Neversink River Resort — Hotel in Town of Deerpark

Overall we LOVED our stay. We are already planning to go back next year. The overall feel was authentic, laid back , and fun. There were large groups gathering all over enjoying their neversink experience. || We were greeted with friendly smiles time and time again from everyone working. Multiple people from our group called with questions in the weeks leading up to our visit and we were basically on a first name basis with Nancy by the time we arrived. Everyone was kind and patient with all of our questions. | First off, it’s obvious they are still working on things, so we have nothing but high hopes for this property in the near future! We arrived Thursday to our electric box not working on our neversink village back in site. We were able to quickly flag down a maintenance worker and within about an hour the issue was fixed. Not the best start, but these things happen from time to time no matter where you go. | We rented one RV spot and two cabins next to it. The first cabin spot could have easily been advertised as a cabin / RV buddy site, as it had an additional full hook up beside the cabin, and it was HUGE! Our RV site was big as well, we LOVED this. ( Please Neversink, don’t ever change this!!!). It was so nice to have a big area for our family and large group of active kids to run around in! Plus there was an open field across from our site allowing our kids tons of additional room to run and giving us extra space for activities like family kickball, and water play for the kids. | We enjoyed the golf carts, renting the paddle boards, catching frogs, fishing, visiting the goats, and the movie night in the field across from our site complete with complementary s’mores! There was a community fire pit there as well, allowing for the parents to sit and interact behind the kids watching the movie. The area with the river hammocks is so cute! This place has nooks and cranny’s everywhere, and some awesome spots once you explore a bit. Personally I really enjoyed that the property was split into different “villages”. It was a unique and personal touch, a fun way to differentiate the various areas of the resort, and we loved exploring the wide variety of sites and atmospheres offered. | Yes there was construction, but how can active improvement really bother you?! The property was pretty muddy, and could honestly use a bit of attention to the landscaping. However this really didn’t negatively affect our experience in anyway, we expected the mud, your along a river anyway, and it was rainy at some points during our stay. The property was landscaped and maintained where it really mattered, so I’m sure that is something that will improve in time. | The cafe selection was limited, but it did the trick! It was quaint, cute and the food was good. The camp store is still being filled up, I’m excited to see what they have to offer when it is fully stocked. The pool area could be updated, I’m sure it’s on their radar, plus you always have the river as an additional water play option. | We were really looking forward to the river tubing, and it did not disappoint. The entrance area to the river tubing on the resort property is not very big and is a bit precarious to traverse, but it worked. The float wasn’t long, the length of the resort property, about 10-12 minutes for us, but we had some heavy rain the night before so the water was probably moving a bit faster that day. Getting out at the end of the property is a, ummmm, learned skill, just be ready and do not wait until the last minute to get out because the current does quickly pick up right around that area. I’m sure it was not the most graceful looking exits, but we managed. And we did it again, it is not a crazy task to carry your tube from the exit point back to the entrance point and doing the float multiple times. They do sell river tubes in the shop for a decent price, and they also rent them so you do not HAVE to bring your own. | I do wish there was a bit better communication regarding events. We found out most details of events through word of mouth, asking ourselves, or over hearing conversations. We missed our chance to ride the kid train because we were not aware it was happening, however I’m not going to say that it is incomprehensible that we missed receiving the information somehow. The water events could have had something a bit more geared towards older kids and preteens, as the slide, sprinklers and slip and slide were definitely sized more for young kids. But we had a bunch of young kids with us so they all really enjoyed them. | I will say, the only thing that I was fully dissatisfied with was the playground area or really lack there of. Yes, the jump pillow was GREAT, everyone enjoyed that. But aside from that the only things offered at the “playground” area was a couple swings on an old metal frame with a ladder type obstacle attached to it, a ladder ball set, giant connect four, and gem mining ( for an additional cost). Campspot has GaGa ball listed as an amenity, but there was no gaga ball pit. Which I’m sure for most families is not a big deal at all, we were a little disappointed, as this is something all three of my boys really enjoy doing when we camp. But over all they were not bored, and were well entertained by other things. | Like I said, they are in transition and I’m sure there are many improvements on their radar and they are really making an active effort to compensate where they can for their shortcomings. They might not have an ice cream shop but they gave all the kids free cups of ice cream during the water activities, I’m genuinely grateful for the effort and thoughtfulness no matter how small. I’m optimistic and excited that with one season under the new ownerships belt next summer will be better organized, increased attention to detail in some areas, completed construction, some upgrades, and an improvement on an already awesome experience...

Neversink River Resort is your portal back to a feral upstate NY 90s childhood.

A place where modern, tablet-tied kids (and mobile-leashed parents) can rediscover the freedom of barefoot summers, river tubing, and campfire-fueled nights.

TL;DR

Pros: • Safe & family-friendly (but not kid-obsessed—child-free folks, time your pool visits; dinner hour seems peaceful!) • You’re not just surrounded by nature you’re a part of it. • Clean pool, spacious cabins, little litter, endless activities • Affordable for the area • Cabins come stocked: bedding, towels, cookware, utensils, dish soap

Bring: extra paper towels, garbage bags, (baby gate, and a fly swatter?)

