Complaint Review: Progressive Resorts JJ Double Resort - Rothbury Michigan

 We had high hopes when we purchased the Groupon for Double JJ resort.  The website created the image of a beautiful ranch and exceptional customer service.  When I called to make the reservation, I was told I could choose a cabin or loft suite with my groupon.  I called and made a reservation.  I was told the 2nd time I couldn't have a cabin, so I elected a loft suite. 

The first site of communication was a painted sign, which I thought was odd for the modern and awesome ranch vacation we planned.

Our hopes were still high when we pulled in to the driveway. 

As we entered the check in area, the check in area was nicely displayed.  I waited while someone finished their personal call.  Then, as I checked in, I was first disappointed when I was told tha the waterpark hotel we were staying at did not include passes to the waterpark.

That was only the start.

We continued to check in to our "loft style suite" which was identified on the phone as a multiple bedroom suite with an upstairs type loft (where we expected our kids to sleep).

As we walked up, there was an external air conditioner... we should have ran..... we walked in to smell the stench of dirty feet, or vomit, or some kid's chocolate milk spilled and never properly cleaned... I'm not sure.  It smelled so bad.  Then, we saw there was a one room, 2 queen beds, a chunk of floor missing, stench, and old, old, old awful everything.  We called the front desk to ask for a refund sharing how unhappy we are.  I was put on hold forever and told to contact Groupon. 

I tried calling Groupon and "the office was closed".  So, short of spending another $500 we elected to wait it out.

Our original plan was to go to the water park the first night.  Due to the fact that we had to pay $25 a person to go to the waterpark, even if we didn't participate, we decided to save that for our first full day (the next day) and try to make the best of it.

There was "boat making" at "the ranch" we decided to take advantage of.  We showed up and seriously, the place was a scene out of Friday the 13th.  Completely abandoned, bugs that almost carried our vehicle away, and no one in sight. 

We then went to "the back 40"... as we seen civilization there (a couple cars)... there were no people to run into.. the place was a ghostyard.  It was bizarre.  The outdoor pool which was advertised in the lure to get people to their included waterpark, was closed at 6p, so we couldn't take advantage of that, there were no people to even ask about boat making, and not a thing going, except music coming from somewhere scary.

We found a phone saying to dial 0.  It took a couple times, but got someone.  When we informed her there was no one there for boat making, she got crabby and said we weren't in the right place.  We informed her we had driven around for 20 minutes trying to find it and there was noone where they were supposed to be.  She snipped at me then, which was topping the night off.

Then, we used some random bike carts, to which we found they were all broken.  So, we moved to the playground.  That was a joy because there were random rusty nails, broken steps, wood sticking up everywhere, and a random rope the kids could remove and put anywhere, which could be pulled while kids going down it.

We had enough and decided to return to our beautifully stinky room.

We returned and found that there was no housekeeping for 3 days.  Therefore, none of our towels or garbage, etc. would be cleaned.  Then, we got a glass of water from the sink.  The water had floaties, and was the most unclear water I have ever poured.  It must be the equivalent of a 3rd world country.  Finally, we laid down.  OMG, the beds were awful.  Awful.  Awful.

We woke up early to make the activity "archery".  We show up in the area marked archery and sat there for 10 minutes.  Mind you, there are no people, ANYWHERE!  I finally see one random person walk through. I stop him and he smirks and says, well there are 2 guys way out there.  I look at the end of the property and see 2 guys sitting down.  That started it.  As we tripped over broken wood and rusty poking nails, we got to wet grass.  We did archery.  Although the reps were actually decent, archery was a joke.  Then, we find out that shooting was out of the picture due to ammo being too much.  So, why was it reported that it was a valid activity on the website, activity card, and groupon?

We continued on to the petting farm.  Now, I love animals, so I expected a reprieve.  I walked in to find they had just been fed. This was OK.  As we were walking through, a goat named Bucky jumped his pen and gut checked me next to my toddler.  He continued to do this 4 additional times while my teenage daughter wrestled him so I could get the toddler away from him.

Then we went to pony riding....thinking this would be worth the entire trip.  It was 2 rounds in the dirt and off the toddler came.  With no one else waiting. 

We then met another family who approached us asking about our stay.  I was asked if i would come back.  I said, no, sorry, we would not be.  Then, it started.  Although this family had gotten free waterpark tickets after they called and complained, they were still unhappy (there were 2 families).

I went to the front desk and asked about this deal.  If I could pay so the kids could go the remainder of the day we were there and until checkout the next day.  Not a chance!  Further, the customer service was crap!

So, we paid for the waterpark.  That was far too much for this waterpark.  It was dirty, not all the slides started when it opened.  The slides opened late and closed early.  The lifeguards were complete crabs.  Our one son who is a slim child, got stuck in the waterpark slide, twice.  Literally, the water shut off.  The kids got numerous cuts and bruises from the setup.   They were disinterested after one hour.

We then decided to try the "zip line", arts and crafts, and get some dinner.

Wow... the zip line was a joke... arts and crafts were pretty lame and dinner cost a mint for mostly nothing. 

Again, no people around!  It was almost SCARY!!!!!

We decided to call it quits early and do horseback riding before we left.

So, we paid for it and went to bed.. because of course nothing is free at this resort.

We showed up 30 minutes early for horseback riding.  All of the workers pretended not to see us when we walked up, ignored us, wouldn't make eye contact, etc.  So, we waited.  15 minutes prior to the trip, we got a girl who was nice, signing us up.  We told her we wanted to be assessed.  She snipped at us and said, well you can come back at 2p and get assessed.  I said, no, the front desk said they could be assessed between 8a-10a and that it took 5 minutes.  After our wait, she said very mean.. "well, you are supposed to be here 20 minutes early and you can see if you can be assessed, but don't know if you will have time".... so we headed back to the area where no one had been since we pulled in.  We waited an additional 15 minutes for someone to show up.  We did the assessments and back to get in line for the ride.  Just in time.

We then went to take out little guy to pony riding at the designated time.  Of course, no one showed up.  We had to wait 30 minutes for them to show up for the event.  Considering we were the only ones there, and were ticked for waiting so long, we thought they might give our toddler a good ride.  No, 2 times around and the ride was done.

We very happily checked out at that point.  Thanking God our family vacation was over!!!!

How sad!