Rickwood Caverns State Park

[mongo]

http://www.alapark.com/parks/park.cfm?parkid=10

I did not like this park. The Ranger was trying to impress that it was his park and rules (signs) would be followed. The Park was overrun with 'do not' signs. If he would have spent as much time cleaning the bathhouse as gratifying his park it would have been much nicer. I did not even take the camara out, I was very unimpressed.:(

[sandman]

Keeping your name and this website anonymous I sent a comment to the Alabama State Parks comment address listing your concerns with this park.

Here is the reply I received,

Thank you for your interest in Rickwood Caverns State Park. I have printed your email and will make sure the manager receives it. Without knowing who posted the review or when it happened I can’t speak to the incident in question. Maybe the manager will remember it. I do know that the reason there are so many signs is because of what people have done before that they should not be doing. If people post these reviews anonymously we usually have no way of knowing if the review is legitimate or just someone who was caught wanting to find a way to save face.
If you would like to pass on the sites where you see comments, I would be happy to check them out periodically and respond if appropriate. Thank you again for bringing this to our attention.

Respectfully,

Scott Fort, Assistant Manager

[Mellow]

Thanks Gordon, since you live in Alabama I'm sure you have some vested interest in the state of your parks.

mongo, just a suggestion but maybe making this kind of stuff an official complaint/suggestion to them will make it a better campground? It's up to you and I can understand if you don't but also if you do.

Good thread!

[mongo]

As you know I just picked this off of the internet because of proximity to Birmingham. I never tought of making a complaint as I doubt I will be using that park again. I see now that was a selfish decision, as I joined this forum to meet like thinking people, and have used it for several trip plans and was hoping that my inputs would help others likewise. I was just amazed that the bathhouse was in such a state.

[Mellow]

No problem, that's pretty much how I choose places and I try to choose places I've never been but that doesn't come without surprises sometimes.

I've been pretty lucky as most of the places I've picked have been at least 'okay' and I don't remember one ever being as bad as you mention. I would expect something less maintained in a primitive area but not in an area more exposed to the public like a state park. If there are so many signs saying what not to do, I wonder it the place gets so much local traffic that there is a loss of respect... I know Trailace and I were in OK once and we came up on a city park that was packed.. there were places to camp but we didn't want a place with so many people around when we left to get something to eat so we kept moving..I would imagine it would take some effort to keep the facilities up to par in those circumstances.

[mongo]

I have motocamped in 40 states, primative you expect no service at $6 or under, when I pay $16.50 in an out of the way park I expect to relax a little. We pulled in Quietly with reservations at 9-9:30 PM, the ranger made 3 of us pay full price, when the sign said extra tent $5 a site, then the next mornng the Ranger was going through our trash cans I guess looking for beer cans. He got fooled. I won't bring this site up again. Sometimes you get the bear sometimes he gets you.

[Mellow]

I have motocamped in 40 states, primative you expect no service at $6 or under, when I pay $16.50 in an out of the way park I expect to relax a little. We pulled in Quietly with reservations at 9-9:30 PM, the ranger made 3 of us pay full price, when the sign said extra tent $5 a site, then the next mornng the Ranger was going through our trash cans I guess looking for beer cans. He got fooled. I won't bring this site up again. Sometimes you get the bear sometimes he gets you.

That's pretty crappy.. we'll bring a couple beers to the campground just to help it calm the day's ride and have a nice sleep.. but no where near a huge party.. he must have been in a bad mood.. not for nothing but if it were Trailace and myself and they tried to charge more.. we would have ridden all night to get to some other campground.. LOL we're just that cheap.

[sandman]

I've run into issues with state parks before and I have no reservations about making them understand that there is someone out there watching.

MikeP1300 and I had to get 2 different sites at Oak Mountain State Park on our way to CampSToc this year. Mt Cheaha allowed us to put 3 tents on a site on the way to the ST fall gathering last year. I guess the fees are determined by the campground staff instead of a state oversite board.

I'm with you Mongo, I don't take kindly to dirty bathing facilities either.


Gordon

[Alan]

When my son and I go camping with our bikes, we always share a campsite. I can't imagine having to rent two camp sites with only two bikes. I would probably be tempted to move on if they pulled that on us.

[mongo]

I had multiple dislikes at this park, that was one. I started motocamping for 2 reasons, I liked camping and seeing new sites, the less I spend sleeping/eating the more I can travel.

[motomac]

Dang, I don't drink, but I do use beer when I make my biscuits, if available!!!!!

[mongo]

Mongo loves beer!! Not as much as I did when younger though.

[Mellow]

I wonder if this is a throw back from the old days when they wouldn't even allow motorcycles at some places for fear of a bunch of drug addicts and alcoholics showing up... Seems crazy.. but then again....

[MikeP1300]

I stayed at Rickwood a few times, but not in the past 8-10 years. Wasn't very nice then either. I gave up on it the last time, the bath house & restrooms were closed. Lucky I guess.