Chautauqua Lake KOA Holiday

Dyan Jones

2023-10

The Chautauqua Lake KOA is a great campground! It's really quite large for this area with a wide variety of site types and locations (for "Rooms" in the review I'm rating the sites). There are many permanent sites, but in our they only added to the atmosphere. We especially love the wooded water and electric sites that are perfect for a tent, small tent trailer, etc. The staff at the KOA is friendly and helpful and they have some of the nicest facilities we've seen at campgrounds anywhere. It's just far enough out to be secluded and quiet but has easy access to many destinations around Chautauqua Lake. We would absolutely recommend this campground and will certainly be back.

Pat Drexler

2023-10

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Richard Zachary

2023-10

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Bart Kanicki

2023-10

It’s been 15 years since we stayed here. Lots of improvements! We recently stayed in the newer section of the campground. 50 amp Full hook up. Nice big sites. Nice view. Staff is very friendly! Text messages throughout our stay to let us know what activities were happening. We will definitely stay again! Lots to do in the area!

Ann Hansen

2023-09

Friendliness, it depends on the staff you talk too some were friendly while others it was not the right time of the day to be approached, Costumer service it also depended on the person. For the most part helpful. The staff guiding us to the RV side was not helpful. We stated that the pad was not level. The response was "it is what it is". The view is selective with permanent housing and their porches with deluxe cement pads, you have to look through porches and tree limbs when being outside or you have to sit high up in your RV to have lake view. The RV park is big and while walking up to the store alongside the trail you will find golf carts and signs saying it is long way up the the hill, it is nice put but true then if you want to use the pool you need the cart. If you come to this Koa without a car you are limited with the RV park. The RV park has nothing to offer for adults. The store is sad with supplies needed for camping

Nathan Myers

2023-06

I rarely leave 1 star reviews but I won't stay at this place again. We camp across the country. I have never felt like we were more in a prison. There are lots of permanent sites with owners who love to complain about people visiting for the weekend. This is more suited for a 65+ community. If you are a middle aged (30-45) family looking to just have some fun I would avoid this place. We were constantly hassled about our music (not loud at all, just playing at a reasonable volume from 6-9pm) our golf cart speed (carts we rented from the koa) that we were just cruising on. The "activities" for the kids were not prepared well. Were out of supplies within 5 minutes on a holiday weekend. It's not on the lake fyi which wasn't a deal breaker for us. The pool closed at 5 on Saturday. I just would not stay here if you are looking for a family friendly environment. Our kids were constantly hassled about about riding there bikes, jumping on the bounce air bag, and playing in the playground. This should be advertised as a retirement/ permanent site camp site.

Jess T

2023-09

We were here over Labor Day weekend (Fri-Mon). We stayed in L02 the cabin with no bathroom. We were very pleasantly surprised by the cabin it was very spacious and probably the best "basic" cabin we've stayed in at any KOA (we've been to quite a few). It had heat/AC, cable TV, mini fridge, microwave and coffee maker. My minor complaints about the cabin were: the heat didn't work very well it took awhile for it to actually heat up (it was chilly at night), one window facing a glamping tent was missing a blind (but thankfully we didn't have neighbors), the bed was kinda hard to get out of without killing your thighs on the wood framed box and last I wish it had a Keurig instead of the old school coffee maker (I brought my own so wasn't a huge deal). This cabin is literally right next to the bathroom and shared kitchen space.I really loved the shared kitchen and wish more KOA's did this. There was a sink for dishes and two separate 4 burner cook tops in a nice screened in area with electricity. My one complaint about it was it had a really off putting smell which I'm guessing was either the trash in there or someone put something gross down the drains.The bathrooms were a little disappointing. They were pretty small with a toilet & shower in each. The shower didn't have a curtain so everything got soaked when you showered. The hot water was good however. It seemed they only cleaned them once a day and they were kinda dirty, but again not the worst I've seen and not really the fault of the KOA.The staff was super friendly and overall we really really enjoyed our stay and will definitely be back soon. The area is beautiful and it's definitely a "lake town" setting.

Randa Awada

2023-05

We loved this KOA! Probably the most impressive KOA I've ever stayed at. We stayed in the Deluxe Cabin which had everything we needed to cook, and was super clean and private. It's set in a beautiful location on well-maintained grounds, with a beautiful view of the lake surrounded by trees changing into Fall colors. The staff was extremely helpful and friendly, and checked in with us during our stay. It's gated which increased our sense of safety and community. We also found the best souvenirs at the mercantile on site! HIGHLY recommend for any length of stay!

