Double JJ Resort

I’ve never stayed In a resort here but I have camped here for electric forest! One of the most eye opening experiences I’ve ever had. The entire festival is built for attendee pleasure. The visual displays on all the stages are cutting edge and very impressive. The forest is full of activities and sights to see the place is painted in colors. You could spend the whole weekend looking around and I’m sure you would not see everything in this forest. The people here and staff are very welcoming and friendly everyone seemed to have the best intentions.

First time at the Double JJ on April 1^st. We stayed in the back 40 cabins. My daughter was excited to sleep in a loft and I was looking forward to the big jacuzzi tub. While there was plenty of hot water not only did it smell like poop it was green. We had to sleep with the windows open when it was 35 outside so the heater ran all night. I took a picture of the water and took it to the front desk. I was told that a manger was ill but they would have someone call me by the end of the day and have someone come and look at the tub. A handyman came and told us that the water had been tested and it was safe and we need to run the water until it stopped smelling. We ran the water for over 2 hours and it still smelled like poop and was still green. By the end of the day the manager had not called. We checked out the next day and of course the manager was not in and was told again that I would get s call by the end of the day. On the way home I checked my bank account and they had taken more money out of my account then showed on my receipt. I called back and was told once again that someone would call me. I left 8 messages over the next week and no one called me back.

1. Walking from the Thoroughbred suites to the waterpark on the walkway connector from the the restaurant was ridiculous. This should be enclosed. Instead, imagine this, 30 degrees, wind blowing, it is slippery from the salt and melted snow, and you are soaking wet.
2. The pool water is either perfect or cold.
3. The front desk tried to change our rate at checkout. We were charged an additional $ 118. My wife caught the error and showed the confirmation email from her phone. Thank goodness she saved the email. It was explained to us that the rate must have changed in the time since we made our booking. (February) And their point was?
4. The slice of pizza, (pictured), sat in the same spot for 3 days straight and was still there when we left. I suspect it may have even been there longer than that.
5. Cleanliness: 1 star although the rooms were very nice and clean. 4 Stars for the room.
6. So it snowed last night. It’s April 9^th. Welcome to Michigan. I woke up from the sound of a shotgun going off outside our room at 5:54 AM or so I initially thought. After flying out of bed to witness the attack we were under and accidentally pulling my wife’s hair and her resultant screaming, I seriously thought that this was the end for me. It had been a good life up to this point. My wife peeked timidly through the blinds and started cussing like a sailor. In between the bleeps, I heard something about a plow. They were plowing. A half inch of snow. The shotgun sound? That was the sound of the plow operators dropping the plow to push snow. This happened about once a minute until approximately 7 AM.
7. Bullies in the pool. Every day my kids would come to me and tell me that kids were bullying them in the lazy river. So I jumped in and rode around behind them and witnessed a couple of pre-​teen girls flipping over the boys tubes. My son was also hit with tubes and pushed under water. What are the life guards doing??? I observed them. They were simply pacing their day away while looking at nothing. I know my son is a very good swimmer, but if your kids are not, it would be best to keep an observant eye on what is happening.
8. The river was shallow. Compared to all the other water parks we have been to in Michigan, I give this one the worst rating. All of us were scraped up from the river bottom.
For years, it has been family tradition to go to an indoor waterpark during the kids spring break. Now we are thinking about other possibilities.

Hmmmmm… didn’t really know what to expect when we arrived so keep that in mind as you read my review. We stayed in a cabin that’s tiny and very rustic. There are several groups of cabins close together so closing of the curtains is a must at night. Small fridge and microwave. No cupboards and no dishes or silverware provided. Sleeper sofa needs replacing. Queen size bed on first floor that needs a new mattress since our backs hurt in the morning. MB also has a tub and very small area to hang clothes with a dresser with extra blankets and pillows. Twin beds upstairs if you dare to climb the steep ladder. Bathroom is adequate with large walk in shower. The locking handle though was installed backwards. Small kitchen table with 4 small chairs. There is an old tv but not all channels are available. The floor is uneven and has air pockets. There are also log cabin homes that people own sprinkled in the ones you can rent. The area just needs a major overhaul, but if you’re looking to get away from it all then try it out. There is what appears a ghost town at the property with activities, food, crafts and maybe a cowboy act, but closed for now until season opens. There is a pool on site with a slide but all are closed for now. The area also offers RV sites in case you’re a camper. The indoor water park was neat for kids with slides, tidal wave, lazy river, etc. The restaurant on site is $$$, but Sunday Buffet was worth it. Has a golf course but is still closed for season. Plenty of horses for those riders all year round. Dogs are welcomed!

Our room was great. The waterpark provided a fun place for the cousins to have a blast together. We had a significant overcharging incident and the manager went out of his way to fix it and very is our money back immediately. So far, even with a little glitch, a great stay. Our last breakfast there, we were treated with thinly veiled disdain and contempt by one of their servers. I’m black and my husband is white. She basically was trying to figure out if we were trying to get the meal without paying. It was humiliating and left us feeling sad. We told management and he made excuses for the server. He didn’t leave us with the feeling that he would not do anything about it. We left with the feeling that we didn’t really want to come back even though we absolutely enjoyed the rest our stay.

