Ponderosa RV Resort

I give this place zero stars. When I staid there I thought at first was a real nice camp ground being a platinum 1000 trails member I’m used to be very well treated minden lake for instance best staff around love when I stay there but I went to extend my stay at ponderosa a Ranger who’s name I will leave off yells at me tells me that they stopped do month to month there do to transits like me. First oe f all I work 40 to 50 hours a week I am a decorated vet from the Gulf War and have a truck worth over 30 k and a 40f long 2006 Dutchman Grand Junction I’m far from a bumb then tells me even if I want to stay a week more I need to reservation not talk to them there then on my way out the Supervisor Kathy knowing the bad stay I had there tells me I need to pay her for extra week why then could they not collect it when I came to them asking to stay longer beat the heck out of me

We have been coming here for 24 years! It’s a beautiful place to bring the whole family! We are also a part of the Annual program which allows us to leave our traler on site; which is very helpful when you are disabled! I know some are dissatisfied about this, but if it wasn’t us, it would be someone else! We are a very friendly family and try to help others who are in need of things that they might have forgotten! PLEASE remember if you are going into the river to wear your life jackets and be safe! The fines are very expensive, and after we almost lost our son, (the water was so cold he couldn’t move his arms and legs) we always encourage everyone to wear a life jacket! :) Please be camping friendly and courtious to one another! I hope you enjoy your stay!

We spent Memorial Day Weekend here. We arrived on Thursday hoping to beat the crowd. We made reservations and put down a deposit over two months prior. We were told that check in time is 12 Noon and there would be plenty of sites available especially on Thursday. We arrived at 11:30 only to find the site they sent us to was occupied so we had to wander around until we found a open site. All of the nicer sites were taken. There were only a few somewhat undesirable sites left. The campsites are very small putting RV’s very close together. Between the RVs’ Trailers and cars there all available space was taken. The roads are gravel and very dusty. It is obvious that the small campsites are laid out to get the maximum $$ return with very little concern for camper privacy. The staff was very nice as were the campers. Probably will not return.

Just spent 3 nights at Ponderosa with a travel trailer for hiking in the area. Nice setting right along the American River. Utilities worked, clean grounds and facilities, but overall we didn’t think the place was in good repair. For example, the restrooms were clean and stocked, but the sinks are rusted through. Level sites, but roads are potholed. Spotty Wifi service did what we needed it to, but frequently disconnected and was frustratingly slow. Check-​in was not helpful, basically pay and look around to pick a spot with no guidance. Would return if we didn’t have a better choice, but wouldn’t go out of our way to visit again.

we recently joined thousand trails last year since we bought an RV, decided to try this place out, really liked the river, of course its freezing but fun for a nice day on the beach with the kids and certain days the rapids are on for the ones that want to tube, its really fun to do that, the pool was also nice, heated and clean our first trip we were lucky to get a riverfront site, just steps from the river, but it was weird, each day we were there, the regulars were looking at us as if we took someones house, you can tell there are a few that live there, and they take up all the waterfront spots, which is really unfair, theres about 8 good sites and i would say 5 are taken by the regulars who live there, anyways, on the last day of our trip a guy drove up asked when were leaving, my husband told him tomorrow after we wake up, so tomorrow came, he came again early in the am as we were cooking breakfast, trying to make small talk then said oh what time are you heading out, ok i get it were in your spot you like but damn i dont think the people that live there should be able to use all the premium spots, and i heard from one lady yeah so and so usually stays there more than a few times, made me feel kinda annoyed, anyways other than that, liked it there they have good resturant on site right outside the gate, and we felt safe there with the kids etc. will be going back all summer, hopefully they enforce their policy which says on my membership no more than 14 consecutive days straight, kinda not fair at all.

Stayed one night. We were told that it had full hook ups on the phone when we reserved and paid for the site. It did not have sewer hook ups. Also was pretty run down. Not worth $ 58.00 a night.

In all my camping this is the first time I was lied to. Website said I reserved 50 amp service, riverside and sewer hookups. They have a few riverside spots with 50 amp service no sewer hookups. Sites on top of hill had a few sewer hookups but far from river. We had to drive back out of camp to dump septic tank and return. Tight turns for fifth wheel. Pick your own campsites but they don’t have people leaving on time. Very confusing. After we got there, they wanted to charge extra for things I thought I paid for. Will not return.

