River Bend Family Campground — Hotel in Claridon Township

NO! NEVER AGAIN! Small sites, SCARY/overloaded electric/shoreline connections, no trash pick up all weekend so the Dumpsters were overflowing, increasing an already bad bug problem. There were three trailers hooked up to a single shoreline connection (including ours). HUGE horseflies are everywhere on the campground, due in part to its proximity to the river (I know some of this cannot be controlled but no trash pick up and no pest control don't help). I never saw the bathrooms cleaned in 5 days and there were items left behind in the showers on day 1 that remained there the entire time. Management seems lax/office hours and staff are not consistent. During our stay there was a man who was previously homeless, who had virtually no supplies and would beg for cigarette money and/or rides into town. He had a history of substance abuse and was allowed to live in a tent on the property. He roamed the campground aimlessly all day and charged his cell phone the bathroom, never changed his clothes in the 5 days we were there. Management and fellow seasonal campers knew of this situation - they are the ones who told us he used to be an alcoholic and his family had "dumped him" there! We didn't feel safe letting our kids walk to the restroom alone etc. We also had a problem with teenage boys entering the women's restroom and passing obscene notes - went to the office to report the boys playing in the restroom and it turns out the teen had been left alone at the campground by his parents, who were hours away on a bike trip. They begged us not to call the sheriff, which in hindsight we should have done, pressed charges, and left immediately; but we were trying to give everyone involved the benefit of the doubt and make the most out of our stay. Gas golf carts and loud partying (with house-size speakers) will keep you up all night. The only positive about this campground is a really beautiful playground and some nice planned activities. There are some nice seasonal campers here and the pool was clean, but overall the campground was filled with rundown, damaged trailers, many sinking into mud and showing years or decades of neglect and disrepair. We camped during 5 days in August - NOT a holiday weekend or a busy time, and the campground was only about half full. After I posted this review on Facebook, seasonal campers started ganging up on me, name calling etc. I've camped in everything from tents to travel trailers and it's not that I'm "super fancy," it's just that I expect to not be harassed in the bathroom by teenage boys or stung by horseflies - Sorry if this is too much to ask LOL. Just shows you the kinds of people who frequent this so-called campground. We tried to be positive but there were just too many negatives that outweighed what little positives there were ... especially in light of the other campgrounds in the central Ohio area. It is on our "never...

I'm not one to just go on a rant but please buckle up for a long, yet refreshing, journey.

I found this campground by complete accident and I'm so thankful I did. I've lived and traveled this area my whole life without ever knowing River Bend Campground was just 40min from my own residency. That changed Friday!!!! My children and I have been displaced for a moment and all hotels in the area have been booked for events.Wednesday through Friday we spent at a hotel that was one of the whole to be sold out. Without many options I spent three hours calling around asking the numbers found on Google if they knew anywhere. By grace of whoever you believe in, I found this campground that had an open spot for my family. The office workers and the campers have been so kind, inviting, sweet, and all around amazing. They helped me with my situation and went above and beyond and I cannot thank them enough. This will be a spot I return to because my children and I are in love. There are so many free activities that you can be involved with, especially for children. They have a pool, paddle boats, kayaks, a river, a fishing pond, put-put golf, TWO playgrounds that my girls went to for, hayrides, etc., and did I mention the staff is absolutely amazing? I don't usually type novels for reviews but this location/business really deserves it. Now that we know it is here, this will be a spot we return to annually. This has turned into quite a blessing. I'm only hopeful that this comment turns into more business to help them - even if it is just a fraction of...

We stayed for a whole week. And while most days were amazing, some were a little lacking. I will say that there is a definite improvement to the place this year than years past. Though some of the staff are a little on the rude side, I can guarantee you can count on Jimmy. He is the nicest, most helpful old man. I doubt we will be going back on weekends. It's just a bit much for my little family. But if you don't mind the noise and a lot of people it's definitely for you. Instead, we will most likely be back throughout the week to enjoy a nice camping experience the way it should be. Filled with family and fun. The peacefulness during the week is amazing. And it makes the whole time more memorable. We enjoyed fishing, campfires, and nice long...