First of all, let me say that we lived our experience at Laughing Waters. It is a BEAUTIFUL space with ample room and stunning views. My issues were with communication and their lack of transparency.
We made our reservation online and when we got our confirmation email, there was no check in or check out time. It is also not available on their website. When we called, we got a voicemail for the Hot Springs high school & laughing waters campground. Weird. But okay. Left a voicemail, never got a call back. There are also no check in instructions. So we arrived at 3:45 on the day of check in. No station, no instructions, nothing. So we call again and a woman answers and is slightly annoyed that we are calling. Informs us that it is self check in (whatever that means) and I s not until 4 pm because they all work. But since we are there we can go ahead and set up camp.
Campers should be aware that while their photos depict largely wooded areas, they are not. The campsites are set up in a field on the edge of the river. So you do have trees, but they are largely at the edge of the river. A few campsites had more trees, but ours was in the field (blue heron site). This is fine, but the photos make it seem like you're in the woods. And I'm the summer, I would imagine that the direct sun is brutal.
They advertise eco toilets - it's a porta-John. Literally nothing more. Also advertised a first aid station which we did not see, did not find signs for, nor was it in the confirmation email. We didn't need it. But if we had, who knows. A map of the property would have been nice.
All in all. I would definitely recommend Laughing Waters. But I think they should be more transparent about what their property and procedure looks like. read more