We came for the water park and weren’t disappointed. Our 3 year old had a blast! It did look like the place could use an update, some things were broken, a stairwell was closed off and looked pretty broken down — I think it used to go to the arcade.
It appeared that the Italian restaurant is no longer there either.
Staff was very friendly, and lots of entertainment for the kiddos.

Just returned from an overnight stay at Double JJ ranch with my daughter. I was slightly apprehensive after reading some of the negative reviews but I wanted to maintain an open mind and I’m so glad I did. From making our reservations with Devon to check out, I felt the level of professionalism was top notch.
We reserved one of the cabins in the back forty and it was immaculately clean and the temperature was nice and warm. There was a wonderfully deep jacuzzi tub that filled quickly with the hottest water you cared to add.
The activities for the Octoberfest were few on the Friday night but that’s was ok.
The horses were absolutely breathtaking! The leaders were so patient and helpful. The only mishap wasn’t their fault but I overreached my ability and ended up hurting my back requiring the ride to be halted until they could come pick me up. Hailey and the other ranch hands handled this with sincere care and concern for my wellbeing. Unfortunately we had to cancel our ride for the next day due to my injury. :-(
The bed was rather comfortable and I was able to sleep fairly well. In the morning, we went to the Sundance restaurant for the breakfast buffet which was actually very nice. Unlike a lot of free buffets where you get powdered eggs and rubbery sausage, this was so good! Freshly scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, biscuits and gravy etc…
I hope to come back to the ranch someday and remember I’m not 20 anymore and just go for a nice walking ride in the beautiful grounds.
Take a chance on this wonderful place! My only regret was only staying one night and thinking I could handle a long canter. Where did I put the Ben Gay?

I gotta say: big disappointment. This is my first and last time here. The camp sites are all dirt and the ground for sites are small. My boys went to the pool to swim (at 5:30) only to find out it closes at 6pm. The big slide they advertise was closed (they’d just done a chlorine treatment). Years ago I’d golfed here and it seemed very nice and while that may still be the case, the camp hounds look and smell like shit (from the horses). That being said if it was a normal place I wouldn’t be so upset because for a «normal» private place I would spend $ 40 – 45 nite. This place was $ 75 per night. Wow my ass hurts… because that’s what I feel like just happened!!!
Update: it’s 10.30 at night and the near by racetrack is in full swing. Wow, talk about a piece full night around the campfire with the sounds of race cars! And yes I like NASCAR, just not while I’m camping.

A family of 40 (yes 40!) just returned from Double JJ for my parents’ 50^th wedding anniversary. It was a week of fun/​laughter/​clean and family-​friendly accomodations/​solid food/​SPECTACULAR golf/​great horse-​back riding/​hiking/​and an indoor water park that kept a crew from 7 to 70 coming back for more every day. Susan and her husband (a retired lawyer) PERSONALLY saw to our every need and request. Our cabins and lodges were cleaned every other day; fresh towels and sundries upon request; and a horse crew that was experienced, fun and engaging. Look — we read some reviews that scared the &%$*! out of us before we went, and made sure we called Susan to square everything off before we arrived. She and her husband EXCEEDED our every expectation. It is not a luxurious resort; nor is it a romantic couples retreat. But if you’re looking for good, clean, family fun, Double JJ is your spot. (make sure to hit the Rodeo on Saturday night and the line dancing and Karaōke on the back 40 — total blast!).

I stayed in a log home, unit 209. It was nice for a log cabin in a campground.
Had a nice upstairs bedroom, hot tub, flat panel.
We did read a lot of bad reviews before we showed up, which made us apprehensive. We Were pleasantly surprised. We talked with Susan the owner and she took great care of us. Double JJ Ranch is a great place if you are looking for a rustic setting with lots of outdoor activities. You have to be ready for some dirt as it is a campground.
In my opinion, you have to set your expectations accordingly. My family and I are typically Ritz Carlton-​ish people and enjoy the best accommodations.
We set our expectations on the fact that we were going to a camping environment and that did the trick.
Lodging was good, clean enough, rustic
Horseback riding, horses and horse-​staff were all great.
Indoor waterpark is awesome
Pool with slide is great
The tavern at the campground is fun and has good burgers and cold beer.
Our kids (19 of them) had the time of their lives. The parents (20 of us) had plenty of adult fun together with our kids.
The staff is friendly and tries its best for you…
I recommend the Double JJ for any family look to have fun in the outdoors

What a waste of potential.
Within an hour of arriving (mind you, that first hour was spent standing in line for check in), my husband commented «Can we give negative stars on Unilocal?». I believe there were maybe 5 groups in front of us and 3 or so individuals running the check in counter, so WHY DID IT TAKE SO LONG?! During this time, I was able to read reviews from other individuals, including a recent one mentioning bed bugs. As soon as we got to our cabin, I made it my mission to scour each bed for signs of bugs (I’ve had experience… I know what to look for!).
We stayed in the Back Forty and the poor little decrepit Western town left much to be desired. I kept thinking how the initial owners from decades ago would probably be devastated to see the place in ruins now.
The cabin itself was okay (as soon as I confirmed there were no bed bugs). Not sure why the twin beds were on the floor. I had the worst sleep here, though. Between the bed and the noisy people yelling until 3am outside, it was miserable.
Do yourself a favor and just go stay in a nearby hotel.

