@@karrpoollaneWhat could be someone elses' negative, could be your positive. Some of these comments can be downright picky. But you have to wonder who benefits from these extremely negative reviews. 🤔
I remember a yelp review I saw. Pro’s: Great service, good food, generous portions and was reasonably priced. Cons: I didn’t like the decorations. 1 star Either extremely petty or ignorant to the 5 star rating system.
Thank you for NOT showing us 20 minutes of cooking and eating. So many TH-camrs seem to be obsessed with showing everyone everything they eat and how it is prepared in painstaking detail
The rock on the tent was probably somebody trying to keep the tent from blowing away in the wind, the wind probably doing the damage. The guy with the knives in the cup at the bathroom was probably just washing his silverware and waiting for his old lady to come out.
In all fairness to this campground's owners, I camped here in May of 2022 while attending the Overland Expo, and was very satisfied with my stay. No major complaints whatsoever. I came here with no preconceived notions as I did not vet its reviews beforehand. I'm glad I didn't, as it could have tainted my impressions and expectations. The only problem I experienced was with the excessive winds which really had my tent shaking and buffeting, but this is really beyond the control of the campground owners. Overall, I left very satisfied with my stay, and I would stay here again if I ever come through Flagstaff in the future. Thumbs up!
I totally agree with your assessment. I used to live in Flagstaff and have stayed at this KOA a few times, always in the primitive tent section. It is windy by Flagstaff standards. I suspect that that part of the campground funnels the wind in a strange way because I noticed other parts of the campground weren't as bad.
I have stayed there multiple times over the years, started off in a tent, then a pop up camper and now with my trailer and have never had a bad experience, ever.
lol. My husband and our kids were full-time RVers and worked at this KOA for a year. You went here after we left there and it is under new management. It was very un level. In all fairness, it is built at the base of a mountain and open all year. When it snows, we had to plow off the roads and it made the sites un level😂. It was the biggest complaint we got and our own RV was horribly unlevel. The bathrooms were rough, but we did our best with what we were given🤷🏻♀️. There used to be a little train for the kids that my husband used to drive and the kids loved it.
I love KOAs. It's funny to remember that when I was a kid (70 years ago) my parents, who grew up very poor in the Great Depression, wouldn't consider staying in a KOA because they were too expensive. But when I finally got to a point in my adult life where I could afford them, they became my favorite places to stay. PS: I wonder if the guy with the knives and the cup was just washing his cutlery after a camp dinner.
Most places are not as bad as most people think. We stayed at a campground that my biggest complaint was no campfires after 10:00 p.m. . Well in the summer it is not dark until after 9:00 so we could not have any campfires. I would not go to that site ever again just because of that but everything else was really great.
I’ve been staying at this KOA since the 70s! We have never had a bad experience, and the office people have always been friendly, helpful and attentive. The only problem we have ever had was the old playground with the jungle gym of death, the treehouse of death, and the swing set of death. It has since been replaced with a bounce structure that is covered with laughing kids from open to close. I have the feeling the people who complain would still bitch at a luxury RV park. Prices are in line with the area and slightly higher on weekends. We were there literally a week ago and as always the personnel was helpful, accommodating and extremely friendly. The park was packed with people from around the world and everyone I spoke to was enjoying themselves. We recommended several local spots to neighbors who ended up having a great time. We literally took a neighbor with us to the Lava Tube and he enjoyed it immensely. I highly recommend Flagstaff KOA.
I lived in a town in WV that, at one point in history had five rail lines. There were train crossings on about every main road. People would move there and then complain about night time train whistles. Like---the trains came in invisible??? Some people have no common sense.
😂😂 the train companies get fines if they blow their horns here. Only for emergencies or it’s $10k for every whistle. The only reason we have that is you can’t drive around the gates here
Many KOA's tend to have older bathrooms. If they are still in the orginal A frame building with the bathrooms off to the side they will tend to be smaller and older but typically are kept pretty clean. The person cleaning the showers is going to shove the curtain to the side and clean the shower. Just an oversight that they have not spotted or cleaned the mold on the curtain. A mention about that in the office is probably all that is needed to get that addressed. I've been to many KOA's and it's usually a positive experience. Another thing people need to keep in mind is that many of these are pretty old now and as areas build up you can end up with road ways rail ways and other noise maiking situations closer to the camp ground than what they had 40-50 years ago. The "knife wielding creepy guy" was probably just someone washing their dishes in that sink by the bathroom. :)
Used to work security and grounds keeping here up until a couple years ago. Great place and people just poorly managed up until about a year ago when the owners booted out the old GM. The new GM seems to be improving things for sure.
We were there at the same time, only problem was a little smoke from the fire that started on the West side of town. We love that place, been going since the 70s. Hope you had a great time!
We’ve stayed at this KOA many times for roughly a week at a time. We didn’t experience any issues and were aware it is close to a housing development. Our grandchildren love the jumping pillow and the train they run around the campground pulled by a golf cart. It’s convenient, it has full hookups and I’ve always felt safe there.
My boss picked on me once for camping in my backyard… I had to remind him my backyard was 130 acres… For some reason your question reminded me of that 👍
The developers encroached on the KOA, not the other way around. Twenty years ago, none of these houses were there. The question should be, Why would anyone build a home behind and next to a KOA campground? Also, the grounds around the campground used to be level. It appears they never leveled the dirt that builders pushed over onto the campground while building those homes.
It's so hot in Phoenix that just to go up north in cooler weather is sometimes all you need. You can be outside up there in June July and Aug when you can't in phx.
The problem with reviews is that people rarely post positive reviews and the unhappy people tend to cause them to be unbalanced. I need to be more consistent about reviewing places as we travel this summer.
Also they review things that don't make sense. "Hey there was some wierd guy outside the bathroom." you could say that about any campsite on one particular day of the year.
