boyland

This may come as a surprise but most campers stay in RV's that cost thousands of dollars. I personally would rather stay in the comfort of my RV, than hotel room shared by many. When someone pays for an RV that will not stay in a hotel because they have already paid they stay in their unit. This is probably why RV'ing is one of the fast growing industries in the United States. So the logical reason is the camping experience is just the same as as any other experience at PKI and to many it is the so important that they would reduce or eliminate their visits without it.

Yes you have already expressed your opinion with the exact statement already, but as you can see many feel that the campground is part of the experience of PKI. I was there this weekend, and will be back in October. The campground needs work(electrical and water issues) and most likely will be relocated back in the woods but folks you need to express your opinions to the Park Mgmt. I was told they have already completed surveying and the contractor has told them it will take 3 months to complete. How many sites, bath houses etc.. is still not known but it will most likely cost more and will have more woods. It will be further away from the park it is possible they may create a special entrance. I think most likely the Campground will be reopened next year while the new campground is built. Once completed the ground will be free, build away. I do not believe it is a good decision to inconvenience thousands of guests, it makes much more sense to build the new campground first then the hotel. I have heard that the reason the hotel is not a go is because the hotel wishes to buy the land and PKI will only lease. So while negotiations are underway they build the new campground and that way PKI has no inconvenienced guests. I do believe the mgmt is listening (not responding) but listening. So campers please express you opinions.

Chef- I understand what you are saying. Sorry for the confusion. However it was not seasonal employee it was the campground ground manager at least that was what she told me her title was. She would not take reservations for Oct because the campground was closing. Guest services confirmed what the campground said. I do not think it was a seasonal employee thing. Everyone that was working those three days said exactly the same thing. I came home after that weekend and opened this post to inform other because I had visited the site quite a few times and thought the visited would want to know about a dramatic change like that. I plan to make Oct reservations just need to work on scheduling at this point. I will not buy a season pass until they decide what is up with the campground. Thanks, BB

Maureen I am curious why PKI staff never called me back to at least wrote me back. Even if to say we have heard/read your complaint and we are investigating. My major complaint was, I have been concerned for a while that PKI might close the campground because they definitely do not seem to be putting any money into the up keep, so I asked specifically if the campground would remain open for the entire season they insured me it would. Then when I was told the campground was closing early forever I asked at the guest service, they said basically fill out this form and the park mgmt will call you. They never did. I am really glad to hear the campground is staying open for the season. At least the PKI is fulfilling it promise last year. So any insight would be great.

I will be there this weekend. I will ask around and see if the staff has any additional info. I guess the complaints of many about the campground at least saved it until October (yeah)!!!.

I guess Park Mgmt does not care. I wrote a letter and filled out a customer report at PKI. They did not tell me the truth last year when I bought my season pass, they insured me the campground would be open for the entire season. They lied and since the campground closes in a few weeks I will not be enjoying fearfest. They have not called written or even attempted a reply. It is very disappointing and very unprofessional for the park. I guess they do not care about the concerns of a long time season pass holding family.

Well you are quite wrong many people like myself that live 3 hours away want to stay at the campground. If we cannot we will not be buying season passes. I would say that is true for the majority of the season pass holders that utilize the campground. Someone took a survey at the campground a few weeks ago they turned it in to the park mgmt. It contained signatures of folks staying at the campground and asked if they owned season passes and would they continue to buy them if the campground was closed. I do not know the exact number but the campground staff said it was thousands would not buy passes if the campground was closed. It woke the mgmt up a bit. Sounds like you love CP which is great they also have a campground. They know the importance of having a campground, which they had before the lodge. They did not eliminate the campground to build the lodge they worked together to keep all guests involved. PKI seems to have an attitude much like yours which is more than likely why this may be the last year for many guest like myself. Which is very sad because I am willing to bet I visit more often, spend more money, and care more about the general well being of the park than these new phantom guest that you refer too.

