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Our destination was a place called Black Bear Campground near Florida, New York. I planned our trip mostly via the internet, but I find that websites don't always show things as they really are. Black Bear Campground, for example. The website brags that it's very near and convenient to the city. It was far from either. It was about a 2 hour journey each way from the campground to 34rd street. As a traveller from Texas who is unfamiliar with the train systems and the roads, it's amazing we actually made it anywhere. The campground itself is more like a run-down trailer park with most of the "campers" actually people who lived there full time.The Cabins were one room cabins set about 8 feet apart from each other. There were about 5 total. On one side of us was a couple with a baby and a German shepherd who had been living there about a month. They couldn't find an apartment in the city that would take both the dog and child, so they were staying at Black Bear until they could find something. On the other side was a young man who was working on the subway system on a 4 month job, so they put him up at Black Bear. Across the road was an elderly man who lived in his pull along trailer, but I never did see a vehicle with which to pull it, and it didn't have tires, so I assume he was a permanent fixture. It was very nice of him to leave his t.v on all night, with the volume up as loud as he could get it. So, as you can tell, it is not a "campground" at all, but rather low income housing. At $55 a night, I suppose it was a steal. The website and brochures brag of all sorts of amenities such as a mini golf course (it was run down and over grown with grass. The putters and balls were kept at the front store about 1/2 mile away. Very inconvenient in the event you did want to try off-road mini golf.) The pool was closed and was a dingy brown color, and full of leaves. (the leaves had not started to change yet, it was a week after Labor Day, and by all signs, there is no way that pool was open in the previous weeks). The "clubroom" had one old beat up and torn couch in the middle of the room, with an old console t.v. stacked on top of another broken console t.v. No cable. There was a pool table with a plastic sheet over it, but the sticks were all broken and several balls were missing. The "store" consisted of a few limited over priced items. They did sell fire ring grills, as none of the fire rings had a grill. So they sold each camper a new one, and then threw it away if the campers leave them. They also sold over priced fire wood. They boasted of hiking trails as well. We never did find that. I am wondering if they meant the road? The basketball court was only about 1/2 paved, mostly over run with grass, uneven with huge pits and holes. The goal, of course, had no net. And there were no balls. The "arts and crafts" room had newspaper taped over all the windows and it looked as if the building could collapse at any moment.. We were too scared to even look. All and all I would never recommend this campground to anyone for any reason unless you really don't mind squalor and hassles. If you are attending the renfest in nearby Sterling, it's not a terrible place to be since you'd only spend minimal time there, but I certainly wouldn't feel safe tent camping. It's also a good half hour drive to Sterling. (on the map it sure looked closer!) The only pros to this place were the nearby towns. The little Villages of Florida, Tuxedo and Sterling were very quaint. The people were all very friendly and helpful.
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