I generally like KOA's. I have camped at several. As an older female that many time travels alone I like the option of their camping cabins. Years ago camped at the Flagstaff one and it didn't have as many amenities but I felt safe there.
We just returned from staying there. We had a really good stay. Our only complaint is that our RV site was not very level and we had a hard time leveling our 5th wheel. This was also an issue with a number of other rigs that we saw. However, even with that, I would certainly return and recommend.
stayed here with my family when I was a kid several times. So a long time ago. I do remember hiking up the mountain behind there, that was good. I also remember several non-campers roaming through there asking for money and just hanging around. I wouldnt leave anything valuable around, its too close to town.
Check out the KOA off hwy 40 . It was on undercover boss. Great people. They have an indoor pool with two spas. I haven't been there in around ten years but im sure it'll be great. Also they have a general store.
I used to live in Flagstaff, so may be biased, but I have stayed in this KOA numerous times on my way to New Mexico to see in-laws. I have always been happy with the stay, and when we go, they usually have the kamp kitchen open for breakfast. Eggs, bacon, pancakes-YUMMY. Only one time did I have a problem, and that was when we left everything out, and someone stole our lantern. Everything else was fine, but the lantern was brand new, and it got stolen. But our fault for not securing it. I would highly recommend this campsite.
I did a camp trip to Yosemite in 94. My wife and 3 year old were in the tent. I’m at the picnic table reading with my Coleman gas lantern. My daughter flies outta the tent. 100mph. Trips over the Webber kettle. Lands in the coals face first. I grab her. Dust her off and she’s got a laceration on her chin. I rush her to the er at Yosemite. A tiny fat longhair dr finally shows up. Stitched her chin up. So we go back to the campsite. Some pos stole my lantern. Theft is everywhere.
Did it have the little trailer where you could buy breakfast? If so I've overnighted at that KOA and would give it the same review as you. Thanks for sharing.
If the campground can't keep their campers in check, then yeah, it does speak poorly of the campground. Sorry but if you stay in a hotel and the hotel lets guests run screaming uip and down the halls and having parties, you WOULD hold the hotel accountable. This is no different.
We’ve camped there twice. Have another two nights in August reserved. We have a lab and they put us right next to the dog park. No complaints but we stay in a fifth wheel.
We stayed here last summer and loved it. Kids liked the playground. Sites were a bit tight but the campground was so beautiful. They also loved the jumping pillow. Short drive to Sedona, planning to do a short stay this summer again
Many years ago, I had 1 star visits to KOAs in North Dakota and Montana. In ND, arrived to find my site had been given to another camper although I was not late and there were other sites available. I will note that in the past few years, we stayed at a KOA near Waterloo, Iowa, and had a good experience.
I lived in Flagstaff for two years. It was hard to move away because it was so nice there, the national forest is accessible in every direction provided the fire danger isn’t too extreme. I don’t really remember this KOA, but it appears like it’s right between Mt Eldon and historic route 66, which is kind of right in town. Hiking Mt Eldon is a good time though
My wife and I stayed there on our way to Moab. It was fine. A bit too expensive, our site was decently level. Nothing special it was just a stop off for one night on the way up. Full disclosure, we would always rather disperse camp. Fun video. Great job!
My wife and I have stayed many times at this KOA. In our experiences, the staff was very nice and helpful. Uneven campsites, yes, to some extent. But our 25 foot Class C motorhome didn't have any problems with the levelers. I can say that I have stayed at state and county parks in Arizona and the slope was absolutely unreal. But anytime a person is in the mountains, you can expect some type of slope (generally). The whole thing about showers and security is a bigger deal in the generations since this campground (and other campgrounds) was established. Most women do not want a shower room in which preditors can enter through a common door. Newer campgrounds have single shower rooms with a secure door. But the hookups were great. I have gone to campgrounds where the 30amp outlet doesn't work. I have had ones where my surge protector said "no way". I have found one campground where the sewer line overflowed. Nothing like this was at this campground. My kids are adults and live out of the area, so I cannot comment on the amenities for children. I cannot comment on the bicycle accident either. But from what I would rate this campground is five stars for the staff and four stars for the campsites and amenities.
I’ve stayed in a KOA campground that was not bad, except for their tent sites. Each site had a 10x10 foot platform which was useless to me as I have a Teepee style tent with a 14ft diameter base. With the guy lines staked out I need an 18ft diameter space so I rented an RV site. The trouble with an RV site is the gravel is packed down so hard I can't put my tent stakes in, until I found a simple solution. In my tool pack, which is always in the back of my SUV, I have a Ryobi rechargeable drill, so using an eight inch long, 3/16" masonry bit, I pulled the guy line out to where it needed to be and ran the drill into the ground, then simply tapped the tent stake down.
We RTT from Seattle to Virginia and stayed roughly at 20 or so Koa’s. We liked that we could book day of reservations, had laundry, some had free breakfast, dog friendly and things for kids. We only drove away from 1 which I think was is SD because the grouchy old man said it was law that we backed in… which we didn’t want to do because of an awning. ( he was super rude about it). Although I would rather camp with no one around, koas are extremely conveniently located.
I spent three days at this KOA in May.The campground was very clean and the hosts were very nice, very peaceful setting amongst the pine trees. The bathrooms were clean and everything worked. There are some nice walking trails to the rear that lead up the mountains. I have a pop-up truck camper and I needed a few leveling blocks no big deal as we deal with this all the time. The tent sites have level pads to put your tent up. The only knock for this place is there is traffic noise from the highway. My friends and I were traveling to Flagstaff to visit the Lowell Observatory which was a wonderful evening. I would give this campground four stars
Ha ha! I grew up in Flagstaff from 1990-2006. Good times, but for the tree hippies making it hard to thin out the forests, then it gets overgrown, and goes up in flames in the summer. 7:30 And you don't need to worry about ticks! Going up the mountain in the fall is something else too.
