Vegetarian options: I'm not a vegetarian but I'm a diabetic socould use a place toDine Out.
725deedeec
We visited Sun. - Tu.., avoiding the busy weekend . The park is out in the country which is nice. We chose a lot close to the pool/boat ramp. We really enjoyed lounging in the pool chairs overlooking the river. The pool is nicer than most campground pools. We rented a pontoon boat, exploring the rivers was fun. We enjoyed the Santa Fe and the springs better than the Suwannee. The boat had a new 150 motor and handled well. I usually use the shower house instead of the camper shower to limit wear and tear on the camper but not here. One thing that I didn't like about the 2 showers was that they were not gender controlled, the men and women share the same two showers. We enjoy grilling our meals at the campsite, we didn't eat at the onsite restaurant. We did stop in and have a cocktail, got a very good margarita. As far as the reservation/cost - We originally booked 3 nights (Th-Sun). We had to reschedule due to the weather. We did receive a credit. We waited for the weather to improve and showed up Sun - Tu (2 nights). We were charged $212.50 for 2 nights compared to originally paying $231.00 for 3 nights. I questioned this; I was told that the rates had increased. I expected to pay the same nightly rate especially since the days we visited was less busy than a Th-Sun. The staff (office, marina, bar) were all very friendly. I am torn between a 3 or 4 rating due to the pricing inconsistency. My 4 rating does not take into account the pricing issue.
Buffalochick1
The worst campground to stay at. The staff wakes you up EVERY MORNING AT 8 AM!!!! When they say quiet time is 11-8? They mean it. And don't believe the 11 pm either--the bar is still going strong. The maintenance guy sees fit to buzz through the campground on his LOUD little green truck, down almost every road, just to make sure you are all awake. He cut the grass at 8:47 am on Wednesday!!! Then he drove by at 8:05 am on Thursday. To hell with retirement at Ellie Rays. Just keep driving. There are many nice campgrounds around here. This one has seen better days. You end up standing in 5" of water in a weak shower, it's extremely loud on weekends with the bar onsite. We watched a guy get hit and hit the floor bleeding the night we went!!! My ONLY good point about Ellie Rays is the river, and thank the lord they can't wake that up or let it go. This place needs a facelift and someone to run it that actually camps... The place is more than half empty, in March. Let that sink in. Do NOT believe the reviews prior. It needs a serious update, and some staff that cares about more than a loud rowdy bar. Keep driving!
dutch31722
DO NOT GO TO ELLIE RAYS!!! Please what happened today, it’s long but unbelievable! A few of my friends and I decided to go out for the afternoon/evening to Ellie Rays. We were excited about ordering dinner, playing Bingo and then end the night with karaoke. We arrived at 2:30, for a 3:00 bingo game. The bar was not full there was maybe 8 people when we arrived. We sat sat out on the patio and ordered drinks and took menus to order food. Jessie, the other waitress came back with one drink and forgot who ordered it, she also forgot what one of friends ordered (a beer). By 3:00 no one had come to take our order so one of the ladies went inside to get a waitress. She found a blonde hair waitress and asked if someone could take our order. The waitress replied “no not now I’m setting up for bingo.” She told her that we had been waiting and in a snippy tone replied “everyone wants something from me but I’m busy.” Eventually, the other waitress came and took our order. We bought our cards for bingo (it’s $1 for 1 paper square and every game required you to buy new cards) and our food came out so far so good. A half hour after we had eaten, myself and one of my friends felt sick. I ended up in the bathroom throwing up and had stomach pains. My friend had the same issue, stomach pains and got sick shortly after I did. She ordered the fried clams and I ordered the shrimp basket. We didn’t know what was going on. When I was sick in the bathroom there was a woman who asked if I was okay. I told her yes and thanked her. This lady went to the owner and told him what was going on. We continued to play bingo hoping it would pass and we assessed that the grease that the seafood was bad. We were the only 2 at our table that had seafood and was sick. After playing 5 regular bingo games in three hours, yes three, we decided to leave because two of us weren’t feeling good. Jessie the waitress came by and we told her that the two of us were sick and it had to be the seafood or the grease and asked for our checks. She came back to the patio, stood in the door and LOUDLY insisted that she had served