Sandusky Bayshore KOA Campground

Every worker we dealt with was polite and helpful, and the young girl with black hair in the office was especially helpful throughout the stay, with a great personality. We stayed in the section closest to the train, which they warned us about, so light sleepers may want to book farther away. We'll do that next time, because we will be back. The location is ideal for Cedar point and other local attractions. They seem to have activities going on regularly, and it was nice that the heated pools were still open in late September. At other places we stay, they're usually closed after Labor Day regardless of the weather.

The pool was pretty clean, but the public bathrooms were still gross, and complaints about the smell and mold over the years never seemed to lead to visible fixes. This time, our cabin, MP213, smelled strongly of Raid mixed with stale cigarette smoke as soon as we checked in. I reported it twice. Nobody offered to move us, even though two identical cabins stayed vacant, and the later attempt to cover the odor only added another scent on top. I'm a smoker, but I don't smoke in my home because it's foul and my grandbabies shouldn't have to put up with my choice. My two-year-old granddaughter woke with allergy symptoms, so we stayed away from the cabin as much as we could and only went back to sleep. There were nicotine stains on the microwave, range hood, AC and smoke detector, along with a poor paint job. Even with pictures, staff denied anyone had smoked there. I left everything as it was and used none of their supplies or towels; we brought our own and showered at the water park. We'd always had pleasant stays before. I take my grandbabies when we visit Cedar Point, and they call the cabins “mamaws tiny house.” They love the bounce pillows, pools and tractor train, even the overpriced craft station. But this visit was different. I don't know whether management or ownership changed, though upkeep has declined and nobody seemed willing to resolve our problem. My budget was tight, so I booked a cheaper cabin of the same type, with its own bathroom but bunk beds in the same room as mine. Then my bank account was charged more than my reservation said. Was that extra for whatever they used to mask the smell? We also got a text the next morning saying they couldn't make the breakfast we'd planned to buy. On the way to McDonald's and Walmart for food, I complained again and was told they'd check. We went to Cedar Point, and when I stopped by the office later, they said housekeeping had probably been there. Back at the cabin, the odor was worse. We kept the patio door open while at the park, rather than unpacking our electronics, but the smell hadn't improved when we returned. It was cool enough with the door open, but not like using the AC, which I'm sure was part of the cabin upcharge. I may try camping here again because the kids love it, but it's about as expensive as a hotel now. I'm a Hilton Diamond member, so I might try Tru or Hampton for Halloweekends instead. I was going to let this go until I saw the unexplained extra charge. If you're assigned cabin MP213, refuse it at check-in.

The campground is a decent option near Cedar Point, with plenty for kids to do. The two pools were nice, too, if you plan to spend time there. Our group cabin was okay, though it could use updating. It smelled a little musty, probably because the AC had been off in the humidity. Beds were very hard, with one flat pillow per person and stiff, hospital-style blankets. We stayed here years ago in tents, but the tent sites have since become gravel pads, so we'll choose a cabin next time. The train went by through the night. It only sounded its horn occasionally, and the rumble didn't bother us much, though sometimes it shook the cabin. That's not the campground's fault. They should be stricter about golf carts, though: too many young kids drive them without paying attention. We bring our own things, so the missing washcloths were fine, but I told staff because I didn't want to be charged for taking them. They also forgot our door key. We had nothing valuable inside and weren't worried, but at checkout they insisted it was “almost impossible” they'd failed to give us one. Then they found it and apologized.

The best part was Freightober. This was our second time staying at a KOA, and it's been our favorite so far. There's a lot to do here, and Cedar Point and Kalahari are nearby even if you're not staying at the campground. I think this will become our regular spot.