Cherrystone Campground – Cheriton, VA
(20 visitors have rated this campground.)
Loading ...We had a great time and we have some good things to say, but we have some disappointments too so keep reading.
We stayed from July 3-10, 2009. This is an excellent weekend to go because the fireworks are good and this year they had fireworks on the 4th and 5th. This was our 4th visit. The amenities are good. Bath houses, general store, pavilions, cafe, arcade and fresh seafood/vegetable market. The pools are great and the new splash park was a hit. Live bands and bingo and other planned activates like movies, arts and crafts and whole park events like costume contests, sight decoration contests and parades. A bait and tackle shop, boat-bike-paddleboat-golf cart rental. Fun to crab a fish and they have everything you need to get started with helpful staff that knows the rules and regulations and the right way to catch you a crab or fish.
We really like Cherrystone because of the people we see every year, and this is what Cherrystone really has going for them as long as they can keep the park nice and keep the families coming each year. Every year gets better because as you meet other families you can’t wait to get back to see old friends and make new. Cherrystone is for families and hard working families at that. A lot of the campers are middle to upper class small business owners and good for networking too. We’ve made both friends and business partners. Cherrystone has everything we need and want for the kind of vacation our family enjoys, but it’s unfortunate that this year Cherrystone didn’t meet our expectations.
There’s something going on with the management, or assistant management. The park was in disrepair and things that were broken never got fixed. It seemed as though the only way anything was going to be fixed was for a customer to find a manager and let them know, and you had to do a little work and asking around to find a manager. One day while I was at the pool I had a lady ask me if I was part of the staff because I was picking up trash. I said no and looked around to maybe help her find someone and no one was around. This was common at the pool area. I’m not sure what she wanted.
The grass around the common areas and at the campsites you could tell were not trimmed regularly. This shouldn’t be a problem considering you must check-out by 11:00am and you can’t check-in until 2:00pm. This (4) hours can be utilized effectively with good management in place. The day before we left we did see a sight or two being trimmed
The bath houses could have been better. Toilet seats were not fastened properly and the showers stalls could have been cleaner. This shouldn’t be a problem considering each bath house is closed for 1-1/2 hours each day. And when the bath houses are closed they’re closed with the entrance roped off, allowing staff to concentrate on their tasks uninterrupted. Each bath house is closed at different times so there’s always a bath house open. I’m assuming this is to accommodate the campers, but it accommodates the park staff more because it makes it possible for (1) organized and managed cleaning crew to go from one bath house to the next… again, making it possible for the crew to concentrate on their tasks uninterrupted. Furthermore, getting a cleaning/maintenance crew together to get the job done shouldn’t be a problem since the bath houses are cleaned/closed during normal business/peak hours of the day i.e., 10:00 to 11:30, 11:30 to 1:00 and so on. Having the bath houses closed during these times of the day accommodates the owners so they can put the staff to work during normal business hours or straight time if you will. This does not accommodate the guests and you’re walking to the next bath house just to pee because as I said when the bath houses are closed you can’t get in. There are porta-potties, but try getting into a port-a-pottie with a 4year old when it’s 90deg outside you can guess how clean the port-a-potties are… If you really want to accommodate the guests, close the bath houses and do a maintenance/clean to all the bath houses from 10:00pm to 4:00am every day. This would give a (4) person crew (7) 6hr days and then have mid-level management do a once over cleaning with the bath houses open just before dinner. This would allow management to inspect, check up on their cleaning crew and leave the cleaning crew special instructions for that night. You could probably contract out the cleaning if you wanted to keep them off the payroll.
I’m sure there would be problems with trying to work a night shift, but I’m a manager myself in a service providing company and any problems associated with this method I would overcome and make it work for the convenience of my guests, and with the present state of the economy good help is not hard to find. Now would be the time to hire dedicated help and new management at whatever levels are needed. And, having working employees at this time of night might not be a bad idea anyhow.