We've stayed at several KOAs. We've had one really negative experience, I mean where it went downhill from check in and we left after just one night. We wouldn't have stayed that one night if we hadn't been so far from home. One of the biggest turn offs most people mentioned was, like you mentioned, they are usually located right next to really busy roads or interstates, next to shopping centers, and/or have a permanent residence camper section not separated from the recreational camping area, and the price is usually much higher than a COE.
We stayed there in an RV last spring. Didn't need to use the showers, it was fine other than the landscaping being a little rough. Certainly not a 1 star experience.
We've stayed at that KOA ONE time. It is a one star campground in large part to the weirdos that camp there. Some of them LONG TERM. You are stacked right on top of each other as well and people have their dogs running wild.
Last fall I spent a night at this KOA. The truth is I enjoyed it. They also filled one of my propane tanks and hooked it up for me. My dog enjoy the dog park too.
Yes please keep them coming. Your comments are hilarious. And please have Kelly join a few. I think both of you together on these would be awesome cause she is just as funny!
If you have stayed please leave a review! I like to leave detailed, honest reviews anywhere we eat or stay as it helps others! Don’t let the fake reviews ruin a business!
We stayed there moving to and from Monterey. We rented a cabin both times and have zero complaints. The cabins were clean; the staff was friendly, and it gave the kids and the dogs a place to run.
We stayed here for 3 nights one time, loved it for a cheap vacation, my son was eight at the time and he lived the jumping pillow, when it rained we went into Flagstaff and ate dinner, went to a movie and had a very good time.
I have been to this KOA myself in a 35-foot trailer, and I had no complaints. The hiking trails up the mountain were beautiful. The staff was friendly. Definitely would stay here again.
I lived in my Class A RV with my dog Deuce in Arizona for three years spending summers in Flagstaff, it is beautiful there in summer. I can't tell you how many times I stayed at this place many, many , times. I usually boondock at the OHV near by or in the NF but when I needed services I would often go here to do laundry get propane for the RV tank and be close to town for a couple of days to resupply. Sometimes I would just pay the dump fee to empty tanks and get water. Deuce especially liked the dog park, it is not large but dogs don't care much about that. There is really nothing wrong with this KOA, it is expensive! It is an older facility it is not a brand new fancy KOA it has old Flagstaff style and charm like the rest of the area. Keep in mind the location is in the foothills of Mt Humphreys the entire town is in the foothills of the mountain this is Flagstaff. If you expect a perfectly flat parking area see "RV Park" this is a "campground" or you can go to Kansas, it is flat there. If you camp or RV you need to be prepared like maybe carrying leveling blocks? If your not prepared and have a bad time that is your fault. There is an entire town right there with plenty of camping supply stores. Besides if you go to Flagstaff and don't boondock or back country camp in the NF you are missing out on the true beauty of the area, you might as well stay at a motel with the other snowflakes, there are plenty of them as well. TH-camrs who have a camping channel that are not experienced nor prepared and pay to stay are posers and that is what makes TH-cam, TH-cam.
Glad to see you do these folks a solid.. the only thing that would have bugged me is the mobile homes right behind your site. But I have very fond childhood memories of campsites like this. I’d have jumped myself silly on the pillow thing. I always liked seeing local souvenirs for sale (which I noticed as you entered the camp store). Granted the road proximity might be an irritant but as a child I actually liked the sounds and smells of the world through the screens of our trailer at night, even including the whine of trucks on the highway. KOA’s we’re always a notch above other sites.. thank you for sharing this.
We have camped there many times in an RV. True it is not level but it is on the side of a mountain so we expect it not to be level. We have jacks and can adjust them so our RV is level. We will be going back.
I've stayed at a South Dakota KOA, it was really pretty cool. I really don't expect much when camping, my expectations were totally met. I even saw some deer.
@@karrpoollane Great Falls MT, the worst. Missoula, MT. Nice but right in the middle of a residential and commercial area. Billings, MT. Very nice. Bozeman, MT was nice but may be closed. There are other campgrounds in MT I’d highly recommend. Jim and Mary’s in Missoula. 2 campgrounds in St Regis. All great places.
We've stayed there a couple of times and have had no issues. It is definitely not a destination camping location...but it serves well as a spot to dip into for the night as you make your way across the Southwest on I-40.
I’ve stayed at that KOA several times. The spots can be uneven, but hey…it’s at the base of a mountain people! It’s actually great if you have kids and you want to camp with the family or large group. It’s very clean every time and the staff is always kind. Beware of Karen reviews always.
I grew up right across the highway from that KOA, late 70’s into early 80’s in the Smokerise subdivision. The campground wasn’t much back then, but the owners were really nice people.
I find that there is a certain generation who needs things catered and curated. I once read a review on driving the Alaskan highway that said, "Beautiful drive, mountains, trees, rivers, it was gorgeous. One star because we didn't see any bears." p.s. knife wielding man was more than likely a guy washing dishes and keeping the silverware in a cup. Gotta love those millennial reviews.
We stayed there a few years back. I think we were in the same spot you were or in the one next to you. The camp ground was nice. Bathroom and showers were clean and from what I remember we could hear the road. Staff was friendly. I would stay there again.
It really is individual expectations. What someone else expects may not be your own. I never rate a campground unless i have camped there first and not what someone else said. Also people and places have bad days. So I tend to camp a few times before I make a judgment.
I stayed there 2 years ago for a night so we could dump tanks and do laundry. Almost all of the machines were down, it took hours to wait my turn and get 2 loads done. The machines had been down for months. Other than that it was fine. I just find KOA’s too cramped and expensive, but hey, I knew that going in.
Not a big fan of KOA's. will usually stay there as a last resort (no pun intended). I don't like being squeezed in like a sardine. I would rather stay at a Walmart.
