Carowinds Camp Wilderness

The place was beautiful, and the staff were super friendly. The shuttle ride to the park was a nice touch. We stayed in cabin 11, where the dishwasher was absolutely disgusting. There was also something around the shower in the bathroom, though I'm not sure what it was. Still, it was a nice stay overall.

We picked a cabin for a couple of nights during our Carowinds weekend, hoping for something quirky and fun instead of a regular hotel. Big mistake. The furniture looked okay at first, but there wasn't a comfortable place to sit. The living room futon was broken and miserable, and the beds had cheap mattresses on flimsy metal frames that were bent from larger adults sleeping on them. The pillows were awful, there weren't enough, and one bed had none at all. The bathroom was in terrible shape. The toilet struggled to flush, the floor sagged underfoot and felt rotten underneath, and some of the laminate was broken. The molding by the shower floor was badly deteriorated and gross from water damage. There's no phone to call the front desk, which closes at 8pm, the same time as the pool. I wouldn't stay in these cabins again even if they were free. Get a hotel.

The campground staff are kind and helpful, and the bathrooms are clean. But the grounds haven't seemed to improve over the years. We tried three or four spots, and the mud was so bad after rain that we were stuck inside the camper for two days. Stepping outside meant sinking two to three inches. The internet is very weak and keeps dropping. We come from GA around Christmas to visit two of our children and grandchildren nearby, and have enjoyed Winterfest before. This year was a letdown for the little ones: just a few toddler rides and lights. The parade, carolers, petting stalls, and Santa Claus were all gone. There wasn't much for young children to do besides spend money on food, coffee, and games or look at the lights. Our teenager would probably enjoy the rides that were open, though there weren't many. It used to be fun meeting other campers, many of whom decorated for Christmas. This time the campground felt like a ghost town. Staff couldn't tell us anything about future improvements, so we're unsure whether we'll return for winter trips. It's sad that they don't seem willing to make improvements.

A good campground base for visiting Carowinds, and it could work for anyone passing through the area as well. The sites are on the small side, and there aren't fire pits at the sites if that's important to you. A shuttle goes between the campground and the park every 30 minutes. It was usually already waiting by the camp store.