We landed this afternoon at Ely KOA Journey, pretty much right in the middle of Nevada, elevation, 6500 ft. This is just a stop-over for a night, but it really is a nice campground. We plan to drive around this after and check out the town.
From here we're heading north to Idaho. Our first stop is a place called Anderson Camp. We plan to spend a couple of days there so we can check out Shoshone Falls and what's left of Twin Falls
Click on "Top Panel" to see where are and where to next
Our drive from Niagra to Kenisee Lake was an eventful one. Our "stop engine" light and buzzer came on and it was almost an impossible find to locate an auto/RV/truck mechanic that had the equipment to analyze our trouble. We finally did, got the issue resolved and was able to make the 173-mile drive in just a bit under eight hours. The other thing we found is that if you're using Google Maps as your GPS coming from I-90, it will direct you to go under a ten-foot bridge just before reaching the campground.
Once we got to the campground we found that they had already chosen our site for us. (not the norm for a Thousand Trails park) Fortunately, it was a 50 amp site as we found that there are just a few of them. I'm guessing that the assignment was to prevent RV's without 50 amps from using the available sites. The campground is very nice, the sites are large and all have grass lawns with full hook-ups. There are tent sites with just water and electricity as well. Like with most campgrounds that rent out annual sites, the better locations we filled with people who don't travel. The campground is only open half the year. The other half power and water are turned off, but people can keep their RV's in their sites. We found that most of the annual sites are just used on the weekend. The campground is very well kept up and has decent amenities. The pool could be bigger and the shared sports court could be split up so that you didn't have to set up a net every time you wanted to play pickleball. The small lake is fine for boating but swimming isn't allowed. There is also a good number of folks with ATV's and they drive them from the campground to go mudding somewhere nearby. Overall the campground is one of the better ones we have visited, the people are very friendly and the feel of the campground is welcoming to traveling RV'ers.
While here at the campground we didn't find a whole lot of excitement in the surrounding area. We drove to Geneva by the Lake, (the local tourist area) then followed the road east along the lake for twenty miles or so. Unfortunately for the town, since the 70's the lake has eaten up the beaches and businesses who once had nice beaches to draw customers in no longer have them. We drove through town around eleven on a Monday and found most stores and attractions to be closed. We also stopped at a couple of parks along Lake Erie and had a chance to wade out into the lake. It was surprisingly warmer than I expected. The problem is that the geese and seagull population at the parks is so numerous that most of the grass and beach areas are minefields and not very pleasant to hang out in.
Looking for a fun trip away from it all? Fishing, hiking trails, family activities, and pristine waters await you at Kenisee Lake RV Camping. Surrounded by breathtaking foliage and water views, this RV campground in Ohio offers the perfect getaway for couples, friends, and families.
With plenty of campsites, guests can take their pick at their ideal setting. Choose from heavily wooded sites, clear and open camping, or scenic sites with a water view. Like to fish? Then Kenisee Lake RV camping couldn't be more perfect. Home to a beautiful lake and three ponds, guests can spend the day fishing and create memories by the water.
GENERAL POLICIES:
RESERVATION & PAYMENT POLICIES:
HELPFUL INFORMATION:
Park Model w/ Screened Porch/6 No Pets
Sleeps 6. Two bedrooms/One full bath.
Master bedroom has a queen-size bed. Second bedroom has a bunk bed with double on the bottom and single on top.
Living room has a sofa that turns into a single bed.
Fully equipped kitchen. Linens NOT included.
No pets permitted.
As with most of our KOA visits, it is just for a night stay-over while driving through because there were none of our membership parks nearby. The Lordsburg KOA was no exception, it appeared that 90% of the RV’s in the park were just there for a night as well. We hit some bad weather driving down from Mesa and pulled into the park at one in the afternoon and it was lightly snowing. By the time we were in our site and set up the sun was out and it warmed slightly. The park has full hookups with both 30 and 50 amps sites. There was an extra $3 for a 50 amp pull-through. I can’t say anything bad about the park but plan to spend forty to fifty dollars for a place to park overnight. The whole campground is a large gravel parking lot. It does have all the standard amenities like most all KOA campgrounds do and a few more niceties that we missed because of the weather and the shortness of our visit, like “kamper kitchen,” the activity building, the pool, and the general store. It is also easy to get to from the freeway. We would return to the park again if we were traveling I-10 through New Mexico.