Cons: • Visible rodent droppings in bathrooms & cabin cupboards (photo attached shows state after cleanup) • Windows didn’t open (at least in our cabin) • Office/store closes at 5pm weekdays—stock up on firewood ($10/bundle; outside wood prohibited by NYS)

The Details

This isn’t glamping and that’s the point. If you want a place to unplug, let your kids explore, build fires, jump in the river, and make new friends, book it.

The campground is rustic in the best way. Plenty of trees and shade and our cabin’s “backyard” canopy let us build a fire even in light rain.

We first visited in 2023 on what was our first ever family vacation but had to leave after one night due to a family emergency. Our kids—then 3 and 5—left in tears. Weeks later, our 3-year-old was diagnosed with cancer.

Our son is now 5 and nearing the end of treatment, and with a new baby in tow, we had so much to celebrate. The River View cabin was available and absolutely worth it. Nothing like campfire cooking next to the river. Weekday discount brought our rate down ~40%.

Our kids gained water confidence, met friends, explored freely, and got a taste of summers I had growing up in (real ) upstate NY.

We’ll definitely be back. Neversink has its flaws, but most are part of the charm. Roughing it is the experience , and we loved it. Just… maybe fix the mouse poop. Thanks for the memories and the magic.

Why 4 instead of 5 *Dust, dirt and woodsy debris is to be expected and impossible to keep up with , so anything mentioned below is past that point.

Rodent droppings. A visible pile outside the public bathrooms and more in the cabin under the fridge—plus poison accessible to kids / pets. Yes, it’s the woods, but exposed droppings = health hazard. Pic attached is after public bathroom area was presumably cleaned up. Everything else falls under “rustic charm” and room for improvement. 5 stars if not for this.

• Poison under the sink: Please give guests with kids and or pets a heads-up—some won’t think to check.

• Broken front door handle: safe place or not, no one needs the liability of broken door handles and compromised locks.

• Ventilation: Windows didn’t open or stay up. No screen on sliding door = flies galore during a heatwave.

• Cleanliness: Dust under beds/couch; moldy coffee grounds in maker; cheese crusted on kitchen tools. But the stocked kitchen and dish soap is a major plus.

• Shower temps: Lava or glacier. Just an fyi for visitors. Comes with the territory.

• Privacy/light: No curtains/blinds on sliding door or kitchen window (which faced another cabin). If you sleep on the couch you’re waking with the sun.

• Blinds: Most were broken and taped.

Staff Shoutouts • Nancy applied surprise discounts and had helped us in 2023 too. • Alex from maintenance brought a much-needed AC unit during a heatwave when our fan was out—critical with a baby. • Marissa handled my many daily questions (tubes, firewood, checkout) with patience and humor while managing check-ins phones solo, and...

Poorly managed, old utilities, overpriced campground. The whole place needs to be renovated. Miniature golf course is falling apart (not worth paying the $2.00 they charge you to play in it!). Arcade rugs are disgusting, and machines are old, ceiling lights on arcade room were not working or missing. Swimming pool is too small for the size of the campground and it was crowded from the time we arrived until we left. There are two inflatable slides that are filthy. They use a water hose by hand to make them waterslides, not worth paying the $1.00 they charge you for each time you slide down! There are wires running underground that are coming up in some places, unsafe electrical exposed wires, a sewer pipe that seemed to have been broken for days and no signs or warning tape indicating caution. Garbage is not picked up on a timely manner. We took ours out at 10:00 am on Saturday morning and when we left on Sunday at about 9:00, it was still there! We stayed at a site next to the river, had a nice view and could have enjoyed it but the campground is poorly managed and instead of listening to the peaceful river flow sound, we were hearing the loud campers three sites down from ours. They were so loud, we had to call the campground host twice. Once at about 11:00pm and again at about midnight. (the campers next to us told us that the police was at the campground that night… and they were back the next day…) When I checked in, the lady there was very rude. She made me feel disrespected and unwelcomed with her approach. I don’t know what kind of people they deal with on a regular basis, but she made me feel as if she was trying to make sure we were all paying to stay and not sneaking in any unpaid guests. She had some purple wrist bands that they make all campers wear during their stay. She went to put it on my wrist and I told her “I can do it”, then she said in a rude and sarcastic voice, “NO YOU CAN’T!”, and then I said “well I don’t want it too tight, I’ll do it” and she replied, as she continued to put the wristband on my wrist, completely disregarding my request “ABSOLUTELY NOT!” and she showed me how she was leaving two fingers space so it wasn’t too tight, but at that point I was so shocked and annoyed that I just let her do whatever. Then she wanted me to have everyone else staying with me, to come in to get theirs placed on their wrists as well. When I refused to call them in, she just sent someone else to go outside and personally place their wristbands on them. After they made sure we all had our wristbands, and they had everyone’s names on paper, they guided us to our site. We were not given a map of the campground, were not told where the laundry room was or the times that it was open, we were not told if we could make a fire or where we could get firewood if we needed some, were not told at what time the store closes or a phone number to call if we needed to contact someone after hours, we were not told when quiet hours begin and end, we were not told any important information that campers sometimes need to hear or be reminded of, to ensure that all campers have a pleasant camping experience. Perhaps if this was done, we could have had more cooperation from our loud camping neighbors. Also, if you walk along the river by the tent sites, it is loud all day. Everyone blasts their music. As you walk along the river you go from one type of music to another… LOUD LOUD LOUD. (People camp here as if they were in...