Shaunna Singh

2023-05

My husband and I LOVE this place. Sites are large, view of the lake…. Just beautiful. One of the best parts of this campground are the people. Everyone here is to have fun and are all SOOOOO respectful of driving. It felt safe enough to walk around with our 1 year old on the pavement and everyone waved driving by. If you have a busy toddler, this place is great. Also, it is a larger campground so one playground isn’t overwhelmed because there are 2. The splash pad was so fun and empty for our son so he LOVED it. The pool isn’t deep so our toddler could slowly walk in with my husband and sit in the shallow end. It feels like a home away from home and the staff are wonderful. We are considering a seasonal site because this place never disappoints.

Steve Bailey

2023-05

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Bryan Monaco

2023-08

Excellent campground. I stayed here once before and came back again. The place is really clean and the staff is pleasant. I rented a golf cart this trip. It was a nice cart and reasonably priced.Nearby activities: Close to Bemus Point. Not really far from anything on the lake.

First Last

2023-05

Really great for kids under age 10.Pool and splash pad are great. Jump pad too.Staff were 11 out of ten. I couldn't even think of way they could improve. Everyone was friendly and smiling, seems to set the tone and the regulars and transients all smiled waved and struck up conversation. Camp store was fairly priced. Bathrooms were immaculate as was the entire place. Peaceful and quiet at nightDownsides? Transient spots near road were not shady. No programming other than bingo on Saturday afternoon. Walking/biking from transient spots was all uphill. Though kids enjoyed having their bikes shuttled up in the truck to coast down amusement park ride styleThe micro golf was fun but stood out with bricks all loose from the foundation, everything else was so nice that this was strangely shabbyPool was exceptional for little kids but too shallow to swim in for adults. Won't return , but would strongly recommend for someone with younger kids.

Alex Ramone

2023-05

Very little to do. Pool was okay, but they required teens to be accompanied by parents which no other KOA has done. We were 15. We didn’t need to be babysat.Not very fun, there were not any games or activities to do…Staff was nice, besides one man who chastised me for using a hammock that was out in the open… how was I supposed to know it wasn’t part of the campsite? I was yelled at for sitting in it.Had a beautiful view of the sunset and bats.Not a bad campsite, but I’d recommend elsewhere if you have kids or teens who wanna have fun.Really enjoyed a nearby park though.

Erika Haag

2023-05

The overnight sites were very large and grassy which were nice. No shade. However, the seasonal campers are given the prime locations which leaves the overnight campers way in the back at the bottom of a large hill which makes it hard to get to the pool, jump pad, and playground. Not an ideal campground for bikes. The bath houses down by the overnight sites were out of order and closed the entire stay. We stayed for 4 nights. It would have been a much more enjoyable stay had they allowed golf carts for overnight campers to get to the amenities, or if they made more sites available up at the top for overnight campers. Will probably not stay here again.

MrGreenotwo

2023-06

Always have a great time there. Plenty of wilderness on location to walk around an just a great overview of the lake upfront that allows for some nice sunsets. Dogs are welcomed an appears to be at least 2 dog parks.Safety: Just seemed like a very safe atmosphere when I was there.Playground: It's relatively new an they have a pool nearbyRestrooms: Very clean with showers on siteDog-friendliness: Ya dogs are welcomed as long as on a leash

Benjamin Smith

2023-05

Campground staff was very accommodating. Sites were big and hookups were well maintained. Amenities were not great and very outdated. My family and I have stayed at a multitude of KOA's up and down the east coast and found the price was very harsh for a lake front campsite that had little if any view at all. Would be staying elsewhere in the future if we return.

Jessica Pasnik

2021-05

Just got back from a two night stay here and can say that we definitely will NOT be returning. I have never been treated so poorly by an owner of a business. Anita, the owner, was rude and downright mean and nasty to me and the poor lady from my insurance company that was trying to help me get what paper was needed for our golf cart. I understand having rules but the way you treat your customers reflects upon your business. The amenities make it seem like a family friendly resort but the long list of strictly enforced rules are catered to make the 70/80 year old seasonal residents happy. It had more of a retirement community feel than a family friendly campground. I wish I would have read the negative reviews before I chose to stay here with my family. All the negative reviews are true about this place and the owner.

