Brialee Campground Ashford, CT My experience

[xavier]

I camped here June 8th-10th and I had a not so great experience. I usually camp in state forests where you have some privacy. We were stuck in sites right near the pool and rec hall. The sites were small and right on top of each other. The only good thing about the camp sites are the fire pits which are large stones, instead of small fire rings which you usually find at campgrounds. I found most of the staff to be friendly and they have an awesome horse shoe pit area. Now here are the reasons that will not have me coming back.

1. The # 1 reason is who I assume is the campground manager/security officer. We arrived in the evening on Friday and after setting up and eating dinner and putting the kids to sleep myself and my cousin decided to take a walk (we were very quiet) to get acclimated to our surroundings and stretch our legs. It was about 10:45 when we left the site. After about 15-20 minutes on our walk we were passed by at least 20 golf carts with people drinking, smoking, and being LOUD. We were walking peacefully around the campground and we were stopped by a security golf cart. The man was rude and demanded to know our site #'s. After giving our site #’s, I told him we were just taking a walk around to get used to the grounds. We are all adults and I didn’t appreciate the treatment. What happened next really surprised me. In 28 years of camping I have never heard this. "You are not allowed to be off your site after 11 and need to return to your sites immediately." WHAT? Are we prisoners? Are we criminals? This guy was just another power hungry Ass*&^% who just needs to pick on people. BTW the golf carts are only for members and they ride their carts constantly till about 1am with no regard for sleeping campers. OH and the best part is when we got back to our site they had sent the camp diesel pick up/dump truck to make sure we were back on our site. It sat there with its headlights on our site waking up my wife and baby with the engine running for about 15 minutes before speeding off. It was actually kind of scary, like something you would see in a horror movie.

2. The campers are not respectful. We had rap music blasting in the sites next to us all weekend and the parents let their kids continuously ride their bikes thru our sites next to my camper and our tents. Even though I asked them politely on several occasions to stop. The campground is not at fault for these people’s actions, but it does say something to the type of crowd they draw. Mostly rude party people with no respect.

3. The bath rooms smelled disgusting and should have been cleaned better. Didn’t take a shower since I was grossed out.

4. On the first night after we were escorted back to our sites there were 3 really, really, really drunk women parading around the campground (about 1-4 am) They were swearing and screaming and taking flash photography of each other removing their clothing in the pool/playground area. FAMILY CAMPGROUND????? For three hours they woke up campers who were yelling "SHUT THE HELL UP" from their campsites. Not once did this security guard go over and tell them to go back to their sites (seasonals perhaps?).

Overall I think this place has the potential to be a nice campground, but it is not there yet. They have a lot to learn about what it means to camp and enjoy the great outdoors and to be with family. They really should change the name to Brialee Party Resort as this paints a more accurate picture.

[chevy02]

That would never be a place for me thanks for the warning

[Herk7769]

Thank you Xavier.

I will also be avoiding this place like the plague as well.

[hunt247]

We stayed at Brailee on Memorial weekend 2012, and my experience was the same as described by Xavier. We won't be going back.

Here's a suggestion for CT\Mass area: Normandy Farms in Foxboro, MA. Spent 2 weekends so far this summer, the campground is amazing.

[DDC]

Thanks for that info will put it on the list of places never to go.

[punkaccountant]

Originally Posted by xavier

4. On the first night after we were escorted back to our sites there were 3 really, really, really drunk women parading around the campground (about 1-4 am) They were swearing and screaming and taking flash photography of each other removing their clothing in the pool/playground area. FAMILY CAMPGROUND????? For three hours they woke up campers who were yelling "SHUT THE HELL UP" from their campsites. Not once did this security guard go over and tell them to go back to their sites (seasonals perhaps?).

I was with you until I got to #4 above. Now it's on my short list of places to go.

[xavier]

I wont tell you then that they were middle aged and overweight..haha

[The Cheese]

I have camped at brialee this past summer, along with quite a few summers in the past.It appears that there has been a large turnover in staff over the past 2 years that has greatly contributed to the overall change in the atmosphere at Brialee.
In previous years, there was an absolute focus on families. There were numerous activities on both weekends and weekdays. There was so much for my children to do, it was impossible.
I considered this place as tops on my camping list.


BUT.......


Things have changed there. It has turned into a drunken party fest. There appears to be the stereo-typical seasonal drunken click that plagues many campgrounds. Constant drunks cruising the grounds in golf carts until 2 and even 3am. Loud parties raging at seasonal sites til the same time. Testers being placed within "camper" sites partying just as long and loud as the seasonals.
I am surprised to even hear about security. During my stay, there was next to none. Actually, if you pay attention, you will see staff partying all night with the seasonal crowd. Or, just stay up a bit later and watch the nightly golf car drunken parade heading out the back entrance almost every weekend night. Apparently, one of the staff owns the house just after the tent sites by the rear enterence. That seems to be the hangout until the early morning hours.


My advice to anyone considering this place is to pick a site close to "Brandon's place". It is the play area near the back of the park. There are usually just family campers around there. Beware, there are party tents as well.


Unfortunately, I don't see us ever returning to Brialee. It is a shame as it was a great place up to a couple of years ago.


The Cheese