Locust Lake State Park Campground — Hotel in Ryan Township

Being and staying there really does gives you a good sence of everything you once knew but never get to see, let alone experience anymore and absolutely loved about growing up back in the day. Camping people really are a complete set of other people. Being there is just like being in a whole nother world, all of its very own. A true sence of family orientated, helpful, friendly, trustworthy trusty place. One where you get to see children being just kiddos. (Free range kiddos as I joke, just like back in my day) I MOST DEFINITELY ABSOLUTELY would say HANDS DOWN that this is not only a truely hidden gem, but also one AMAZING and MOST AWESOMEST PLACE like ever. For not only for just enjoying the day out exploring some true nature at its finest, but ready and fully available right in your own neck of the woods, truly. (Pun intended 😅) Then it also offers you one of the MOST AMAZINGLY BEAUTIFUL camping spots I've ever had to opportunity and pleasure of visiting. (like every week I've had off of work all summer long) Not only do they have summer camping but also offer their camping experience right into fall camping. Which I'm kinda really looking forward to, not even gonna lie. Its all about those ever glorious spectacular fall colors, painted backdrop scenery and waking up in that cool crisp fall morning. Lastly cooking on an open camp fires, plenty of laughs, good times had by all. Its almost just like being at Cheers where everybody knows your name but EVEN BETTER because nobody knows you at all, yet still stops to says hi to you, asks how you're doing, are you having a good time and tells you to have a great time and enjoy your stay.😊❤💜💙💚💛🧡 This place is also pet friendly camp sites, so no need to worry about your furbaby's, just bring them along with you. ( just gotta let them know their coming with y'all) awesome hot shower (their bathhouse is really great) lastly they also have a really wickedly awesome and amazing washstation set up to do and clean up all of your dirty dishes. Where you get to meet and talk to other campers while getting everything done, making doing the dishes not all the bad if...

A place i grew up at as a kid!

We've been keeping the family tradition going now that i myself have children. It's seen better years over the past two decades, with popular camping holidays being no where near as busy as when we were kids. Only the first 2 (3) loops have electric at each site with several options to plug in. The past two years I've seen some of the largest campers and motor homes I've ever seen checking in at the ranger station. Recent fishing trips have been much better than just a few years ago, this year we caught many yellow perch! Most of the well used sites have very sturdy constructed steel fire rings with well designed fireboxes built into them to serve as a grill (and their even adjustable! ). Some picnic tables could be replaced and with the paving project happening this year are sorely needed upgrades! The tent side of the lake has very nice shower and dishwashing facilities, while the RV side still has the contemporary shower facilities (well kept during our 2 week stay even through all the heavy rain! ). Abundant water filling stations, a beach, several hiking trails and walking paths, handicapped fishing pier, amphitheater, camp store selling some of the best ice cream (and of course basic camping essentials and groceries, souvenirs and bait and tackle) and separate public and campers only boat launches round out this hidden little gem. Perfect for some paddling boards, canoes, kayaks, rowboat, peddle boats, etc. That can even be rented by the day or by the hour right from the camp store! It's not a large lake with obnoxiously large loud and drag racing boats. Perfect for the little ones with several playgrounds tucked away all over the park. It's a shame to see this once mighty and pristine campground only 1/3 full even during the busiest of camping season, but sometime soon, please have the kids put the phone or tablet down and discover how wonderful and beautiful and fun nature can be if they just unplug for a little while before wonderful parks like this are forced to close due to funding being cut more and more for lack of interest and too...

To start off, I grew up going to Locust lake every summer. I’m still going to locust lake 35 years later and bringing my kids like my parents did with me and my sisters. But… I’m disappointed with how much things are changing, the fishing isn’t good anymore, they redid the spillway years ago and all the huge fish that were in there are gone and it’s a disgusting pit to fish with nothing in it. They are taking down a lot of the exercise stations along the trail, don’t show movies anymore, most people don’t respect the land and they trash it. I know the parks department do alot of work there because we see them, but they almost ignore the loose trash laying around. Campers are very loud anymore to the point where we get woken up around 1am from yelling and having a good time. We see people drinking alcohol when it’s not allowed there (main reason we go to locust lake) we see people driving the wrong way after passing numerous signs staying, do not enter! And now the new owners for the camp store is out of his mind. Everything is double to triple the price for everything. So, we went to the local Walmart for stuff we ended up needing or wanting while camping and they want $9 for a thing of wood where a 5 min walk past the check-in of the park you can get more wood for $5 and it’s dry. Local tea is $2 where the stores near buy is $1, a 16oz soda is $3.each, a hammock is $55!!! Price gouging is out of control at the camp store! We still like it at Locust lake, but we do alot of things differently now when we’re there and it’s a shame that it all went down hill...