Devils Tower KOA

So let me start by saying this is the nicest KOA we have stayed at. It's also one of three options in the entire area and the only with full hook ups so it's the only game in town. The grounds are beautiful especially the back towards the river and the tent sites. There's a large open field and the sites are nice pull thrus. They play Close Encounters on a big screen every night which is pretty cool. Our biggest issue is the pricing and the policies aren't exactly inviting. We arrived early and they wanted to charge us for checking in an hour early (I think it was $10). They also charge $5 per child beyond one which I always think is just such an awful policy. Can you imagine charging per adult over 70 or something like that? People would have a fit. We begrudgingly paid. Also, to pick your site is another $20. The mini golf is pretty bush league and they charge for that too. Basically it just feels like every where you turn they are charging you for something. The $69/night turned quickly into over $100 with taxes and "extra kids" and such. For that reason we soured on the place and would probably stay at Belle Fourche next time (it was fully booked during our stay).

OK, granted that we made this reservation back when we were newbies to the camping world, but for $94 (after KOA discount) a night we expected a heck of a lot more. That $94 included a "pick your own site" charge of $20, so I decided to choose one at the end of a row so we wouldn't have a neighbor on one side. That was a good call, since most of the campsites are crammed in quite tightly. We couldn't even set up our Clam shelter because we're too close to the next site.

At least we have a nice big grassy lawn on the shady (afternoon) side of the trailer. On the other side about 10 feet away is our neighbor's black water hose, conveniently located near our picnic table. The picnic table could be covered by our tablecloth, the table itself is quite dirty and decrepit looking. The spot IS flat, there is a full hookup (water, electric, sewer), and the Wi-Fi signal is pretty strong even here in the north forty.

At arrival, I was greeted by an unsmiling woman who did her job efficiently and got me on the way to my site quickly. C'mon, babe, is it really going to hurt you to smile?

One of the positives about not having a shady spot is that we have a great view of Devils Tower, although I don't feel like sitting in the hot sun to watch it. After sunset it should be fantastic!

About the amenities: yeah, I understand that everyone is having issues hiring people to work in this post-COVID era, but considering that the Campstool Cafe was supposed to be a "rockin place". From the website:

"Campstool Cafe is proud to serve great food in the Western tradition from 8 am to 8 pm each day during summer season. Join us for a great meal with an incredible view and exceptional service. The Café features a unique, massive glass door with an up-close view of Devils Tower. Guests are invited to visit the Campstool Saloon for an evening drink. We welcome groups and bus tours to dine in our spacious dining room. Special menus are available."

1) We got to the Campstool Cafe at 4 PM, right as it closed. The girl who worked there was extremely apologetic, saying they were only open between 11 and 4.
2) Exceptional service? Well, not really.
3) Campstool Saloon? Where? We could buy beer and wine (wine from the check-in area, beer from a cooler), but I'll be damned if I saw a "saloon" for an evening drink.
4) Groups and bus tours? Hell, they couldn't serve the people who were there due to short-staffing.
5) Special menus? Like what? Everything was written on whiteboards.

Access is easy to this place, and the location can't be beat. I have to admit the site was very clean, and there's very little noise.

Next time, I'll forgo the full hookup at this KOA and camp in the monument campground. At least there would be trees. There are trees near some of the sites in the older part of the park, but the newer area is a desert. I expected a lot more for $94.

Having never seen Devils Tower (other than in Close Encounters of the Third Kind! :) ) we made a reservation for one of the sites directly looking toward DT. Check-in went fine, but we did get a teensy bit confused trying to find our campsite -- there are loops within loops at the campground. Because we stayed so close to DT, we were able to head in after the crowds had left, things had quieted down, and the weather was cooler. Walked the 1.3-mile paved trail around the base of the tower. We were there in mid-July and everything was hot and dusty. Hook-ups were fine, and we were able to dump our black water at our site before leaving. We loved being so close to DT! It was amazing! We'd pay the extra fee for one of the premium-view sites again.

Made reservation 4.5 months ago online through KOA website. We have 34 foot RV travel trailer pulled by standard double cab truck. We reserved a full hook pull through, one night stay as we didn't wish to unhook. The site we were assigned was not long enough to accommodate. Front and back of camper stuck out into roadway.. Our sewer and water hooks are in rear. Their hook ups were in middle of the site. Sewer hose would not reach so we couldn't use the sewer. Luckily we had a 30 amp extension or the electric wouldn't have reached either. The picnic table was bowed so we couldn't eat or play games outside. Do not recommend.

So far this is our best KOA experience, though I'm taking off 1 star because the minigolf experience, which looks like a great one, was closed for renovation during peak season which seems inexcusable. Great views of the tower, numerous shade options, working hookups. Our power actually had the polarity reversed, but it worked fine. The dump station had a somewhat odd placement requiring me to drive around reverse of the campsite order to get on the right side, but that seems somewhat usual apparently. Also during rain the dump site was flooded, so make sure you have good gloves! It still worked under the flood waters.

Store was interesting with some great items to pickup, ice cream, and decent food, though during the uptick of delta covid-19 in Wyoming nobody was wearing masks or distancing.

2 great playgrounds for the kids!