Dave B
For 11 Bridges Campground: I called to reserve a campsite for two nights. I was told they had one site left, so I said I would take it. I gave her my full name and credit card number to pay for the two nights in advance. She asked how many people and I told her two adults and two children. She also asked for my phone number and email address which I gave her. I told her it could be 8:00 before we got there and she never told me there was a strict rule 10:00 rule. As it sometimes goes with kids, it took much longer than expected when picking up our Grandkids for our weekend camping trip. It was almost 10:30 when we finally pulled up to the closed gate at the campground entrance. There was a small sign stating no check-ins after 10:00 pm, but as every other campground operates, the gate is closed to keep out those without a reservation and for security reasons. I have been told numerous times, when reserving a site at other campgrounds, that if you arrive late, simply open the gate and come in. Make sure the gate is closed behind you, then proceed to the camp office where you will find a notice in your name giving you directions to your site. That was what I expected in this case too, so that was how I proceeded. When I stopped in front of the office I turned my headlights off so I wouldn't disturb any campers. Shinning my flashlight at the office door and window I didn't see any notice for me so I was a little confused. Just then a woman came around the corner and asked what I was doing there. Not knowing who she was I simply answered that I was checking in. She raised her voice asking me if I hadn't seen the sign on the gate saying no check-ins after 10:00 pm and that I would have to leave right now! I couldn't believe my ears, so I calmly told her I have a reservation thinking she would understand. That seemed to make her more angry and again in a loud voice she stated that my credit card had been denied and that this was private property and we had to turn around and leave right now! There was a family of campers sitting around their campfire fairly close to us and I know they could hear every word she said. I was completely embarrassed because I have never had a credit card denied before. I told her, "That can't be. The card is good." Again she said in her loud angry voice that I needed to turn around right there and get off the property. I couldn't believe that anyone could be so rude, let alone someone in the hospitality business. It seemed that she didn't care if she might traumatize the children she knew we had with us. When I got back in the car to leave I could hear my 11 year old grand daughter was crying in the back seat. The whole scene was very distressing to all of us. The next morning I called my credit card company and there was nothing wrong with my card and there was never any charge put through from that campground. The whole thing is very puzzling why she would not have called me if she had trouble with the credit card. I have voice mail on my phone, so even if we were out of a service area we could have eventually gotten a message. She never even sent an email. Instead of acting like decent human being and doing the best thing for her business by trying everyway possible to reach me, she simply let us drive all the way there thinking everything was fine just so she could kick us out with nowhere to go. That sure smells like malicious intent to me.
I would strongly recommend that anyone thinking of staying there, DON'T! I should have read the many negative reviews from other people she has been mean and rude to. There are plenty of other really great campgrounds for the same price in the Drumheller area. Our favorite is the River Grove Campground, when they are not already full.
Posted Aug 20, 2019 by Dave B from Edmonton. This is the subjective opinion of a traveler and not of AllStays LLC.
