McKinney Campground, Cartersville

The people at the entrance are rude and very unhelpful. I had to explain each question about 10 different ways to actually get an answer to it. They actually even denied us to be able to drive around the camp grounds to have a look at which site we may want to reserve only because our dogs were in the car. Apparently, they discriminate against certain breeds, no matter what their temperaments may be. (really? they were just in the car.) That's fine, I'd rather take myself & my dogs to Red Top anyway where everyone is friendly and they don't discriminate.

I was returning to McKinney because of the fabulous experience the last time we stayed there. We booked our site at the last minute and didn't really explore a lot while we were there. I was reading reviews simply to find out which sites would be best for a travel trailor and "dry docking" our boat again while further away from the interstate to avoid the noise from the tractor-trailers. We also have two dogs now, so I want to be far enough away from other campers as to not bother them or for them to make our dogs bark. I must admit that the other reviews (on a few different websites now) are making me a bit nervous. We both work in law enforcement, believe me we know about rules and following them. There is a distinct difference between enforcement of rules and unnecessary harassment (i.e. abuse of "power".) Just like there is a distinct difference between compliance and noncompliance. I just hope to prove other people wrong while enjoying a nice time with my family. **Sorry, got off topic a bit. Please feel free to post any recommendations regarding camping sites. Thanks!** D

I am a Park Attendant Contractor at McKinney Campground. My husband is the gentlemen the woman refers to "riding around on his scooter". Let's make some clarification here, OK The rules of the Allatoona USACE campgrounds have had some changes made to them this year (2011). Because of this change, we instruct the campers when they arrive about the new rules concerning campers, visitors and pets. We advise them that the visitors have been changed from 6 to 4. We also advise them that visitors pay $4.00, whether they drive in, walk in, picked up and brought in, or boat in!! It is $4.00 to visit a site. A lot of campers THINK that this $4.00 is for a car pass, however, the $4.00 has nothing to do with car passes. We advise them of the clarification of camper vs. visitors. Also advising them of breeds of dogs now banned from entering the park. WHY do we advise them??? Because the majority of the campers won't read the rules even after giving them a rule sheet. Most people don't want to take the time to read and understand the rules, however, they are the first to write complaints when they actually have nothing to complain about. Rules are made for a reason. We have them and if you camp here you must follow them. These rules are not complicated and not hard to follow. If you know we have these rules and you do not want to accept and comply with them, then, it seems like the choice is yours. And yes, when we see a shower head like the one she refers to, we DO HAVE the right to question it due to grey water concerns. It is quite evident that this camper was not a person who accepted park rules very easily. BUT, our rules are in place and the camper must follow them. Charlotte A. Askew PAC

Most negative reviews that you find for McKinney Campground come from people who have a strong resistance to following rules. These rules are set by the USACE for reasons. However, there is always a number of people that feel that rules are made "to be broken" or in most instances "verbally challenged". The rules for the campground is printed in plain english on the backs of the maps of the campgrounds and they are there for the camper to read and follow. They are not there to be challenged by the camper. If a person does not want to follow the rules then I would suggest they chose to camp elsewhere. Seems a simple choice to me.

Our experience at Mckinney camp ground (GA) was the worst in 20 years of camping. The first year we went there we arrived with all 3 dogs. The camp ground host said as long as we keep them quiet, on a 6 ft. leash, pick up there waste and don’t let them run loose it was ok. We went back with the same 3 dogs the following year, stayed a week, walked the dogs around the park at least 5 times a day. Park attendants drove by and waved, cleaning people drove by and waved also. We went back a third time with the same 3 dogs and all was well again. We decided to camp for 10 days this time with the same 3 dogs. Also the same campground host as the time before, with the same dogs. I realize the rules are 2 max. but after 3 times camping with 3 dogs not hiding teem, walking around the grounds all day long, everyone including workers and park attendants seeing us, we figured it was for people who have noisy, loose dog, is when they put there foot down. This time with the same attendants, they decided to enforce the 2 dog max. They knew who we were because of our unforgettable looking camper. He commented that he did remember us from the last time. We had to leave or get of a dog. After talking the the park ranger and telling her this story she didn’t know what to say and hung up upon me. We left after 2 days. Why was it ok one year with the same host, same dogs, and he gets on his high house and decides to enforce rules he didn't do the year before????????? If I was trying to sneak them in, or I didn't think it was ok to camp with 3 dogs as we did the past 3 times, would I be dumb enough to pick a site (30) right next to the bathroom and reserving it for 10 days? I have seen comments on how rude and mean park attendants are and a few since there 2 have been there. I can put up with rude, cranky people, but enforcing the rules as they see fit, when they are cranky is out of control. Also as we were walking our dogs we noticed campers with 3 dogs. There's were inside there campers, maybe that's the difference. Many of the camp sites were closed to flooding and very few campers there. We have a large pen for our dogs to stay in as not to disturb anyone! I think they could have been a little more accommodation and friendlier! It's a campground were no one is available to get a hold of on the weekend! just try to call! It's a campground no a military base! We did ask about dogs when we made our reservation and were told domesticated animals are fine as long as they are kept on a 6 for leash. If your coming this was stay at Red Top Mtn. State Park. Nice people and dog friendly.

We heard the reviews were not so good about the people running this place, but we decided to stay anyway since it was a pretty place. The old folks running this place were so rude to us, not once, but several times. We kept looking over it while there and kept saying they were just doing their job until they broke the final straw. The final straw was when they gave our guest of ours a pass to enter the campground, then chased them down and demanded they come back to the gate and pay for a visitor pass. I have no problem at all following the rules that are set, however, I do have a problem with how I am talked to and treated. If we had been approached in a nice manner, had the issue explained to us, then there would have been no problem or hard feelings. But these people act like they don't like people and/or their job. They are old and cranky and really have no idea how to handle the public in a respectful manner. We had been told there were numerous reviews out there about how rude the people running the place are and then we experienced it for ourselves. So sad that such a pretty campground has such rude & disrespectful people running the place. They left my mom crying in the campground with their rudeness. They treated us like we were criminals and ruined our Sunday cookout at the campground! We will NEVER stay there again and those cranky rude people are the reason why!!