Lizard Creek Campground, it’s Familytime — Hotel in East Penn Township

I have very mixed thoughts about our experience here at Lizard creek. (It’s a long review explaining why).

First off the grounds are beautiful. There’s lots of trees and a creek, it’s a nice place.

We arrived in the area first week of April from out of state, after being on the road for five days. Since we have a trailer we thought we’d find an RV park until we find a house or an apartment in the area. We paid for a month hoping we’d find a more permanent place by then, with the understanding that we can stay for another 2/3 weeks until Memorial Day weekend because they were already fully booked for then (it was discussed upon arrival). Both my husband and I got great vibes from the owners. Their silly rules that a lot of people don’t like didn’t bother me because I know they have a business to run (like paying for an extra device to be connected to the internet (there’s no cell service there) and paying for extra vehicles and guests to be parked/visit). I’m glad she they didn’t charge me for another WiFi code when my phone did a software update one night and kicked me off the WiFi, so 5 stars for that.

In the meantime we’ve been having a very hard time finding a more permanent place to live because agents don’t answer their phones/ don’t call back when they say they will. A week before our month was coming to an end, we told Jenifer that we want to stay another week or two, she said she’d get back to us. Fine. Then a day or two later (I think it was on Tuesday) she texted my husband they needed us out by Sunday, when our month was over. At first we thought it was because they got booked up and needed the spot. I’m not sure what made me decide to look at their website including reviews ‘just for the heck of it’.

That’s when I saw that another camper that was parked next to us (not sure which camper because there are a few spots that were right next our spot that were all occupied) for the previous weekend that wrote a nasty review mentioning us. Saying that it was nice place but their ‘unsightly’ neighbor was smoking and it went into their window which wasn’t pleasant. Ok first off, I have no idea if they meant that I personally was ‘unsightly’ because I’m overweight and was wearing full coverage pjs (it was the weekend) or if it was our trailer that’s ‘unsightly’ because it’s old from the 80’s, so it’s not ‘new and shiny’ like theirs. Either way, it takes a really low person to say something like that about another person and/or their possessions. This is what we were able to afford to buy with cash so no payments, which is a lot better than what most Americans can do.

Secondly, if me smoking near by was so bothersome to them, they could have said something and I would have moved to another spot or put it out. I know it bothers some people and I try to be respectful but they hadn’t said a thing. And I wasn’t spending the whole day out smoking, it was just a few times. If they felt uncomfortable approaching me, which is possible, they could have asked the owners to say something, weather or not they did, I have no idea, but the owners said nothing about the smoking. So…

I also looked at the availability and it does look like that the spot we were on, is in fact available for that next couple of weeks, so it suspiciously looks like they gave us five days to scramble because of the other persons review. It’s been very difficult finding another RV park in the area that had space even for a week that’s in our budget. Most places are filled up already for the month. Anyways, we’re off their property and won’t be back.

If it hadn’t ended the way it did, I would be leaving them a 5 star but it is what it...

Unfortunately, due to the confusing and unwelcoming way this campground is managed, we will not be returning. I contacted Jennifer (the owner) 9 months in advance about hosting our family’s annual cousins camping trip (25 people). From the start, she expressed concerns that a group of our size would “intimidate” other campers and repeatedly emphasized their strict limit of 12 people per site. After I accepted her opinion and moved on with my search, SHE reached out to me explaining she is willing to accommodate us after all because the weekend will be slow. Even after she agreed to host our group, every conversation was filled with warnings, conditions, and “rules” that made us feel more like a problem than paying guests.

Upon arrival, check-in was rocky. One cousin was again warned about being kicked out if we broke the 12-person rule. I asked to speak with the owner before everyone arrived, but was told she would be in “business meetings all day.” The pavilion we had reserved months in advance wasn’t set up as promised — the grill was missing, signs weren’t posted, and when I asked about it, staff told me to contact the owner (still unavailable). We also had issues with faulty electrical hookups, no hot water in one cabin, and no maintenance staff on-site to fix them. Solutions offered were to move campsites or cabins, not repair the problems.

