Common Grounds - Johnson

We were placed in a zone with lots of folks who appear to be staying longer-term (furnishings and decorations out, etc. . Didn't see much of them, as we were out most of the day doing stuff, and crashed out later in the day. Hookups are conveniently along the side, where it's easy to connect, and the restrooms are nicely kept up and in working order. We were grateful for the wifi (which has several sub-networks through the campground to make sure there's plenty to go around after several days in the White and Green Mountains, where cell service is nearly impossible to maintain. Stayed two nights, cancelling a different reservation nearby, for the convenience to 100.

For a 4 year period we have camped at Maplewoods in Johnson, VT. Our previous visits have been uneventful either way. We kept returning because it suited our needs and, for the most part, was enjoyable. Not so much this time. The initial problem was not with management but with fellow campers who believed it was OK to cross through our sites. When asked not to the emotions became enraged. One woman felt it was just fine to offer her middle finger to three 10 year olds. One man confronted one female and her 10 year old daughter and suggested that he would f'ing flatten her husband. Management ultimately became involved and felt they had resolved the issue. The harassment continued until we visited the office asking that either they go or we would like a complete refund. They agreed to the full refund but when asked why we should be the ones to depart, they had no answer. Again we were given a full refund but I still find it amazing that the management of any business would permit bullying and not give safety and security to those who were not in the wrong. Just makes no sense and leaves me wondering how many other times morally incorrect decisions have been made. Sadly we will never return. Not just because of those who threatened us with physical violence but because management really had no idea on how to properly deal with this type of customer. They do not permit pit bulls but bully's Are OK.

I am safe, with my husband and my boys, sitting in my house. But this was not the long holiday weekend we had planned. On Thursday we started and ended our family camping trip at Maplewoods Campground in Johnson, VT. The shortest and worst camping trip ever we were there for exactly 2 hours. In that short amount of time my family went from happy and excited to scared for our safety. Our sites were right smack in between a large group of campers. They were angry because the campground would not agree to move us to different sites so they could have ours (we specifically requested and reserved our sites in January, long before they reserved their sites we were told). Rather than being normal, rational, kind human beings they decided to be bullies. When we politely asked them to stop walking through our sites to get to their friends’ behind us, they didn’t listen to or respect us, and when we got the campground staff involved things escalated quickly. The men in this group threatened my husband, father and brother and the women looked on and laughed. One of my 10 year old sons witnessed part of this exchange, and my 10 year old niece witnessed all of it. When the guys walked to the office to get a full refund so we could leave (as the campground would not kick that group of campers out), members of that group kept intimidating us by walking by our campers and continuing to make threats. I am positive that had we stayed, they would have continued their bullying behavior and probably damaged our property, possibly something even more serious. We did the right thing we left and kept our families safe. But it is ridiculous that the campground condoned, and encouraged in my opinion, this behavior by essentially forcing us to leave rather than standing up to these bullies and enforcing rules and keeping the safety of their patrons as their first priority. I try not to bad mouth businesses but when their job is to keep us safe and they fail in that job, I feel the need to speak up. Maplewoods Campground step up and do better.

My husand and I started camping in a tent when we had no money for big vacations. We loved that we could get these fantastic family friendly resort like feeling vacations within our means. Camping is for everyone!!! As we have aged and our paychecks have grown we have up graded to pop ups and travel trailers and some day, maybe even a Class A bus. We continue to love our local campground in VT, NY and NH where we can get away for a time and connect as a family. Large family meals, walks and bike rides, swimming and fun events that campground do for their guests. I love that my child has grown up in campgrounds where she is safe to wander (and if she gets lost people are always willing to help). I love the people we meet, the friends and experience we get have because we camp. I love the safety and calm I feel at a campground knowing that all those around me are feeling the same things. I am not saying we haven 't had our fair share of people that have drank a little too much, or a smoker in the capsite over that smokes like a chimney, a camper that plays their music too loud, but NEVER in all my years at any campground I have been to have I felt so disrespected, unsafe and down right horrified at the behavior of a group of campers at Maplewood Campground in Johnson, VT. Members of this large group were intentionally walking through our sites in an effort to intimidate us even after we asked them politely to walk around. When we got the campground staff involved, several members of this group became enraged. To have a man point at me and my 10 year old daughter and tell me you just wait, I am going to lay that guy out after the camground owner and his group had already pulled him away from hitting my husband and threatening my brother in law and my Father in law is unbelievably disturbing. While I am being threatened to the point my child crying and thinking this man was out to get her. The group of women were laughing, taunting and telling us that we are getting what we deserve. This is the 1st time my daughter has ever seen violence and truly horrendous adult behavior in her 10 years and I am truly sorry she had to witness this in a place we have always told her is safe. Her eyes are open to world and I feel her innocent is shattered due to this place. When a campground has rules and all parties are NOT following the rules chaos ensues and that was what this was. True calamity. And the heart break is this owners of the campground sided with the bullies and chaos over rules and family values. We were forced out of my happy place by thugs and bullies. I try not to bad mouth businesses but when their job is to keep us safe and they fail in that job, I feel the need to speak up. Maplewood Campground Step up and do better. Sincerely a very disappointed mother, camper and human.

We camped at Maplewood for five days and wished it had been longer. We timed the autumn leaves perfectly, the last week of September. We are from Texas and we were in awe of the gorgeous leaves, so vibrant at every turn. Made day trips to Stowe, Smugglers drive and other places each day. The view here is unbelievable! We felt lucky to get #3 which was so very spacious. We would choose that site again. We hope to return one day and definitely would come often if it wasn’t so far! The staff was so friendly also!