Koocanusa Village — Hotel in Area B (Lake Koocanusa)

I have been going to this camp ground for 18 years, prior to being taken over from BC parks by the current owners of the LEASE . It was in desparate need of some sort of control ! The first year of take over we expected some changes by management to control the PARTY people (high school grads etc.) some small changes were made but so minor that you would not know it if you had not been there before , other than the cost to be there , which can be expected.From FREE camping to $24 per night , my wife and i thought fair enough , the beach is well worth it ! Over the next 16 years we have had nothing but trouble with the current lease holders , from trying to book a site that we knew very well ,or dealing with a dirty ,downright disgusting OUTHOUSE and roads that cannot even be called roads, but boulders laid over the soil to resemble a path (the same as it was when it was a Provincial campground) We actually started cleaning the facilities ourselves BEFORE we started using them , because we thought that it was worth a little bit of elbow grease and smell, give it another year or two to get their feet under them! We should have given up then !There has been very few changes at all OTHER than the cost to stay there !!! Within 5years they went from $24 to $36 per night ALL with very little change to the sites or facilities ,sure a few hand painted signs and logs across the paths that people could try to take a truck up but nothing at all major to justify the monitary increase !!!! Over the next few years it became very hard to make a reservation ,or to even contact them , year round this is their business and we are customers . Today was the last staw that broke the cammels back , my wife and kids decided that they would make a day trip down with friends to use the day use area ,( The management of Sandy Shores are also in charge of and charging good ,hard earnedmoney for, where it is not costing them hardly anything to maintain other than a few garbage bags per week and the occasional vaccume truck for the one and only Outhouse that stinks to high heaven all the time !! ) They made a 1/2 hr trip from the PROVINCIAL campground With clean bathrooms AND showers for way less $ !! When they got to the day use area there was no beach to speak of to use !!!! When they went to check out the campground with the friends that WERE interested in staying there ,Victor ,one of the owners chased them back to the so called OFFICE (an abandoned house that could not be given away ,for many years prior to these people buying it and moving it! ) This is not a friendly atmosphere that encourages people to be there ! The only thing they want is your MONEY they do not care about CUSTOMERS at all .WE (and a large number of family and friends) are customers that wanted to stay there , because we enjoy the beach ,the outdoors and camping ,we are not party people , we are family people that want to be treated as customers ,not treated as we are getting a favor by the owners to pay $42 per night to be allowed to stay on their LEASED property, which they cannot be bothered to maintain in the least . I am NOT happy to write this review as I am not a confrontational man but , i have seen too much , I am so upsett with these people that i feel compelled to do this !!! I would pay $50 per night for the campground , but not a penny will i spend so long as the current LEASESHOLDERS are there and I will NOT recommend this place, as I have for the past 18 years !! I have had enough ! These people are like vampires , they will suck the life out of the the place for as long as they can , and not give a darn about it !!! sorry, but it is...

My family and I have been going to Newgate for years. It's a private run, family friendly campground with basic ammenities. On the tail end of the house-boat river sits a quiet oasis only to be appreciated by campers who are respectful and friendly. The cost of firewood is effective at reducing the amount of frivelous harm to the forest that chopping wood creates. The staff are perfect and treat families with respect-partiers with warnings.There ARE showers- they are at the top of the hill, behind the store where the public washrooms are located. Camping with a trailer is great there- but if you can, bring a tent and spend at least one night at your sight gazing at the stars by your beach fire. This is a rare location and only to be appreciated by those seeking quiet solitude. Fun can be had in the water during day but night time is when the real beauty speaks out. We got married here 3 years ago and it was a first- maybe only- for Newgate. There was a beautiful open blue sky that day and at night- a meteor shower. Why the other 2 reviewers gave such poor review- they must be sour partiers- this place is heaven if you want limited services, less crowded beach and quiet time away from the hustle and bustle.Bring your own generator, stock up your fridge and You'll be fine. We are going back this year, and will continue to go back for many years to come. Victor has always been good to us anad our family too. It can be tough to get a hold of someone to confirm bookings to call ahead early. It's a fine place to...

If you like sand sun and beautiful scenery...this is the best place ever. As long as you don't have to deal with the Lease owner Victor. Absolutely no personal relations skills and just down right mean. Don't bother leaving a message as you will never get your call returned. The beautiful energy of this place is being tainted by him. Hopefully your camping accommodations have bathrooms because the bathrooms there are never cleaned and there has been minor improvements over the last decade. Makes me sad...was such a...