PKIBeast if you stayed at the campground you would know that walking back and forth is not an option for must folks. We do walk most of the time but I can tell you we are the exception most people would not, it is quite a walk. I have suggested for years that make a special entrance to the park from the campground by Top gun but the increased security made this nearly impossible. Just an observation, I doubt someone paying $200 a night is going to want to walk 15 minutes back and forth in 90 degree weather. Especially since the camping type of folks already does not do that. So they would be taking basically the same transportation system just like across the street. So I believe having the hotel their is not because they want it to be onsite but because there is something about the campground land is in Mason and the remainder of the park is not and they have some large tax incentive plan. I would seem to make since to put the new hotel on some of the undeveloped 300 acres and leave the campground in place. This is not progress just political posturing. I can tell you that I have received some communication that the park is reevaluating the financial impact of losing the campground. I guess they were only looking at the campground income and failed to realize the season pass impact as well as the single day ticket impact. With those numbers the impact is in the millions not just the slight income loss of the campground. So I guess they are going to do something but who knows? I do not think something should stand in the way of progress but there is certainly other options available that would allow both areas to exist it does not have to be one or the other.

Dane- I hope you have had enough of PKIBEAST. He has added nothing but rude and useless comments. I wish you could remove him from this post as it is useless for him to post here. Regarding his comments: If you actually visit the park you will find: http://www.kingsislandresort.com/ across the street which also provides free transportation. The reason this topic was started was to provide the public with information regarding a major change/shift in PKI's direction. I had hoped that many folks would care enough to contact the park and express their opinions not post ridiculous comments here. I had also hoped that someone a little closer to the issue might be able to provide some useful insight on the decision as well as provide any information that a new camping facility was planned either PKI or private. I know there are many families that will be directly affected by this decision and the more that know the more that will express their opinion.

Here is my thoughts on the cost/income item. 1. Granted the land might make more money per square foot with the lodge but will the new lodge bring in new guests or just transfer guest from existing hotels? I would bet that the lodge would mostly transfer guests from existing hotels to the new lodge thus not bring new guests to the park. I would guess that the attendance would increase the first year and then return to normal. 2. Will the lodge increase season passes? I doubt it the cost of a lodge stay plus season passes for a family of four would run over $600. Most people will visit for a day or two. 3. Will losing the campground keep people from coming to the park? Yes camping people will not come if they are forced to stay somewhere else then drive to the park. The benefits of camping include coming to the park and returning to the campsite to relax. If that is the case most people will go somewhere else like CP or KK. 4. Will there be a difference in season pass holders? Well just in a short survey this last weekend I spoke with different folks in the campground I seemed like 60%-70% of them held season passes. I am not sure of an exact number but the campground staff said the number was large and most indicated they would not buy a season pass if there was not a campground. So the overall financial impact will not just include the actual campground it will be felt in attendance, season pass holders, and overall guests. I think they have way under estimated the financial impact a 300 site campground can have. Especially since they have put so little in the campground during the last few years. it has been pretty much total profit for them. Please post your opinions.

Infogirl do you know this or hope this? I like thousands of others enjoy the campground multiple times a year. Actually my family goes about 4 weekends a year and has for the last 6 years. We are extremely sad and little angry over the decision. I hope if enough folks talk to the mgmt they will see the error in the decision and at least plan a new campground for next year. The camping experience is part of the PKI experience and really is not boring.

Well to my great disappointment this weekend I was told by the park staff this is not a rumor the campground is closing in 8 weeks forever. They have no plans to build a new one from what the staff was telling me. I cannot understand the park mgmt, I have tried 3 times this year to get in the campground to only be told it is full. The nationwide trend is camping is growing a a dramatic rate and most campgrounds are extremely profitable. What in the world is going on here. Myself and many other will not be buying season passes next year since we will have no place to park our motorhome. If you feel like me that is a bad decision by the park please write or call the park mgmt. Blaine Boyland Lebanon, IN