IronMaine

2023-05

I have decided to change my 1 star rating to 3 due to the campground having new ownership. I had a terrible experience visiting family at this campground under the previous owners. Something I can only compare to early 40's Germany. I hope the new owners are much nicer and more understanding about dogs and what a rabies tag on a dog's collar means. I will change my review again once I am able to visit the campground again.

R Sil

2022-05

Overall this campground is well maintained and has the amenities you would expect at a KOA. Pulling in, we drove through a very nice park full of seasonal campers to be put in a nearly treeless field with gravel sites outside the main park area. It felt like a different park. We were so far away rom the front that we had to drive to the pool and other amenities. The sites were quite large but there was no shade or privacy. If I return to this area I won't be staying at this park.

Lindsay Demmerley

2023-05

I'm giving 3 stars because my kids had a good time. Although, all they did was swim until they closed the pool for a bit to clean it because it's run down and falling apart. Then closed the pool because it rained.Our site was waaaaaay in the back. It was super inconvenient as we were separated from the rest of our family and away from all the amenities. If it were just me and my husband, we would be giving it a one star review.I can say the staff was nice.

Darlene Esdinsky

2022-05

We are one of the original campers who have been there since the campground opened 20 years ago. This was the best season we have ever spent there due to New Management with new innovative ideas. Going forward we hope to continue for another 20 years. The staff is to be commended for its friendliness and helpfulness. Everyone who visited us during this season commented on all the wonderful changes that have been made around the campground, including the welcoming attitude of the office staff. We are proud to say that we are seasonal campers at Chautauqua Lake Koa!

Lucy Yang

2022-05

We just came off of a big road trip staying at 8 RV resorts. This would have been our 9th and 3rd KOA in the last two weeks. We specifically wanted a concrete pad and was willing to pay extra to have the nicest site available. The site was nice, HOWEVER, it was surrounded by what felt like a trailer park. I’m not going to post the pictures of our views for fear of offending anyone. We walked around and there’s another section of graveled sites but no other concrete sites. It wasn’t what we expected so we packed up and left. We were just at another KOA in Wilmington NC. Beautiful! We loved it so much that the nice lady even showed us where the seasonal sites were..away from the regular campers. That is true of other campgrounds that we have stayed at. We called the manager on our way home. I explained to himthat we wanted a concrete site and it wasn’t what we expected. It felt like we were in a trailer park. The manager didn’t listen. He was too busy telling me how great the campground was. He said he wasn’t going to do anything for me because he could have moved me. Again, wasn’t listening because we walked the grounds. There were no other concrete padded sites. We only wanted a concrete pad or else we wouldn’t have reserved. I’m sure he understands that when you pay for the best room at a nice beach resort, you wouldn’t expect a view of a dumpster, even though the rest of the resort is fine.

John Rauber

2023-09

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Dan Childs

2023-05

Lot of rules. Need a paper showing dog had shots. Dog tag on collar not good enough.To swing by and see a friends RV, $7 a person x 5 for 20'? Hmmm.So we said goodbye to our friends at the gate after a lovely visit with them at our marina. Although gestapo like rules the lady was polite as she enforced them barring our entrance. I would never fit in to that little cult like environment for sure.

Joyce Dawley

2023-08

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Yvonne Johnson

2021-05

In defense of this KOA, I have something to share. As a seasonal camper of this beautiful, well kept campground now for about 8 years, I am thankful that Bill and Anita Perry offer an opportunity for us to come relax, meet friends and play in their backyard. As I see it, this is their property just like your backyard is your property and you would not allow hundreds of people to come and destroy it. The strict rules that reviews mention have developed over the course of years due to past campers making poor choices and ruining fun and safety for others. Yes they do drive around periodically and check to see that all is safe and in the condition that all reviews speak highly about. Isn’t it true that when your little Johnny has friends over whether playing in the yard, playroom or bedroom you peak in to assure everything is ok and the area is not destroyed. Well, same here. I have witnessed many bad tumbles kids have taken when their parents aren’t close by, and close to drowning incidents when parents are close by. Why? Because parents aren’t always watching and when little Johnny gets seriously hurt due to that, Bill and Anita have a lawsuit on their hands. Hum.As for the comments I read about this KOA being like a retirement community that caters to the 70 and 80 year old seniors, how incredibly rude and disrespectful to those who have worked all their life and now are able to retreat to an enjoyable place many use as a second home. I’m not quite at retirement age, but when I do retire, I will want to spend more time here. I’m sorry that offends you. If you like loud music, unruly neighbors who over drink and make bad choices and a lot of chaos, then no, this KOA is not for you. For all others, believe what you hear about the friendly, clean and safe atmosphere Bill and Anita offer here on their playground.

