Ramblers Rest RV Resort

This place has all the bells and whistles! Pretty busy in the winter and then really slowed down after Easter. The pool is great! Nice rec room for ping pong.

The majority of the population is over the age of 65- but there were a nice mix of children visiting. At times we felt a few side glances because we had children. Not many activities were for the children - even though they could have been. The few children a tivities they did have had a poor turnout.

But the place was really nice. Great location. Really clean restrooms, laundry room, and level sites.

Careful for the rattle snakes and gators. We saw both while there.

My wife and I are staying at another campground in the Venice, FL area. We stopped in at Rambler's Rest a little after Noon on a Thursday to look around and get information for next year's Florida trip.

As we walked up to the office, a woman walked out, closed the door and locked right in front of us, and walked away. She never bothered to inquire whether she could assist us. She just ignored us and walked off. Inside the office we could see other staff. But even though we knocked on the door, they also ignored us. Oh, they looked in our direction when we knocked. But they made no move to assist us.

The entire experience told us they weren't interested in providing any assistance.

I’ll start by saying maybe we would’ve have a better experience if they didn’t squeeze our massive fifth wheel into a spot meant for a small RV. We had to start and restart trying to get it in to the tightest spot in the tightest loop. Everyone around us had to move their awnings and vehicles for us to fit. It was chaotic and stressful. The road coming into the loop is an extremely small, skinny road with permanent trailers lining it.. all of whom have their things parked right up to the road. I’ve never been in a space this tight and for $110 a night I was shocked they’d put us there. Our sewer was on one side and our electric/water in the other which was incredibly annoying. We paid for an upgraded site and got 30 amps instead of the 50 we needed - and it was hot the whole time. Power tripped multiple times. Wifi is not free so we had to pay for that too and it only worked on a few of our electronics. Our site was right next to a large swamp that has alligators and poisonous snakes, not safe considering we have a dog and 3 small children. The laundry and pool were clean, they don’t allow swimming after dark though. The full time trailers don’t keep their things nice so it feels very trailer park here. I wouldn’t call this place family friendly either- it’s 99% elderly guests who are not friendly at all. We will not visit here again.

They were so awesome and worked with us when we broke down. They were very welcoming to families and even has a pool party and things while we were there off season. It has long term spots as well. We will definitely be coming back!

Note: TT Encore does not mean a special upgraded park, Per TT, Encore parks are ones that agree to hold several sites for TT members. We've come to understand the worst sites are set aside for TT members

Don't waste your money if TT and do research on what site you get if not

This is the second worse Encore park we've visited
Booked this site 60 days ago for longer BUT left early as it was so bad
One lane roads with 2 way traffic. If you have a big rig, it will be tight.
Our Site: Side and rear backs up to the park dump and supply site. Grass/dirt site.
Our front has 6 foot diameter sewer drum which is leaking vapor, picnic table over some access panel.
Some resolution could be had if a privacy fence was put up to shelter the view
Surrounded by year round residents, some homes well kept, most not so much, some abandoned and trashed

I reached out to park manager and was after 2 hours and we already set up in 85 degree heat, there was 1 other site but it was just as bad.
We paid an additional $20 per night, I asked for a refund, response was Why? What did you expect? They said to contact TT
I contacted TT and they said they couldn't do anything, but I could file a complaint.

Our neighbor was here 3 months, they said on Google earth the area behind us was a field at time of booking. Also told if they wanted to rebook for next year, they would have to have the same site!
They aren't coming back either

With our Thousand Trails membership we paid $20 per night. If you know what to expect, this could end up being a favorite for you too! I've read some pretty negative reviews and feel that the fact that this is not your usual set up in an RV park may have disappointed some people. This is an older property that is mostly a mobile home park with designated RV sites both in their own section and interspersed between the mobile homes. We were parked between two mobiles which is not what I would have chosen, but I’m so glad things worked out that way because we met some of the nicest people! They took us in and treated us like part of the neighborhood. Having a teenager that travels with us, we have received some unenthusiastic responses at snowbird locations but that was not the case here. The park is lush and sits on the Myaaka River. Beach access is about 20 minutes away in Englewood or Venice. Sarasota is about a half hour away. Groceries, hardware, fuel, restaurants, and a veterinarian are about 10 minutes away in Wellen Park. This place is always hopping with scheduled activities and even food trucks! There’s three or four laundry rooms, a pool, splash park, playground, tennis and pickleball courts, a library, gym, craft center…I’m sure I’m missing something but you get the idea. If you prefer upscale shi shi resorts you might not love it here but we would totally stay again. PS….the staff is great too!