I was reluctant to post this as a rant because overall we generally had a good time. However, There is little chance of returning.
Hickory Hollow or Hickory Holler as the locals call it
Utica, Illinois
From June 30, 2010 through July 10, 2010 Group Size 23
Overview
I am a 33 year old life long experienced camper. I have camped in tents and vans and travel trailers. I, along with a fairly large group, camp at minimum two weeks out of the year in one location. With that said, we know to investigate the location before traveling 4 and a half hours across 3 states.
I had come across this page as well as several other review sites that had all had the he same general consensus. That this place was an adult "day care". So we were skeptical about whether or not we would enjoy this place as normal average campers or not. We addressed our concerns with the bad reviews this place was getting in consecutive years and the Manager Louise assured us that these people were drunk rowdy people that could not settle down. So we went on her word and have mixed feelings about Hickory Hollow. We are completely convinced that the staff "kissed our butts" (when they recognized us) due to our inquiry on the reviews.
I want to stress that despite the outweighing cons, these people that run and work for the Hickory Hollow Campground treated us very well face to face. The park is a bit too policed for my tastes as a camper but in general, they were happy to try and make this a great stay for our family. But again, they may have known we would be confirming or denying these reviews after the stay as we did mention this to them months before.
Pros & cons
Pros:
* Beautiful place
* Generous lots for both campers and tents
* Clean 90 degree pool
* Restrooms are well stocked and maintained
* Kids were not bored often with all the toads they could catch
* Safe environment/genuine concern for your safety
* Hot showers all the time
* Convenient camp store
* Staff willing to deal with reasonable concerns and are great to talk to in general
Cons:
* Staff does NOT like "tenters" as they put it and may make rude remarks about you
* Staff will spy on you at all hours of the day and night listening in the shadows
* Pool hours are 10am to 8pm
* Must be 16 to swim without parent (they crossed out the 12)
* If the parking pass cannot be hung from your mirror (which will happen) but is still in plain view you will get pulled over with a flashlight on a golf cart and they will reprimand you and if you don't pull over you'll get very rude remarks thrown at you
* They will drive right through your site as much as they want
* The crop dusting will get you but it is fun to watch with the corn two feet away from your site
* Massive overbearing mosquito population
* Staff checks you for going to your car late at night or many other reasons most campers are out of their site boundary
* You can't ride your bike after 9pm (even to go to the restrooms)
* The only wood you can burn you MUST buy from them @$4.50 a bundle which amounts to about one or two logs split into 5 or so pieces
* Visitors each must pay them $3 a day to come see you
* Game room prices are double normal games except the pool table
* Noise from the highway is constant
* No fireworks (not even sparklers on the 4th of July)
The Details
Our first night there was pretty quiet other than the highway behind the campground. There were not very many lots taken as we arrived on a Wednesday before the holiday weekend. They showed us to the general area of Harmon Hollow section and gave us the 'pick of the litter' so to speak. We chose what we were told was "prime real estate". Well it wasn't a bad spot...if you are a mosquito. You would expect to get them in the woods but the mosquito population is overwhelming in that area and were almost too much to deal with even with Deep Woods Off tm. Many of the tent spots AKA rustic lots were on a slope and are littered with those little purple and red raspberry looking things so bring a rake!
The second night there was a group of three camping across the crick from us in the sot known as "Lake Louise" who were partying all night and they broke the road signs and parking blocks for firewood...They were tossed out early the next morning.
By the weekend, they stressed that the grounds were going to full to capacity. However they never really filled up and our area of Harmon only saw one set of campers the entire time we were there. Although it did get a lot busier for the weekend 4th of July holiday. That was when the park "police" were out in full force, spying in the shadows and behind our cars. Pretty much anytime you made a louder noise, mentioned them, or left your campsite, they would pop out from behind something to let you know they hear you. We were never told to quiet down as we do respect the rules even when they are ridiculously strict. They of course do allow you to leave your site at night but not with out suspicion.
