Ausable Point Campground — Hotel in Town of Peru

My recent camping trip to a campground overlooking the majestic Lake Champlain presented a mixed bag of marvelous natural beauty and areas in need of improvement. Here's a detailed rundown of my experience:||Pros:|The campground boasts breathtaking views of Lake Champlain that are truly unparalleled. The accessibility to the beach adds a layer of relaxation and enjoyment to the outdoor experience. It was delightful to find a playground directly on the beach, which is a great touch for families. Additionally, the abundant picnic tables scattered around offer plenty of options for visitors to enjoy their meals with a view.||Cons:||Facility Hours and Early Locking: Visitors should be aware that while the park area remains open until 9pm, the changing rooms and bathrooms lock their doors around 7pm sometimes earlier. Staff mentioned this preemptive measure is to prevent vandalism, especially after events like graduation parties. Fortunately, I didn't witness any negative incidents during my visit, but the inconvenience of early closure is something to plan around.||Flag Protocol Mismanagement: I noticed the handling of the American flag did not adhere to the Federal Flag Code. It seems the flag is lowered at the staff’s convenience around 5pm or 7pm, which is a departure from the prescribed sunset timeline without proper illumination. Not a big deal, but helps show the staff doesn't want to be bothered or maybe feels overwhelmed during check-in times.||Varied Staff Performance: The daytime crew during the weekend seemed genuinely committed, engaging in activities like relocating picnic tables, cleaning out fire pits, and maintaining the restroom facilities. Conversely, the second shift staff appeared excessively strict, often enforcing rules to the point of creating a somewhat unwelcoming atmosphere. This rigid enforcement sometimes felt as if it was more for their convenience rather than maintaining campground order and safety.||Inconsistent Restroom Facilities: The quality and upkeep of the bathrooms were notably inconsistent. While the facilities near the lake and showers met expectations, those in the back loops left much to be desired. Issues ranged from insufficient sinks, where you’d have to physically hold the knobs, to absent soap dispensers replaced by basic, stand-alone bottles. One distressing instance was a ladies’ restroom only separated by shower curtains for privacy. Early closure of the better-maintained beach bathrooms further compounds the inconvenience for guests stationed further away.||Check-in Facilities: There is no camp store, this is just a single-hut operation for check-in. The check-in process itself seemed overstaffed, with two personnel present where one might suffice, leading to apparent inefficiency and murmurs of discontent among the staff themselves. For instance, upon our departure, an overheard comment about another guest's check-out prompted us to inquire about the procedure, which apparently was as simple as just leaving—contradicting the over-enforcement observed at other times.||Firewood: On some of the roads on your way in you can find bundles of firewood, there is also several gas stations that sell wood 5-7min from the park.||Travelers should also be wary of the campground’s loop roads. Although many campground roads often require maintenance, the potholes in these loops, predominantly gravel-based, are particularly troubling and could potentially cause vehicle damage. A simple fill-in fix could substantially improve these conditions.||In conclusion, this Lake Champlain campground offers stunning views and adequate recreational facilities that make for an enjoyable visit. However, it’s crucial for potential visitors to be prepared for the aforementioned limitations, particularly regarding facility hours and the varying levels of staff engagement and restroom quality. An improvement in these areas could significantly enhance the overall camping experience.||Despite the natural beauty and serenity of Lake Champlain, we sadly will never be returning this campground without facilities and second shift staff...

So not every special moment here comes planned . So was taking out the car for a test drive after some repairs, so I pulled in to ausable point to take in the view and head back home. Unfortunately car overheated broke down and wouldn't start. Here I am thinking normally I get bad reception here so who am I gonna call, but as I look up I see the moon rising from behind the trees, it was amazing large and had an orange hue to it. Normally after trying to get the car going I'd be a wreck cause I was stuck. So I sit back in the car and looked at the moon and was instantly at peace, I had a front row seat to the beauty of nature made a few calls couldn't get anywhere at that moment I get a call from my girlfriend asking if I had seen the moon tonight, I said yes it's beautiful I'm facing it broken down at Ausable Point, we call it "The Birds place" it's a very special place to us, so she knew exactly where I was sitting in the darkness. A few people stopped and offered to help even though it was pitch black by then I felt safe and at peace while I waited for her arrival and the moon above. I know this may not be a camping story or anything like that however this is a place where people go to have a good time ,family oriented and very safe. I found and have posted about "Winter Lovers " it's a set of trees that are deteriorating and if you look at them just right they look like a Prince and a Princess in an embrace. They show up every year for the past 4 yrs when I first spotted them in the time when the leaves have fallen and the cold replaces the warmth of the summer days of fun, they remind me that Love, enjoys the beauty and splendor of the seasons, and true love endures the bitter cold winds and storms that befall us on Lake Champlain but yet these two manage to withstand the test of time and the elements. When you first drive in seek them out on the left side by the lake side past one of the boat Launches and perhaps you will witness what I call love frozen in time, maybe it will remind you of someone special or just spark a glimmer of hope to a dimming ember left in your life and loved one, maybe it will be just two rotting trees with no meaning whatsoever. But to me as I sat and looked up at the moon and remembered my loved one at my time of need, just before I dialed her number for help it seemed like the universe placed that call , it's a beautiful place go and make memories, go for a walk if nothing else we do in all seasons even in the bitter cold, and we always keep an eye out for the "Winter Lovers " ... Enjoy life today for tomorrow is not guaranteed, and take pleasure in the simple things. Thanks for...

I will add some context before beginning: my husband (unlike me), is not easily disgusted. So when he says it's bad, I know that it's REALLY bad.

This was our first time here. Booked two nights online and there were plenty of sites available, all with the same description and claiming to be partially shaded. Chose one randomly.

Arrived at the park to discover that our site had no shade and the empty one next to it is almost completely shaded. It was the beginning of July, it was HOT and we do not have AC. Went back to the check-in desk to ask if we could move sites. Was told no and that I would have to reserve it online and then apply for a refund for my current site. Spent almost 30 minutes on phone with the reservation center because I was unable to book two sites at once (since I had a reservation for the original site). The wonderful agent at the reservation center was finally book it for me. Returned to check-in, filled out a paper applying for my refund and then finally got settled in.

Beach was slighty disappointing. We often go to Cumberland Bay State Park and, although it is the same lake, the beach is much nicer there. The view is beautiful, but the water was filled with branches and was muddy. I ended not going swimming even though it was very hot.

The restrooms are old and in great need of renovations. There is one shower block with 8 showers for the entire campground. When we went, 3 of the showers were occupied, 3 did not have functioning lights and the last 2 were filthy: hair, mud, wrappers, used bars of soap, a used sanitary pad... We ended up showering in the dark because those showers were slightly cleaner. Remember, the park is maybe half full, so I shudder to think what it would look like at full capacity.

We ended up leaving the next day because my husband refused to use the showers a second time.

This was two months ago, I have not received my refund and I don't expect to anymore. Basically, I ended up paying for 4 nights but only staying one.

EDIT (one week after original post): Just received a letter saying that their records indicate that, according to their records, I have stayed the duration of my stay and I am therefore uneligible...