TOPIC:

We read your comments about Hill AFB and wish to echo everything you said. This is not a particularly well managed FamCamp. Apparently the Base MWR has left everything to Howard the Camp Ghost(er, Camp Host). Directions to the FamCamp are nonexistent. The gate guard was less than helpful. Fortunately we knew that we had a five mile trip thru the base, otherwise his "Go straight until the road Ts" would have gotten us lost right awah. Road construction on base made navigating to the site even more challenging. We tried to call Howard that morning enroute to Hill to get more finite directions, but he did not return our call until that afternoon after we had checked in. We arrived at 1215 but Howard was at lunch so we had to wait 45 minutes (with two other RVers) in the 95-100 degree temperature until Howard came. The sites are cryptically marked (if at all). We tried to contact Howard during our three day stay, but apparently he had gone on vacation.

On a positive note, the price is right, and the FamCamp is located near base facilities.

Yea that camp host is not one of the best I have ever met. When I stayed there last a year ago he was a bit brough. I was not real happy with him either. Hes gone most the mornings. Not sure where he runs off to. He was not there the morning I arrived either, luckily he showed up not long after I did. I found in order to catch him the best was between 1 and 3.

Guess you read my review, although it's a few years old now.

We never saw the camp host and picked out an empty site. Not the greatest FamCamp, but not the worst either. The location is the most positive feature.

Stopped in Hill August 2014.

Yep, Howard is still there and still being rude and snotty to people.

In fact while we were there we witnessed him being rude to campers.

Sorry, but I had to laugh at your comments about Howard. You see, I live about 10 miles from Hill and while I have never camped on base, I have experienced Howard through the Hill Rod & Gun Club on base. The Gun Club is part of the Outdoor Rec group and Howard has been detailed to run the Gun Club when the manager is sick or on vacation. He wins no awards in that capacity either. Howard has about as much personality as a fence post. I would agree 100% that Hill AFB could use a better ambassador to greet and service the clients at the FamCamp facility.

I read the comments submitted recently by a couple regarding their run in with Barbara.

Barbara is, or was, the host for Howard.

Folks you have to read their comment. Seems they were only getting A bag of ice. Barbara jumps in their stuff big time.

She cannot reason with people. She cannot talk. Her way is her way or else. She resorts to being nasty, rude and yelling.

Anyway, Barbara even followed this couple all the way out to their car and poked her finger through the passenger's window into the woman's face.

Those people were PCSing and had used the FamCamp.

They stated they would submit written complaint about Barbara to the Command.

We agree about both Howard and Barbara. This last trip we didn't see Howard but certainly had a run-in with Barbara! She came pounding on our door and yelling at me for speeding through the campground. Interesting as we had been in our rig for well over an hour when this happened. Said other people had seen us speeding and yelled at us. She couldn't accept that she had the wrong people. Also, the one-way streets are only marked at one end so you have to remember which roads go which way. Very poorly run Famcamp.

A friend of mine this July would not stay at the FamCamp (Hill AFB) because of these two clowns.

He did shower in the gym and dry camped on base in one of the parking lots. Guess it was by the lodging down the street from the Fam Camp.

He told me Howard was nick picking and being a rude jerk to a few in the camp ground. I assume Barbara does such duties when he is not there.

Who controls these people?

I cant comment on this directly as I dont use the famcamps generally. BUT, I got somebodies attention when I wrote a email to the director of the fam support at Huntsville this summer. Seems the mail went to the chain of command who wanted answers to the email. Got a reply from the guy who asked me to call for more info. I did email the WP folks but they ended up being to far away from the folks we were to visit so never went there.

Anyhow, the point is get the COC attention if you are having such problems, just dont let it go as is. I might be wrong but I know when i was AD Army you went to the commander whenever the flunkies could not get it right, but maybe that's why I only made it to CW4? Pound the COC if you want results. To many ignorance is bliss and they wont react unless forced to. Just look at what we have in command nowadays for the country!

We agree with the previous comment that suggests the Chain of Command be notified. Since there is more credibility in numbers, perhaps Larry can package the comments made by all of us and send them to the head of MWR and cc: the base commander. Larry, if you have already done this or something similar, then the lick is on the Commander and not Howard/Barbara.

