I'm updating my review from 3 to 5 stars ad Travis with management reached out to me and listened intently to the details of our experience. He acknowledged our frustration and is clearly committed to using the information to work with staff to improve the guest experience. He reached out within 48 hours of my initial review and on the busy Fourth of July holiday. While I'm updating my review to 5 stars, light sleepers should know that the hotel can be considered noisy given its roadside location (if their room is facing the road) and hotel room doors that are not soft close. It's information I wish I had before staying there. read more

Camp Richardson - We saw several deferred maintenance type issues like this. - Campgrounds Near Me - South Lake Tahoe, California

Our experience in the beginning of March 2026. This was our first time coming to Camp Richardson. When I thought of Camp Richardson I've always thought of camping and horseback riding. We were staying in South Lake Tahoe 2 nights which gave us time to explore and have more fun. What I really wanted to do was go horseback riding. I looked up the corral and learned due to it was off season it was closed. I was so disappointed. Another thing that got my attention was the ice cream shop. My girlfriend came in September and had ice cream so I thought we'd be able to replicate her trip and get ice cream too. Unfortunately they were closed too, my guess was for the season. I didn't look at their website so we could have just come too late in the day. We were there around 2:30pm. We did get a chance to visit the beach. We were lucky and got one of the few spaces that was left. It was a pretty big lot, but for on season its not going to be big enough. I'm guessing there is a second lot that we didn't see. Due to it was off season the facilities were closed. Too bad as there were a lot of people on the beach and bike riding. We stayed short amount of time, but if we were camped out all day I don't know what we'd do. There were some people laying out getting burned. We had jeans and a sweater on and it was a little cool in the shade. Two people ran into the lake and there fried was filming the epic event. Others were just having a picnic and brought blankets and beach chairs to settle in for the day. There was also a restaurant on the beach which was tempting. Then you could get to use their facilities, sit at their outdoor patio on the beach, and have a great view. If they had hot fudge sundaes they'd have my business. Sadly we were on a tight schedule and had to get back to Heavenly Village for a show. The show was so worth it. I highly Reccomend this beach. So tranquil. read more

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We like staying in the year round cabins in winter. It's quiet, we can go play then come back to someplace by ourselves and unwind. Pros: *quiet *usually easy to park (in our current spot, we have to pull all the way in, then back out or vice versa). *pretty clean (I noticed on a pullout chair cushion something spilled on it and never cleaned up) *close to walk on the beach, go to the Camp Rich General Store or their restaurant with the best rum runners, The Grove. *Recently remodeled with some new floors, carpet, bathroom cabinets, lighting. *Everything needed in kitchen to cook with.They provide paper towels but no napkins-and this cabin had no wineglasses. Cons: *Non refundable. Ugh, if life happens you can't cancel if you need to cancel. We had to move the reservation. I don't like frequenting places that do not issue refunds if notified well ahead of time. *Bed: the mattress is very hard and uncomfortable. *no soap in bathroom at sink. They have the three attached in the shower, but no hand soap. They have shampoo, conditioner and body wash in shower, but no shelf or anything if you bring your own stuff. * There's three clocks(one on microwave,one on the wall and one on the oven but they didn't work (the oven one did sometimes). *Kitchen table feels "sticky" and one of the chairs is wobbly. Don't know with the non refundable policy if we'll make a reservation to come back? read more

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Campground is disgusting and overcrowded. Toilets are broken, stalls lack locks, trash is everywhere, and "security" turns a blind eye to it all. Save your money and stay anywhere else in the Tahoe Basin for a better experience. Just awful. Like Woodstock 99, without the musical acts. read more

Worst place I've ever been. Do not, under any circumstances, go here. It is a cesspool. Management's only goal is to take your money and leave you with nothing. RV sites are ghastly, unlevel, and filthy. Go elsewhere. read more

This review is specifically for the cabins. There are so many spiders in the cabins more specifically black widows more than I can count on my fingers. In the summer days it's really hot and there is no ventilation during the day in the cabins. Some of the windows don't close at all. My room had garbage under the dresser and my towels had stains on them. Also be aware of the bears at night that walk through the camp sight. read more

