We stumbled upon this new campground while searching for a place to try out our new fishing rods…read morenear my parents up north.
Here are my pros and cons:
The Good:
- Quiet: Being that it's newly reopened (formerly known as Secord Lake Campground), and that Secord Lake is a shell of what it used to be because of the dam breaks (as we later discovered), of the 52 sites available, we were 1 of 3 campers on the premesis on a WEEKEND! It was so great to actually hear the sounds of nature.
- Spacious: Adding on to the above, if you like being able to spread out and not camp on top of other people, until this place grows over the years to come, you can bet on having at LEAST several spaces between you and other campers.
- Pet-Friendly: Dogs are welcome! It's hard to find a campground that dogs are allowed, and with it being so quiet, it's pretty nice for dogs who tend to bark at passersby.
- Amenities: Bathhouses are spacious and clean, there's a play set for kids, horseshoes to rent and play with, and cute camp store stocked with the essentials AND ice cream, and a dump station on site.
The Bad:
- The website is more than a little misleading. Though these things are all advertised as if they are on-site, there are no absolutely lake views from any of sites (ironic, considering the name), walking trails, fishing, boat rentals, etc. whatsoever. We specifically came to this campground to be able to go fishing, but not only is there no fishing spots at the campground, there os actually no public fishing spots on Secord Lake AT ALL (the few spots are now dried up from the dam break). Considering that fishing is listed as a campground amenity and included in the Lakeview Campground logo, we had every reason to think this was the place to go to try out our new gear. We were very wrong, and very disappointed.
I will say, there are plenty of trail heads and ORV trails within 10 miles of the campground to go enjoy. If you're willing and able to rent a boat, there are spots on the Lake that do have fish biting, but they are only accessible by boat. The marina across the road had no day rentals.
With all of that said, if you just want a quiet place to get away, let your kids run and play, and enjoy the sounds of nature with last-minute availability, definitely give this place a shot. The owner is really attentive and goes above and beyond.
We ended up really enjoying our stay, even though it was nothing like we'd expected.