I stayed there recently, tent site #35 as I recall. It was very nice; staff was great. The kind and helpful "sweet" girl in the office checked me in. I didn't try the jumping pillow, but enjoyed the laughter of children having a good time. I really enjoyed this KOA. Nothing terrible happened. Amazing!
We stayed there as a family in 2017. Spent a month camping throughout the Rockies, all a g KOAs. The 2 worst KOAs we stayed were Jackson Hole WY and Flagstaff. We never left reviews but our biggest complaint at Flagstaff were the drunks partying all night and the staff unwilling to enforce quiet hours. Got no sleep there. The other campers nearby all pulled up and left too.
05:42 - They _did_ openly warn / advise him that "The last time an adult rode one of those, it broke" regarding the "Banana Bikes" (actually quadricycles).
It's not uneven, it's not level. The description should be the sites are not level and require use of stands/leveling blocks which 99% of RVers have and normally expect to use. HAHAHA first rule on the bouncer is NO SHOES. We had to laugh at your highway comments - for us the term KOA translates to Highway or Rail Road nearby and if the latter, then definitely a midnight train horn. Nice honest assessment.
It looked nice to me. At age 70 the man could get a card from the Federal Park System/National Parks where camping is half price during the week. He could have gone there. They are a whole lot darker and creepier.
I've camped here every year, the past 3 years, for Overland Expo and I think it's a very convenient campsite, with nice amenities. Cheaper than hotels in that area! I love this site
😂😂😂 You crack me up! The banana bike was the best! You didn’t take your shoes off on the bouncy pillow - FOR SHAME. 😆 Darn no creepy guys at the bathroom either. Shower was a bit icky though. 🤢Subscribed! ❤
This is the kind of investigative journalism that should have Dateline nervous!
This is the funniest comment I’ve read so far 😂
2--seconds Another bot Takes my Comment Down
This hooligan wore his shoes on the jumping pillow... I'm surprised Julia didn't find him and mess him up.
Yeah. The hooligan doesn’t play by Julia’s rules 😎.
@@karrpoollane . . . Turns out Julia is a 12 yr old wanna be Roller Derby star ! LOL.
😂😂
Who was a hooligan?
Kind of refreshing to see somebody de-bash 1 star reviews on anything. I like you take on life.
Thank you. Looking for the positives in life.
@@karrpoollaneWhat could be someone elses' negative, could be your positive. Some of these comments can be downright picky. But you have to wonder who benefits from these extremely negative reviews. 🤔
I remember a yelp review I saw.
Pro’s: Great service, good food, generous portions and was reasonably priced.
Cons: I didn’t like the decorations.
1 star
Either extremely petty or ignorant to the 5 star rating system.
this is exactly why i sub'd. hes doing Gods work in the outdoors
lol, cute video.
Thank you for NOT showing us 20 minutes of cooking and eating. So many TH-camrs seem to be obsessed with showing everyone everything they eat and how it is prepared in painstaking detail
I’ve stayed at this KOA in one of the simple cabins twice-absolutely loved it! The place was quiet and clean and the nearby campers were friendly.
We loved our stay at Flagstaff KOA...Great Hiking behind the campground. We give them 5*️⃣,s We were there before the official camping season started.
The rock on the tent was probably somebody trying to keep the tent from blowing away in the wind, the wind probably doing the damage. The guy with the knives in the cup at the bathroom was probably just washing his silverware and waiting for his old lady to come out.
In all fairness to this campground's owners, I camped here in May of 2022 while attending the Overland Expo, and was very satisfied with my stay. No major complaints whatsoever. I came here with no preconceived notions as I did not vet its reviews beforehand. I'm glad I didn't, as it could have tainted my impressions and expectations. The only problem I experienced was with the excessive winds which really had my tent shaking and buffeting, but this is really beyond the control of the campground owners. Overall, I left very satisfied with my stay, and I would stay here again if I ever come through Flagstaff in the future. Thumbs up!
I liked it as well.
Winds are common on the Colorado Plateau.
I lived in 'Windblow, Arizona' for over a decade.
I totally agree with your assessment. I used to live in Flagstaff and have stayed at this KOA a few times, always in the primitive tent section. It is windy by Flagstaff standards. I suspect that that part of the campground funnels the wind in a strange way because I noticed other parts of the campground weren't as bad.
@@karrpoollane & i'd Be 🤪 Satisfied if i' Was There@ *That Time, Lol
48 bucks a nite, no thanx.
Sounds like competitors were busy filling out bad reviews to deter campers! Thanks for a legit review. You just got another sub!
Thanks for watching and subscribing 🤘🏾
I have stayed there multiple times over the years, started off in a tent, then a pop up camper and now with my trailer and have never had a bad experience, ever.
Glad to hear it. Doesn’t sound so bad.
I just wouldn't want to "camp" near houses.
$45 for a tent camp spot ! So , what do they charge if you are in a trailer ?
Stayed at this campground several times. Always had a nice stay. I think some people expect a Waldof Astoria experience at a KOA.
I think so too 😂
I have to wonder if the knife wielding creep was really just washing his dishes. 😂
More of this please.
That was my thought too 😂
You got it.
🤣🤣🤣!
@@karrpoollane They did literally say "knives in a cup". You have to wonder if some of these people have ever been outside before.
Maybe he was just arming himself against bears and mountain lions
I couldn't tell if it was a fish cleaning sink or just an outdoor sink for dishes. Either way, these city folks need to get out more. 😂
I told my son, the people who have good experiences don’t leave reviews. I don’t read reviews. Thanks for the video.