Im currently staying at camp richardson and the posted shower sign cost per token is at a dollar everywhere however they are charging $3.00 per token. I brought this up with the manager Casey at registration, who told me that their policy does not permit the registration desk to honor the price. When i mentioned to the manager that the state of california consumer law makes it illegal to charge more than the advertise or posted sign, he then told me their policy supersede state law there at camp richardson. When i asked to speak with his supervisor, he gave me the brochure and directed me to contact the main number. No options lead me to a supervisor when i called but instead i left a voice recording. This occurred on july 27th 2026. I will be seeking legal recourse and have photographic proof of signage and dates. Also, the restrooms are poorly maintained compared to how they were mainted before covid. read more

My family had a challenging situation arise during a stay and Camp Richardson handled it with courtesy and professionalism. We will absolutely go back! We would like to send out a huge thank you to Natalie at Camp Richardson Resort Inc.! read more

We had the most exhilarating trip to Tahoe & this cabin was one of the best parts! Close to town, but not in town. Super clean, incredibly peaceful & quiet. The staff was very helpful & friendly. Scenery was stunning & we had the most amazing time. We enjoyed short walks to the beach each morning & they have a little store, ice cream shop, coffee shop & restaurant. You can also rent all the fun water stuff like paddle boards, kayaks & boat trips. I've always wanted to stay at one of the cabins at Camp Richardson, we're so glad we decided to stay here! This was exactly what we were looking for. It was perfect. The lodge has a large sitting area with a lovely fireplace & leather couches. So rustic & serene. Can't wait to go back! read more

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Good to be back in the old neighborhood. We used to bike here from the house whenever we got a chance. All the kids used to love it, maybe because we always stopped and got ice cream. If you know, you know. And of course, my review is biased as we have SO many great memories here. Here are a few more websites to study: https://camprichardsonresort.com/ https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/ltbmu/recarea/?recid=11780 Quality/Quantity - This trip, we only made it to Pope beach. Yes, we are all getting older... Well some of us more than others since I still feel (and act) like I am in my twenties! Dining options - The Grove, general store, and of course, the ice cream parlor! Atmosphere - Amenities include: Public restrooms (don't expect much), marina, parasailing, boat rentals, jet ski rentals, kayak and paddle board rentals, lodging, entertainment, events, snow shoeing, cross country skiing, bike rentals (we have our own), swimming, etc. Service - N/A, always self-service. Well, the ice cream parlor is good, but there is usually a long line. Price - N/A. Owner Comments - Congrats on your success since 1875. 1967 - Thank you to the Richardson Family for converting this back to government land for all to enjoy. read more

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This hotel doesn't have Televisions! That's the first thing you should know. I made my reservation through Agoda which didn't mention that fact, but the Camp Richardson website does. The other things you should know about this hotel is the ice machine doesn't work, the soda machine doesn't work, there are no microwaves in the rooms, no refrigerators in the rooms, no coffee makers in the rooms, no clothes hangers in the rooms (Seriously?), and it's right next to a busy highway, so you won't get a good nights sleep. I asked for a differnet room, but the staff said they were full, so they couldn't move me to the other side of the hotel. I heard every car, truck, bike, dog, and screaming kid going up and down the highway and sidewalk. It was miserable... I would give this hotel fewer stars, but it does have some things going for it. They lobby is beautiful, the rooms are in good condition, the beds are comfortable, the bathrooms were clean, the WiFi is good, there's an outdoor hottub, it's close to lots of activities, there's a store nearby, and there's free coffee and tea in the lobby. The staff was nice and they did check me in early. I would give this hotel a higher rating, but the road noise, and lack of modern amenities really hurt it. I'm still suprised they don't have any clothes hangers in the rooms. Come on! read more

