Don Williams Recreation Area — Attraction in Iowa

This is a very nice County Park with a lot going on! Fishing, swimming, hiking trails, golf, camping, picnic areas, Frisbee golf to name most of them. So there is an outdoor activity for about everyone. There are 3 campgrounds and about every time I stay there (multiple times over the years) they are almost all PACKED! That being said they have mostly large enough spots, however, some of the recent "improvements" with the pull through site especially in Campground C, the fire ring placement isn't ideal placing near the electrical boxes, or too close to campers in general. Recently we stayed for an extended time. In an effort to not completely fill our tanks early, we chose to use the shower facilities when possible. I had the opportunity to try all 3 shower houses out. I started in Campground C - this one is rated at a "D" at best, most all of the locks on the doors are poor, there are little to no hooks in the shower, the shower itself is filthy I felt dirtier after my shower. This is is serious need up updating. Campground B was at best a "C" - on the low end. This one had at lease attempted cleanliness, however, is also in serious need of updating with sinks that are stained, and shower heads that take a long time to heat up. On to Campground A - this is the newest, and cleanest of the restrooms, I will give this one a "B". Anytime you attempt to keep an unsealed cement floor as your shower house floor you are not going to allow your guests to be completely clean, nor are you able to keep the bathroom clean. Additionally in most shower facilities the shower head is positioned in a way that the "dry" dressing areas will continually get wet providing for additional all around yuckiness. I have been to many campground, including many county facilities, and they have all been upgrading so perhaps Don Williams and Boone County should take a look at some - being they are always busy it would seem that they would be able to afford...

Camped overnight, was originally in search of a dispersed camping spot in the ledges state park wildlife management area and DNR pointed us to this park. There’s no dispersed camping at all. It is a campground with a ton of RV spots and some tent spots. Overall it was fairly clean and the bathroom was clean which is why I’m giving it 2 stars. $11 per night in a tent spot. Has picnic benches and fire pit with grill topper. However the bad.. absolutely no dnr or park ranger to keep noise level down so the RV campers were up til 3 am loud with music and conversations, kids screaming. The people in the tent site next to us were driving in and out at all hours of the night until about 2 and then never put their fire out so it smoked all night long. They were also loud and not courteous with their headlights pointing into our tent. Overall just so loud. Absolutely no peace and quiet. Fireworks most of the night but it is weekend of the 4th so not surprised. So much that a few of the other RVs had left before we woke up at 7am. The last and the absolutely most terrible were the bugs. Mosquitos that have had vaccines to protect against any and all bug sprays and repellents. You need a bee keeper suit to enter. Also forget about eating outside. We were swarmed with gnats. Fire ants all over. I expect bugs, it’s nature. But I’m certain these bugs get yolked and more immune every time we sprayed. Bring the suit, zappers, fly strips, wacker zappers,...

It was a nice park. The lake looks beautiful. I didn't get much of a chance to experience the lake up close while I was there. I was mostly just at the campground. The campground was nice enough. Peppered with mature trees. Although, the bathrooms could have been nicer. Bit maybe I was just spoiled by the campground bathrooms I was at last time in Backbone State Park. The facilities here are ok, but they are located where the campground meets the forest, so they are buggy. They are your standard shower/bathrooms with the shower stalls at the far end, then the bathroom stalls. And the hand dryer in the women's bathroom was a bit buggy Ok, so I may be a bit obsessed with campground bathrooms. So I may have turned into a bit of a city girl in my adult life. I'm sure I'm not alone in caring about where I do...