NC Bandit's Roost, COE

[Makers Mark]

W. Kerr Scott Dam and Reservoir
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Bandits Roost Campground
499 Reservoir Road
Wilkesboro, NC 28967-4762
www.saw.usace.army.mil/wkscott/index.htm

Above address for the main reservoir visitor center. Follow directions to the Bandits Roost campground from the web page.

Campground Visit / Stay Information:
Date(s) of Visit/Stay: October 5 2008
Length of Visit/Stay: 7 Days
Water and Electric
All sites with the exception of the group sites have:
Picnic tables, higher cooking table, fire ring and lantern pole.
Rate / night: $20.00

First Visit or Return Visit: First
Your Rating (1 Low – 5 High): 4

Campground Facilities Information:

There are three campgrounds at the reservoir. Bandits Roost, Fort Hamby and Warrior Creek. We stayed at Bandit Roost.

Each park offers water and electric (30 amp), and primitive tent sites. Facilities include shower house, dump station, swim beach (multiple), basketball court, playground, amphitheater, playground equipment and hiking trails. Firewood was available for a fee.

60% of the sites are reservable, the rest first come first serve.
Reservations call 877 444 6777 or www.reserveusa.com up to 240 days in advance.

Discounts Accepted (Good Sam, KOA, other): NO
Interior Roads (Paved/Gravel; Wide/Narrow; Good/Bad): Good paved
Level Sites (Yes/No; rating: 1 low – 3 high): 3
Wide/Open Sites (Yes/No; rating: 1 low – 3 high): 3
Restroom Cleanliness (1 low – 3 high): 2
Store (Yes/No; rating: 1 low – 3 high): NO
Game Room (Yes/No; rating: 1 low – 3 high): NO
Pool (Yes/No; Heated/Not Heated; Clean, rating: 1 low – 3 high): NO POOL, JUST LAKE

Campground Impressions:
Kid Friendly (Yes/No - Activities): YES beach and playgrounds
People Friendly (Yes/No): NO ALCOHOL (one sad face for each day!) No one bothered conservative responsible use.
WiFi Friendly (Yes/No; - Charge?/Service Provider?): NO
Cell Phone Coverage (Yes/No - Service Provider?): YES ATT
Pet Friendly (Yes/No): YES

Personal Comments:
This campsite was a meeting point of sorts for my family to get together for a week. My sister and DH had an Outback and my brother played Robins Williams and brought my father up from FL in a rented RV. The view from the lake front sites could not have been better. Many boats on the lake. Good fishing. Kayaking would be great. Site included tables made of concrete that were not proportioned well for a comfortable sit. Also because they were concrete they could not be moved to suit your set-up. Bathrooms cleaned once a day. They were functional but could have been better. All in all a beatiful site and a great time.

[Tourist]

We have stayed at Bandits Roost about 4 times. This is a nice campground with sites in full sun (at the loop end of the A loop), full shade and part shade as well. The sites between #18 and #23 are great waterfront sites and perfect for kayak launching right into the lake below your campsite. Bath houses are not new but clean. There are two fishing docks, neither of which seems to produce fish larger than about 6 inches in size. To get anything worth keeping you need to get out in a boat. It's pretty quiet if you get away from the swimming areas during weekends, holidays, and summer time. Overall I would give the campground an 8.