Adam S.
Yelp
I disagree with the other reviewers.
I've only been here twice, and it was pretty obvious to me from the getgo that this was not a 100% "family themed campground." Yes, there are families there, I saw the pool, clubhouse, and other rec facilities being used by families everyday, both years. I've seen families on the river tubing as well. I've seen families around fires at night, and I've seen families in the lodge eating and drinking. So to say it's not family friendly is just plain wrong.
But, there are also younger campers there, who, in part like me, are there to get drunk and have a good time. If the management dislikes this, they sure haven't done ANYTHING about it any year I've been there. This leads me to believe that they don't really care too much about noise levels, I'd assume unless someone complains, which clearly people don't, or I wouldn't have heard loud techno music at 2am on Sunday morning.
What this means, guys, is that Bob's Riverside Resort probably doesn't really mind this, and if you do, maybe you should go somewhere else to camp. I mean, it's not on state land or in a state park, and we're in WI, what did you expect? And, in both years I've been there, the 'loud' campers are usually stuck at the end of the loop in the camping area, as far as possible from everyone else.
So...they are clearly able to manage the place properly. We were on a waiting list for tubes, there was so much demand. Sounds like they're running a tight ship to me. There are no animals around destroying your food at night, people come by to pick up trash, the portopotties are (really) some of the cleanest I've ever seen at a place like that, and all the while, families are all over the place during the day. Sounds like they've figured out how to appeal to both sides of the coin, despite what other reviewers say.
And to be fair, I'm a rural kind of camper. I've done plenty of canoe and backpacking trips, and this type of car camping isn't really my thing. But, once a summer, it's a great time to go tubing and hang out around the fire. I love Bob's, and would gladly go back. If that sorta thing really bothers you, go to a state park, a campground that has 'family friendly' plastered all over the website, or better yet, just pony up and rent a cabin at a resort, rather than camping and expecting it to be as quiet as it would be in a home w the windows shut.
The only complaint is the length of the river trip. You have the option of 1 or 2 miles from drop off point to the point you exit. It should be at least 3 miles. Current was faster in 2011 and we were done in about 2 hours, including sandbar stops. That's ridiculous. I also saw several DNR boats, with drug dogs. If DNR agents are basically laying in wait for people to come down the river, Bob's needs to alert people that the DNR will treat them like low hanging fruit, which they clearly were.
The staff are friendly, the facilities are perfect for the price (really good, actually), and the location is lovely. I like Bob's and can't wait to go back.