What time to arrive?? Where to park??

[SewBzzzy]

We received some EXCELLENT advice last year when my husband and I stayed at the Fort after an absense of many years! We arrived last year on the Sunday before Easter around 11:30 a.m. and were advised to park in the lot in front of the Kennel. I relaxed with our dog and enjoyed the warm weather while my husband checked in. We had requested loop 300 - but out site wasn't available yet, so we drove around a bit and kept calling them. Finally, at around 2:30 or 3:00 p.m., our site was available - and they assigned us. We set up in the rain - which came down in buckets for the rest of the day. No matter - we were happy to be there and away from cold, snowy Michigan!

We arrive this year on March 29th, 2009 - and hope to be there by 10:00 a.m. or so. Should we go right to the check in booth - or should we park by the Kennel again and check in?? We'll be with our daughter and son-in-law (and grandaughter!) this year who have their own motorhome and site, and we'll be pulling a toad. Our daughter and son-in-law will be pulling a trailer with our golf cart. I see they leave the trailers (locked) in the lot by the Kennel? What are your BEST recommendations?? What time should we arrive for the best pick in sites? We've paid for a premium pet loop, and requested loop 300. Thank you!!!

 

[LarryJ]

We received some EXCELLENT advice last year when my husband and I stayed at the Fort after an absense of many years! We arrived last year on the Sunday before Easter around 11:30 a.m. and were advised to park in the lot in front of the Kennel. I relaxed with our dog and enjoyed the warm weather while my husband checked in. We had requested loop 300 - but out site wasn't available yet, so we drove around a bit and kept calling them. Finally, at around 2:30 or 3:00 p.m., our site was available - and they assigned us. We set up in the rain - which came down in buckets for the rest of the day. No matter - we were happy to be there and away from cold, snowy Michigan!

We arrive this year on March 29th, 2009 - and hope to be there by 10:00 a.m. or so. Should we go right to the check in booth - or should we park by the Kennel again and check in?? We'll be with our daughter and son-in-law (and grandaughter!) this year who have their own motorhome and site, and we'll be pulling a toad. Our daughter and son-in-law will be pulling a trailer with our golf cart. I see they leave the trailers (locked) in the lot by the Kennel? What are your BEST recommendations?? What time should we arrive for the best pick in sites? We've paid for a premium pet loop, and requested loop 300. Thank you!!!

I think official check in is 1:00PM IIRC, but we always try and show up around 10-11 AM. More times than not we get out site right away. A couple of times they said it's vacant, but not cleaned and we'll take it anyway.

Larry

 

[BradyBz12]

I think official check in is 1:00PM IIRC, but we always try and show up around 10-11 AM. More times than not we get out site right away.

Same here. We always drive directly to the registration gate. This is the first year we actually had to go park and wait for our site - I think partly because we checked in the Sunday after Thanksgiving (a huge changeover day) and also because the random downpours were putting a crimp on getting sites ready for the next folks.

 

[LONE-STAR]

300 is not premium its a preferred loop.

 

[John VN]

Our SOP is to pull out of our driveway at 5:00AM and into FW at 7:25AM/7:35AM. We check-in at that time.

Some times the site is ready and some times it's not. No matter, we still start our visit whether in our site or in the Big Lot and have a great time.

 

[stacktester]

Our SOP is to pull out of our driveway at 5:00AM and into FW at 7:25AM/7:35AM. We check-in at that time.

Some times the site is ready and some times it's not. No matter, we still start our visit whether in our site or in the Big Lot and have a great time.

Pretty much do the same. We usually stay at Turkey Lake the night before our check in then we get up early and go to the fort check in. If our site isn't ready we just park in the overflow and hop on a bus and go to a park.

 

[Shan-man]

If you want to be near the marina, I highly recommend 500. We were there last month and loved it. 700 is also a premium pet, and a little closer to the marina, but they don't have a comfort station and you'd have to cross the street to use the CS in 500 loop. Also, if you have a big rig I would recommend asking for a site on the outside of the loop, some on the inside are quite cramped. Finally, I am pretty sure official check-in is 1:30PM, but it doesn't hurt to try earlier (as others have attested).

 

[SewBzzzy]

Again - thank you for your valuable advice!!! Please tell me what you enjoyed about loop 500? We do like being near the Marina and beach - but also wish we were closer to the pool. We enjoy open air, grassy sites - if possible - so that's why we enjoyed loop 300. We were surprised last year to see all the foliage cleared out! The sites used to be so much more private than now. I've read the postings as to why all the "clearing" has gone on.

Please let me know your favorite sites that are sunny and fairly near a comfort station (also pet loop) - but still near the marina! I appreciate all yoru advice!

 

[Shan-man]

Ah, sunny?! See, we have different ideas of what makes for a great loop. I loved the shade and privacy-enhancing shrubs in 500. It is a smallish loop with it's own CS, so the CS is always close. It is right across the street from the dog park. The central location means you have two bus services, which is nice at the end of a park day to be able to take which ever settlement bus comes first! It is close enough to the marina to walk and to hear all the wonderful sounds! At Christmas you are close to the heavily decorated 100 and 700 loops. It is just a loop away from the campfire, and a pretty easy walk to the pool and either trading post. There are a few sites that are sunny, the first few to the right as you enter the loop, but I think most of them have some tree cover. Although I had an excellent inside site (509) there are some insides on 500 that are awful... one in particular has a huge electric box right where I'd want my lounge chair! So I would request an outside just to be safe.

 

[kc5grw]

Our first trip to the Fort was in Dec 2003. We arrived at 4:30am, went through the regular registration line. Well there wasn't a line at 4:30a. Wouldn't you know it, our site wasn't ready. We parked in overflow and took a nap. They hold told us to check back about 11 and sure enough the site was ready. I had made no particular loop request that I remember, but we ended up in a good site in 700 that was directly across the street from the comfort station in 500.

Our second trip to the Fort was in June 2007. I think we arrived just around regular check-in time, had to wait in a brief line this time but our site was ready and we went right to it. This time in 200. The sites here are a little smaller, but my 32' 5er fit just fine. We really liked this loop.

So I think it is really hit or miss as to whether your site is ready if you arrive early or not. I really didn't expect to be able to get into our site when we arrived at 4:30a. I think later in the morning it makes sense to just get in the regular check-in line. The site may or may not be ready but no biggee.