desert Zoo & Gardens State Park - Living Desert Zoo & Gardens State Park

    See all

    Living Desert Zoo & Gardens State Park

    The Camp @ Cloudcroft

    The Camp @ Cloudcroft

    4.4(16 reviews)
    80.1 mi

    This place was a nightmare. Over priced cheapy dirty lodging. The cabin was not as listed. It's a…read moreSHARED double wide trailer with the owner although listed (and priced) as a private cabin. Listed as family friend, yet we got a complaint that our kids noise was excessive from INSIDE of the cabin. The cabin comes with bad views and lots of attitude. Lodging walls are plastered in cheap tacky prints in goodwill frames with price tags on every single one. The "maintenance guy" came onto the property on our 1st morning to yell at us and treat us like children over the fire pit we used the night before, while my husband was still sleeping. He came trying to intimidate us, threatening that we are going to be charged for excessive damage, at the very start of our stay. There is NO communication here. No instructions, no checkout or checkin information, nothing. We placed a log on a propane firepit because we were supplied a nearly empty propane tank, and were unaware we could burn a log. Again, no information about ANYTHING anywhere inside or out, just an inaccurate map. After being berated and yelled at by the "maintenance man" multipe visits, we spent our Saturday morning cleaning out that firepit with our bare hands. It looked and functioned 10x better than when we arrived. Not my idea of vacationing! So we didn't mess with it the remainder of our 2 days there, robbing us of one of the few amenities we came for. We came for the view and campfire, both we didn't get to experience here. We went to politely and professionally talk to the owner after the maintenance man drama and he could care less and then sat there making lavish statememts, and saying comments like, "wheres your realtors license"... huh?!?! There's lots of lodging in this area, stay anywhere but here! You will find better accommodations at cheaper prices. Also, after reading my negative reviews, the camp sent me a private message on social media calling me "low life". The owner also made a very bizarre comment on my Facebook review requesting that I friend him. This is the usual MO with any negative review (guest shaming and intimidation) as you can see on any site with 1 star reviews.

    Great location, was passing through and was able grab the "cozy cabin" for a night, but the star…read moreof the show is the ristas food truck, ristas was insanely good, the seared ahi tuna, and a monster quesodilla were better than any sit down I've ever been to. Tons of wildlife on the property, camp host even tried to lure them closer to get pics! Best spot in NM!

    Photos
    The Camp @ Cloudcroft - Large Shaded Sites

    Large Shaded Sites

    The Camp @ Cloudcroft - Live Music in the Pavilion!

    Live Music in the Pavilion!

    The Camp @ Cloudcroft - Bathrooms

    See all

    Bathrooms

    Green Meadow Park - 8/27/22

    Green Meadow Park

    4.5(2 reviews)
    64.4 mi

    Green Meadow Park is located on the northwest side of Hobbs, NM…read more It features a large human-made pond with a walking path upon its perimeter. I brought my daughters here for their first time on 8/27/2022. It was my first time visiting the City-maintained park in over ten years. While it has some new-to-me features, I think that in the coming years there could be some major improvements. There was ample parking. On a sidenote, when we were there, two large dogs were not on leashes playing fetch with their owners. My dog is no longer around, so I often walk my brother's pitbull and want to start walking my other brother's German Shepherd... good dog owners know where I'm going with this. Just be careful when going to any park with your dog in this town. The "let's all win, toss it in the bin" campaign certainly seems to help keep waste off the ground. Here, it's printed on large signs with trash cans spread throughout the park. Much appreciated! Now if we could just get all of the morons to stop throwing trash out their car windows... TIP + The Hobbs Farmers Market is held every Saturday from 9 AM to 1 PM at Green Meadows Park.

    This us a very nice clean park to take your family. New playground equipment , large pond with…read moreducks and geese. You can also fish there. Clean restrooms which is a plus!

    Photos
    Green Meadow Park - All of the pollinators love this! 8/21/2023

    All of the pollinators love this! 8/21/2023

    Green Meadow Park - 8/27/22

    8/27/22

    Green Meadow Park - RIP Avery, Landon & Payton. (Photo of memorial bench taken on 8/21/2023)

    See all

    RIP Avery, Landon & Payton. (Photo of memorial bench taken on 8/21/2023)

    Dowling Aquatic Base - summer_camps - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...