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Are you open year round?No, we are not open year round. We typically open in early April and close in late November.
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Are dogs allowed?Yes, we allow dogs! All dogs must be on a leash or otherwise constrained (such as a portable dog fence) when they are outside your trailer or vehicle. Many other guests have dogs, and some are protective. We also require owners to pick up after their dogs.
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What are your bathrooms like? Do you have hot showers & flush toilets?Yes, we have hot showers and indoor flush toilets. Our Lodge building has a women's and a men's bathroom. Each bathroom has three shower stall, three toilet stalls, and three sinks. We do our best to keep bathrooms clean- we clean them 2-3 times a day during our busy season. We also have several port-a-potties located throughout the campground near our tent sites.
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What amenities do you have?We have a playground, tetherball, horseshoe pits, sand volleyball court, grass badminton court, frisbee golf baskets, dog run, pool table, book exchange, fish cleaning station, coin-operated washer & dryer, indoor dish washing sink, and free wifi in the Lodge & front of park.
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Can I reserve a site online?Yes! We now have online booking. Follow this link: You can also call us at 231-848-4124 to make a reservation.
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Do you have a lake, pond, pool, or hot tub at the campground?"No, we don't have a body of water or a pool at the campground. There are some great places to swim not too far from us. Sand Lake in Dublin and Crystal Lake in Wellston are both small inland lakes that are 5 miles from us that have a sand beach and boat launch and small playground. They are both great places to take kids. Tippy Dam Pond is a bigger lake good for boating, fishing, and swimming, and it's just a couple miles from us. There are a couple different access points to get there, one is at the boat launch off Robinson Rd (5 miles away). The sandy Lake Michigan beaches in Manistee and Onekama are just a 25-30 drive west of us.
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Do you sell ice and firewood? What else is in your campstore?We sell both ice and firewood at our campstore, which is also where you check-in. We have 7lb bags of ice that we sell for $3/bag. We have split hardwood (unbundled) that we sell for $5 (1 cubic food) or a trailer load (10 cubic feet) for $50 that we will deliver to your site. We also sell a small selection of camping & river gear, toys, RV supplies, snacks, toilettries, apparel, candy, cold drinks, ice cream & more! We serve free coffee in our store most Saturday & Sunday morningsl
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Do you sell propane?We sell 16 oz portable propane cylinders in our campstore, but we do not fill propane tanks or have a propane exchange. The closest propane exchange is at the Corner Express (intersection of M-55 & M-37), about 5 miles east of the campground. The closest propane fill is Fischer LP Gas in Wellston, 5 miles to the west.
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Do you have activities for kids?We have a playground with forts, swings, tetherball, and a sandbox. We also have a sand volleyball court, badminton court, and horseshoe pits. During Memorial Day, 4th of July, and Labor Day holidays we have a whole weekend of planned kid's activities. These often include a bike parade, pinata, rock painting, sack races, and scavenger hunts. Any time of year you can send your kids up to the office to get a coloring sheet or scavenger hunt book, and they can return it completed for a cool prize! Outside the campground there is Adventure Island Fun Park in Cadillac, which has mini golf, go karts, batting cages, and an arcade. Other great places to take kids in the area include Great Wolf Lodge Waterpark in Traverse City and the Crystal Coaster Alpine Slide in Thompsonville.
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How many cabins do you have?We have two cabins and a bunkhouse that are all located in an old, converted barn. Cabin 1 has two queen beds, a kitchen, a small bathroom, satellite TV, heat, air conditioning, and an outdoor area with chairs, picnic table, charcoal grill, and a fire pit. Cabin 2 is the same except it has two double beds instead of queen beds. The Bunkhouse is located in the attic space of the building and is much more rustic. It has 5 single beds, 1 double bed, a mini-fridge, microwave, and coffee pot. It does not have running water or a bathroom (guests use the campground bathrooms at the Lodge). We only rent the Bunkhouse out in combination with Cabin 2. We also rent out two trailers. We have our a Vintage 1966 Airstream Safari 22' Trailer with two twin beds, a kitchenette, and a half bathroom. Our 5th Wheel trailer has one queen bed, one pullout couch, a full kitchen, bathroom, and living room. See Rate sheet page for more photos & rates.
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Do you charge a deposit when I make a reservation? What's your cancellation policy?A deposit of one night’s stay is required at the time of booking. Online reservations are subject to a $5 reservation fee. If booking multiple sites online, you must pay the entire balance at the time the reservation is made. If you call to book multiple sites, we will just charge a one night's deposit. CANCEL WITH MORE THAN 7 DAYS NOTICE: If a cancellation is made up to 7 days before your scheduled arrival date, you are subject to a $5 cancellation fee. If we have already processed your card, we will refund the amount charged, deducting $5. If your card hasn’t been charged, we will process a $5 fee. CANCEL WITH LESS THAN 7 DAYS NOTICE: If you cancel less than one week’s notice your deposit is non-refundable, but it is transferable to a later date in the same camping season. If your card hasn't been charged, you will be charged the equivalent of one night's stay. NO SHOW: In the event of a no-show or failure to cancel, you will be responsible for payment of the entire booked stay.