If I could give zero stars that’s what this review would be. DO NOT EVER GO HERE.
* A guest in our cabin was stung by a bee
* Ticks were discovered
* The worst part: BED BUGS. I have over 20 huge red welts on my face and body. HORRIFYING.
Also,
* The receptionist at the front walked away as I first approached the desk to check in. What?
* Well water in all the sinks and showers… Smells awful.
STAY IN GRAND HAVEN OR ST. JOSEPH JUST A SHORT DISTANCE AWAY. DO NOT, DO NOT, DO NOT STAY HERE.

Fabulous cabin– clean, well stocked. Great customer service for all our requests! Horse riding was so fun with competent riding leaders and good horses. Loved availability for cup of Starbucks! Best of all, the staff was so friendly and accommodating; nice folks! Thank you.

Been here a couple of times, once for a couple of nights over spring break about 4 years ago and again on New Years Eve 2014 for a wedding. Stayed in a suite once and a family cabin the second time. The rooms are okay, not great for the price. The water park is absolutely filthy and in desperate need of repair. I understand a lot of the orange stains are because of sulfur but that’s no excuse for the chipped paint and dirty chairs. I couldn’t wait to get out of there and shower! The staff at the front desk was full of nice kids but they have no idea how to work the resister. We were overcharged and it took forever to get a credit on our card. Ok concept but really in bad shape.

The water was great temperature this time was 85 water temp. Great times as always. A tip for the owner though is have someone put a net above outdoor hot tub as big ice chunks will injure someone when they fall down into the hot tub. Scary incident narrowly avoided.

I feel like a broken record here considering most of the reviews for this place are for Electric Forest Festival and not just the ranch itself — but I’ve been here two years in a row for EF and both times the experience has quite literally changed my life. The venue is HUGE and beautiful, out in the middle of no where with a pristine lake, pine forest, wooden ranch structures, and just general amazingness all around. I know the ranch has a small in-​door waterpark attached somewhere but I’ve never been. All and all I’d love to come back to Double JJ and stay for a weekend getaway of horseback riding and hiking — but I will be back for EF every year until I can’t rave anymore! :)
Final Verdict:
GO TO ELECTRIC FOREST! It is hands down the most amazing, beautiful, magical music festival is the US.

Went to the bar and asked for a whiskey sour, bartender didn’t know how to make it so I had to tell her. Really? I kind of feel like that it should be a requirement to know how to make drinks before working behind the bar. Got the first drink and found a bug in it so I stepped to the side as to not make a scene and asked if they could just replace the drink with a new one. The second drink had 2 flies in it. After that I asked for a refund and told my friends to avoid getting drinks there. The rest of the place was a lot of fun, but they need some serious cleaning and training behind the bar. That was absolutely disgusting.

This is a great concept, but lack of execution. We stayed in one of the suites which has been remodeled and is fantastic! The grounds and property are truly amazing! That’s the good, now for the bad. The food is average at best and the grounds are in desperate needs of a good cleaning! The water park is nice but in desperate need of some TLC. It lacks the attention to detail that would make it a great place to stay.

What the hell? This is the site of the best music festival ever and it only has 5 reviews? Well. Take a minute to smack yourself. Done? Ok great. JJs Ranch is awesome. That’s all you need to know.

Like a few of the other reviews I came to Double JJ Ranch/​Resort for Electric Forest Festival and had one of the best weekends of my entire life!
Since this reviews for the actual area and not the amazing festival, I’ll try to focus.
The landscape is beautiful. Green everywhere you look, whether it be in gigantic lawns or in the thousands of trees that make up the forest. We camped at the festival for 3 nights and 4 days so camping at the Ranch/​Resort would be awesome, especially since it would be more peaceful and secluded without tens of thousands of people all around you.
I was up here in the middle of the summer and the weather was great. Low 90’s during the day and upper 60’s at night. I can only imagine how great the weather is during other parts of the years.
Also, an awesome waterpark and lake on the premise. Tons of things to do, great weather and amazing scenery, what’s not to love!?!

This could be the beginning of something big.
For lack of a better description, the Double JJ ranch is a dude ranch with an indoor swim park at it’s core. While the swim park is on the small side, it’s a good place to take small kid who want to get wet. It was surprisingly crowded. The accommodations that are on the property were nice, but had strange problems like doors that were hung so bad they wouldn’t stay closed.
Along with the swim park there is horseback riding and a small western town to investigate and loads of activities to keep you busy while you’re there.
The Double JJ Ranch had hard time in the past few years and went through a bankruptcy and was bought out by a company that is trying to restore it to it’s glory and beyond.
I think they’ve got a good start and they are already drawing lots of guests. The planned additions of more lodges could turn the ranch into a major western Michigan entertainment center.