Kayla H.
Yelp
Very Misleading Experience (Bait & Switch style place):
My visit to Homestead Crater today was certainly... unique (I hope, but I'm 100% sure it's not). Arriving at 1:30 PM for my scheduled 3:30 PM slot, I was initially pleased when a woman at the activity center offered me an early entry if I checked back in with her at 2:40 PM if there were any no-shows. Luckily, there was one, and I was told to head over to the crater to check in.
The check-in process at the crater around 2:48 PM was straightforward enough, though the subsequent list of rules felt excessive. No swimming, no diving, no going underwater - just floating, and everyone must wear a very large life jacket. By the time I finally got through the lengthy spiel and into the water, it was nearly 2:52 PM. It's worth noting that during this check-in, which occurred over 20 minutes after my initially offered early entry time, three different people - including the owner and the two staff members who later denied me my true swim time - had ample opportunity to inform me that accepting the early entry would impact the duration of my time in the water. This vital information was never shared.
I enjoyed a brief 15-20 minutes of floating before it was time for the group to exit. Given that I had entered the water much later than everyone else, I inquired to be sure I could have a few extra minutes. The response was confusing - the staff member, whose grandfather apparently owns the property, simply told me to be the last one out.
Seeking clarification, I spoke with the staff at the desk as everyone else was leaving. I explained that I had only been in the water for about 15 minutes of my supposed hour-long booking (though it turns out the actual swim time is only 40 minutes, with 10 minutes on either side for "getting ready," despite the expectation to arrive in your swimsuit). To my dismay, I was informed that because I had been moved up, my time was not extended and I had to leave with everyone else.
This lack of communication was incredibly frustrating and shiesty. Had I known my swim time would be significantly cut short by accepting the early entry, I would have simply waited for my original 3:30 PM appointment. This crucial detail was never mentioned.
Further compounding my disappointment, upon returning to the activity center to express my frustration, two other staff members confirmed that I would not receive any extra time. One of them, ironically, was the same person who had checked me in 20 minutes late at the crater (who also didn't inform me at all that my float time would be affected). It felt like a bait-and-switch.
The sheer number of restrictions - essentially limiting the experience to passive floating in a life vest for a mere 15 minutes - was baffling. After voicing my concerns about the poor communication and the restrictive nature of the experience, I was finally offered a few extra minutes back in the water. However, this felt like a belated and insincere gesture after I had already walked barefoot across the parking lot in my swimsuit after talking to 3 other people to address the issue. Only after I mentioned I run a blog to review and visit places around the US online and would be leaving a review did they offer these *extra few minutes*.
In summary: Homestead Crater offers a truly unique geological setting for a soak. However, the experience is significantly hampered by a long list of inflexible rules, a surprisingly short actual swim time, and a concerning lack of clear communication regarding scheduling and time allowances. The fact that multiple staff members, including the owner, failed to inform me of the reduced swim time despite having the opportunity to do so during a delayed check-in only exacerbates the feeling of being misled. Potential visitors should be aware of the many limitations and ensure they fully understand the time allocation before agreeing to any changes in their booking. Waste of time, will not be revisiting.