This was our first and last stay at Trailside Campground.
We rented Cabin #3, which is only about 25 yards from the pavilion. It was Friday, July 24, and there were no scheduled concerts or events. Around 5 or 6 people, including the owner, were partying in the pavilion with extremely loud music, strobe lights, and a disco ball until the early morning hours. The cheap curtains in the cabin did nothing to block the flashing lights.
At about 1:40 a.m., I politely walked over and asked if they could just turn the music down a little. I never asked them to shut it off--I simply wanted it lowered enough that we could get some sleep.
The owner's response was unbelievable. He appeared to be intoxicated and immediately came storming toward me yelling, "Hey! Hey! Hey!" He then told me, "This isn't a KOA or a family campground. This is going to go on until 3 or 4 in the morning," and said he'd give me a refund. He wasn't calm or respectful--he was aggressive and confrontational over a simple, reasonable request.
The next morning, another camper stopped me in the bathroom and said she felt bad for how the owner spoke to me. She told me another camper was so upset after witnessing it that he left the pavilion. She also mentioned the owner had been drinking all day because they were celebrating the one-year anniversary of buying the campground.
We weren't the only people bothered by the noise. Campers across from us were complaining too.
If your campground isn't family-friendly and you plan on having loud parties until 3 or 4 in the morning, that's your choice. But be upfront about it so guests know what they're paying for. More importantly, don't treat paying customers with disrespect when they make a polite request.
Customer service starts at the top, and unfortunately our experience with the owner ensured we'll never be back. read more
