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Reviews — 8
Nice campground, spacious private spots. Nice bath house. Great beach and playground. We had site 39 ADA , Nice view of water and access to it. 5G with Verizon and ATT.
I'd give it a five star review if I'd written this the first time I stayed there. The campground has wonderfully private and shaded spots, with electric (no water) hookups. If you get a site along the lake, there are great walking paths and you can quickly get right to the edge of the lake. The restroom/shower house is very clean and well-maintained.
However...
Our first evening there in August 2023 was wonderful. Quiet hours started at 10 and while you could hear the normal light laughter and sounds of a campground, it was typical. The next night, however, a group came into the campground that became a problem. Our group of three sites finally doused the campfire around 11 p.m. realizing that this group was still very loud. Really loud. Playing cornhole, kids still up screaming, adults talking and laughing loudly, periodically hollering at kids when they started fighting. We hoped they would quiet down, but around 11:20, we went over and asked if they would since quiet hours started at 10. "We'll keep that in mind," a woman said sarcastically. As we walked away, I could hear them laughing. They got louder as they drank more. The kids were still up and screaming at 12:15 p.m. when we went back to again ask them to quiet down. Two adults, a man and woman, clearly drunk, got in our face and basically, in a shouting match, said since they were friends with the ranger and camp host and came every weekend, they didn't have to be quiet because no one would do anything to them since they were good buddies and all. The woman said several nasty things, name calling and such. I have another member of our party who heard all of this from their camper.
We called the ranger number, but it was after midnight and there was no answer. The camp host was gone that evening. We left a voicemail and the next morning talked to the host (who said he didn't know them) and day ranger (who also didn't know them, he said). The day ranger promised to let the permanent ranger know. Later that afternoon, we watched as the permanent ranger spent significant time in their spot, came over to our spot and said "we like to keep it easy here" and that he'd drive through around 10 p.m., and then went back over to their spot to play cornhole.
The group didn't seem to gather across from us that night, so it was quieter. I don't know which site they and their friends went to and don't care. However, my point is that if the ranger is buddies with people who are breaking the rules and bragging obnoxiously that their friendship and coming every weekend gives them the ability to do so, this is not a campground you'll want to go to. If they want to "keep it easy" at this campground, they need to encourage people to be respectful of others, remain professional and maintain the camp according to their published rules, and not be buddies with campers. Each camper pays the same amount of money to camp there with the expectation that there will be respect towards each other.
However...
Our first evening there in August 2023 was wonderful. Quiet hours started at 10 and while you could hear the normal light laughter and sounds of a campground, it was typical. The next night, however, a group came into the campground that became a problem. Our group of three sites finally doused the campfire around 11 p.m. realizing that this group was still very loud. Really loud. Playing cornhole, kids still up screaming, adults talking and laughing loudly, periodically hollering at kids when they started fighting. We hoped they would quiet down, but around 11:20, we went over and asked if they would since quiet hours started at 10. "We'll keep that in mind," a woman said sarcastically. As we walked away, I could hear them laughing. They got louder as they drank more. The kids were still up and screaming at 12:15 p.m. when we went back to again ask them to quiet down. Two adults, a man and woman, clearly drunk, got in our face and basically, in a shouting match, said since they were friends with the ranger and camp host and came every weekend, they didn't have to be quiet because no one would do anything to them since they were good buddies and all. The woman said several nasty things, name calling and such. I have another member of our party who heard all of this from their camper.
We called the ranger number, but it was after midnight and there was no answer. The camp host was gone that evening. We left a voicemail and the next morning talked to the host (who said he didn't know them) and day ranger (who also didn't know them, he said). The day ranger promised to let the permanent ranger know. Later that afternoon, we watched as the permanent ranger spent significant time in their spot, came over to our spot and said "we like to keep it easy here" and that he'd drive through around 10 p.m., and then went back over to their spot to play cornhole.
The group didn't seem to gather across from us that night, so it was quieter. I don't know which site they and their friends went to and don't care. However, my point is that if the ranger is buddies with people who are breaking the rules and bragging obnoxiously that their friendship and coming every weekend gives them the ability to do so, this is not a campground you'll want to go to. If they want to "keep it easy" at this campground, they need to encourage people to be respectful of others, remain professional and maintain the camp according to their published rules, and not be buddies with campers. Each camper pays the same amount of money to camp there with the expectation that there will be respect towards each other.
It was amazing loved it so did the kiddos
Cleanest campground bathrooms I have ever used! Love that most of the spots are spaced with trees instead of stacked side by side with other campers. Some spots are a little tight to back into. Overall great place to camp!
Very nice shaded sites. Very good shower house. Many sites on the water but not really water view due to trees. We enjoyed site #1 which was more open, private and has a nice view. Valley City is an interesting small town with many bridges over the river and a nice visitor center with a restored superintendents rail travel car.
Loved this place not only is it kept clean but the view is beautiful. This place is kept better than most Minnesota State Parks. If you love to camp and have children then this is the place for you. Great handycap accessibility on the grounds and handycap bathroom with shower. Needs a bit of repair but usable. Loved my experience here with my friends and family. The Rangers are very polite and informative and visit people that are being loud and parting disturbing others if you need to destress I highly recomend this place.
This is our favorite campground in eastern ND. Over the last several years, each August, we book 4-5 nights at this campground over our anniversary. The beach is great, the facilities are always spotless, and it's so packed with trails and trees. We absolutely love it. The only thing I would say is a bummer is that there is no cell reception, so you have to drive back up to the entrance of the park to check messages and such, but that's also kind of a good thing because you really feel disconnected (as you should when camping).