You'll feel an away-from-it-all serenity at Lordsburg KOA, despite its easy-access location off I-10 halfway between Tucson and El Paso. Desert beauty surrounds you with scenic views of the Pyramid Mountains and big-sky sunsets. Tour ghost towns, search for opals and agates at Rockhound State Park, see the Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument, hike in the Gila National Forest or climb the dunes at White Sands National Monument. At this KOA, you'll find a swimming pool in season, game room, free cable TV, free wireless internet, special holiday treats and a Camping Kitchen ready for group events. An activity center is available for groups as well as food service on certain days. This is the place for relaxation in the Western desert. Pool: May 15 - September 15. Max pull thru 80 feet.
After a very long drive from Oklahoma, we finally reached Hidden Valley Park. We were assigned a site (after a $6.45 charge per night for 50 amps) and pulled forward to disconnect only to find the car battery was dead. So I drove the motorhome up to our site and got the AC running for the Yahoos (the dogs) while Jackie found someone to jump the car, only then did I remember that I had the car keys. In short time, we got the car going and set up camp. The park was just that, a place to park with utilities, it had neither the feel of a resort or a campground. The roads are all dirt and gravel while the sites are tight and not well maintained. There was hardly room to walk down the right side of the coach, so forget about setting up chairs or the barbecue. We walked around the park and found the pool drained and the pet area to be a small space alongside the road behind a sign.
We did have the good fortune to meet some nice folks that invited us to sit and chat. They had an end site so they were able to set out chairs. However, it was located on a busy corner with clouds of dust everytime someone came around the corner faster than 5mp (which was pretty much everyone) Again, good company made up for the dust issue. We also made a trip down into Albuquerque to run some errands, visit the National Museum of Nuclear History and Science, and have lunch at Whataburger (our new favorite fast food burger place since we discovered them in South Texas). Albuquerque is a beautiful city and we would enjoy spending more time here.
Back in the park, the staff and the people we met while there were very nice, but I think that in the future, we'll probably pass on a second visit.
Address:
844B State Hwy 333
Tijeras, NM 87059
Phone: (505) 281-3363
Fax: (505) 281-2026
Reservations Phone: (505) 281-3363
Reservations Fax: (505) 281-2026
Resort Information: Resort is 10 miles east of Albuquerque, a short distance from the Sandia Crest Ski and Recreation Area. Nearby: national forest, ghost towns, Indian pueblos, Rio Grande Zoo, Coronado Ruins, and Monument. Albuquerque's western edge reveals a history page of petroglyphs, volcano cliffs, and the Folsom Man Site.
Web Site: hiddenvalley-rvpark.com
EMail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Full Sites: 104
Partial Sites: 2
Pull-through Sites: 59
Check-In/Check-Out Times: 1 p.m.-4 p.m./ 11:00 a.m.
Open: Jan 1 to Dec 31
Peak: May 1 to Oct 15
Maximum Electrical Service: 50 amps
WiFi Available: Yes
Maximum RV Length: 45 feet
Elevation: 6607.0000
Amenities: Recreation Hall, outdoor pool (seasonal), playground, nature hiking trails, basketball court, fitness room, tenting, gift shop, hot showers, picnic tables, dump station, mountain setting, terraced sites, laundry, TV room, full kitchen for groups, library, tourist attractions nearby. Nearby: National forest, ghost towns, Indian pueblos, Rio Grande Zoo, Coronado Ruins, and Monument.
RV Notes: Coast rate not honored in Oct during Balloon Fest. June is in high demand, make a reservation as early as possible. Rate includes 2 people. Additional charges: 30 amp $3.23/night, 50 amp $6.45/night. After hours check-in box. Internet access in clubhouse, Wi-Fi access in lower level sites only.
Accepts Pets: Yes
Visitor Mail Accepted: Yes
Coronado Campground is located a few miles northeast of Albuquerque in a town called Bernalillo. It is within walking distance of an archeology site and a casino. The first thing that I noticed about the campground was how much pride the owner had in it. Each sited had an adobe shelter built over its picnic shelter and each shelter had hand-painted walls. The campground was laid out nice and was set up with the customer in mind. Our site had 50 amps and water, but the campground has a one airconditioner rule. We walked around and found that there was a good view of the Rio Grande river and away from the RV section of the campground was a tent campground with facilities and some sheltered picnic tables. There was a group tent camping area with groomed laid-out out spots for tents. Overall, I was very pleased with our visit and it was also pretty inexpensive as well. I will make an effort to return for a longer visit one day.
Coronado Campground doesn't have a website, but here is a link to reviews of the campground.