Marisa Barlass

2021-05

I’m not normally one to complain or leave bad reviews, but We came and stayed for a few nights and it ended up being problem after problem. Honestly we should have know from the start when even booking and asking questions over the phone we were given attitude. We were a group of 6 families who all have children. First off we called a little over a week before to see what the golf cart situation was. We were told they aren’t renting at the moment but we could bring our own, but it had to have insurance and a paper saying is was specifically insured at this KOA location. Because we were bringing our camper we had to borrow a second truck and trailer to bring the golf cart we got and put insurance on. We get there and are immediately told we will not be using the golf cart because they just lost their insurance for them. But they can still use them and seasonal campers can still use theirs? They called us the night before we left that we can’t bring our own wood, that was already packed so we had to unload all of that last minute, but on that phone call they couldn’t have told us about the new golf cart ban? Could saved us ALOT of time and disappointment, especially from the kids. We were also told when we booked that we would be close to each other. The cabins were outside of the gate and the campers were way down the hill. We weren’t close at all(golf cart really would have come in handy especially because my fiancé is handicapped and can’t walk long distances)Next, apparently quiet time actually means bedtime. The group of cabins was yelled at and name called 3 separate times in one night. First time was at exactly 10. They said okay we will be quiet we are sorry. Second time she said the kids were being too loud, they got sent to bed as a result, third time was only a few adults sitting by the fire and they accused the kids, who are sleeping, of being out on the playground and was super rude to the adults who were doing nothing but sitting by a fire with no other campers around! The next day all the rules changed. First day they were lenient on letting the kids in the pool with just adequate adult supervision. The next day the kids were first told that they probably wouldn’t even be going into the pool by a worker but that she’d go and ask if they could, the sign says pool hours 11-8? So really it’s just if they feel like it? But then each kid needed to have one of their actual parents in the pool gate to be able to go in the 3 foot pool. Which almost all families had small children who were playing on the playground right next to to pool, 20 feet away, so we couldn’t go in the pool area. But I did go and talk to the owner and we worked out an agreement, but it just caused a whole lot of stress and anger having rules Change in a days time. And watching some kids sit out and watch their friends and cousins in the pool while they just had to sit outside the gate watching and crying. Same with the jump pad and socks. I get it. There are rules to follow for the safety of the kids. But don’t say oh it’s okay one day and then the next day it’s not. The kids don’t understand why they are getting yelled at and kicked off for the same thing they were doing 12 hours prior that was okay.Next, our kids went to play down at the playground, three of them were under two years old. And guess which ones found the cutters and gardening shovel left out by the flower bed on the playground? Sharp cutter, trimmers, whatever they are my baby picked up and start running with while the other picked up the little metal shovel. Just left out on the playground. Not a very good thing to accidentally forget in my opinion.We have been camping at koas for the past two years going once or twice a month to all different ones. And I can tell you we have never had this many problems or have been talked to/yelled at as much as we were at this place. There were more little things that were said to us individually by staff and it just got to be too much. We came to have a relaxing fun get away and it turned out to be the exact opposite.

Doug Reed

2020-05

Nice place to camp. Dedicated group of workers take pretty good care of the place. Despite almost constant rain during our stay over the weekend of the 4th, they did make a heroic attempt to keep the bathrooms clean. Hard to do when everyone is constantly tracking in mud. Great place for those with young kids as there is plenty to do at the camp. Easy to miss is the activity room in the basement of the main building which provides a nice place to play games while you're waiting out the rain. Neighbors were fairly good at keeping quiet except one night, wish we had seen on the instructions that there was a number to call if you have issues. They come by to pickup your trash daily and they will deliver firewood to your campsite. Ice was a good price, firewood was on the pricey side esp considering you're not allowed to bring in your own. Overall though we enjoyed our stay and would go again. Might be back some day but have other parts of PA and NY we would like to explore.

Nathan Nevarez

2023-07

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Kim DeRego

2022-05

I am truly baffled by the people who don’t give this KOA five-stars. It was beautiful, probably the best landscaped and maintained park we have stayed at. And the pool, splash pads playgrounds (yes, two) and mining-station were resort-quality. There are so many junky places out there that get the job done but this campground is really genuinely nice. We were only sad that we had reserved just for one night on our cross-country road trip and so didn’t get to enjoy everything but we will definitely be back for a longer stay.