Golden Pond RV Resort is located 1 km off of the 401 at exit 208 and only 20 km east of London, Ontario. The RV Park has 270 sites ranging from RV space for overnight camping to permanent mobile homes. There are roughly 80 permanent mobile homes, which have cement pads and natural gas hookups, 110 seasonal RV sites, and several other units, such as a cabin and tent sites. The RV overnight and weekend spaces are a mix of back-in and pull-through sites, depending on the location. Regardless of which site is selected, they all have a fire pit, picnic table and sewer, electric and water hookups. The electric hookups range between 30 and 50 AMPs.
Golden Pond RV Resort offers about 270 units for people to stay in, ranging from RV spaces to permanent mobile homes. There are roughly 80 permanent mobile homes, 110 seasonal RV sites, and several other units, such as cabins and tent spots. The RV spaces are a mix of back-ins and pull-throughs, depending on the location. Regardless of which site is selected, they all come equipped with a fire pit and a picnic table, and each one has sewer, electric, and water hookups. The electric hookups range between 30, 50, and 100 AMPs of power. A specified number of RV spaces are available for long-term stays, which the owner calls “permanent sites.” These permanent sites also come with a cement pad for the trailer and a hookup for gas.
In the 1970s, the park was known as Golden Arrow Camping and when the current owner purchased the business, he changed the name to Golden Pond RV Resort and added many of the amenities that are now offered at the RV Park. There's paddle-boating on the pond (life jackets are required), and other amenities include an outdoor pool, a recreational hall, catch-and-release fishing, mini-golf course, shuffle board, activities, and a laundry room, and Golden Pond Grill and Store which is open all year (hours change during the off season) and offers a menu that can cater to a variety of people. There's also a pavilion that is located next to a miniature golf course. The pavilion is often used for small parties or as a place to sit.
The owner of the business, Joe, explains that the company is located between various larger cities, such as Woodstock, Ingersoll, Dorchester, and London. Joe remarks that Woodstock and London tend to have many attractions that people can enjoy, including museums and parks. There are several golf courses in the area (Tamarack Ridge is across the road). Golden Pond is close to Lake Erie, Lake Ontario, and Lake Huron. The owner also enjoys telling his guests about restaurants in the area. A few that he mentions by name include The Keg Steakhouse & Bar, Alberta’s Restaurant & Pizzeria, and Miss Ingersoll Restaurant.
The owner of Golden Pond RV Resort would like his guests "to relax, have fun, and make friends." To help campers enjoy their time at the resort the staff interacts with guests when they first arrive for check-in and tells them about activities that are going on, and he explains the amenities available on the grounds. The business is capable of hosting events and has hosted weddings, celebrations of life, live outdoor concerts and much more.
There are several rules and regulations that Golden Pond RV Resort asks campers and guests to abide by during their stay. The speed limit throughout the park is set at 10 kilometers per hour in an effort to be safe for children. In terms of pets, the park is pet-friendly and allows campers to bring their pets with them. However, pets must be supervised and leashed, and their owners must clean up after them. No one is allowed to swim in the pond.
Reviews of the park from campers/visitors in the past often acknowledge the cleanliness of the grounds and the buildings. One person who recently stayed at Golden Pond RV Resort left a comment that reads, "The park is very clean and well maintained. The staff is excellent and professional. The washrooms and showers are great and the restaurant food was fantastic." Families tend to be the primary demographic of those who visit the RV park. The owner, Joe, reports that the busiest time of the year most commonly occurs from May through October.
Golden Pond RV Resort has been in operation for 20 years. It has been an RV park since 1970, having gone by the name of Golden Arrow Camping. When it was first established, it only had a pool, a house, and a few sites. Joe, the current owner, was a part owner of Golden Arrow Camping from about 1977 through 1984. He left to pursue another career for some time but returned when the property became up for sale. Because of his prior familiarity with the park, he decided to purchase the business in 2003. Since Joe took ownership of the RV park, there have been many updates in an effort to improve the park. A few changes he has made include reconditioning the sewer, water, and electrical hookups, adding cement pads, and leveling the land in certain areas to make it more accessible for the vehicles entering the park. The buildings on the grounds were renovated as well. Joe enjoys continuing to improve the property and providing services that everyone can use. In the future, he would like to update the outdoor pool and add amenities such as an indoor pool and splash pad. He also plans on creating more RV spaces that can be used for long-term stays.
Campground
Joe Bardoel
Stan Williamson