Grass was growing in the concrete seams of the pool area and the fence around the pool area had trash and debris here and there. The pump house by the splash park was painted half way and the splash park drainage was making a heavily traveled path a mud path. The putt-putt golf course needs some attention, but it was free to play this year so should I complain? Maybe not. The putt-putt golf course staff shed was usually occupied by (2) people. Not sure why. (1) Could have been doing some maintenance, but like I said….something is wrong with the management.
We plan on going for Halloween. This is an awesome time and the kids really clean up on candy. We really want to go because like I said…..what keeps us going back is the people. For the money you pay it would be nice to have some good management that takes pride in being a manager and customer service. The families are so nice that it would be worth it to have a good manager on site that everyone knows. I didn’t see Hop (the manager) once while I was there and when I asked Miss Louise at the bait and tackle where he was she said he was around, but he had been across the bay on business the day before.
I’ll give Cherrystone another chance this Halloween, but if I don’t see an improvement I’ll be looking for a new spot and if it’s nice….I’ll ask my friends to come along.
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Comments
I forgot to mention. The cabin was great. It was clean, the a/c worked good and the refrig was spotless. Fantastic job Cherrystone. As for the bathrooms, you cleaned them well…its just the guest have a hard time cleaning up after themselves. Not your fault. Just one more thing…put ropes along the piers, the little kids get a little scary out there…lol The structure of the cabin is adorable and I would love to have one in my backyard so when I get tired of work, I can go to the cabin and wish I was at the campground again!!!
My husband and I loved this campground. There was so much to do and even though we did not have children with us, we had a great time with our neighbors and their children. The management was absolutely wonderful and everyone seemed to be so friendly. This was my first time crabbing and the fun we had pulling them in and the crabs chasing me across the pier was hilarious. Everyone was cordial and respectful. We hope to return next summer. Our “new family” we met there were absolute sweethearts and my husband and I, told them to let us know when they go on vacation again, so we can go too. It was so fun there. The Little Neck Restaurant on the location has great food. The large laundry mat was a blessing and much more. I would recommend this campground to everyone. The only thing I didn’t like, was the “storms”…scared the living devil out of me!!!! lol Thank you Cherrystone, it was a great vacation and alot of fun. See you next year.
My only problem is the type of people they are now letting in. After around 10 its supposed to be quiet time. As some people have got to get up early and leave the place. And after not being their in 6 years I missed it and my family went, along with two other families I know. They went because I highly recommended it. Well I was embarrased to say the least. Because its not kept the way it used to be. The bathrooms are not very well maintained and there are msquitoes galore. Correct this and I will gladly be back because otherwise I loved it there.
I just got back from Cherrystone,I havent been there for 3 years but always enjoyed it as I also did this year. My family and I always stay in a deluxe cottage and I can honestly say they haven’t put a nickle into these places in years. The fold out sofa was torn in many places; stained with beer and who knows what else, the fridge leaked all into our food that was stored,the toilet was not seated into the floor and we had to deal with a daily odor of sewer gas/ methane. Now I realize this is a business and they have to make a profit but these trailers/cabins have been paid for 20 times over and at $1100 a week I feel the 2 brothers should put a few dollars back into these accommadations for the sake of their loyal patrons instead of sucking every dollar they can out of the place. The staff was very good but even they seem to be embarrassed over the way the park is being run. Its a beautiful place to visit and I would hope the owners (The Ballard Brothers) don’t let the money go to their heads and allow the resort to slide further into the outhouse. Spend a few bucks and do the rite thing. Thank You
Dan ~ I’m so happy to read a positive post for a change!!!
Our family just discovered Cherrystone a few years ago but we started with 8 days, last year 17 and this year we’ll be there for 22!! In fact I’ve already made our reservations for 2011 
I think it says something when you keep coming back for more AND adding time to your stay.
I’ve posted before and I believe been very fair. The Staff has always been extremely pleasant and accommodating!!
I agree with you regarding some of the campers…our major concern last year was ~ riding golf carts after dark, heavy drinking on the piers, bicycles on the piers…These are points where I believe Staff should be more involved.
