We recently hosted my son’s birthday party at Island Oaks RV Resort on April 18th, and unfortunately, it was a very frustrating experience.
We’ve had his party here for the past 4 years and have always enjoyed it, but this year was completely different.
To start, I paid $186 to reserve a covered area and was told at booking that we would have Spot #2 near the laundry room. When we arrived, we were told we were actually assigned to Spot #1, while #2 had already been decorated—this was confusing and disappointing right from the beginning.
I also prepaid $10 per person for 16 guests and sent the full guest list to management ahead of time. On top of that, we had 6 cabins booked by guests attending the party, so we brought in a significant amount of business. Despite all this preparation, the check-in process was extremely disorganized. Guests were confused about how to enter, wristbands, and where to go. We were told multiple different things—first to send a code, then to have guests check in at the office after the first 16. There was clearly no system in place or communication between staff.
During the party, a staff member approached us asking about guest limits—which we were never informed of. This was especially frustrating since I had already provided a guest list for safety and prepaid for attendees. It felt like no one was on the same page.
On top of that, when I checked in Friday, I was charged $25 for a weekend pass because I was staying with my parents. After already spending money on the rental and guest fees, this felt unreasonable.
Another major issue: my mom had booked the Treehouse (Cabin 193) back in May 2025 for this same weekend. We even confirmed it during spring break. Then the week of the event, we were told that an admin had canceled her reservation back in June 2025 and moved her—without ever notifying us. That is completely unacceptable.
We have been loyal customers, visiting 4–5 times a year and recommending this place to others. Since Margaritaville took over, there have been noticeable changes—and not for the better. Prices have increased, rules have tightened (no coolers by the pool, lids required on drinks), and overall the experience feels much less customer-friendly.
I want to be clear—the staff working there are not the problem. There are many new employees, and they seem to be doing their best. The real issue is a lack of organization, communication, and management.
As a parent trying to plan a birthday party, this added a lot of unnecessary stress. This place has so much potential, but serious improvements need to be made if you want to keep loyal customers coming back.
I truly hope management takes this feedback seriously and works to make things right.
