Winding River Campground Introduce
For local users in the New Lisbon, Wisconsin area searching for "camping near me," Winding River Campground, located at N7989 State Rd 80, New Lisbon, WI 53950, presents itself as a potential option. To assist you in making an informed decision, we've compiled an objective introduction based on the available recent customer reviews. This overview will address the environment, services, and features as described by fellow campers.
When exploring the "camping near me" category, it's essential to weigh various aspects to ensure a satisfactory experience. The following information aims to provide a balanced perspective on what you might encounter at Winding River Campground, drawing solely from the provided user feedback.
Environment: Mixed Feedback on Tranquility and Significant Pest Issues
One reviewer described Winding River Campground as a "quite place to camp," although they noted hearing some traffic noise from nearby Highway 80. This suggests that while the campground might offer a degree of peacefulness, proximity to a major road could introduce some level of noise pollution. This is a factor that light sleepers or those seeking complete serenity might want to consider.
However, a more significant environmental concern raised by another reviewer is the severe mosquito infestation. They stated that the campground was "absolutely INFESTED with mosquitos" to the point where they "could not enjoy any time at the campground because the mosquitos were so bad all day long." This is a critical piece of information for anyone planning to spend time outdoors at the campsite, especially during warmer months when mosquitoes are typically more prevalent. The fact that nearby state parks reportedly had no mosquito issues further emphasizes the severity of the problem at the campground itself.
Adding to the pest concerns, the same reviewer reported "thousands of ant mounds" throughout their campsite. This abundance of ants was one of the first things their children noticed and contributed to an unpleasant experience. Such a widespread ant problem could make it difficult to relax and enjoy activities at your campsite.
The condition of the pond at the campground was also negatively reviewed. It was described as "nasty," and while an inflatable was placed in it, the reviewer strongly advised against entering the water. They also noted a correlation between proximity to the pond and the severity of bug bites, suggesting the pond might be a breeding ground for insects.
Services and Amenities: Ongoing Updates and Restrictive Policies
One positive aspect mentioned by a reviewer was that the owners were "awesome and more than helpful and so friendly." This suggests a potentially positive interaction with the management. The same reviewer also noted that the campground was in the process of "updating utilities" and that the "camp store is coming along nicely," indicating potential future improvements to the facilities.
However, another reviewer highlighted some potentially restrictive policies. They mentioned that "you are not allowed to use" your own speaker, as "no noise is acceptable at this campground." This policy could be a drawback for campers who enjoy listening to music or having ambient sound at their campsite.
The same reviewer also shared a disturbing experience regarding the owners' behavior, alleging that they "put on a nice front but then complain about every thing you do." Specifically, they mentioned being told that their children were not flushing toilets, which they found concerning as it implied monitoring of bathroom use. They also reported feeling unwelcome due to the owners' alleged passive-aggressive comments towards their children when using the provided "fun stuff for kids," with the owners reportedly "hover" over them.
These allegations paint a picture of a potentially uncomfortable atmosphere where campers might feel overly scrutinized and restricted in their activities.
Features: Limited Positives Outweighed by Negative Experiences
One reviewer mentioned that the campground is "quite," although with the caveat of highway noise. The ongoing updates to utilities and the developing camp store could be seen as potential future features that might enhance the camping experience.
The campground apparently has "fun stuff for kids," such as an inflatable in the pond. However, the negative review regarding the pond's condition and the owners' alleged hovering and passive-aggressive behavior significantly detracts from the appeal of these features.
The friendly and helpful nature of the owners, as mentioned by one reviewer, could be considered a positive feature. However, this is contradicted by the other reviewer's negative experiences with the owners' behavior and policies.
The presence of a camp store, once fully developed, could be a convenient feature for campers needing supplies.
Promotional Information and Local Context: Proceed with Significant Caution
For local users searching for "camping near me" in the New Lisbon, WI area, Winding River Campground at N7989 State Rd 80 is geographically accessible. The provided phone numbers, (608) 562-5355 and +1 608-562-5355, can be used to contact the campground directly.
However, based on the overwhelmingly negative experiences shared in one of the reviews, local campers should exercise extreme caution before booking a stay at Winding River Campground. The severe mosquito infestation, the presence of numerous ant mounds, the nasty condition of the pond, the restrictive noise policy, and the allegations of unwelcoming behavior from the owners are significant red flags.
While one reviewer had a positive initial experience and noted ongoing improvements, the stark contrast with the other detailed negative review suggests that the positive experience might not be representative or that significant issues exist that potential campers need to be aware of.
Given the lack of any promotional information and the serious concerns raised by a recent customer, local users are strongly advised to conduct thorough due diligence, potentially seeking more recent reviews from other sources, before considering Winding River Campground for their "camping near me" needs.
