roadtripper1414112

First off…No hot tub or bike rental as it says in amenities.

It’s been 2018 since our last visit. The place has really gone downhill. We’ve been to the Madison KOA at least 4 times.
What they think is clean now a days is laughable.

I will give some advice if you HAVE to stay here but PLEASE READ TO THE BOTTOM.

I usually cabin stay when staying at a branded campground, for $10-20 more a night makes it worth it not to lug my tent and usually tent sites are crap at these places and they have a couple just to say they have some (the ones here are grown over they claim to have 2, one is dug up and from what I’ve read after having my bad experience…they will put you at an RV site with your tent). I camp at all 3 KOA brands, state parks, family campgrounds, and yogi bears etc.

Everything here is dated and it looks like they only have an interest in fixing things when they can’t avoid it anymore. Other places I’ve been have been putting in the upgrades left and right since camping has seen a serge these past couple of years.

Lake-never seen anyone fish at the lake until this past stay caught a blue gill. They have a few small non motor boats no peddle boats so don’t let that mislead you with “boat rental”. You do see things jump so I don’t doubt there’s fish and it’s really pretty in the backdrop.

If you HAVE KIDS young enough to have to keep an eye on the kabins facing the pillow ARE PRIME (kids wait for it to blow up every morning), play ground (basic-not toddler friendly, there’s a sand pit that’s not covered
up at night where they HAD some toddler play stuff), and pool (clean and small but does the job, the try to open it ASAP every year) all the activities are around there as well. If you DONT have kids or have a napper in the family, expect constant noise until quiet time. Get a white noise app or bring a sound machine, the TV you may get isn’t loud enough. Quiet and shade is on the backside of those Kabins in the pet friendly area.

Campstore is sparse, they need to bring it up date and offer more. Make sure you grocery shop before pulling in. They certainly have the room to do more and they would. Ale money off of kids with pocket money going in there to buy snacks.
Camp host family was awesome and usually the lower staff all are.
They never had a gate, car hangers, or escorts as long as I’ve camped there.
Activities have always been cheap and bare bones. They need to get more creative, there’s more cheap things they can do with minimal investment. There isn’t an activities director, the camp hosts run them.

Deals: they participate in Kid Care (May) and Camper Appreciation (September) weekend. Some KOAs don’t, claim they do but can’t actually use it when you try or pickings are slim. At any given time your more likely to find open spots here than other places surrounding Pittsburgh. So that’s probably why then honor those deals.

Even with the deals I won’t be back. It’s not worth it. There is nothing new or upgraded and I’m not passing through or here for other things like some are. It’s ok for a weekend, don’t spend a week here with kids they’ll get bored. If you want to be within an hour from Pittsburgh and need some relaxation/recreation there are PLENTY of options. Uniontown KOA for example 15 minutes further down the road if you want a KOA.

What tipped my scales from PROBABLY won’t be back to ABSOLUTELY WONT be back is….when I arrived my cabin was not clean, there was ultra crusty very dried up insect parts (its the woods, but…no one could have wiped that up? It’s obvious it’s been sitting there awhile) all over the top bunk, a flim/dust on the bed mats. I went to set up the beds and found several coins (from peoples pockets I assume) and an ear pod my toddler could have choked on if I hadn’t looked. A cleaning person should have found that if it were, in fact, cleaned. They sent the cleaning lady, she came in with a duster pad and went over our sleeping pads….no cleaners, towels, or shop vac. After she left, I swept the floor and LOTS of dirt came up. I broke out my sani wipes and did everything I could. I didn’t appreciate paying $90 a night for a tiny kabin to have to clean before my kids could settle in.

Also the door didn’t lock, I didn’t find this out until late in the second day when I went for 10 rounds of bingo and wanted to lock the door. I though it was locked from the inside Friday night when we went to sleep because it looked latched. But after Saturday night bingo I figured, I’ll be checking out at noon Sunday and who is coming this time of night anyway? I’ve never had luck with after hours stuff there. She said I should have told them at check in, she knew exactly the problem before I finished saying what I was saying and that maintenance would have come to fix it. Although I’ve always felt safe there…Non locking door, no security gate, electronic valuables, purse, medications and wife there alone with kids not ideal. Explained that to them, made it out to be no big deal.

Also if you get the small Kabin with a shower, expect a flood and use your own towels to sop it up. They only give you toilet paper, no bath mats. Also be prepared to wet, lather and rinse because a full shower without it going lukewarm to cold half way through is not a real thing. Try not to do dishes or hand wash for awhile before showering, the tank is tiny.

The staff people were indignant and acted like I was imagining it. I was given a dirty kabin. They kept trying to minimize what I was telling them, tried to pass the buck ( she said only 1 coin, didn’t know about the air pod) , and said measures were taken that obviously weren’t.

I did not get satisfaction (a freaking apology) at camp level so I did reach out to KOA HQ who created a ticket. I have yet to hear back, I can only hope this triggers an inspection. This campground DOES NOT live up to KOA quality, imagine and standards.