Our experience with the new management at NorWin Campground has been extremely disappointing, and I feel prospective seasonal campers should know what they may be walking into.
One of the most concerning situations involved two same-sex families being asked to leave the campground because they were allegedly "not a good fit." When the families initially asked why they were being asked to leave, management would not provide a reason. To our knowledge, there were no incidents or disciplinary issues involving these families throughout the season, and no other explanation was ultimately provided. What made the situation even more uncomfortable was hearing personal information about these guests and their situation subsequently discussed with other campers. Regardless of the circumstances, campers deserve privacy, consistency, and professional treatment from campground management.
At the same time, there has been a very troubling contrast in how other behavior has been handled. A camper who, according to what we witnessed and/or was reported to the campground, made violent threats toward other people, drove while intoxicated, had police called to the campground, and was ultimately removed from the property has apparently been welcomed back. It is difficult for campers to understand the standards being applied when serious behavior like that does not appear to result in the same kind of consequences.
More generally, the atmosphere under the new management has been disappointing. Management frequently appears overwhelmed and stressed, and interactions with campers often feel unfriendly rather than welcoming. There are also frequent complaints about the previous owners and how much work management has inherited or has to deal with. While running a campground is undoubtedly a demanding job, campers should not feel that those frustrations are being taken out on them.
Another significant concern is the lack of transparency and accountability. When campers have an issue they want to escalate, management has refused to provide contact information for anyone above them. That leaves campers with nowhere to turn when they feel an issue has not been handled appropriately.
The physical condition of the campground is also concerning. Several playground areas and pieces of equipment appear to be deteriorating and potentially unsafe for children. A campground that caters to families should make the safety and maintenance of its recreational areas a priority.
There also seem to be far fewer organized activities, with many of the activities that do happen being organized and run by fellow campers rather than the management team. The campground community itself has continued to make an effort to create a fun environment, but that should not be confused with management providing a strong activities program.
Finally, there seems to be a tendency to involve law enforcement in situations that could potentially be addressed through campground management and established campground rules. Campers should be able to expect management to communicate, mediate, and enforce reasonable rules themselves when appropriate rather than immediately relying on the police.
NorWin has historically had a strong campground community, and many campers have invested significant time, money, and personal effort into making it a place people enjoy returning to year after year. That makes the current direction particularly disappointing.
My biggest concern isn't that every decision made by management will be popular--running a campground is difficult and not everyone will agree with every decision. The concern is how those decisions are communicated, how consistently rules appear to be applied, how campers are treated, and the lack of accountability when people have legitimate concerns.
If you are considering becoming a seasonal camper at NorWin, I strongly recommend asking detailed questions about management policies, guest privacy, disciplinary procedures, campground maintenance, playground safety, activities, and who campers can contact if they need to escalate a concern before making a commitment. read more