After the weekend, I had a chat with one of the guys that drives around monitoring. Turns out to be a pretty nice guy when you get to know him. He told me that he had to throw more people out with escort as they were fighting and making threats to campers and staff. And they took the fire pit with them when they left. They have really nice little rings on the RV sites that have a grill attachment. The rustic tent sites get old semi truck rims which hardly hold a whole log.
The next week was back to the norm for the staff as the "police" drove around a bit less but still watching every move there patrons made. During the week the crop dusters flew and sprayed the corn twice. It was very cool to watch as the plane dove and climbed right in front of us. Cool to watch but it smelled and tasted horrible. The grass was cut once while we were there and while cutting, a man came very close to the gravel where one of the camper trailers we had was parked. The spray of flat rock hit two of the older kids with us and the trailer itself. We stopped the guy very nicely to just inform him of what happened as we all know accidents happen. His response to us that most people just go inside there trailers when he comes by. Thanks for the advice but that still doesn't help the trailer and windows.
After being there for a while, the berries, dirt, and bugs start to make things less than tidy. So renting a tent spot, I needed to break out the vacuum and go up to one of our trailer sites. While I was up there I noticed that it would just be easier and out of everyone's way to use the unrented space next to our trailers to clean up. As I am buried in berries Two of the managers pull up on the golf cart and start asking all kinds of questions including very rude comments about "tenters" as if people who sleep in tents are less than RV'ers (this was one of several rude disrespectful remarks by staff over tenters). They were upset that I, a "tenter", was using electricity. Knowing that after several very pleasant conversations with these ladies that I was with the group renting these RV sites. Well after reminding them that I was in fact authorized to use the electric (or them remembering about the review) they both changed their tone and said carry on and they were not seen over in our area most of the day. There were several other minor things like this all the time we were there where it seemed they would change as if something clicked.
Two other bigger ones that tie together stick out that I have to mention. On Friday, one of the last nights of the group's trip (my last night but I'll get to that), most of the group went out a dusk to go in town and get ice cream. On the way back in to the campground one of the trucks that could not hang the parking pass from the mirror (mine was like that too) but had it in plain view in the windshield, was chased down by the golf cart guard with a flashlight. He did not stop because it was really hard to tell the guy was even trying to stop him. They get to their site and the guard was chewing him and his wife out for the pass, and for not pulling over right in front of all the family, kids and all. My friend and his wife held their ground and the guard backed off and left and gave them no more grief the rest of the night. Because to be honest with you, it was a bit ridiculous that he made that big of a deal over it as the pass was clearly displayed anyway. They are made of paper and after a while they don't stay up there anymore.
Later that same night, I was to hit the road back home so my kids could sleep and I wouldn't be asked if we were there yet. It was about 11pm central and I was all packed up and the only thing left to do was to check the oil. While I'm out there adding a quart of oil I looked around with a little giggle thinking he's watching me and what do I hear? The buzz of that golf cart rolling up on me and the glow of a flash light on my hood!
"What's going on? Can I help you with something?" he says before I can even turn around. And before I did turn around I smiled and said
"I'm alright thanks."
He says "Well what are you doing?"
I glance at him and reply, "Just getting ready to get out of here."
"What are you doing right there?" being persistent.
Getting annoyed I tell him "Just adding a quart of oil, I have a long ride ahead of me."
I think at this point since we hadn't really seen this particular man patrolling much if at all, he didn't know I was with the Grand Rapids group. And he continued to be very into my comings and goings. After explaining where we were from he turned into a very helpful pleasant guy knew people from my area, told me what traffic to watch out for and talked about his family.
So I just don't know what to think of this place. I suppose overall it isn't a bad place if you can handle the stricter set of rules and don't mind being spied on if you like to stay up and have a campfire with your friends and family. I understand the patrols and think that is a great thing that can be helpful but I also think it is insulting that they try to be inconspicuous and hide behind things to know what you are doing. They are quick to throw the riffraff out but they should keep moving.
This campground is very clean and well maintained and they give you lots of space to enjoy. They keep the restrooms very clean and the hot water never seemed to run out. There are two playgrounds for the kids and the pool is a very comfortable 90 degrees.