For two nights four of us rented the Mallard trailer that you see to the right after entering the park. First impression was that it had a nice deck, and it was both close to the pool and the river. When we unpacked all of us noted the odd location of the potty, it sat between the living room/​kitchen area and the one bedroom. You have to literally step around it to get into either room. The first night we noticed a little water after flushing but it was chocked up to not snapping the flush valve back fast enough. The second night it was so bad affluent rolled from the potty down the edge of the push out and into the kitchen. I was sleeping on the couch and the edge of the sheets got wet. Nothing like the fresh smell of raw sewage in the morning. We got up immediately and packed. When we talked to the attendant she said that trailer used to do that but it hasn’t done it in a while, maybe we used too much toilet paper. If you rent this trailer don’t use toilet paper.

Our blended family only glamped here for 2 nights and I can’t complain about anything. The 10 of us stayed in two cabins and also pitched a tent. Both cabins were utterly clean, and stocked with newish dishes, pots, utensils, towels, sheets and blankets, tv, a/​c and heat, propane grill outside and stove inside, fridge, coffeemaker, toaster and corkscrew.
What really impressed me was that in our small plot, there was not so much as a bottle cap or bread crust on the ground. It was as if we were the first family ever there. And I made a point to leave it the way we found it.
The kids used the pool, I used the showers, we were a stone throw from the private beach, we played bocce, drank margaritas from the great little general store/​restaurant at the top of the hill, and one morning I sneaked out and had a Danish at the pastry shop across the street.
Obviously, I enjoyed everything about our stay and would not hesitate to go back again.
MDC from Detroit, MI

Enjoyed the get away cabin, however, the hot water would not stay hot over 2 mins. The shower water was ice cold. I had to broil water to clean the dishes thoroughly.

This place was not for me. It is far too crowded. Camping should at least feel like you are getting away from it all, but that’s hard to do when you’re crammed in tight to the camping spots. The worst for me was the very loud music late at night (I think it was 11:30pm or so). I don’t go camping to hear extremely loud music — played by the owner’s of the campground!

A quirky rv park with several different types of areas to camp. It’s first come first serve so all the best spots go quick so I recommend going midweek to get those prime spots. Some spots have 30 AMP and others have 50 AMP service which comes with an additional fee. Only a handful have sewer but the park has a dumping station. Wifi is best around the clubhouse and non existent in the prime H camping area. The pool has adult hours thank god. The park also has numerous restrooms, but only a couple have showers. The roads in this park are not that good, pot holes as big as my RV. With the roads being partially asphalt and crushed rock. This used to be a private resort but since encore bought them outsiders are aloud to stay. I say outsider because that’s what several people «Members» called me when they found out I was not a member. Don’t get me wrong everyone was friendly but the «members» do really seem angry about the 1000 trails/​encore ownership because everyone wanted to tell me their story of how nice the resort used to be and how the new rules bother them. Blah blah blah. The resort had numerous activities for kids and adults and even a ice cream truck that goes around the park. But you have to have exact change because the driver carries no change. There are several food establishments near by, but they are only open in summer.

I read some of the negative reviews but decided to try the place anyway. The location is great and we were able to take our 2 dogs on walks to the river. Our site only had electricity and water so we used their dump station near the exit. This is a big RV Paarl and it looked like quite a few people were staying awhile. The staff is extremely friendly, the spot we had was nice and quite. We didn’t use any of the facilities but they were conveniently scattered around. They need to repair their road but otherwise everything was very good. We found the space size and proximity to neighbors the same as the other parks we have been to.

I used to really enjoy this place. Mostly because it was fun to walk around and look at all the creative/​innovative things the people had conjured. Not anymore. Within minutes of parking our travel trailer, 3 different people came up to ask if we were ‘Thousand Trails’ members. This had never happened before. After explaining my wife and I were not, they never acknowledged us again. Further, the place has become sterile. No more lovely walkways or adornments, which added to the charm. To wit, I devised an awning for our travel trailer, and received many compliments on my ingenuity. Nevertheless, the ‘Thousand Trails’ people felt it was untoward. They recently implemented a ‘no tarps policy’. That is is their right, but it seems draconian on the face of it. We are, after all, camping. I immediately took it down, and 5 of my fellow campers wondered why (they thought it was quite effective). I’m afraid I do not want to frequent a place that is so sterile and cult-​like.

We came here for a quick family get away. Spent two nights in a cabin. (My wife grew up tent camping… Doesn’t do that anymore ;)
The cabin was a stone’s throw from the river. Amazingly clean, cozy, heated and air conditioned. There was a two bedrooms, a tiny one for the kids, large enough to shoehorn bunk beds. The master was good size, and had a comfortable queen size bed. Living room had a TV, couch, and kitchen — completely stocked with anything you’d need to cook all your meals, including a full size fridge. The beach and river were beautiful. We really enjoyed relaxing and watching the kids play.
The campground is a mile away from Gold Discovery State Park, the site of Sutter Mill where James Marshall discovered gold on January 24^th, 1848. If you are a history buff you will absolutely love it! You will also learn about the Nisanan, the original inhabitants of Columa valley. You can go on an easy hike up the mountain to see more history, including the first public monument erected in California marking Marshall’s grave.
Back at the campground the staff was super nice, and patient, both during the booking process and while we were there. We forgot a night light and by the time we called they had already found it and were sending it back to us. Go and enjoy!