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What is at each campsite?Each individual campsite has a wooden picnic table and a 24" fire ring. Our group sites have 2-3 picnic tables and a 36" fire ring. We also have a limited number of extra picnic tables and fire rings that we provide to customers upon request.
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Do you have a storage area?Yes, we have an open, grassy field in the back of the campground that is used as RV and/or boat storage for our guests. It is an uncovered area. The rate is $2/day.
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Do you all ATV's/ORV's at the campground? Are there trails nearby?Yes, we allow our guests to drive ATV's in and out of our campground (please no joy-riding on campground roads). There is not a designated trail system in our area, but you can ride on all county and forest service roads, some of which are great two-tracks. We have maps and our ATV policy available at our office or by request.
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How long has Twin Oaks been a campground?Twin Oaks has been a campground in the same location since 1972. Before that, we've been able to piece together that the property was a children's summer camp (1960's), a retreat for Catholic nuns (1940's), and a bird dog training center (1930's).
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Do I need to make reservations or can I just show up?Reservation are highly recommended, but we do welcome drop-ins. If you're planning to drop in and you're reading this, it's best to give us a call the day of, just so we know when to expect you.
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What are your hours?During the months we are open (April-November), our campstore/office is generally open from 10am-6pm Monday-Thursday, 9am-9pm Friday-Saturday, and 9am-6pm on Sunday. These hour change depending on the season, with more limited hours in the spring & fall, and extended hours in the summer. We will occasionally close the store early on a slow weekday, so we can have some time off!
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Do you have a security guard?We have a security guard on duty Friday & Saturday nights from 11pm-2am. Their job is to monitor the entire campground to enforce quiet hours and ensure the safety of all our guests. We also have security some Thursday and Sunday nights, or any night we have a nearly full campground.
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How many people can I have on a site? Can I have people not staying her come visit me at my site?You can have up to 4 adults on a site. Kids 14 & under don't count towards the person limit. These limits don't apply to our group sites, which are meant for groups of 5-20 people. We do allow visitors to campsites during the hours of 9am-10pm.
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How many 50-Amp sites do you have?We have just one 50-Amp site. It is Site 49, and it is a large full hookup site.
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How many of your sites are pull-throughs?We have one 30-Amp Full Hookup pull through (Site 5), one 30-Amp Electric & Water pull through (Site 33), and four 30-Amp Electric pull-throughs (Sites 29, 31, 32 & 12).
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Do you have concrete pads? Are the roads in your park paved?No, we do not have concrete pads and none of our roads are paved.
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What are the group sites? How much do they cost?Our group sites are very large sites (the size of 3-5 regular tent sites) meant for groups of between 5-20 campers. We also allow small RV's to park on certain group sites as long as they run off of battery. We have 6 non-electric group sites (B, C, D, E, G, SE), and two group sites with 20-Amp electric (A, F). We charge per person for group sites. For non-electric group sites the rate is $12/person per night. For electric group sites the rate is $14/person per night. We assign one person as the group leader, and they are responsible for making sure the entire group checks-in and pays individually, as well as follows all of the campground rules.
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When are your quiet hours?Noise travels at our campground. Because of this, we enforce quiet hours from 11pm-8am. During this time, all music must be turned off and all noise must be kept within your campsite. Be respectful of other campers who may be trying to sleep.
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What are the campground rules?Our main rules are: -Respect other campers -Respect our neighborhood & our community -Quiet hours 11pm-8am -Do not burn trash or wood with nails. -Do not damage our trees -Drive slow in the park -Clean up after yourselves (do not leave trash at your campsite) -Dogs must be on a leash at all times -No political flags or flags/banners with profanity -No fireworks and/or shooting guns -Do not walk through occupied campsites -Anytime your music is dominating the campground it is too loud
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Is alcohol allowed in your campground?Yes, we allow alcohol. We ask that our guests drink responsibly and do not bring alcohol into our public spaces. If we notice guests that are disturbing the peace & safety of other campers, whether or not alcohol is involved, we will address the situation (we reserve the right to remove problem guests at our discretion).
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What should I do if another camper is disturbing me or if I notice someone breaking the rules?Contact the Twin Oaks staff or office immediately and we will deal with the situation. You can call our office phone (231-848-4124) any time of day or night. We also frequently check our email (twinoakscg@gmail.com). We have a security guard on duty from 11pm-2am on summer weekends, so you can always flag him down during one of his rounds and tell him the issue.