Thanks for watching
There is truth to that. Don't want to reveal your favorite stays.
lol. My husband and our kids were full-time RVers and worked at this KOA for a year. You went here after we left there and it is under new management. It was very un level. In all fairness, it is built at the base of a mountain and open all year. When it snows, we had to plow off the roads and it made the sites un level😂. It was the biggest complaint we got and our own RV was horribly unlevel. The bathrooms were rough, but we did our best with what we were given🤷🏻♀️. There used to be a little train for the kids that my husband used to drive and the kids loved it.
I love KOAs. It's funny to remember that when I was a kid (70 years ago) my parents, who grew up very poor in the Great Depression, wouldn't consider staying in a KOA because they were too expensive. But when I finally got to a point in my adult life where I could afford them, they became my favorite places to stay.
PS: I wonder if the guy with the knives and the cup was just washing his cutlery after a camp dinner.
I was thinking the same thing about the knife man lol!!
Most places are not as bad as most people think. We stayed at a campground that my biggest complaint was no campfires after 10:00 p.m. . Well in the summer it is not dark until after 9:00 so we could not have any campfires. I would not go to that site ever again just because of that but everything else was really great.
I’ve been staying at this KOA since the 70s! We have never had a bad experience, and the office people have always been friendly, helpful and attentive. The only problem we have ever had was the old playground with the jungle gym of death, the treehouse of death, and the swing set of death. It has since been replaced with a bounce structure that is covered with laughing kids from open to close. I have the feeling the people who complain would still bitch at a luxury RV park. Prices are in line with the area and slightly higher on weekends. We were there literally a week ago and as always the personnel was helpful, accommodating and extremely friendly. The park was packed with people from around the world and everyone I spoke to was enjoying themselves. We recommended several local spots to neighbors who ended up having a great time. We literally took a neighbor with us to the Lava Tube and he enjoyed it immensely. I highly recommend Flagstaff KOA.
I lived in a town in WV that, at one point in history had five rail lines. There were train crossings on about every main road. People would move there and then complain about night time train whistles. Like---the trains came in invisible??? Some people have no common sense.
Like people buying cheap property by the airport & race tracks, then complaining about planes & trying to shut down the race tracks.
😂😂 the train companies get fines if they blow their horns here. Only for emergencies or it’s $10k for every whistle.
The only reason we have that is you can’t drive around the gates here
Many KOA's tend to have older bathrooms. If they are still in the orginal A frame building with the bathrooms off to the side they will tend to be smaller and older but typically are kept pretty clean. The person cleaning the showers is going to shove the curtain to the side and clean the shower. Just an oversight that they have not spotted or cleaned the mold on the curtain. A mention about that in the office is probably all that is needed to get that addressed. I've been to many KOA's and it's usually a positive experience. Another thing people need to keep in mind is that many of these are pretty old now and as areas build up you can end up with road ways rail ways and other noise maiking situations closer to the camp ground than what they had 40-50 years ago. The "knife wielding creepy guy" was probably just someone washing their dishes in that sink by the bathroom. :)
I've been going to that KOA camp since the 1970's and I can tell you personally, it was always a nice and clean camp to go to.
Used to work security and grounds keeping here up until a couple years ago. Great place and people just poorly managed up until about a year ago when the owners booted out the old GM. The new GM seems to be improving things for sure.
Good to know. It seemed great there
Im here right now, and it's actually pretty cool. Clean bathrooms and showers very quiet. People just make up bs or complain about anything.
That they do.
Ya so true RVerTV went there and said it was great and the staff was great.
Like 👍 the review 😊😊
We were there at the same time, only problem was a little smoke from the fire that started on the West side of town. We love that place, been going since the 70s. Hope you had a great time!
@rvtech101 Yes, me and my wife stayed in the little cabin it was awesome 👌
We’ve stayed at this KOA many times for roughly a week at a time. We didn’t experience any issues and were aware it is close to a housing development. Our grandchildren love the jumping pillow and the train they run around the campground pulled by a golf cart. It’s convenient, it has full hookups and I’ve always felt safe there.
Why would you pay 48 bucks to camp behind someones house
My boss picked on me once for camping in my backyard… I had to remind him my backyard was 130 acres… For some reason your question reminded me of that 👍
This type of spot is more for people doing cross country road trips, not for those looking to get in touch with nature
The developers encroached on the KOA, not the other way around. Twenty years ago, none of these houses were there.
The question should be, Why would anyone build a home behind and next to a KOA campground?
Also, the grounds around the campground used to be level. It appears they never leveled the dirt that builders pushed over onto the campground while building those homes.
Literally the root of all these people's problems. In my mind, you camp to get away from people and not spend money.
It's so hot in Phoenix that just to go up north in cooler weather is sometimes all you need. You can be outside up there in June July and Aug when you can't in phx.
The problem with reviews is that people rarely post positive reviews and the unhappy people tend to cause them to be unbalanced. I need to be more consistent about reviewing places as we travel this summer.
Also they review things that don't make sense. "Hey there was some wierd guy outside the bathroom." you could say that about any campsite on one particular day of the year.
This KOA campground in Flagstaff was portrayed in the undercover boss TV show in 2013.
No wayyyy
Sedona
I generally like KOA's. I have camped at several. As an older female that many time travels alone I like the option of their camping cabins. Years ago camped at the Flagstaff one and it didn't have as many amenities but I felt safe there.
We just returned from staying there. We had a really good stay. Our only complaint is that our RV site was not very level and we had a hard time leveling our 5th wheel. This was also an issue with a number of other rigs that we saw. However, even with that, I would certainly return and recommend.
stayed here with my family when I was a kid several times. So a long time ago. I do remember hiking up the mountain behind there, that was good. I also remember several non-campers roaming through there asking for money and just hanging around. I wouldnt leave anything valuable around, its too close to town.
Check out the KOA off hwy 40 . It was on undercover boss. Great people. They have an indoor pool with two spas. I haven't been there in around ten years but im sure it'll be great. Also they have a general store.
Oh, two spas sounds fancy.
