Blue Springs State Park — Hotel in Blue Springs

We had our dog augered down when a white truck came by and barked, "LEASH." My father told the the truck that the dog was on a leash, the white truck yelled, "SIX FOOT", and drove off. We asked before coming to the park about the pet rules and nothing was mentioned. The Blue Springs pamphlet mentions dogs needed to be leashed, but didn't specify the length. Our Auger was maybe 12 foot. You don't bark, or yell at your customers infront of all the campers. That's bad business in a time that state park funding is already taking blows.

My father and I have been camping for several years. Each park is different, and we treat all campgrounds with respect, and admire them for the treasures they are. Our main goal other than bonding time, is the time we spend looking at the stars. We bring telescopes and we are humbled by the night sky.

Second Incident: At dusk on July 3rd, 2017 we set our telescopes away from the campgrounds so not to disturb anyone, and for a clear view through the trees. Near our telescope site, my sister tells us she is going home. Just as she pulls off, my father said he will return to the campsite for a pack of cigarettes. As soon as he pulls off a red truck tries to chase down my sister leaving. You could hear the four barrel kick in as the red truck stepped on the gas.

When my father returned from the campsite, he was being followed by a truck, bumper to bumper. When my dad pulls up, and sits next to me, a guy with no shirt jumps out his red truck and walks straight toward us in an aggressive pose. His headlights blinding us from using telescopes. He questions my dad about who was driving out of here so fast, my father had no idea. He informs us he is a park volunteer. Let's call him PV. PV: Who drove out of here so fast? Dad: No idea, I just returned. PV: I tried to chase them down and lock the gate Dad: No idea man, I just got back PV: I noticed you was hauling ass around the campground when you went back. Dad: I don't think so man, I never got it above 10mph PV: Yes you did. Dad: Ok man, it won't happen again, i'm sorry. PV: I need you to slow down in the park sir. Dad: I will, it won't happen again PV: We got these rules for everyones safety Dad: I got it, sorry, it won't happen again PV: We got kids here Dad: It won't happen again man PV: PLEASE for the kids PLEASE slow down Dad: Sorry man, it won't happen again PV: We don't want nothing to happen to anyone Dad: It won't happen again. PV: what are yall looking at the moon? Dad: We were but we can't see for the headlights.

The PV was clearly drunk, I watched my father get harassed. As I stated before, we have been to several campgrounds. We would never speed. Never risk anyone who enjoys the wilderness, and some of America's great treasures as this. I will not be returning to the park. It's a shame, because it was beautiful, and...

First off, the hours of operation listed online are wrong. We arrived before 7:00pm only to discover that the park actually closes at 6:00pm. So after calling the late check-in number and getting a gate code, we proceeded to our site. The site was a little difficult to find being new to the park. Once at the site, that was listed as "pull-thru", we found that it was not. We had to make several attempts to position our camper to where the slide & awning could be out. The park is not maintained well at all, except around the spring. Many areas in the campground have a major undergrowth problem. They keep the actual campsites mowed, but other areas are very grown up. Also, the 30 amp breaker at our site kept tripping with our 30 amp camper plugged in. It tripped at least 10 times or more. The slip for the camper is not well marked at all. You can see where it had gravel sometime in the past, but it's covered with grass and weeds now. Also, even though our site was listed as "pull-thru", there was barely enough level ground to put our 27' B2T camper. The bathhouse in the campground ground was decent, not great. I did not go in the other one by the spring, but had others tell me it was not good at all. There is a need for more trash containers around the spring. There is only 1 that I saw and people leave trash all around the spring. I honestly feel with little more effort, mowing, and maintenance this could be a great campground, but it's seems to have been let go for...

Please read to the end * The park is absolutely gorgeous. The springs are pristine, the fishing pond is gorgeous, there's no litter anywhere. Terrific playground for kids. We felt very safe here. All of this is why I give 5 stars.

The downside -

▪️ The bathrooms are pretty gross. Especially the one at the playground by the springs. *see the last picture. I would not let my kids go in there. It gave me the creeps & looked like a dank prison shower. If we used the restroom closer to the campgrounds, we took Clorox wipes to wipe the seats off with. The entire weekend we were there, the same trash was in the floors. It did not ever give the look of being cleaned in any way.

▪️ Pull through camper site #6 - prepare to jack your camper up big time to get level. Also prepare to be confused on where exactly you should pull through at because these sites are barely marked. There's no gravel or sand to make you think you should pull in a certain spot. It is grass only. To get level we actually had to pull in the 🔻do not enter 🔻direction & face our camper door towards the cabins instead of the woods.

▪️If we return here for recreation, I will likely look for a Hipcamp location to camp at & enjoy the springs as a "guest" not...