THIS IS A WARNING TO ALL WOMEN! THIS CAMP DOES NOT HAVE THE WE BEING AND SAFETY OF THEIR WOMEN GUESTS IN MIND!!! Although we had LOVED going to this camp, our last trip was a nightmare (July 2014). There is a sexual predictor that goes between that camp and Lake Minden («Juan»). He camped next to us with his wife («Angie») and mother-​in-​law and was friendly until he came to the ladies shower room and tried to invite himself in to join me! I was alone in there, lathered up, and terrified! I yelled for him to leave, but he shortly came back to try again while I was trying to hurry up and get out! My husband saw him at the door and wondered what was going on but did’t imagine he was was actually trying to join me. I complained to management who said since they did not witness it they would not kick him out! I called the police who believed that it happened (I am a credible professional woman) but could not arrest him because it was a public restroom (the officer was actually very upset he could not haul him off — but did make a report). The camp manager advised me that the best they would do is make a note on Juan’s membership — a lot that does to protect their other guests! I left as soon as I could incredibly upset. The management is ill prepared to handle such sensitive situations and the regional manager would not return my calls. They own the property and have every right to revoke this guys membership with reasonable cause for the welfare of their other clients but either are living in the dark ages when women had to take such abuse or the mighty dollar of membership dues, even of sexual predictors, is more important. So, be aware that, unless the manager personally witnesses it, women can be violated without recourse at this park.

Great place to camp with little ones. They have a «beach» area that is perfect for kids, where they can play in a calm and clear area of the American river. The bathrooms and showers were very clean also.
Why I didn’t give 5 stars? The sites were very very close together. We were in two trailers and reserved two sites side-​by-​side which made our trip very enjoyable and private. I would not come here with one site reserved because you will most likely be between two trailers or Rvs that are extremely close together. Other than that I would defiantly return.(with a large group of course)

Loved camping right along the river. The beach area is nice and the water near the beach is calm enough for children to play. All ages must wear a life jacket on the river, the ranger does check so make sure you bring them. Clean park. Clean bathrooms and showers. Nice pool. The spots are pretty small. Only giving 3 stars because the lady at the gate is very rude.

I booked the Ponderosa Resort for 2 days of tent camping on the American River in August. The online reservations only offered a «standard», «premium» and «deluxe» site reservation. I reserved the standard site. It was an overpriced $ 84 for two days of tent camping.
When I got there, I saw they did have a tent-​only camping area. Odd that Tent-​Only sites weren’t listed as an option on the web site.
The campground is gated. The staff are very friendly and helpful. The beach area along the American River is nice. They have clean showers, flushing toilets and a pool.
Now the issues…
It’s first come, first serve. So if you show up late on a Friday night, you’re practically guaranteed the crappiest spot in the entire place. They tell you what spaces are still open, give you a map and wish you luck. Not the most efficient way to do things. Definitely not the most customer oriented way of doing something either.
They squeeze you in, practically on top of each other. This is more of an RV park than it is a campground. Due to being right next to multiple RV’s, you actually have no privacy whatsoever. Even the tent-​only area appeared to have spaces right on top of each other.
Want to hang a hammock… There’s no trees close enough to do it. But being wedged between two RV’s, maybe you can get permission to hang it off of their vehicles.
There is a bar and a restaurant right next door to the Ponderosa, so Friday nights and Saturday nights you will hear plenty of drunks and live music until the two establishments close.
At $ 84 for two nights, the Ponderosa is not worth it for tent camping. Maybe that is a good price for RV’s but it left me feeling ripped off.
I wouldn’t recommend the Ponderosa to anyone for tent camping. There are better, real tent-​camping areas out there. I just wished I had known more about the Ponderosa and more about surrounding camping areas before booking.

We love ponderosa. We are thousand trails members and enjoy many of their campgrounds. Ponderosa is close and beautiful and well maintained. They have a pool, moderately clean bathrooms, bocci courts, volleyball, horseshoes, and tether ball. Also a club house with a pool table and ping pong. There is also a play set for smaller kids (mine r teens) but it looks safe and cute. There are always little ones on it when we pass by. On the weekends there is even an afternoon ice cream truck. The water is cold. All day tho you can watch rafters go by. And if your family decides to go last minute and you don’t have time to shop for groceries fully, there is a mexi restaurant across the street as well as bakery and a deli down the road.