several shrimp and clams that day and everyone was fine so it couldn’t be the seafood. We were embarrassed! We didn’t raise our voices and we tried to be discreet then the waitress Jessie was snotty and obnoxious. We waited for 20 minutes for our checks. She came back to the table and Jessie arrived with our checks. One persons check wasn’t there and on my check they didn’t have the two drinks listed and double charged me for 2 shrimp baskets. Jessie couldn’t remember who had what and was flustered. She went to get the “manager.” The blonde came over and was very rude and snippy telling me that my check was right. After a rude exchange she went back to the bar. Jessie stayed outside and said “I can’t take your dinner off your bill because I need authorization and as you can see the owner is just sitting there and doesn’t help.” So my friend, who was sick, asked Jessie if the owner was on the other side she said yes and went over to talk to him.who was in cShe went over and explained to him that we got sick from our food and because we were throwing up we shouldn’t have to pay for our meal. He said “that’s too bad. Would you like a message from the bingo caller?” She said no and walked away. What kind of an answer is that?! My friend was unnerved and disgusted by his remark. After we got the correct check (15 Minutes later), my friend again went over to talk to the owner. She explained again that we both got sick. He said “it takes hours to get sick from food” which is actually inaccurate, you can get sick in 20 minutes. She then repeated that we were both sick and we shouldn’t have to pay for our dinners. He then told her “you’re banned from and don’t ever come back.” There was no screaming and yelling, we tried to be calm and kind and now we’re banned because the food made us sick? I went back to the bar and paid my bill. As I was waiting both the blonde and Jessie would’ve make eye contact or help me. Finally after waiting a bit, a third girl came
350libbys
My family and I were planning on attending a group kayaking event at Ellie Rays but Hurricane Ian showed up. We called the RV park to either request a refund or a credit to be used at a later time. Later for us literally meant 2-3 days difference in our reservations. Not only was the person we talked to on the phone rude and unprofessional, but no refund and no credit could be offered in the face of an impending hurricane and the whole state of Florida in a state of emergency. Safety prevented us from going but the lack of courtesy and respect from staff ensures that we will never book there again! Campers beware!!
OOODanOOO
We paid $350 for a camping spot for the week, for an event being held at the park. But Hurricane Ian comes in and only an idiot would weather a hurricane in a pop-up. They refuse to give any refunds or credits. So far there are dozens from our event who decided it wasn’t a safe idea to go camping in a hurricane, so Ellie Rays has stolen thousands of dollars from our group. This place is run by crooks.
678nikkid
Don’t bother with this place, terrible customer service, no refund or credit. Whole state under emergency, due to hurricane. We were talked to horrible on phone, I hate to leave bad reviews, but I must warn everyone.
V W
Boat ramp is easy access to the river. Staff is friendly. You do need cash to pay $5 fee to launch boat, they were unable to accept card for boat launch. They sell bagged ice and have a restaurant on site.
JulieW1960111
We rented a cabin, the bed in the cabin was horribly uncomfortable, mattress was so thin on hard wood. Options for boat rental was nonexistent, there was only one to choose from. Food was average. Will never go there again. Exploring the springs in High Springs and others nearby was the best highlight of our trip.
LadyTiffin
Stayed 3 nights. I had a pull in river front lot, however, the trailer next to me was backed in making it a "buddy site'. Because it was just one person; we got along just fine; had it been a family, it would have been unpleasant. The pool was the most updated thing in the park and it needs some TLC. The restaurant and bar are very outdated, not very clean and in dire need of some management. It took an unreasonable amount of time to get a drink, they were out of most of the food items and the prices were unrealistic (expensive). There were many places just waiting for an accident; boat ramp/dock and uneven, dimly lit sidewalks, etc. The Big Jeff Band was the Best thing about the weekend and we thoroughly enjoyed having live music. (and no, I'm not "with the band"). The WORST thing though is the political banners hung on the fences. I get away for a weekend to escape this stuff and the banners were offensive! The place is supposed to be family friendly but the banners are profane! It could be so much more than it is!
