We visited in July and overall had a wonderful stay! The atmosphere is incredibly family-friendly,…read moreand the campground itself is clean with so much to do. You can enjoy the swimming pool, mini-golf, volleyball court, walking trails, and the best golf cart parades. The main bathhouse was nice, the camp store is very well-stocked, and the snack bar area is super convenient. You also have the option to buy tickets directly for their onsite waterpark, and our pups really enjoyed the dedicated dog park.
The biggest perk is definitely the location. Being so close to Holiday World & Splashin' Safari is unbeatable.
As far as value goes, the pricing is good if you manage to book during a Black Friday promo. Otherwise, the extra fees really start to stack up. The mandatory resort fee covers Wi-Fi, select activities, and facility access, but on top of that, you are hit with Indiana sales tax on the rent, plus they tax the golf cart rental rate too. Most frustrating of all is the absurd "site lock fee"--if you don't pay extra just to lock it in, your site number is subject to change prior to arrival.
A few tips and areas for improvement:
* The Shuttle Service & Safety: While the free shuttle to Holiday World is great, during peak times (like a Saturday in July) it is extremely slow. The limited buses get incredibly overcrowded. Small children should really sit on an adult's lap rather than taking up a full seat so more people can fit. More importantly, the buses need to be checked regularly for maintenance, especially low tires. We witnessed one overly crowded shuttle where the tire was almost completely flat--it was so bad that my family and many other guests all noticed and felt it was a major safety hazard. With as much money as this campground charges, they really need to invest in more buses or even open-air trams to handle the crowds safely.
* Golf Carts: Make sure to book a golf cart in advance (while making your reservation if available). If you wait until your stay, you likely won't be able to get one--and you will want one because of how hilly it gets once you pass the check-in point. That said, the rental carts themselves could use better maintenance, and the strict rule of only 1 cart per site feels outdated; larger families really need two.
* RV Spots & Noise: Some of the RV spots are a pretty tight fit and can be quite unlevel, so bring leveling blocks and patience. We have never had a problem with noise here, but I always make sure to choose a pull-through lot off the main roads to stay away from the heaviest traffic.
Given how much the costs have gone up with all the extra fees, combined with the frustrating peak-season shuttle issues, the cons are starting to outweigh the pros for us. Because of this, we are honestly on the fence about continuing our annual trip here. It's a fun place, but management needs to address these logistics if they expect families to keep paying premium prices.