Ced C.
Yelp
Let me first start off by saying on arrival to Beach Family Camping Area, we were happy to see that some physical updating has taken place including tables, cornhole and a fire pit on the beach. Now don't get to excited because even though there is a fire pit on the beach you can NOT use it unless you get permission from the campground. However there are NO SIGNS that say you can not use the pit without permission, so beware. The campground is under new management by the same company who owns and runs the Saco River Tubing Company. The owner, Peter, was nice when we talked with him however the new manager, Chris, is completely on a power trip and as a previous bank manager with no prior experience of running a campground, completely unfit for the position. Let me explain....We were camping with two other families and we all have young children and even though it was only my second year, they have been camping here for the past 16 YEARS. We arrived on Sunday, unpacked, and set up. Kids were in bed by 10, adults were in bed by 12 (no music playing, just sitting by the fire talking amoungst ourselves.) The next day, the manager, Chris, came around on her golf cart around 9pm to remind us that fires need to be out by 11 (even though their check in brochure says 11:30 right on the front) and quiet hours begin at 10. She also told us that "someone near" our campsite complained that "some campers" in our vicinity were loud and up until 2am the night before. I told her it wasn't us since we were ALL in bed by 12 also we didn't hear any noise while we were up or after we went to bed. After her visit, the kids went to bed at 10 and then some of the adults went to the beach to listen to music (which was playing on a phone at low volume). Chris came around to them around 11 and asked them to shut the music off, which they did. She then came over again, 5 minutes later and asked them to leave the beach. My friends were packing up their belongings when again she came over not even 5 minutes later and she demanded they leave the beach and GO TO BED. I am not sure what made her so angry because my camp site was 2 spots down from the beach, and I couldn't hear any noise. The next morning she banged on my friends camper and in front of her young son yelled at her and demanded that we all pack up and leave. My friend was startled and upset that she was being screamed at in front of her child and when she tried to explain by saying "I'm sorry but I don't understand. We are just here with our families", she said "well that's not my problem". My friend was successful in diffusing Chris's power bomb and getting her to agree to let us stay, but we honestly have no idea what set her off and what could warrant such unprofessional behavior. Yes the first night we had the fire going until 12 but we were quiet and yes the second night we were on the beach with low music at 11pm (with no fire) but honestly Chris's actions were unacceptable. That same day campers moved into the site next to us and told us they were warned about us and instructed to let the office know if we were a nuisance. The campers in my group ALL went to bed at 10 that night, however our new neighbors were up partying loudly until 3am. Did Chris come around and harass them at all? Nope! The next night my group was in bed again by 10 and the neighbors were at it again, loud and partying. This time I heard a nearby tenter walk over and ask them to quiet down, but was Chris there? Nope, and THEY NEVER GOT SPOKEN TO!! It's a real shame that after many years of service this is the way we were all treated. I will never camp there again and I will always be sure that whenever the Saco/Conway area is mentioned in conversation with my camper friends and camping groups that my story is told about this particular campground. They label themselves as a family friendly campground, but from my experience its anything but friendly and my family was treated appallingly for no valid reason. Thank you Beach Family Camping Area for ruining so many future memories and smiles. Shame on you.