Name: 1000 Islands / Ivy Lea KOA
Address: 514 1000 Island Parkway, Lansdowne, ON K0E 1L0, Canada, Lansdowne, Lansdowne, Lansdowne, K0E 1L0, Canada
Rating: 7

Location

Watertown Airport

Kingston/Norman Rogers Airport

Ogdensburg Airport

1000 Islands / Ivy Lea KOA

Lansdowne

Every-time there is a heavy rainfall there is a gigantic pooling of water over 3-4 sites.
The drainage pipes are blocked and it has to be pumped out every-time.

The solution, Fix the drainage please 
Poor camper in their spot

Flooding every heavy rainfall - Fix it please

Check-in was quick and easy!! We arrived to our Deluxe Cabin to find the floor was still wet from being washed!!! For someone who prefers cleanliness in their accommodations this was a pleasant welcome! 
We unpacked and kids jumped on the double bubble wagon ride. A fun beginning!
No outdoor movies as advertised on their website. The website will have you hooked line and sinker with the photos and daily events listed. None of this is accurate. The events are minimal or non-existent. If you show up for "Smores" (marshmallows roasted over a tin can fire) 15 mins after it starts it will be all packed up and put away. 
The time we spent at the KOA was in the pool area. This area is a mess. The gardens are full of weeds, weeds in the patio stones, the slide steps are covered in mould. The chemicals in the pool will DESTROY swimsuits. They add chlorine in the morning and evening everyday. If you have sensitive skin it burns. The pool closes at 6. Right on the dot. There is zero flexibility. If it has rained allllll day and the sun comes out at 5:30, too bad! Time for you to leave the pool!!!

We were charged PEAK pricing - $250 / night. The events reflect off-peak  scheduling as does the pool times. Off peak pricing is $106/ night. 

I'd be leaving a much different review if the pricing reflected the events offered. 

When we were leaving and checking under the beds, couches etc for clothing we found PILES of dog hair!!! We didn't bring a pet... We did see the house keeping golf cart. No vacuum onboard. gross. 

On a positive note our fridge was on the fritz and the owners son delivered one promptly in a rainstorm!! 

The location is amazing. So much to do in the area, it's unfortunate the owners don't take this place to it's full potential.

Won't be going back or recommending

The campground overall is run down and not well maintained. Pool area is filled with weeds, pool slide unsafe, playground in need of repair and painting. Flowerbeds overgrown with weeds, cabin decks mildew and mouldy and slippery. 

I did write to KOA corporate and expressed my concern and to my surprise they said it is independently owned and take up with owner. Wow for a corporation that takes pride in their brand and that was their response. 

Would not recommend going. 

Very disappointed as we could always count on KOA as being first class.

Rundown and unsafe

This KOA by far is one of the best ones for location, amenities and overall lay out. However, since the new owners took over about 3-4 years ago the service and customer service has deteriorated.  The staff is really nice but the owners are very unfriendly, unwelcoming and have no concept in hospitality nor the overall tourism industry  and management of a business.  Every summer we stay at this KOA 2-3 times each season and for some reason this year we had our reservations cancelled twice with an email  from owner: 

Subject: 1000 Islands Ivy Lea KOA holiday ref 10152763
Hello
Sorry for inconvenience, your profile on our black list.
we can't accept any reservation. I will cancel the reservation and process fully refund 

Thanks
Min
 
1000 Islands Ivy Lea KOA Holiday
Guest Service Staff

This email and cancellation came as a huge surprise as we were not given an explanation as to what this Black List is or why we were placed on it. We were never given a warning or anything last year when we were there at the premise. I have contacted them multiple times and emailed them and never once have they responded back to me. I also contacted KOA head office and they indicated that they cannot do anything about this KOA's daily activities and reservation process as each KOA is privately owned and therefore managed as they please to do so. Very disappointed to say the least as our kids love this establishment, but this is no way a business should be run, this is really bad customer service from the owners. It is very sad that the owners can do this to returning customers and treat them like this while we went out of our way to fully support them during the pandemic with all the restrictions put in place. I am very disappointed in their service and customer service. Very unfortunate that this can take place as there's no governing body to oversee such issues and concerns coming from customers.