You should check out Lo Lo Mai in Page Springs. About an hour from where you're at now. Beautiful camp ground.
I used to live in Flagstaff, so may be biased, but I have stayed in this KOA numerous times on my way to New Mexico to see in-laws. I have always been happy with the stay, and when we go, they usually have the kamp kitchen open for breakfast. Eggs, bacon, pancakes-YUMMY. Only one time did I have a problem, and that was when we left everything out, and someone stole our lantern. Everything else was fine, but the lantern was brand new, and it got stolen. But our fault for not securing it. I would highly recommend this campsite.
Yeah the Kamp Kitchen was closed. I was sad.
I did a camp trip to Yosemite in 94. My wife and 3 year old were in the tent. I’m at the picnic table reading with my Coleman gas lantern. My daughter flies outta the tent. 100mph. Trips over the Webber kettle. Lands in the coals face first. I grab her. Dust her off and she’s got a laceration on her chin. I rush her to the er at Yosemite.
A tiny fat longhair dr finally shows up. Stitched her chin up. So we go back to the campsite. Some pos stole my lantern.
Theft is everywhere.
Did it have the little trailer where you could buy breakfast? If so I've overnighted at that KOA and would give it the same review as you. Thanks for sharing.
Nooo the Kamp kitchen was closed. I was sad
This is a really cool concept for a youtube channel.
Thank you 🙏
Giving one-star reviews to the establishment because you had issues with other customers or locals is ridiculous.
That’s exactly what I said. It wasn’t the campgrounds fault someone threw a rock at their tent.
@@BMoney77 Unless it was Julia who threw the rock...
If the campground can't keep their campers in check, then yeah, it does speak poorly of the campground. Sorry but if you stay in a hotel and the hotel lets guests run screaming uip and down the halls and having parties, you WOULD hold the hotel accountable. This is no different.
We’ve camped there twice. Have another two nights in August reserved. We have a lab and they put us right next to the dog park. No complaints but we stay in a fifth wheel.
We stayed here last summer and loved it. Kids liked the playground. Sites were a bit tight but the campground was so beautiful. They also loved the jumping pillow. Short drive to Sedona, planning to do a short stay this summer again
I've hiked that trail. Pretty epic and there are Geocaches everywhere!!
Many years ago, I had 1 star visits to KOAs in North Dakota and Montana. In ND, arrived to find my site had been given to another camper although I was not late and there were other sites available. I will note that in the past few years, we stayed at a KOA near Waterloo, Iowa, and had a good experience.
I lived in Flagstaff for two years. It was hard to move away because it was so nice there, the national forest is accessible in every direction provided the fire danger isn’t too extreme. I don’t really remember this KOA, but it appears like it’s right between Mt Eldon and historic route 66, which is kind of right in town. Hiking Mt Eldon is a good time though
It’s a beautiful place.
Stayed there twice when I was a kid. We had a blast! Loved it!
My wife and I stayed there on our way to Moab. It was fine. A bit too expensive, our site was decently level. Nothing special it was just a stop off for one night on the way up. Full disclosure, we would always rather disperse camp. Fun video. Great job!
My wife and I have stayed many times at this KOA. In our experiences, the staff was very nice and helpful. Uneven campsites, yes, to some extent. But our 25 foot Class C motorhome didn't have any problems with the levelers. I can say that I have stayed at state and county parks in Arizona and the slope was absolutely unreal. But anytime a person is in the mountains, you can expect some type of slope (generally).
The whole thing about showers and security is a bigger deal in the generations since this campground (and other campgrounds) was established. Most women do not want a shower room in which preditors can enter through a common door. Newer campgrounds have single shower rooms with a secure door.
But the hookups were great. I have gone to campgrounds where the 30amp outlet doesn't work. I have had ones where my surge protector said "no way". I have found one campground where the sewer line overflowed. Nothing like this was at this campground.
My kids are adults and live out of the area, so I cannot comment on the amenities for children. I cannot comment on the bicycle accident either. But from what I would rate this campground is five stars for the staff and four stars for the campsites and amenities.
Circle Pines KOA in Williams is about 30 minutes from that KOA and it’s GREAT!!!
It was hot in Phoenix so we drove up to flagstaff one summer day well the got long so we went to the KOA and rented a Cabin loved it
I’ve stayed in a KOA campground that was not bad, except for their tent sites. Each site had a 10x10 foot platform which was useless to me as I have a Teepee style tent with a 14ft diameter base. With the guy lines staked out I need an 18ft diameter space so I rented an RV site. The trouble with an RV site is the gravel is packed down so hard I can't put my tent stakes in, until I found a simple solution. In my tool pack, which is always in the back of my SUV, I have a Ryobi rechargeable drill, so using an eight inch long, 3/16" masonry bit, I pulled the guy line out to where it needed to be and ran the drill into the ground, then simply tapped the tent stake down.
We RTT from Seattle to Virginia and stayed roughly at 20 or so Koa’s. We liked that we could book day of reservations, had laundry, some had free breakfast, dog friendly and things for kids. We only drove away from 1 which I think was is SD because the grouchy old man said it was law that we backed in… which we didn’t want to do because of an awning. ( he was super rude about it). Although I would rather camp with no one around, koas are extremely conveniently located.
I spent three days at this KOA in May.The campground was very clean and the hosts were very nice, very peaceful setting amongst the pine trees. The bathrooms were clean and everything worked. There are some nice walking trails to the rear that lead up the mountains. I have a pop-up truck camper and I needed a few leveling blocks no big deal as we deal with this all the time. The tent sites have level pads to put your tent up. The only knock for this place is there is traffic noise from the highway. My friends and I were traveling to Flagstaff to visit the Lowell Observatory which was a wonderful evening. I would give this campground four stars
I saw that KOA recently but it was too early to stop for the day
Ha ha! I grew up in Flagstaff from 1990-2006. Good times, but for the tree hippies making it hard to thin out the forests, then it gets overgrown, and goes up in flames in the summer. 7:30 And you don't need to worry about ticks! Going up the mountain in the fall is something else too.
