Cross Creek Camping Resort — Hotel in Berlin Township

Context of this review. We have had an annual spot for the last 5 years and prior to that we were "weekenders." When were first started coming here over 9 years ago the campground was THE place to be. The weekly activities, gorgeous flowers and pristine sites were what attracted us. The people were amazing and we quickly got our annual spot. We made amazing friends and continued to enjoy a packed campground where it didn't matter we were all family each and every weekend. The true sense of community was created in this campground and everyone fit in from annuals, seasonals and those just staying for the weekend.

Two years ago sadly the family ran campground was bought out by Apple Brooke RV parks, a corporation. Just as predicted and expected the quality went down hill quickly. The flowers were gone, no mulch at the sites and the weeds started taking over. Our security personal were gone and the days of a fun filled packed campground went away. In the prior years we all policed ourselves and other campers and now we see the actual police more often than not. Since the takeover I have seen more police in the short 2 years than I did in the prior 7 years of being there.

Like all corporations they came in and did some nice upgrades such as new paving through out and fresh paint. This came at a huge cost of 20% jump in prices over the last 2 years and there is no end in sight. Reduced office hours and the lack of activities to pack the campground sent the message it was time to move on. As one weekender who we have gotten to know over the year and happens to come twice a year, said to us recently, "the campground has lost its mojo."

If you are looking for a place to stay a weekend this isn't bad. Our last weekend there we only had 3 local sheriffs come on property along with one camper dumping their grey water all over the site. There were no activites for the kids or entertainment even though it wasn't the end of October. Scanning other campgrounds they all had some sort of activities going on.

There is no more "ownership" by any of the staff with the exception of the activities director. Some staff is rude and you never see the manager out to mingle with campers.

Here are the real pros and cons Main bathrooms are very clean but need some big updates Pool is nice and they got new pool chairs No snack shack but sometimes there are food trucks Lots of weeds around where there used to be beautiful flowers Some sites you are hardly able to see the gravel as it is overgrown with grass Price continues to climb and for the value you would be better off going to the State park across the street We have seen more police come visit the park since the new owners have taken over then in all the prior 7 years. This is due to not having folks at the guard shack or rolling security at night anymore. Off season campers over the winter are shadier than before with people coming and going in and out all night. Simple things like parking on the grass is allowed making the campground a little rougher. Still a fairly clean campground overall Quiet hours are at 10pm at all times

If you want to get nickeled and dimed this is the place to be. If you want basic activities (like painting a pumpkin) this is it. The days of Harry Potter fun filled weekends or a haunted house engulfing the tennis court are long gone.

There was a time when if the state park was full, we were full. That is hardly the case (even though office staff will disagree). Basic entertainment bands with a few exceptions are not what one expects when they pay the type of money Apple Brooke charges.

The finally thought. There are 4 families...FAMILIES...pulling out with others seriously looking at it if they can get into this other park that is $5000 less a year but yet offers many of the fun filled activities that made us fall in love with this place first.

They should change their tagline from "Memories to last a lifetime" to "Overpriced and...

My review is based on my annual experience over the past eight years. This year, several of my concerns appear to have been addressed. While it’s too late for the mass departure of annual members this year, I hope this signals that Cross Creek is heading in the right direction.

There are three certainties in life: death, taxes, and Cross Creek raising its rates every year. After eight years of annual camping, our family—along with eight others—made the decision not to renew. Over the years at Cross Creek, we’ve built lifelong friendships and unforgettable memories, but with skyrocketing prices and the campground’s steady decline, we were left with no choice.

The turning point came when Cross Creek was acquired by Apple Brook. Almost immediately, staffing was reduced, and the amenities that once made it a premier destination were sold off. What was once a AAA-rated resort quickly deteriorated into a glorified state park. The signs of decline were evident: flowerbeds overgrown with weeds, neglected campsites, and unattended weekend lots. Some areas were so overgrown last year with weeds, it was hard to tell where the gravel ended and the grass began.

Safety also became a growing concern during the off season as campers weren’t vetted and transients sneaked into the park freely to use the restrooms, showers, washers and dryers. The weekend activities that once defined the campground—such as Harry Potter weekends, haunted houses, escape rooms, and top-tier live music—were replaced with rock painting, karaoke, and second rate bands. When I reached out to the front office two years ago to express my concerns and request a conversation with the owner, I was told he had no interest in speaking with us. The message was clear: with a long waitlist, we were replaceable. When I brought up the decline in activities and amenities, I was told that it was up to the annual campers to organize them—an absurd response.

If you’re considering Apple Brook, know that it is not the Cross Creek of the past. The AAA-rated resort is gone, replaced by a contractor campground with annual rate hikes and diminishing activities. If you’re looking for a seasonal or annual spot, be prepared for a large price increase each year with fewer and fewer amenities.

Apple Brook has taken its loyal annual and seasonal campers for granted, and as a result, eight families have either left or will leave in just the next few months. My hope with this review is that Apple Brook management sees this and takes action to restore Cross Creek to the incredible destination...

We camped at Cross Creek several times and really enjoyed our stay. We travel to Columbus Ohio to visit with family, and most of the time we go to their homes but sometimes they would like to come visit us. One morning my niece called and asked if they could stop by on the way to work and show us their newborn baby. They were not there more than half hour-45 min, however the so called "female Park Monitor Lady" as she became known, came by and advised us that we needed to pay 5.00 per person which I knew was park rules. I sent my daughter to pay for them ($15.00) but my daughter came back shortly and said that she had explained to office staff that they were just going to be there for a short period of time and were leaving so the office staff stated it was ok. Shortly, the "Park Monitor Lady" came out and again very rudely stated that we had better get into the office and pay for the visitors. We tried to explain to her what we were told which only upset her more. I turned to my daughter again gave her the money and said go pay. The staff in the office apologized for the "Lady Park Monitor" and her rudeness. This incident upset the family because of her rudeness and put a damper on what was an enjoyable weekend. Everyone else that worked there was extremely nice. Do to this incident we have not gone back. We had no issue with the park rules and understand that people want to take advantage sometimes and enter parks and utilize park facilities and amenities and should rightfully pay, however when you have family just visiting for a short period of time up, maybe up to a couple hours, I am not sure where this is a cost to the park. So just a warning be prepared to pay for anyone that comes to visit you even for a short period of time. It is a nice park. Just as a side note the fellow straight across from us had five carloads of people in for a dinner that night and never paid a thing and was never told by the "Lady Park Monitor" that they had to pay after walking by them several times and they were there all evening. Please look at you visitor policy I do believe this will help when campers like us look at staying. Maybe have campers get a pass at the front desk that is good for a certain time period visit with limitations on what they are...