Overall we enjoyed the stay, the site itself was a bit small, and they are close together. The power shut off twice due to the older electric box, but they were quick to resolve the issue. I was disappointed in the fire pit that was full of eggshells and beer cans, I think they could have done a better job prepping the site for our arrival. The hot tub and pool were nice, and the onset bar/restaurant was a fun spot to hangout. The road into the campground was a bit rough and probably should be graded soon. Lots to do in the area if you’re interested in nature. Would have rated higher, but the site not being cleaned up was a bummer.
sandrahZ9552PX
We camped in a 5th wheel and also rented a cabin as this was a small family reunion. Upon arrival, we had to call maintenance to replace the 50amp breaker for the power to our 5th wheel and then had to have maintenance repair the picnic table because it was about to collapse. The cabin was cute but could definitely use some cleaning and fan repair. The park could use more trashcans as I was constantly picking up trash and could not locate cans close by. The boardwalk/dock could use some stability. The campground is rustic and is in need of general maintenance. Restaurant food was delicious but service and wait time was awful. With that said, I would definitely return. They provide great evening entertainment, the views are amazing, sites are a good size, awesome dog park and we loved the pool! I think Ellie Rays is a Diamond in the Rough. This review is just an honest critic but I don’t expect perfection so my family has an awesome time!!
cindypU9404AL
My husband and I spent a week at Ellie Ray's and thoroughly enjoyed it. Our campsite was very private and overlooked a large well-maintained wooded area where we could sit and view nature. The access to the Santa Fe is very convenient. We kayak the river several times and were in awe of its beauty. The campgrounds restaurant / bar, which is called Sturgis, did not disappoint :-) The service, food, and music were outstanding. A big shout out to ALL the staff who made our stay so much fun! We will be back!
bobbyl538
We enjoyed a small family reunion at Ellie Ray's RV Resort & Lounge. In addition to the beautiful weather with an RV site and a cabin overlooking the Santa Fe, we got there early for The Sturge's Thursday Night Special - Prime Rib. It was slow-cooked, tender and delicious - and sides included some tasty smokey baked beans and garlic-bacon green beans. A tip of the spoon to Crystal managing the kitchen - now that's cookin'! (Check out the "best seats on the porch" if you have a party of four - our server ShaHan was a joy!) Talk to restaurant manager Mike about the October 2022 RV Rockfest that will be happening on site.
sabrinatT4418LQ
This was our 5th trip to Ellie Rays and will be back for the 6th before the end of summer. Kids and adults always have a great time. The staff are kind and accommodating. The owner helped us get a cake from this wonderful local baker and it was outstanding! We enjoy spending the day on the river and ending at the pool with live music and pizza. It’s definitely the place to go when you just want to kick back, unplug and enjoy the beautiful nature and sunshine. Thank you to everyone at Ellie Rays:)
Vegetarian options: I'm not a vegetarian but I'm a diabetic socould use a place toDine Out.
We visited Sun. - Tu.., avoiding the busy weekend . The park is out in the country which is nice. We chose a lot close to the pool/boat ramp. We really enjoyed lounging in the pool chairs overlooking the river. The pool is nicer than most campground pools. We rented a pontoon boat, exploring the rivers was fun. We enjoyed the Santa Fe and the springs better than the Suwannee. The boat had a new 150 motor and handled well. I usually use the shower house instead of the camper shower to limit wear and tear on the camper but not here. One thing that I didn't like about the 2 showers was that they were not gender controlled, the men and women share the same two showers. We enjoy grilling our meals at the campsite, we didn't eat at the onsite restaurant. We did stop in and have a cocktail, got a very good margarita. As far as the reservation/cost - We originally booked 3 nights (Th-Sun). We had to reschedule due to the weather. We did receive a credit. We waited for the weather to improve and showed up Sun - Tu (2 nights). We were charged $212.50 for 2 nights compared to originally paying $231.00 for 3 nights. I questioned this; I was told that the rates had increased. I expected to pay the same nightly rate especially since the days we visited was less busy than a Th-Sun. The staff (office, marina, bar) were all very friendly. I am torn between a 3 or 4 rating due to the pricing inconsistency. My 4 rating does not take into account the pricing issue.
The worst campground to stay at. The staff wakes you up EVERY MORNING AT 8 AM!!!! When they say quiet time is 11-8? They mean it. And don't believe the 11 pm either--the bar is still going strong. The maintenance guy sees fit to buzz through the campground on his LOUD little green truck, down almost every road, just to make sure you are all awake. He cut the grass at 8:47 am on Wednesday!!! Then he drove by at 8:05 am on Thursday. To hell with retirement at Ellie Rays. Just keep driving. There are many nice campgrounds around here. This one has seen better days. You end up standing in 5" of water in a weak shower, it's extremely loud on weekends with the bar onsite. We watched a guy get hit and hit the floor bleeding the night we went!!! My ONLY good point about Ellie Rays is the river, and thank the lord they can't wake that up or let it go. This place needs a facelift and someone to run it that actually camps... The place is more than half empty, in March. Let that sink in. Do NOT believe the reviews prior. It needs a serious update, and some staff that cares about more than a loud rowdy bar. Keep driving!