When I finally saw Jennifer, she told me we couldn’t use the pavilion fire pit because of a burn ban and also claimed I hadn’t paid for the pavilion — even though I had. Hours later, after losing most of our first day, her husband eventually confirmed my payment and dropped off a grill. By that point, it was frustrating and exhausting.

Throughout the weekend, the owners’ behavior only made things worse. They patrolled our sites late at night, which felt intrusive and unsettling. Other guests wandered into the pavilion to use our things because the promised signs weren’t hung — I was simply handed tape and told to do it myself. Firewood deliveries were extremely slow (over 90 minutes) and often shorted; when corrected, it required extra verification against their own policies. The staffing was clearly inadequate, with most requests brushed off because “the owners were in meetings.”

While the pavilion itself was nice and my family enjoyed time together, it was overshadowed by the constant sense that we were being watched, judged, and managed rather than welcomed. Simple things — like being friendly, accommodating, or responsive — were missing.

In the end, the environment felt narcissistic, disorganized, and lacking empathy. Between strict and uneven enforcement of rules, maintenance issues, unavailable staff, and an owner more interested in “business meetings” than guests, it was a disappointing experience. We take our family trip seriously and always respect the places we stay, but this was by far the most unwelcoming campground we’ve visited. Sadly, we will not return. And as a final note, don’t be fooled by the many 5-star reviews — guests are rewarded with free ice cream for posting them.

Also, the husband is amazing. Kind, welcoming, helpful. Owners are 2...

BRIBES for 5 stars!?!?!?! Look thru the reviews with care. They offer free ice cream for 5 star reviews. That's only the tip of the iceberg. The husband owner was great and the grounds were well kept and scenic. That's the best things that can be said. This weekend my family was doing a cousin's campout since we're all older and enjoy camping. Things were messed up from the beginning. Sites not having power or not having water and having to do without or run extensions to other sites. The grill was supposed to be in the Pavillion for our use since we had rented that out too and it didn't get there til Saturday because the owners had scheduled themselves to be in meetings all of Friday night. Then had an issue getting firewood on Saturday because again the owners booked themselves in meetings all day Saturday as well. When one our campers was having issues with the AC unit in the RV we rented from them they were told , "It's self explanatory " offering no help whatsoever. Their rec hall consisted of an air hockey table. Even their wifi was almost non-existent. These was zero activities planned at all and the excuse given was staffing issues since the owners were in meetings all day. The rules and general way this camp ground is run is geared toward retirees and older campers who just want to hang out at their camp sites all day. You would think given they had more than 6 months warning of a group arrival where we clearly stated we would have at least 8+ children there they would've had more than enough time to prepare some kind of activities so it seems like an active decision to A. Make themselves short handed intentionally by scheduling the meetings all day. B. Planned for this to be an activities free weekend knowing there would be lots of kids present. You read these reviews and the responses from the owners all have the same excuse. We are a small family owned campground. We don't have the staff. I have been to campgrounds that operated with 3 staff that do a heck of a lot better than this. Given the staffing issues maybe you shouldn't have put 2 of them to have meetings 90% of the time you had a group there. Maybe given 6 months+ notice of a group coming you SHOULDN'T schedule your business meetings with you seasonal campers all day for that weekend. Maybe you SHOULDN'T have chosen that to be your, "quiet" weekend. Bribing for 5 star reviews with free ice cream seems VERY manipulative to getting people to lie to make you look good to potential campers. Any groups of families should NEVER go here. If this is the way you're going to run you "small family owned business" i can guarantee it will not last long. Will NOT be returning. People have a right to know the truth. I anxiously await the response full of excuses for this one. Maybe the owners will finally have some humility. You dropped the ball big time and screwed up. Stop making excuses and start...