Great location, lovely group campsite at Badger's Den but it was a little less than restful as we had bears in and around our tents all four nights of our stay. They came back up to three times every night. The local security tried to run off the bears but they kept coming back. All of our food was secure and put away. We skipped dinner one night as bears came before we could cook and we decided against cooking hamburgers and hot dogs. I purchased $32 worth of tokens for the numerous campers at our site but the showers were broken most of the time. They stopped requiring tokens but we didn't know and kept putting them in only to have a cold shower. We found out later they stopped charging to use showers, so those in the campsites closest to showers were using all the hot water because it was free. I appreciated help from security most night chasing off bears. The bears are not the fault of the management but South Tahoe is over run at the moment. I'd avoid the campsites at the back of the campground as they are beautiful but more remote and the bears seem to love them. Hard to sleep with bears roaming outside one's tent. They would occasionally bang into them as they walked by. One night the bears tossed our campsite for fun or out of frustration that there was no food. I've camped in bear country for years and never experienced anything like this. They come as soon as it gets dark, back around 12:30 am and then around 3:30 am. They don't come around in daylight hours. We love the beach and the restaurant and enjoyed spending time there. It's a great location close to Emerald Bay and great hiking. RV camping, the cabins or the hotels probably would feel more secure. Car alarms, air horns and pots banging were the sounds of the night as the entire campground tried to scare off the bears. It was an exciting but not restful trip. read more

OK, first of all let me say we have been to camp Richardson area many times and we love this area this time we were here for Oktoberfest, which was one of the funniest things we've been to and we love festivals great food great beer love my New Stein, and the music was good. The events were excellent And just the people were great if you have a chance to go to Oktoberfest, do not miss out this is great to come out to every year. We will see you all soon and we will be back to Oktoberfest and we also we will be back at Camp Richardson read more

We stayed at the RV Village in spot #40. We were here for a week, 4 nights in #40 and 3 in spot #16 and we absolutely loved it! We were here celebrating our anniversary since we were married in Lake Tahoe many years ago. Camp Richardson offered so many things with the general store, ice cream parlor, bike rentals, The Grove restaurant and marina! Thank you for such a great time, great campground and beautiful bike trails! read more

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Had a mostly great camping experience. Decent bathrooms, water and shower for those that fancy showering while camping... I booked my reservation through reservation.gov I received my receipt and confirmation email which showed a check in time of 5p.m and a check out time of 5p.m the following day... because of that I showed up a little after 5p.m on 09/05/25. On 09/06 at 12:50p.m. I was asked if I extended my stay to which I replied, "no my confirmation for checkout says 5p.m" I packed up promptly and left by 12:55p.m. I went to the check in area to show staff my email confirmation and he stated he'd never seen that and suggested I go to the office. I went to the front office expecting some sort of resolution and nothing was done other than telling me I was welcome to hang out around town which obviously didn't need permission to do. Had I known check in was at noon, I would had arrived much earlier, especially if I knew I'd had to leave the campsite hours before what my confirmation showed. This reduced my stay by 9 hours. I showed my confirmation email to the front desk staff and a young gentleman took a photo of my screen. I was told by the front desk staff that there are multiple third parties that are use for booking, which I understand and I communicated they need to contact all third parties to ensure this doesn't happen again. Both staff members stated they'd never seen this before (incorrect check in and out hours). There should have been another resolution: a reduction in what I paid or a comped future stay. Unfortunately nothing was done... but I did receive a, "sorry the inconvenience" nice but it certainly could have been handled differently. read more

Camp Richardson - email confirmation from recreation.gov - Campgrounds Near Me - South Lake Tahoe, California

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The historic hotel was wonderful. On site they have bike rentals, ice cream shop, cafe, coffee shop and market. Everything you need for an overnight. read more

My wife and I could not do the hike to the Vikingsholm castle so we chartered the tour and cruise out their through Camp Richardson. Captain Jack was awesome and made the trip to and back enjoyable. the tour itself was awesome, and we were grateful to be able to tour one of California's historic treasures. read more

Camp Richardson - Campgrounds Near Me - South Lake Tahoe, California

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We did the Vikingsholm cruise and tour! We simply couldn't make the walk up and down and thought the cost of a boat ride would be too expensive. I found this tour and was pleasantly surprised at the cost compared to other boat rides where you just toured the lake! This was reasonably priced and we weren't just a number on a boat full of people. Our boat had 8 people and the captain. Captain Jack! He was great!! Gave us wonderful info on the way to the bay and back, he was funny, courteous, and super knowledgeable! There was time to enjoy the bay (about an hour) walking around between drop off, tour, and pick up. If you cannot make that hike, do this boat ride!! read more

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Wow. They just recently renovated and the experience was wondering! Definitely gives a good Tahoe experience

