1000 Islands / Ivy Lea KOA

We stayed in two cabins during the first week of September, when the campground was quiet. The wooded section with the cabins and tent sites is lovely, though the trailer area feels open and lacks privacy. We had the largest cabin and a smaller one with a bedroom and bunk room. Both needed a thorough cleaning and some fresh paint, though they were well stocked. Wash the dishes before using them. The big cabin even has a full-size oven. Its listing photos showed a large dining table and deck chairs, but those are gone and there’s now a picnic table. We missed having outdoor chairs, and the couches need replacing. The cabin itself is huge and was excellent overall, though its spot was less secluded than our other cabin. The smaller cabin was lovely, with a huge deck and a really nice, private campfire area. It had no coverings on the large front doors, so we improvised with garbage bags for privacy. The old log table and chairs on the deck were falling apart, but two newer yellow chairs were fine. We enjoyed a couple of beautiful hikes on the campground trail at the back. It was well marked, and we didn’t see anyone else there, which the dogs loved. This is a fantastic campground for dogs, with a clean dog park, water, waste bags, and hitching posts by the pool and office. We tied our well-behaved dogs up while we swam, and they watched us through the clear panels. There was even a water bowl for them. I don’t know if that would work when the place is busy. We also found some lovely nearby spots where the dogs could swim. The pool area was beautiful, and the pools were heated. It was just right for us while things were quiet, but I can imagine it feeling too small when busy. The adults-only hot tub was great too. Its limited hours, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., made it hard to get there some days. The jumping pillow was a great feature for “kids” who are actually adults. We had a great time and would come again.

We spent three nights at KOA Ivy Lea. We’ve only stayed at one other campground, and it had no amenities. This one is small but great for kids, with a big playground, beautiful pools, daily activities, and a movie every evening with free popcorn. The store has plenty of snacks and toys, basically whatever you might need. Staff were tending the grass around the pools as people came and went to keep things clean. There’s room for improvement: the playground could use cleaning and maintenance, and the place needs updating, though you can tell the new owner is working on it. The grounds were being looked after, but the lawnmowers and weed eaters seemed to run constantly. I understand that work has to get done. One thing that really bothered us was the midnight fire cutoff, which staff enforce because of a municipal by-law. My husband and I were finally enjoying a quiet evening alone around a small fire, without any noise or big flames, when we were told to put it out. That evening time by the fire is something we look forward to after a long day with the kids. If you like to stay up and enjoy the evening like we do, this might not be the place for you.

We had such a good time here. It’s a great campground for families, with kids’ programs, a huge jumping pillow, and a fun playground. The pool was really clean, and the whole place felt peaceful and relaxing. We’d love to come back!

The neighbours are friendly, the campfires are fun, and the stars are bright. The sites can be close together, as you’d expect at a KOA. Gananaque is nearby, and when it’s warm the river is close too. The new owner is friendly, staff are welcoming, and you can see improvements happening, including much-needed landscaping and a good-looking new pool deck. The hot tub is hot, and there have always been great activities, with more being added. The future looks bright.