Been binging on your reviews. They are awesome. Maybe I will run into you in one of my trips, haha
Thanks for watching! Be sure to say hi if you do!
We've stayed at several KOAs. We've had one really negative experience, I mean where it went downhill from check in and we left after just one night. We wouldn't have stayed that one night if we hadn't been so far from home. One of the biggest turn offs most people mentioned was, like you mentioned, they are usually located right next to really busy roads or interstates, next to shopping centers, and/or have a permanent residence camper section not separated from the recreational camping area, and the price is usually much higher than a COE.
We stayed there in an RV last spring. Didn't need to use the showers, it was fine other than the landscaping being a little rough. Certainly not a 1 star experience.
I stayed there twenty years ago and it was great. The girl at the front desk even gave me some beer. The trail up the hill out back was nice too.
Dang, that’s nice! I wonder how that front desk girl is doing these days 😂
We've stayed at that KOA ONE time. It is a one star campground in large part to the weirdos that camp there. Some of them LONG TERM. You are stacked right on top of each other as well and people have their dogs running wild.
Last fall I spent a night at this KOA. The truth is I enjoyed it. They also filled one of my propane tanks and hooked it up for me. My dog enjoy the dog park too.
Yeah there’s quite a few cool things and the people were great when I was there
Yes please keep them coming. Your comments are hilarious. And please have Kelly join a few. I think both of you together on these would be awesome cause she is just as funny!
You got it.
If you have stayed please leave a review! I like to leave detailed, honest reviews anywhere we eat or stay as it helps others! Don’t let the fake reviews ruin a business!
Love the editing and your personality, great video!
Yay. Thank you so much. Appreciate you watching and commenting
We stayed there moving to and from Monterey. We rented a cabin both times and have zero complaints. The cabins were clean; the staff was friendly, and it gave the kids and the dogs a place to run.
Oh yay. I’ve heard some horror stories about cabins there
Great review. I'm looking forward to more KOA reviews.
Thanks for watching
We stayed here for 3 nights one time, loved it for a cheap vacation, my son was eight at the time and he lived the jumping pillow, when it rained we went into Flagstaff and ate dinner, went to a movie and had a very good time.
Underrated channel! Campsite reviews have to be your niche! Enjoyable and helpful! Your humor is so entertaining!
Thank you so much Tracy!
OK, this was a fun video. I really enjoyed your approach and would love to see more like it! Subbed!
Thank you so much. I’ll have some more coming out soon
I have been to this KOA myself in a 35-foot trailer, and I had no complaints. The hiking trails up the mountain were beautiful. The staff was friendly. Definitely would stay here again.
It’s beautiful
I lived in my Class A RV with my dog Deuce in Arizona for three years spending summers in Flagstaff, it is beautiful there in summer.
I can't tell you how many times I stayed at this place many, many , times. I usually boondock at the OHV near by or in the NF but when I needed services I would often go here to do laundry get propane for the RV tank and be close to town for a couple of days to resupply.
Sometimes I would just pay the dump fee to empty tanks and get water.
Deuce especially liked the dog park, it is not large but dogs don't care much about that.
There is really nothing wrong with this KOA, it is expensive! It is an older facility it is not a brand new fancy KOA it has old Flagstaff style and charm like the rest of the area. Keep in mind the location is in the foothills of Mt Humphreys the entire town is in the foothills of the mountain this is Flagstaff. If you expect a perfectly flat parking area see "RV Park" this is a "campground" or you can go to Kansas, it is flat there.
If you camp or RV you need to be prepared like maybe carrying leveling blocks? If your not prepared and have a bad time that is your fault.
There is an entire town right there with plenty of camping supply stores.
Besides if you go to Flagstaff and don't boondock or back country camp in the NF you are missing out on the true beauty of the area, you might as well stay at a motel with the other snowflakes, there are plenty of them as well.
TH-camrs who have a camping channel that are not experienced nor prepared and pay to stay are posers and that is what makes TH-cam, TH-cam.
Glad to see you do these folks a solid.. the only thing that would have bugged me is the mobile homes right behind your site. But I have very fond childhood memories of campsites like this. I’d have jumped myself silly on the pillow thing. I always liked seeing local souvenirs for sale (which I noticed as you entered the camp store). Granted the road proximity might be an irritant but as a child I actually liked the sounds and smells of the world through the screens of our trailer at night, even including the whine of trucks on the highway. KOA’s we’re always a notch above other sites.. thank you for sharing this.
Thanks for watching
Popped up in my recommendations. First time here. Not a camper but had a few good laughs! 👍
Thanks for watching and laughing 😂
We have camped there many times in an RV. True it is not level but it is on the side of a mountain so we expect it not to be level. We have jacks and can adjust them so our RV is level. We will be going back.
I've stayed at a South Dakota KOA, it was really pretty cool. I really don't expect much when camping, my expectations were totally met. I even saw some deer.
Nice 👍🏾
In my travels I’ve stayed at some pretty run down KOAs. I’ve also stayed at some really nice ones too.
Let me know which ones are the worst
@@karrpoollane Great Falls MT, the worst. Missoula, MT. Nice but right in the middle of a residential and commercial area. Billings, MT. Very nice. Bozeman, MT was nice but may be closed. There are other campgrounds in MT I’d highly recommend. Jim and Mary’s in Missoula. 2 campgrounds in St Regis. All great places.
I delivered Bridgford items (sandwiches, cheese...) to that park in the early 2000s.
😊 new follower 🎉🎉 Not only hilariously entertaining but also informative 🎉🎉 you’ve hit the jackpot 🎉🎉😂😂 eager for more 😊 thank u
Thanks for watching and subscribing. I’ll keep them coming.
