Rochester / Marion KOA Journey — Hotel in Rochester

As avid VIP KOA members for yrs, we never had to write a negative review. We rate our nationwide KOA stays 5 b/c they reflect KOA standards we expect & depend on. We stayed at the Rochester MN KOA 3 times & rated these stays 5. Our recent stay was frustrating for several reasons. Due to cold, I called the Wed before our Fri reservation to confirm access to bathrooms. The KOA owner, Barb, confirmed this. I also reiterated arrival after work late per the note on our KOA app registration. Barb said she preferred we arrive by 7PM. This is a Journey KOA which should have a system for late check ins. Changed our work schedule & arrived before 7PM. The bathrooms were up to KOA standards. We understood due to cold all RVs needed to be behind the office. I counted 7 RVs staying that weekend & 4 unoccupied sites there. The problem was we were assigned a buddy site—per KOA definition our RV faced another RV. We did not know them but had to share the middle grass/ground and fire ring. We did not receive an independent site with patio & firepit we reserved. Barb could have put us on a different site which would have avoided these events. While setting up in the dark, we stepped & slipped. Our only boots were caked with dog poop. We woke up to the neighbor’s large dog on a tie out longer than the 6 ft leash rule anchored on our site & standing at our RV steps barking with poop all over our site. After the dog was brought inside, I went out to walk my 2 dogs & could not walk on our site because of all the poop under leaves. My husband & I went to the office wearing masks to verify we were on the correct site & request the KOA pet rules be enforced. I had a pic of the dog at our steps & also expressed frustration about the buddy site. Barb said it was not a buddy site, (& yet was per the KOA definition), the neighbors were a traveling nurse’s family camping there months, & she had talked with them about problems before. Barb assured us she would handle our complaint, so we could avoid contact & confrontation. We left sightseeing & returned to poop still by our RV steps. I talked to Barb again. She came with me, got a rake from the other RV rather than having them clean up, & picked up 2 spots in front of our camper. I asked the tie out be moved off our site & she said it was too hard to do b/c of the hard ground. I said it was a tripping hazard, thanked her & went inside. Later I looked out our back window & noticed the tie out still beyond the 6ft rule moved behind our camper reaching into the road, with poop behind our camper on our site. On Sun while packing up to leave, our neighbor saw my husband in our truck, took his dog for a walk unleashed, had his dog poop on our site, then took the dog into his RV. On our drive home, I called Barb giving her a chance to make this right by suggesting a discount or a free stay to make amends; she refused. Then I told her I would be writing the first negative review I have ever written for a KOA. Barb said this was unfair, b/c she picked up the poop. I said she did not enforce the campground rules, which was unfair to us & shared some advice from my years of classroom management as a middle & high school teacher. Barb posted KOA pet rules but did not know how to enforce them. We followed all rules and then some: arrived early, walked our dogs on a less than 6 ft leash, picked up & disposed of waste properly; did not allow our dogs to bark & did not tether them unattended. Over the yrs we have witnessed campers unfairly complain about KOA rules & we are not that type. We understand managing a KOA under covid is not easy. This all could have been avoided or resolved by not putting us on a buddy site with problem neighbors, planning consequences for campers who break KOA rules, apologizing when given the opportunity by offering a sign of sincerity. I hope this review is informative for campers considering this KOA and helps improve this...

POSITIVES: Grounds were clean and well maintained. Each site I saw had electrical, local cable, a sewer and water access. Flat/Level places to park. Several things to do such as swimming, RC car track, a small playground, etc. Showers were nice and hot and clean. Laundry on site. Nice little fire rings with a cooking surface that is slightly offset.

NEGATIVES: Pool was freezing cold even when it was 85 outside. RC Car track was pretty basic. Just an oval with one end larger than the other. Was told no hammocks can be hung. The site we had bordered the entrance to the grounds and the main road, so it was loud. Other folk's would walk their dogs and let them use the bathroom on the rock in our campsite. Happened frequently from multiple people. The building across the street is a recording studio that was LOUD until 1am (drums, guitar, etc.) Shop closes at 7, so if you need anything after that, you're driving. Firewood was super odd sized unlike normal firewood. One piece we had was nearly a foot wide and 2 inches thick. It wouldn't fit in our fire ring. If road noise bothers you, I90 is right out the back of the campsites, so expect to hear it.

Overall, the experience was OK. Everyone in my family did have a good time, but we all decided collectively that this isn't a place we would go back to. Admittedly, my feelings could be biased because the thing I was looking forward to the most was laying in my hammock. Our site had two perfect trees for it, and I was told I wasn't allowed to use them because of the liability to the KOA. I had JUST got it hung up when I was told to take it down. I then saw that they have that on the back of their site map. It put a sour taste in my mouth for the rest of the time...

To start out, #63 site. Tent....The very 1st Day we arrived, we were greeted & felt welcomed! My son & I went swimming, it was a little cold but they were filling the pool at the time & eventually that cold felt GREAT, on a 94 degree day! My son & I met a woman, her dad & 2 daughters when swimming. They end up inviting my son & I to dinner at their Campsite .... We couldn't say No to that. Very enjoyable People & great Tacos! Thank You!

The New owners here...... that are carrying on tradition, LOVE WHAT they do! That's taking care of guests! I've had numerous.... GOOD conversations with Charlie & Katie/ The owners... about the Campground & Life in general! Good stuff having friendly people around in general! I was actually, super skeptical of staying here because of some reviews. Which I find almost disgusting that people are so generic & mean to leave such negative reviews. Most of the negative reviews are Karen's for sure. Male Karen's or Female Karen's. Lol. Yes there might be a few biting flies but you're also in nature! The mosquitoes aren't bad at all! So take good w the ok.

The 2nd night we had a Couple come in and stay in their Vehicle next to us. They too were super friendly! Shot the Breeze with them several times! The guy wouldn't leave me alone...... I didn't care tho. I like to shoot the breeze too. So ALL IN ALL, Kingston and I have enjoyed our stay! Very Quiet too. Even on the 4th of July as I'm typing this. I don't think I've ever been to a campground where it was this quiet to be honest! I love it. So don't always believe some reviews, because there are way too many negative people in this world! You might miss out on this hidden gem! Always check it out for yourself &...