Yes, it’s the parents and the parents allowing their children to behave this way but it needs to be addressed and not allowed to continue.
Otherwise I fear “those people” will slowly take over and the rest of us may stop coming there to enjoy the Beautiful Bay and all that Cherrystone has to offer.
Most often postings consist of nothing more than complaints and that isn’t fair to the Management or Staff and should be disregarded ~ However, I DO hope the issues that I mentioned earlier are being addressed so we can have a good, SAFE vacation.
My feelings are ~ If I’m paying just as much to enjoy OUR time there…I shouldn’t feel I need to go to Cape Charles or the CBBT to fish just so my family is safe.
We ALL need to be respectuful of EACH OTHER
Read the post. Have been going many years. Place is great however some of the people there are nasty, and I don’t mean staff. Their rates and rules are clearly posted, just like other parks. I have seen customers argue they should be able to stay for free. Have visitors come in for free and just belittle the staff there. I see why sometimes they get a bad review. If I ran a business I would be kicking some of those people out especially if they spoke to my employees as some customers do. I have made special requests and have always been accomodated, staff is always there to please. Get over it people, it is a business and I would hate to see what it would be like for $5.00 a nite, but you go ahead to your $5.00 a nite campgrounds, I’ll stick with Cherrystone.
Great resource… thanks for the wealth of information. Dissapointing about the pool but I like the area and may have to check it out anyway. thanks again!
I think it is a great place. It’s a campsite, for pete’s sake. My bathroom was as clean as any other bathroom for the time of year I was there. There are some people who just can’t be pleased and then are some people who have personal axes to grind. Enjoy your vacation and forget about the little things. If you want a five star campsite move on a pay the price. Or perhaps stay at a five-star hotel.
I have been to Cherrystone several times and have enjoyed each visit. However I did notice on our last visit in June that the grass did need mowing and the place didn’t look as kept as it usually does. Perhaps they are under new management now and need some help in managing. Maybe if there are enough complaints things will start to improve. This year for Halloween we went to Castaways in OC, Md. The campground was very nice, however I feel a little overpriced for this time of year. It was the last weekend that they were open and we still paid $65.00 a night. I understand it’s a tourist spot but really how much of the beach are you going to enjoy the last part of October.
Well I hope you did not go to Cherrystone for Halloween the same weekend I did. A freak storm rolled through and the entire campground was under water… but wait… Cherrystone said they could not refund my money despite the fact that my campsite was under water. I asked to move my reservation to another weekend.. they wouldn’t do that either… I am out my money and my kids couldn’t even enjoy the festivities… I will NEVER go back to Cherrystone!
I was there a few years ago and I totally agree with you on the fact that the bath houses are usually filthy. I decided to try there one more time. I am planning on going in August. If things are still as bad as before this will be my last time there. We usually go to Frontier Town in Maryland just outside of Ocean City. Frontier Town is an excellent campground, very clean, great water park, family oriented with free bus service to the beach.
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well this was my last trip been going for about five years they say a family camground but you got to pay for your children thats bull and then they hand you a rule book when you enter the camground well people must use it to start there fires because they sure dont read them to thereselves or there children this place has went down hill faster then a rollercoster just got back saturday morning kids killing crabs smashinf them and drop kicking them after they would pull there pinchers off reported it was asured someone would come down no one ever showed up of course i didnt see securety all week i was there the kids on there bikes after dark i mean i am so dissapointed they better get new managment soon or that place will never last the bathrooms get cleaned in the day how about cleaning them in the eveing thats when i get my showers i wouldnt shower in them filthy thing or use the toilet pretty bad people can turn a handle down after they use a bathroom hate to see there home alot of my problem is with the campers but the camground has to step up and stop it found about 30 crabs cooked that was just throw in the weeds and another day seen about 60 uncooked crabs killed and thrown away well ive said enough but they wont get my money anymore there are alot better palces out there and they was once one of those place thats why we always returned there