Short review: False Advertising, Double Booking, Mold Exposure, Unsanitary Conditions, and Terrible Customer Service
Avoid Son's Blue River Camp at all costs.
Long Review: The night before our reservation, the venue called to tell us the "bell tent" we booked and fully paid for was actually a bring-your-own-tent campsite. Instead of honoring the reservation, they immediately tried to upsell us and charge additional money to "upgrade" to a glamping cabin.
After making last-minute accommodations to bring our own tent, we arrived the next day only to be told our reserved campsite had been double booked due to their online and in-person reservation systems "not communicating." Staff admitted they had been dealing with this issue all day.
This campground was grossly overbooked and lacked adequate infrastructure--insufficient campsites, limited electricity, limited water access, inadequate sewage accommodations, and overflowing porta-potties. Some were cautioned taped off.
One staff member, Clayton, was openly hostile and told us: "Y'all could all really just go home and that would make my life a lot easier." Knowing they enforce a strict no refund policy, that wasn't a real option.
We were temporarily placed in a "glamping cabin," which had a strong mildew odor, visible mold contamination, and likely water damage. The mold and mildew were severe enough to disrupt sleep and created serious health concerns. This is not "glamping"--this is unsafe lodging.
The following day, after being reassured our campsite issues were resolved, we returned from the river to find our paid campsite was once again being occupied by another group. Staff then blamed us for not setting up earlier--even though they had told us the site was available.
This confirms what many should know: if you book online, they may not actually reserve your site. Meanwhile, walk-up campers appear to pay less, creating a pattern of double-booking and double-charging customers.
Conditions across the property were unacceptable:
Overflowing trash cans left baking in 90+ degree heat
Trash not removed during the entire stay
Strong odors from garbage and human waste
Porta-potties that could be smelled from over 100 feet away
Ant infestations inside and outside sleeping tents
Broken or non-working advertised AC units
Mold-covered canvas tents
Unclean and unsanitary sleeping areas
When we reported ants covering one of the tents, staff responded: "What do you want me to do about it?"
This was one of the worst examples of misrepresentation, unsafe camping conditions, unsanitary glamping accommodations, poor campground management, and negligent customer service we've ever experienced.
We filed formal complaints with the Guadalupe County Code Enforcement office who reported back that MOLD CONTAMINATION WAS CONFIRMED IN THEIR BELL TENTS.
They offered us a credit for another stay, but after this experience, there is absolutely no reason we would ever return.
This place feels like a scam and a massive health hazard.
Book literally anywhere else. read more