We made our comments two or three years ago about Howard's need for a shot of Customer Service. We are amazed that this blot on the FamCamps and Hill AFB is still around offending more and more campers.

The FamCamp falls under the supervision of Outdoor Recreation and you can reach them and lodge a complaint at this link: ICE . I have already sent them a link to this thread so they are now aware of the situation and how long it has been going on. I am also trying to track down an email address for the 75 ABW Commanders Action Line at Hill AFB and I’ll also share that as soon as I can track it down.

Dubob, good luck!

Been done many times in the past.

Complaints submitted via ICE and directly to MWR office.

No response from the ICE submission a week ago - surprise, surprise. So this AM, I sent a direct email to the Chief of Outdoor Rec - Howard & Barbara's boss. Stay tuned.

Here is some feedback I got from the Outdoor Recreation Supervisor with regard to the FamCamp employee Howard and volunteer Barbara.

I had a face to face meeting with him this week. He is aware of this website and has read this thread. His office constantly monitors the ICE feedback on the FamCamp and takes an active interest in correcting problems as they arise. As far as he knows, Howard and Barbara are friends and work well together.

Some additional help was detailed to the FamCamp from Outdoor Rec and it seems to be helping as the number of negative ICE feedback has all but disappeared this year.

An ice making machine was installed at the FamCamp as a courtesy to the customers. Due to misconceptions from employees/customers about who could use the equipment, and the problems this has created, the Boss is considering removing it from the FamCamp. Hopefully, a better solution can be found and a policy established to detail who is allowed to use it.

While it is true that Howard could be more people/client oriented, Outdoor Rec doesn't think his actions, or lack thereof, would warrant a dismissal. If you have any specific issues you would like to discuss with Howards supervisor, please call Outdoor Rec at 801-777-9666 and ask for Steve (the Boss).

And an FYI tidbit, Howard is getting close to retirement.

PS: Why is this thread in the Midwest forum? It should be in the West & Southwest forum. After all, Hill AFB is actually in Utah, don't cha know. Maybe Larry could move it over there.

PS: Why is this thread in the Midwest forum? It should be in the West & Southwest forum. After all, Hill AFB is actually in Utah, don't cha know. Maybe Larry could move it over there.

Didn't catch that - this discussion has been moved.

I just read a not too favorable review of Hill AFB that was recently posted. We stayed there in 2010 for a few days and I really did not have any problems. The main thing I remember is that I thought it was a great deal because as I recall, I paid $14 a night. In the review I just read, and the campground info, it said the rate was $20 a night. Could the price almost double in 4 years or is my memory slipping quickly?

florida, I think that may now be the standard as that is about what we paid when we stayed at Red Stone arsenal in huntsville. Only real good deal is that it should be more secure than a mom and pop rv camp. In our case it was close to some very close friends one of which lived in post housing!

Nothing fancy but a fair to middlin place to stay if in the area.

Hill AFB Fam Camp is a great location and the worst operated.
In the dozen years we have stopped, I can confirm that Howard has no learned to run the Campground.
The message on the answering machine sound great, except Howard has never returned a phone call and I mean never.
Once I caught Howard in the office and paid cash for my dry camp site. Howard made change from his shirt pocket. The last time I checked the camp ground was a business, wouldn't a cash box or safe be appropriate?
Also, why was Howard allowed to take over the TV room and make it his private junkyard. When we dry camp because the park is full, I would like to watch the news and weather channel, no more.
There is my two bits worth, I also have comments about how Tony was allowed to run Travis AFB , thank goodness he retired.

Bruno,

Just out of curiosity, did you bother to bring any of this to the attention of Outdoor Recreation (OR)? If you did, what were their comments?

I just got through sending the OR Boss (S. Penhorwood) an email bringing your review to his attention. I'll pass along his comments if/when I get them.

We complained to Outdoor Rec the first time no phone call was returned and a year later when no phone call was returned we gave up. Hill FamCamp is such a great stop for us traveling home to Wasington state that we continue to use it. That in no way implies we are happy with the way it is run, we have just learned to hold our tongue.