DO NOT GO TO ELLIE RAYS!!! Please what happened today, it’s long but unbelievable! A few of my friends and I decided to go out for the afternoon/evening to Ellie Rays. We were excited about ordering dinner, playing Bingo and then end the night with karaoke. We arrived at 2:30, for a 3:00 bingo game. The bar was not full there was maybe 8 people when we arrived. We sat sat out on the patio and ordered drinks and took menus to order food. Jessie, the other waitress came back with one drink and forgot who ordered it, she also forgot what one of friends ordered (a beer). By 3:00 no one had come to take our order so one of the ladies went inside to get a waitress. She found a blonde hair waitress and asked if someone could take our order. The waitress replied “no not now I’m setting up for bingo.” She told her that we had been waiting and in a snippy tone replied “everyone wants something from me but I’m busy.” Eventually, the other waitress came and took our order. We bought our cards for bingo (it’s $1 for 1 paper square and every game required you to buy new cards) and our food came out so far so good. A half hour after we had eaten, myself and one of my friends felt sick. I ended up in the bathroom throwing up and had stomach pains. My friend had the same issue, stomach pains and got sick shortly after I did. She ordered the fried clams and I ordered the shrimp basket. We didn’t know what was going on. When I was sick in the bathroom there was a woman who asked if I was okay. I told her yes and thanked her. This lady went to the owner and told him what was going on. We continued to play bingo hoping it would pass and we assessed that the grease that the seafood was bad. We were the only 2 at our table that had seafood and was sick. After playing 5 regular bingo games in three hours, yes three, we decided to leave because two of us weren’t feeling good. Jessie the waitress came by and we told her that the two of us were sick and it had to be the seafood or the grease and asked for our checks. She came back to the patio, stood in the door and LOUDLY insisted that she had served several shrimp and clams that day and everyone was fine so it couldn’t be the seafood. We were embarrassed! We didn’t raise our voices and we tried to be discreet then the waitress Jessie was snotty and obnoxious. We waited for 20 minutes for our checks. She came back to the table and Jessie arrived with our checks. One persons check wasn’t there and on my check they didn’t have the two drinks listed and double charged me for 2 shrimp baskets. Jessie couldn’t remember who had what and was flustered. She went to get the “manager.” The blonde came over and was very rude and snippy telling me that my check was right. After a rude exchange she went back to the bar. Jessie stayed outside and said “I can’t take your dinner off your bill because I need authorization and as you can see the owner is just sitting there and doesn’t help.” So my friend, who was sick, asked Jessie if the owner was on the other side she said yes and went over to talk to him.who was in cShe went over and explained to him that we got sick from our food and because we were throwing up we shouldn’t have to pay for our meal. He said “that’s too bad. Would you like a message from the bingo caller?” She said no and walked away. What kind of an answer is that?! My friend was unnerved and disgusted by his remark. After we got the correct check (15 Minutes later), my friend again went over to talk to the owner. She explained again that we both got sick. He said “it takes hours to get sick from food” which is actually inaccurate, you can get sick in 20 minutes. She then repeated that we were both sick and we shouldn’t have to pay for our dinners. He then told her “you’re banned from and don’t ever come back.” There was no screaming and yelling, we tried to be calm and kind and now we’re banned because the food made us sick? I went back to the bar and paid my bill. As I was waiting both the blonde and Jessie would’ve make eye contact or help me. Finally after waiting a bit, a third girl came
My family and I were planning on attending a group kayaking event at Ellie Rays but Hurricane Ian showed up. We called the RV park to either request a refund or a credit to be used at a later time. Later for us literally meant 2-3 days difference in our reservations. Not only was the person we talked to on the phone rude and unprofessional, but no refund and no credit could be offered in the face of an impending hurricane and the whole state of Florida in a state of emergency. Safety prevented us from going but the lack of courtesy and respect from staff ensures that we will never book there again! Campers beware!!
We paid $350 for a camping spot for the week, for an event being held at the park. But Hurricane Ian comes in and only an idiot would weather a hurricane in a pop-up. They refuse to give any refunds or credits. So far there are dozens from our event who decided it wasn’t a safe idea to go camping in a hurricane, so Ellie Rays has stolen thousands of dollars from our group. This place is run by crooks.