This is a review for a stay at their hotel in the wintertime (it seems like they do a whole bunch of stuff like RV and campsites in the summer). I got a great rate for two nights--and honestly I thought it was gonna be a lot more "rustic". It was cool to be out in the forest just out side of South Lake Tahoe city limits. Even though it feels very remote, it just about 5 minutes from the start of the Tahoe Blvd strip with restaurants and amenities. Heavenly California lodge is about 15m away. The lobby is absolutely beautiful, and I thought the room was nicely updated. It felt very clean and the bed was great. The guy who checked us in was super chill and friendly. Jacuzzi was good too. Negs- Internet was passable, but not great, no microwave. There is also no TV if that's something you care about (I don't). I feel like they should take more advantage of that awesome lobby and have games out or do something to give it more of a community feel--hot chocolate happy hour? Movie night maybe? Anyway, this place will definitely be on my short list for places to stay on a ski trip. Recommend. read more

We took the rum runner cruise on a Sunday afternoon , end of season. It couldn't have been better, the captain and the crew were really nice, the boat is perfect. Very comfortable with really great views. They had some snacks and you can buy something to drink if you want to. I would love to do it again sometime. read more

Located on the south shore of Lake Tahoe, Camp Richardson Resort has two campgrounds for tent camping and an RV Village. One of the things I love about this area is that campgrounds are within walking distance to the general store, ice cream parlor, a bike rental center, and Pope Beach. We stayed at the Badger's Den campground in the Willow Loop section, which offers double sites. Each double site can accommodate up to 12 people and 4 vehicles, making it ideal for larger groups or families. During our trip, we stayed at campsite #53, while our friends stayed at #50 and #52. Each site includes 2 picnic tables, 2 bear-proof food lockers, and a standard fire pit. Out of the three, #50 is the smallest but offers the most shade and privacy. #52 and #53 are more open and exposed, with little to no privacy. In fact, #53 is directly next to #45, separated only by a few logs. If you're planning a larger group gathering, I would suggest booking sites #45 and #53 together. The bathrooms are OK with flush toilets, seat covers, and ample toilet paper. Showers are coin-operated. As for the bears? I haven't seen or heard of any bear sightings over the weekend. However, please ensure there's no food anywhere in your car and near your camp site, especially where you sleep. Avoid any unnecessary and interesting scents like perfumes, body lotion, or even deodorants. read more

We've camped here twice and loved both experiences. Bathrooms are always very clean and showers are responsibly priced. read more

Camp Richardson - Campground is a short bike ride away from this view - Campgrounds Near Me - South Lake Tahoe, California

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The RV campground is beautiful. However, the ice cream parlors posted close time is 9pm. They should just say they close at 8:30. We got there at 8:15 and by 8:30 the line wasn't very long and there was a Sheriff turning away customers and standing in line to not let anyone else come in. We saw at least 3 families with small children turned away very upset. It's simple, close at 8:30! Or post line stops at 8:30. read more

I stayed in the badger's den campground during the week for two nights. Check in was a little confusing as there were no signs, but I arrived after 6 pm. You check in for camping at the hotel office if there are no signs directing you to the north camp. The campground is less than a 10 minute walk to the beach which is nice and it is central for a lot of hikes. There is a little bit of cell service but it could be spotty at times. The bathrooms were always clean and well-kept. You can purchase tokens for the showers in the hotel office as well. I was warned that there could be bears wandering the campground and there were! So make sure you are storing your food properly and locking trash cans once you are finished. Some one left a dumpster unlocked the first night and it was quite disruptive. The bears do not care about humans and did not mess with my tent - they just walked right by. Realistically I will not stay here again because the bears were too close for my comfort level but it was a very nice campsite. read more

Yes, 4 years later from last review, and it has only become worse. Bathrooms and showers are EASILY the worst in the nation, especially for a private campground. Gone are the days as a youngster our family would come to Meeks Bay and enjoy all that the Richardsons had - its an absolute mess now. The lodging, I'm told is excellent - the camping, well it is the worst in South Lake Tahoe. The RV sites are very difficult to back your trailer into, only because of the beautiful sugar-pines that are everywhere. Took me about 6 tries and we are about a foot from a huge tree - beautiful - but tough to negotiate. This is our last trip here - my prayer is that this private campground is purchased by someone who is not a slum lord. read more