Objective Summary Based on Reviews: Significant Concerns Regarding Pests, Policies, and Owner Behavior
The recent customer reviews for Winding River Campground near New Lisbon, WI, present a highly contrasting picture. While one reviewer found the owners awesome and helpful and noted ongoing improvements, another detailed a severely negative experience characterized by an overwhelming mosquito infestation, numerous ant mounds, a nasty pond, restrictive noise policies, and allegations of unwelcoming and intrusive behavior from the owners. These serious concerns significantly outweigh the limited positive feedback.
Local users searching for "camping near me" should be aware of these potential issues, particularly the severe pest problems and the alleged negative interactions with the campground management.
Recommendation for Local Campers: Exercise Extreme Caution and Seek Further Information
If you are a local camper considering Winding River Campground based on its location, we strongly advise exercising extreme caution. The detailed negative review raises significant concerns about the environment (severe mosquito and ant problems, poor pond condition), restrictive policies (no personal speakers), and potentially problematic interactions with the owners (allegations of hovering, passive-aggressive comments, and intrusive behavior). While one positive review exists, the severity and detail of the negative review warrant thorough investigation.
We recommend contacting the campground directly using the provided phone numbers with specific inquiries about pest control measures, noise policies, and the current management approach. Additionally, seeking more recent reviews from other platforms might provide a broader perspective on the current state of Winding River Campground. Given the information available, local users might be better served by exploring other options in the "camping near me" category in the New Lisbon area to ensure a more enjoyable and stress-free camping experience.
Winding River Campground Photos










Winding River Campground Location
Winding River Campground
N7989 State Rd 80, New Lisbon, WI 53950, USA
Winding River CampgroundN7989 State Rd 80
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Winding River Campground Reviews
First time staying here and the owners were awesome and more than helpful and so friendly. Quite place to camp although you hear some traffic off Highway 80. They are updating utilities and the camp store is coming along nicely. Highly recommend a stay here.
Sep 28, 2024 · Bryan SchroederWould absolutely never recommend this campground. The place is absolutely INFESTED with mosquitos, we could not enjoy any time at the campground because the mosquitos were so bad all day long. We drove a few minutes down the road to go to the nearby state parks and there were no mosquitos!! The pond is nasty. They put an inflatable in it but you definitely do not want to get in that water. The closer you get to the pond, the worse the bug bites get.The entire campsite had thousands of ant mounds. The first thing the kids complained about when getting out of the car was how many ant hills there were, if only the ant hills were the worst of our problems.Do not bother bringing your speaker from home as you are not allowed to use it. No noise is acceptable at this campground.The owners put on a nice front but then complain about every thing you do. We were told that our kids are not flushing the toilets, which was disturbing that people were following our kids into the bathrooms to see if the toilets were flushed.We ended up having to leave 2 days early because we just couldn't take it anymore. We did not feel welcome there in the least bit.They put in all this fun stuff for kids but the owners hover over you if you play with any of it. The passive aggressive comments to the kids that were said loud enough for the parents to hear was just too much.Have fun staying at this campground folks! Hopefully your experience is better than ours was
Jul 22, 2024 · Courtney DahlbergThis place was a godsend with cool clean waters for our littles to play when many other lakes in the area had algae bloom. My girls (5/7) learned to kayak in the kid sized kayaks in no time to reach the inflatable play center. I swam too and having been in several Wisconsin lakes it doesn't get much better. Facilities were clean, great signage, and friendly owners. Hope to be back soon!
Jul 22, 2024 · Emily AchorAwesome spot and great owners! They're really doing a lot of work to improve this campground and I could see the results. It was very clean and organized and they were extremely helpful/friendly.I booked this spot because it was close to the highway and I needed a "stop and go" type of campsite -where I wouldn't be too far from cell service and could get back to driving quick and easily. (T Mobile wasn't the best when I wasn't on the highway) Luckily, they have a good wi-fi setup installed that allowed me to continue my work while I was there -which made me spend most of the day there instead!I would 100% stay here again!
Jun 08, 2024 · Craig WilkinsonOf the formal campgrounds we stayed at on our monthlong journey from Virginia to Idaho and back, Winding River was by far our favorite. The hosts were warm and funny, the campstore perfectly stocked and the sites we stayed at were large. RV campsites were set up in a way that gave us extra privacy and didn't make us feel like sardines. The campground dog, a beautiful and friendly black german shepherd took to my white shepherd husky mixes and they were instant and playful friends. It is clear that the owners are taking this very seriously and are committed to making their visitors - no matter how long or short the stay - feel like they matter. We were travelling through back home to Virginia after visiting in Boise Idaho and we honestly were just expecting this to be a sort of unremarkable location. We were were delighted to discover it was so much more!
Jul 04, 2024 · Deb Y
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