REVISED REVIEW AFTER HOST REPEATEDLY CONTACTED ME AFTER MY 4-STAR REVIEW, CLAIMING I WAS BEING INACCURATE AND MISLEADING AND ATTEMPTING TO PRESSURE ME INTO CHANGING IT. IT IS NOW A 3-STAR REVIEW, BECAUSE THE STRESS OF DEALING WITH HIM AFTER THE TRIP ENDED NEGATED A GREAT DEAL OF THE RELAXATION WE FELT WHILE ON-SITE. THIS REVIEW CORRECTS MISSPELLINGS AND GRAMMATICAL ERRORS AND IS AN ATTEMPT TO ENSURE THAT EVERYONE KNOWS THAT MY REVIEW REFLECTS ONLY MY EXPERIENCE AND PERCEPTIONS--EVEN THOUGH MY HOST DISAGREES ON SOME POINTS.
The campsite was gorgeous and beautifully designed, clean, quiet, private, and exactly as depicted in the photos. We liked the Tentrr layout, particularly the deck, chairs, and the camp loo. (Short people will want to bring something to rest their feet on while sitting in the Adirondack chairs, because they will not reach the ground.) While some reviewers characterized the host as unfriendly, I would say that--before and during our stay--he was a reliable and quick communicator in response to my questions and was adequately pleasant in tone. (He became far more rude after receiving a 4-star review instead of a 5-star review). Mark does not go out of his way to assist or tend to his guests and we felt that he did not deliver on a couple of what we understood to be Tentrr signature requirements: Namely, they do not guarantee potable water, so we did not trust what they provided and the container leaked, and—while the sun shower equipment is provided—we brought rope and still could not find any place to hang it, so we couldn’t use it. For those who might need the dome tent (we didn’t), we also didn’t see a place where that could conveniently be used without straying from the Tentrr campsite into what we understood to be the part of the park Mark requires additional payment to use. For the money, we wish Mark would be more accommodating than he is, but we still recommend this place as a great way to spend a weekend for two during COVID. However, the unpleasant communications that ensued after we left a 4-star review instead of a 5-star review were unpleasant and ridiculous enough that we would not feel comfortable returning--hence this change to 3 stars. Also, after we asked what local parks and trails were open during COVID, he referred us to the binder in our tent—which pre-dates COVID and is not particularly comprehensive regarding local attractions. So do your own homework. There is a hammock for Tentrr use and bedding to sleep on and camp mugs, which were nice perks. Mark later claimed that we missed some additional perks in our review, but these are the ones we noticed and ones that we did not understand to be part of the Tentrr signature package.
We review Tentrr info, camp manuals, rule books, and reviews very carefully, so we were prepared for the pros and cons and we enjoyed our experience on the property. But not everyone is this careful, so here are some important tips about this site that could make a huge difference in your enjoyment of it:
—Getting your stuff from the car to the Tentrr site is a schlep involving a narrow uneven trail, a few stairs, and a creek crossing on wooden boards that are too narrow for some wheeled gear. We expected this from the photos, but note that this site is for the able-bodied and the minimally fit. On the upside, it was delightful being sited a ways from the road, and the sound of the babbling creek was wonderful.
—Don’t expect a guarantee of potable water and check with Mark in advance about what they are providing that day.
—Bring something to hang the sun shower from or you may not find a way to use it; we are resourceful people and we didn't.
—Be aware that you may not be allowed to do anything other than walk on the portions of the property surrounding the Tentrr site without paying Mark an additional $100; it is not particularly clear what parts of the site are off-limits without additional payment.
—If you’re there for quiet, make sure that Mark isn’t hosting a party during your stay because the Tentrr site is quite close to where the action is likely to be (the separate clearing, fire pit, pizza oven area with more chairs). If you LIKE things to be festive, however, Mark stated that his policy is to invite Tentrr guests to any party that happens to be going on at the time. He said he could not "guarantee" that there wouldn't be a party (unless we booked the entire site for the additional $100), so Mark agreed to let us cancel if one happened to be planned.
--Mark and his wife were not wearing masks when we met them, but we were outside. We had to back up a little to ensure six feet of distancing, so you may need to remind them of this if you are concerned.
--Mark was quite aggressive about trying to obtain a better review from me after I left what I thought was a very nice one (4 stars with mostly complimentary comments) so be prepared for the possibility of a less-than-relaxing post-trip experience with him if you do not claim perfect satisfaction with every aspect of your experience.
--If you are content to accept things the way they are (which isn't bad, but isn't perfect either), you don't plan on sharing any imperfections in a review, and you are content with a host that is responsive to questions but is more interested in ensuring that you do not overuse the site or stray out of bounds than you ensuring that you feel welcome, you will likely have a nice time in a beautiful and serene redwood forest location.