EVENT REVIEW Overall, I do not recommend Camp Richardson as a vendor for many, many reasons. I booked the bbq area for a lake day event the day before my wedding (at a different vendor) as well as a room block. While the location is nice, it truly was not worth the added stress of dealing with such an unorganized group. Some of the biggest issues are below: 1) Communication was terrible. Multiple e-mails went completely unanswered, phone messages were never returned. Many times I had to repeat plans or requests that had already been discussed but clearly never recorded on their end. 2) I booked a room block...and it was messed up multiple times. One guest was never charged as they were supposed to have been when booked, one guest got a "block rate" (to this day don't know how or why they got this rate as we were told there was no discount for a block rate), one guest was told she needed my wedding coordinator to approve the booking (no idea why). Very inconsistent and again, just added more tasks and more stress for me. 3) The cherry on top was there was a sewage leak the week before the event. Camp Richardson did not notify me of this occurring which significantly impacted my event considering there was a swim advisory (recommendation was children should not be in the water due to risk of swallowing the water which had high levels of e.coli). When I found out about it and reached out, I was told multiple different recommendations and information based on who I talked to (the marina, the group events, or the hotel). I ended up calling US Forest Service in order to get a clear answer and ultimately had to change my event the day before. read more

Staying in the cabins for last 20 plus years we know this is not a luxury 5 star resort. Now it's 0 stars!!! Rearranged, broken and ready for pasture. We are So sad the owners and management have allowed this unfortunate decline. Goodbye Camp Rich. We will hold our past memories close and discard the current ones. read more

We came here at 5pm on a Tuesday in mid-August and it was busy but not crowded. At that time, they didn't charge for parking (usually $10). There are restrooms here, but I didn't end up using them since we ate dinner at the restaurant and I just used those. PROS - Coarse sand (easy cleaning!). - Water stays pretty shallow - it only gets waist-high at the far end of the roped off swimming area. - There's a restaurant on site! We stayed for dinner and that was convenient. Note shade structures are not allowed on the sand in front of the restaurant (it would obstruct their views). CONS - $10 parking. - This feels like a more urbanized beach as the swimming area is surrounded on all sides by docks and boats. If you want a more nature-oriented beach, go further west to Baldwin Beach. - Swimming area is relatively small for a beach (the size of a small pool) - fine for kids, but if you wanted to swim a distance to get a workout, this won't be a great spot for that. read more

By far the worst design for rv camping. Power source is located on the road. Water is extremely far away and the worst thing is the sewer is up hill. read more

I enjoy my camping experience during my four day trip. Lot of bear visits for sure. The shower/restroom situation is the only annoyance. 1. The front desk told everyone $1 per token for 4 mins shower time (pricy!!) but each token actually lasted over 10 mins. I tried to refund the unused tokens... the front desk at the hotel still insisted one token for 4 mins 2. Not each rest room with functional power outlet, so no way to use a hair dryer... bummer. 3. Water draining during the shower... still some problem. read more

Going skiing was not in the plans for us, so we decided to just venture out and go tubing. We went to one hill and it was ok, but when asking around, people told us about Camp Richardson, this guy working at a bar in the restaurant told us that if we didn't mind driving a little bit, it was nice and hidden and really good to tube on the whim. So we packed up and ventured there and it was super fun! There were only a couple of other families there too tubing, and it was easy to park and our little had a blast. Looked like lots of people stay in the little bungalow rooms and there was a restaurant and general good store and we also saw people cross country skiing with their dogs, it was a good find. I wish I knew that guys name so I could thank him for the recommendation. read more

Camp Richardson - beautiful - Campgrounds Near Me - South Lake Tahoe, California

This review is for the campsite. I recently camped here with family & friends & it was huge mistake on our part. We did not do the research & didn't realize that there have been reviews about the bears. I barely slept well while we were there. There were bears day & night. Overall, the bathrooms were pretty clean & the showers were decent. Again, it's camping so you can't really expect much from it. I liked that the lake was walking distance. However, I'm not a big fan of camping around bears so I would never come back. Other than that it's a nice camp site & the people from the general store & hotel were very friendly. read more

Camp Richardson - The bear is so smart - it was able to get into our car. - Campgrounds Near Me - South Lake Tahoe, California

wonderful camp up at Lake Tahoe ride on the Lake. lots of things to do camping hiking and the Grove restaurant which is a must stop when you're up in this part of Lake Tahoe. read more