So we stayed at the Flagstaff KOA AND the Williams KOA when we went through and the kids enjoyed them both. Didn't realize it was so poorly reviewed.
Most reviews: "OMG, there were people there. One star"
Thanks for visiting my hometown. Glad you had a good time.
We've stayed there a couple of times and have had no issues. It is definitely not a destination camping location...but it serves well as a spot to dip into for the night as you make your way across the Southwest on I-40.
Yeah I didn’t think it was bad at all
Same. I've stayed there several times while passing through. Never had an issue.
I’ve stayed at that KOA several times. The spots can be uneven, but hey…it’s at the base of a mountain people! It’s actually great if you have kids and you want to camp with the family or large group. It’s very clean every time and the staff is always kind. Beware of Karen reviews always.
Totally agree!
I grew up right across the highway from that KOA, late 70’s into early 80’s in the Smokerise subdivision. The campground wasn’t much back then, but the owners were really nice people.
So glad I found your content!
So glad you did too.
New subscriber here. Thank you for sharing. 🕊️Texas/USA🇺🇸
I find that there is a certain generation who needs things catered and curated. I once read a review on driving the Alaskan highway that said, "Beautiful drive, mountains, trees, rivers, it was gorgeous. One star because we didn't see any bears." p.s. knife wielding man was more than likely a guy washing dishes and keeping the silverware in a cup. Gotta love those millennial reviews.
😂
We have stayed there several times and with our kids and grandkids. Always a good time. Nice place. We are pretty comfortable in KOAs. Thanks.
No problem. Thanks for watching
We stayed there for three days last month to attend the overland expo. Tent site 22, I believe it was. We all had a blast.
That’s why I was there too. Love overland expo
This was our first year. We will definitely be returning next year. May even try to reserve the same site. No complaints here.
Prices have increased. Paid $35.02 in 11/2021 for an RV site. Pretty campground, friendly staff, and no bad experiences.
Dang, yeah that’s not bad.
This is a great place to camp. The Mt Elden trail system is a perfect trail network for biking and is accessible from the KOA.
It’s a beautiful trail
The houses next door make it a no for me. And the $48!
We stayed there a few years back. I think we were in the same spot you were or in the one next to you. The camp ground was nice. Bathroom and showers were clean and from what I remember we could hear the road. Staff was friendly. I would stay there again.
Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for watching
This video got you an immediate follow! Camping in Flagstaff right now, but not at the KOA.
Glad to hear it. Thank you so much for watching
I was looking forward to that back flip #letdown lol but the banana bike ride was pretty hilarious lol
What do you mean? I nailed that backflip
Banana bike ride ftw definitely. just needed a boombox (or at least a mini speaker ) to be big ballin' while riding it
@@karrpoollane haha!
It really is individual expectations. What someone else expects may not be your own. I never rate a campground unless i have camped there first and not what someone else said. Also people and places have bad days. So I tend to camp a few times before I make a judgment.
I agree
I stayed there 2 years ago for a night so we could dump tanks and do laundry. Almost all of the machines were down, it took hours to wait my turn and get 2 loads done. The machines had been down for months. Other than that it was fine. I just find KOA’s too cramped and expensive, but hey, I knew that going in.
Not a big fan of KOA's. will usually stay there as a last resort (no pun intended). I don't like being squeezed in like a sardine. I would rather stay at a Walmart.
Yeah, sites are small and on top of each other.
It’s by Flagstaff Mall on 89 a. It’s been there for years, it was actually out of town when it first opened up.
I stayed there recently, tent site #35 as I recall. It was very nice; staff was great. The kind and helpful "sweet" girl in the office checked me in. I didn't try the jumping pillow, but enjoyed the laughter of children having a good time. I really enjoyed this KOA. Nothing terrible happened. Amazing!
Should have tried the jumping pillow 😂
@@karrpoollane I would have, but there was a weird guy there with a dark beard filming himself doing back flips.
We stayed there as a family in 2017. Spent a month camping throughout the Rockies, all a g KOAs. The 2 worst KOAs we stayed were Jackson Hole WY and Flagstaff. We never left reviews but our biggest complaint at Flagstaff were the drunks partying all night and the staff unwilling to enforce quiet hours. Got no sleep there. The other campers nearby all pulled up and left too.
Oh geeze. Sorry to hear that.
Good review keep up the good work !!!!!!!!!
You got it
05:42 - They _did_ openly warn / advise him that "The last time an adult rode one of those, it broke" regarding the "Banana Bikes" (actually quadricycles).
It's not uneven, it's not level. The description should be the sites are not level and require use of stands/leveling blocks which 99% of RVers have and normally expect to use. HAHAHA first rule on the bouncer is NO SHOES. We had to laugh at your highway comments - for us the term KOA translates to Highway or Rail Road nearby and if the latter, then definitely a midnight train horn. Nice honest assessment.
It looked nice to me. At age 70 the man could get a card from the Federal Park System/National Parks where camping is half price during the week. He could have gone there. They are a whole lot darker and creepier.
Free stuff from the gov'ment is COMMUNISM!
My family and I have stayed at this KOA twice. It always been a pleasant experience.
That banana bike ride was hilarious and hysterical!😂🤣
Thanks 😂
I've camped here every year, the past 3 years, for Overland Expo and I think it's a very convenient campsite, with nice amenities. Cheaper than hotels in that area! I love this site
I was there for overland expo
😂😂😂 You crack me up! The banana bike was the best! You didn’t take your shoes off on the bouncy pillow - FOR SHAME. 😆 Darn no creepy guys at the bathroom either. Shower was a bit icky though. 🤢Subscribed! ❤
I didn’t read the rules. Shame on me I know 😂
Thanks for watching and subscribing