Oak Knoll Campground
Tom W.
Reviewed Jul. 30, 2020

Oy Vey!

I’m being very generous with this review, and very long winded, since it’s the weirdest place I’ve stayed. It’s a campground, not a ‘resort’. And, to be honest, I’ve only stayed at 6 other places. I reserved this through Passport America, and was going to cancel last minute, but I didn’t wanna lose any money, so I went. I called to find out about check-in, so I got the gate code, and was told after 11:30, which was perfect since I needed some food and supplies. That was the only time a real person answered the phone in my 2 weeks there. The campground’s phone is tied to the assistant manager’s phone, but when you go to leave a message, it says, ‘Mailbox Full’. When I got here, another camper came in behind me, but no manager on site. So I just drove around looking for a spot. The assistant finally showed up at the office, and asked if I wanted a site with full hookups, so I said that’s what I reserved, but she said her system showed different, but she gave me one pretty much next to the office anyway , and it was full sun all day. Next thing, a shirtless guy, wearing just shorts, comes walking up. It was the manager. He said I could stay there for an extra charge, or there were shady spots up the hill, but no sewer. I have a 40 gallon black tank, so I took the shady spot. Tiny is too generous to describe the spaces. Two feet on one side, about six on the other. Not even enough room to get my Vespa off the back to cruise the mountain roads, which I was looking forward to. I asked beforehand if it was fairly flat, cause I have bad knees, and he said yes. The only flat spot I found is where I parked. Anywhere you go, it’s downhill, then back up, at probably a 15% grade!! And dusty, Jesus, is it dusty! You know the old TV cowboy scene, where he comes in from the range, hits his hat against his leg, and a huge cloud of dust forms? I think they filmed all those scenes here. No gravel, just ground down dirt, from years of RV’s rolling back and forth over it, so it’s just dust. The manager was nice enough let me use their address for a couple Amazon packages, and he even drove one of them up when it got here. They advertise internet, but unless you have your own, there isn’t any to be had, but I was told there’s a router in the office. So I guess they have internet, but no one else. I did get 2 bars using my WeBoost with Consumer Cellular. They advertised a laundry, but I decided to wait, and didn’t even check it out, because one reviewer jokingly said their clothes came out dirtier then before. I was filthy, and close to the shower, so off I went. Once I get there, I see it’s pay showers, so I trudge back up the hill for quarters. $1.25 for 10 minutes, and it was worth it, cause I needed it. Hot water felt good in the cheepnis of the Men’s facilities. I always grab flip flops at the 99 Cent store for just this reason. No dump station on site either, so if you need to dump your tanks, you have to go to someone else’s paid space, and use theirs. Most sites had a picnic table, and a washing machine tub as fire ring. I had a fire ring that looked like an origami of cinder blocks. I did receive 9 OTA channels from a $40 Amazon home antenna set. I was waiting for my $130 Winegard to get here, and when it did, it picked up 5 OTA channels!! I’m keeping the home antenna with me, with an old 9 iron as a pole! I read reviews, and they were all like 2 stars, but were from 3 or 4 years ago, so I figured they cleaned up their act. Nuh uh! It’s 80% full time residents, 5% campers, and 15% empty, so since they’re getting guaranteed money, why upgrade? The place has low hanging trees, and the skinniest of roads. Just enough room for one vehicle, as my rig was just as wide of the road. This is definitely the perfect place for someone to go into the witness protection program. The good things were the peace, quiet, and the shade, because the weather got unseasonably hot! Management seemed nice, when you could hunt someone down. I tried getting in touch with someone the whole day about dumping my tanks, but no calls back. If I see an empty spot with a sewer, I’ll just dump it there. If you gotta hide out for some reason, this is the place. But don’t expect any amenities except water, pay shower, and electricity. I know I won’t stay here again, unless I went into witness protection program, that is! Oh yeah, and can’t forget the rooster that crows all day. Can’t make this stuff up.