Captain Jax

The walls didn’t block sound, so conversations from the next room woke me at 8 a.m. The room was dirty, with a dead roach on the bedroom floor. They didn’t send housekeeping until the next day, and then the bathroom garbage was still there.

Ruth, the manager, is welcoming and always ready to help. Last year, during our first trip as retirees and our rescue dog’s first motorhome trip, I had an emergency the night we arrived and went by ambulance to a Miami hospital. We’d only booked two days because of reservations farther down the Keys. My husband couldn’t manage the 1 1/2-hour drive each way easily, and our dog had severe separation anxiety, so we had to kennel him. Then we worried that our reserved time was up and someone else would need our spot. My husband reached out to Ruth in a panic, with nowhere else to go. She made us a spot to move into until I was released after a week in the hospital. We were so grateful for her kindness and concern. Without her help, we’d have been in a terrible situation. She even called to check on me several times after we left. We’ll always stop here on our way down and back through the Keys. This is our third year at Kings Camp RV. It’s a small, nice park with clean, well-kept facilities, and we love staying for a few days as we travel through.

We spent 25 days here and had to move between seven different spots, which we didn’t mind since we met lots of friends along the way. It’s an “Old Keys” park with many long-term residents and plenty of RV spots. Bigger rigs may find it tricky, but if “Michael” is working, you should do fine fitting into your space. The beach area is lovely, with chaise lounges and chairs, and the sunsets are unbelievable.

We left Captain Jax after about an hour because the place felt unsafe. Guests and the person showing us our spot gave us chilling looks, and our camper was only a few feet from a house trailer where a dog barked and strained toward us. The photos don’t show how run-down and unwelcoming it is. I’ve camped since the 1960s and had never left a campground without staying before. We found somewhere else, then spoke with a manager the next day. She seemed surprised and appalled by what I told her, but didn’t offer to return our $135 deposit. I wouldn’t recommend it, and I won’t go back. About a week after my first review, and two weeks after the stay, the owner contacted me to ask what had happened. I explained, and he listened and apologized. Then he brought up the deposit and said he’d refund the $135 if I took down my post. That was my choice, but I left it up because people write reviews to let others know what a place may be like. I don’t respond well to bribes.