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Can I bring my own firewood?Yes and no; while we allow guests to bring their own firewood, we do not allow oak if it still has bark on it (due to oak wilt disease). We DO NOT allow guests to burn wood with nails, staples, or metal (so don't bring your old lumber!). We do charge a cleanup fee of $50 for any firepit with nails, metal, or other debris that requires removal.
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Where can I hike, run, or mountain bike in the area?There are several recreational trails in the area. The Big M Trailhead just a 15 minute drive away is a world class mountain biking and trail running destination. High profile races are held there each summer. The Manistee River Trail, just a 10 minute drive away, is one of the most popular hiking trails in Michigan, following the banks of the Manistee River through forested hills. The North Country Trail is accessible from a couple different trailheads in the area. If you're looking to go on an adventure straight from the campground, we are less than a mile from the start of the Pine River Corridor, which is a two-track trail that runs along the bluffs of the Pine River (we run & bike there all the time, so ask us at the office more about it!)
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Where exactly are you located and why do people visit your area?We are located just outside the town of Wellston, in northwest Michigan, about a 30 minute drive to either Manistee or Cadillac, and about 50 miles south of Traverse City. Wellston is a tiny town, but we get a lot of outdoor-loving tourists who come here to fish, canoe/kayak, hike, or just want to get away from the city and enjoy the fresh air of rural northern Michigan.
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Where is the closest place to buy groceries?The Dublin General Store is our local grocery store, and it has a huge selection of jerky and meat. It is about a 5 minute drive to the south of us. There is a small locally-run store, M-55 Market just 4 miles to the west in Wellston, they have basic groceries and great meat! The closest Meijer is in Manistee (23 miles to the west) and the closest Walmart is 30 miles to the east in Cadillac.
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Where are the closest restaurants?The Redneck Yacht Club is the closest restaurant-it's just 2 miles away. Annie's Kozy Kitchen is in downtown Wellston and is great for breakfast and lunch. Other good restaurants that are a little further away are Traks in Brethren, Coyote Crossing in Caberfae, Chandlers Cafe in Henrietta, and Club 37 near Baldwin. Manistee and Cadillac, both a 25-30 minute drive, have a ton of restaurants ranging from fast food to fine dining.
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What is there to do in the area?We are surrounded by the Manistee National Forest, just miles from the Pine River, the Manistee River, Tippy Dam, the North Country Trail, and world-class mountain biking/running trails at Big M. Needless to say, most people come here to enjoy the outdoors one way or another. Fishing, canoeing/kayaking, hiking, mushroom hunting, deer & turkey hunting are the major attractions here. We are also a great central location to base yourself for less outdoorsy types of fun, such as shopping in Traverse City (1 hour drive), wine tasting on the Old Mission & Leelenau Peninsulas, hitting up a casino (Little River Casino is 25 miles away), driving around Sleeping Bear Dunes (1 hour drive), or golfing at Caberfae Peaks or Fawn Crest.
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Where can I rent a boat?Camp Mana-Pine and Loomis Landing rent boats on Tippy Dam Pond. If you're looking to rent a canoe or kayak see the next question.
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I want to canoe/kayak/raft the Pine River. What do I need to know?The Pine is one of the fastest rivers in Michigan, with several sections of swift water. Because of this only kayaks, canoes, and rafts are allowed on the river. Tubes are NOT recommended on this river. You can either rent watercraft from one of the many liveries in the area or bring your own. Liveries we recommend are Pine River Paddlesports, Bosman's, Sportsman's Port, and Horina's. The Pine winds through gorgeous forest and dunes, and is one of the most popular recreational rivers in the state. It is a National Wild & Scenic River, and a permit is needed for each watercraft between Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends. If you are renting, you don't need to worry about this, as the rental companies provide the permit. If you have your own watercraft, you will need to get a permit for each watercraft ($2 per). You can only get this online at recreation.gov/permits/249990 We recommend getting the permits as soon as possible, as they sell out quickly!
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Are there any other good places to paddle in the area?Yes! The Manistee River is nearby and is an easier and more family friendly river. Tubing, along with all other watercraft, is allowed. The Manistee is not permitted, so less planning is required if you have your own watercraft. T Liveries that rent on the Manistee River include Pine River Paddlesports, Wilderness Canoe Trips (Mesick), and Manistee Paddlesports. Other great rivers within an hour drive of us include the Platte, Little Manistee, Betsie, Boardman, and the Pere Marquette Rivers.
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Do you have a shuttle/canoe spotting service?No, our campground doesn't have a shuttle. For spotting, contact any of the liveries for more information.
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How early can I book a camp site?You can book a camp site up to one year in advance. Both camp sites and rentals will be held for those staying on the site or rental until they have checked out. If the site or rental is not re-booked during checkout, then the site or rental will be open for the dates one year or less from the date of checkout. It is always best to book a site one year from your expected checkout to secure the site you want. For example, if you would like to book the weekend of June 12 to June 14 of the following year, you would do so on or after June 14 of the current calendar year.
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