Terrible Management and ownership - Poor customer service

We booked at site on our way back from New Brunswick and landed here around supper time.  Upon arrival at the front desk I was a little surprised by a cool greeting.  I was basically given my paperwork and sent on my way.  Once we got to our site I was surprised and disappointed.  During Covid I was shocked there was garbage strewn around our site.  There was an empty plastic glass, wrappers and wristbands.  I have not encountered this during the pandemic.  The site was extremely small and had a electrical pole in the middle of it near the back.  This park was far from busy and there were other preferable sites that were empty.  Since we were only staying overnight we just overlooked this.  This chain is not cheap to stay at and I was very disappointed with this park and  I wouldn't stay here again.

Very disappointing

We first started camping here 12 years ago. We were new to RVing then and at that time we thought this was an exceptional campground. It was pricey even then but we appreciated the excellent pool facilities and the extras they ran for the kids that were included in the price.

As we camped more we came to understand how small the sites were at this location. Water pressure has always been low and WIFI has never been reliable here. But events such as their Chocolate Weekend and the novelty of their huge hot tub kept us coming back. 

This year we noticed the significant increase in price and as a result only booked one weekend at the location. We arrived and were flabbergasted by the state of the property. The gardens have been overgrown by weeds, there was trash on our site and most of the facility was in a general state of disrepair. The theme of our weekend was "A Knight's Tale", the calendar indicated an included lunch of "Roast Beast on a Bun!" In prior years a description such as this would have rightly invoked images of a hot roast beef sandwich. We got up to the pool deck and were handed an overcooked hotdog. And to by clear the Hotdog was the type that you buy a pack of 12 for $0.99, the only toppings being mustard and ketchup. 

Based on my shopping, this is the second most expensive campground in the entire Province. Second only to Sherkston Shores. There is nothing left at this location that justifies their exorbitant price. Quite frankly if I was KOA, I would strip this location of their franchise because they have become a poor representation of the companies standards. 

Without a return to it's former standards we are not likely to return to this location. There are multiple campgrounds available in the Kingston area at a much more reasonable price point.

Falling Fast!

We booked the 7 person cabin for a weekend and we’re very impressed. Clean, spacious, private cabin. The cabin also comes with a private hot tub that fits 4 comfortably.  The cabin has two outdoor areas, a deck with a hot tub, bbq, picnic table and chairs. The second one is in the front of the house with a small table umbrella and fire pit area. 

Would recommend this cabin at KOA. Staff were friendly and attentive to our needs. 


Great weekend 

We visited this KOA last year and enjoyed it however we went a couple of times this year and it's gone downhill.  The grounds are NOT well maintained, the dog poo bins are overflowing and you have to ask to have them cleaned up and they don't pick up what's on the ground around them.  The pools are discusting (black film all around) and the water was cloudy.  Weeds growing everywhere in the interlock.  Gravel needs to be added to the roads/sites since it rained one day and it was muddy everywhere.  The scheduled activities are repetitive.  Some people showed up and took over three spots with all their toys and were never told to go park their boats, etc. in the additional parking lot even though it's clearly mentioned that additional vehicles, boats, pontoons, etc. need to park elsewhere.  The lots are overpriced, needed to pay extra for a "patio" which included a metal table and chairs with a broken umbrella which we didn't use but nothing else was available. Wi-fi is terrible.  The description above for the KOA needs to be revised since it mentions a few things that are actually not available.

Needs Improvement

Our campsite neighbours (tent) made a party until 5 am on our 1st night there (loud talking & music). We haven’t slept that night.
They were a group of 10 and started again the next night although we went to complain at the lobby.
We’ve been suggested NO backup plan (relocation on another campsite or eviction of the group or refund of the 1st night).
The campground rules are simple: no excessive noise after 10 pm : that’s simple!!!
VERY BAD EXPERIENCE + expensive campground + sanitary block is at the very opposite side of the tents’ area (no dedicated toilets for the tents’ area).

Expensive + bad campground management

Great cabin rental, friendly and helpful staff. Great location. How can you go wrong with full bathroom, full kitchen, wifi, satellite TV for playoff hockey and fire pit.  Used AC a few days, easy parking and a pool and hot tub too. Will go back.

1000 Islands / Ivy Lea KOA

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