Easy simple check-in process and safety check. The crew is awesome at helping you get prepared for the adventure. We rented two jet skis and it all went smoothly! The only heads-up is the area you are allowed to run the jet ski. No beaching and no Emerald Bay so the area you are allowed just allows you to ride in circles... Maybe fun for thrill seekers but I preferred a leisurely ride to Emerald Bay or near beaches to sightsee. Still a 5-star rating for the crew and well maintained jet ski. read more

We went on the Rum Runner cruise and it was a great experience! Captain Shad was friendly and knowledgable, the boat was beautiful with plenty of comnfortable seating, and the Rum Runners prepared by First Mate Brenna were excellent. We cruised over to Emerald Bay and enjoyed the scenic mountain views surrounding Lake Tahoe. Captain Shad even pointed out several Osprey nests on our way back so we even got to see some wildlife. My wife and I had a wonderful time on the cruise and we would highly recommed it to anyone visiting Tahoe. We ate dinner at the Camp Richardson restaurant and it was fantastic. The cruise and dinner was a great way to spend the last evening of our vacation, and we will always remember it! read more

Camp Richardson - Campgrounds Near Me - South Lake Tahoe, California

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Probably one of my favorite places in Tahoe. Got lucky it wasn't so busy when we came. $12 entrance / parking fee per car. Good for the entire day. Ample parking along the cabins and the restaurant but there's more in the back by the marina. There's a restaurant by the beach and a huge patio area for dining as well. Live music and just fun vibe overall. The indoor dining has a full bar and a dining room good for families. We went on the RUM RUNNER CRUISE... and that was the best part. The crew really took good care of us. They even let us sit on the front, gave us cushions, and we had some prime views. The boat itself is pretty roomy. There's the upstairs open area and the downstairs where the bar is at (where the rest of the people stayed). The captain was so nice. And the crew was fun! I forgot the name of the gentleman that took care of us, but check pics I uploaded... but he made sure our Rum Runner drinks were perfect... perfect enough you only needed one. Lol. They take you from Camp Richardson to Emerald Bay & back. Beautiful views and overall a great time. read more

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We booked the boat tour on the "rum runner" and it was so much fun! Capt Kelly is great.

We camped at the Camp Richardson RV park. The bathrooms at this "resort campground" in the RV area are the some of the worst we have seen in our RV travels. Dirty, run down, often without toilet paper or towels. And, only one bathroom facility to serve an extensive RV camping area. We noted that the bathrooms in the tent camping areas are much nicer (so you know how to make nice bathrooms), but still, these are often very dirty, and out of TP and towels. In addition to poor quality, dirty bathrooms, the bear-resistant dumpsters were often full to overflowing (hence the daily and nightly bear sightings!). There was trash strewn about, and no one from the staff making any effort to keep the areas clean. Very sad for such a pretty place near the lake. Finally, and I heard this complaint often from other RV campers, many many of the camp sites are so "un-level" that for some it was impossible to level their RV. A little work with a grader would go a long way into making this an easier place to park your RV. In addition, some WiFi, or cable TV connection, would be nice for the premium prices you charge. Do yourself a favor and find a nice RV park for your stay at The Lake! read more

This is one of the few places to rent speed boats without requiring Captain experience/license. We were given a long, thorough introduction into boating by Jagger and then off we went. We LOVED catching air over the waves...it was like a roller coaster. Glad that I was wearing my motion sickness patch. Renting the float was NOT worth the money since it was very difficult to hang on to the float and we actually caught more air with the boat rather than the float (which was kind of a disappointment). We did not rent water skis, because it was our first time driving a boat and did not want to risk injuring ourselves. Minus 1 star due to the very dirty bathroom next to the rental shop. Plus, apparently, our speed boat had a throttle problem. Since this was our first experience driving the speed boat, we did not realize that the boat should NOT jerk when moving from rest to the slow 5 knots per hour and should also NOT jerk when slowing down from 5 knots per hour to Neutral. When we returned the boat, the staff had a difficult time parking the boat because she said that the boat had a throttle problem. We then realized, that she was talking about how the boat would suddenly jerk when starting up from Neutral and also shifting down to Neutral. read more