Don’t bother with this place, terrible customer service, no refund or credit. Whole state under emergency, due to hurricane. We were talked to horrible on phone, I hate to leave bad reviews, but I must warn everyone.
Boat ramp is easy access to the river. Staff is friendly. You do need cash to pay $5 fee to launch boat, they were unable to accept card for boat launch. They sell bagged ice and have a restaurant on site.
We rented a cabin, the bed in the cabin was horribly uncomfortable, mattress was so thin on hard wood. Options for boat rental was nonexistent, there was only one to choose from. Food was average. Will never go there again. Exploring the springs in High Springs and others nearby was the best highlight of our trip.
Stayed 3 nights. I had a pull in river front lot, however, the trailer next to me was backed in making it a "buddy site'. Because it was just one person; we got along just fine; had it been a family, it would have been unpleasant. The pool was the most updated thing in the park and it needs some TLC. The restaurant and bar are very outdated, not very clean and in dire need of some management. It took an unreasonable amount of time to get a drink, they were out of most of the food items and the prices were unrealistic (expensive). There were many places just waiting for an accident; boat ramp/dock and uneven, dimly lit sidewalks, etc. The Big Jeff Band was the Best thing about the weekend and we thoroughly enjoyed having live music. (and no, I'm not "with the band"). The WORST thing though is the political banners hung on the fences. I get away for a weekend to escape this stuff and the banners were offensive! The place is supposed to be family friendly but the banners are profane! It could be so much more than it is!
Restaurantji Recommends
Overall we enjoyed the stay, the site itself was a bit small, and they are close together. The power shut off twice due to the older electric box, but they were quick to resolve the issue. I was disappointed in the fire pit that was full of eggshells and beer cans, I think they could have done a better job prepping the site for our arrival. The hot tub and pool were nice, and the onset bar/restaurant was a fun spot to hangout. The road into the campground was a bit rough and probably should be graded soon. Lots to do in the area if you’re interested in nature. Would have rated higher, but the site not being cleaned up was a bummer.
We camped in a 5th wheel and also rented a cabin as this was a small family reunion. Upon arrival, we had to call maintenance to replace the 50amp breaker for the power to our 5th wheel and then had to have maintenance repair the picnic table because it was about to collapse. The cabin was cute but could definitely use some cleaning and fan repair. The park could use more trashcans as I was constantly picking up trash and could not locate cans close by. The boardwalk/dock could use some stability. The campground is rustic and is in need of general maintenance. Restaurant food was delicious but service and wait time was awful. With that said, I would definitely return. They provide great evening entertainment, the views are amazing, sites are a good size, awesome dog park and we loved the pool! I think Ellie Rays is a Diamond in the Rough. This review is just an honest critic but I don’t expect perfection so my family has an awesome time!!
My husband and I spent a week at Ellie Ray's and thoroughly enjoyed it. Our campsite was very private and overlooked a large well-maintained wooded area where we could sit and view nature. The access to the Santa Fe is very convenient. We kayak the river several times and were in awe of its beauty. The campgrounds restaurant / bar, which is called Sturgis, did not disappoint :-) The service, food, and music were outstanding. A big shout out to ALL the staff who made our stay so much fun! We will be back!
We enjoyed a small family reunion at Ellie Ray's RV Resort & Lounge. In addition to the beautiful weather with an RV site and a cabin overlooking the Santa Fe, we got there early for The Sturge's Thursday Night Special - Prime Rib. It was slow-cooked, tender and delicious - and sides included some tasty smokey baked beans and garlic-bacon green beans. A tip of the spoon to Crystal managing the kitchen - now that's cookin'! (Check out the "best seats on the porch" if you have a party of four - our server ShaHan was a joy!) Talk to restaurant manager Mike about the October 2022 RV Rockfest that will be happening on site.
This was our 5th trip to Ellie Rays and will be back for the 6th before the end of summer. Kids and adults always have a great time. The staff are kind and accommodating. The owner helped us get a cake from this wonderful local baker and it was outstanding! We enjoy spending the day on the river and ending at the pool with live music and pizza. It’s definitely the place to go when you just want to kick back, unplug and enjoy the beautiful nature and sunshine. Thank you to everyone at Ellie Rays:)
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