My recent experience at Pioneer Village Motel in Minden, Nebraska, was far from satisfactory, prompting me to share a detailed review despite my initial hesitation. As a Passport America (PA) member, I often rely on their app to discover camping locations, and Pioneer Village Motel & Campground was one such find that unfortunately fell short of expectations. My 11-year-old daughter and I have been exploring various campgrounds and historical sites throughout this school year, and our stay here stood out for all the wrong reasons, especially after a wonderful visit to Laura Ingalls Wilder’s house just prior.
Upon making the reservation over the phone, Mary, the person in charge, informed me about sewer hookups being prioritized for non-PA guests. While this was acceptable, it was noteworthy that throughout our two-night stay, three of the nine designated spots remained vacant. Traveling with our two well-behaved dogs, I confirmed with Mary that pets were welcome as long as they were leashed, to which I readily agreed. She then proceeded to recount an incident from that day about a dog being loose for over five minutes, emphasizing the importance of keeping pets restrained. I completely concurred with her concern for pet control and safety.
However, upon arrival, the reality of the campground starkly contrasted with the images displayed on the Passport America app and their website. Instead of the promised tree-lined, grassy, and well-maintained environment, we encountered a rough, gravel-dominated area with patchy grass. Adding to the disappointment, the structures surrounding the RV sites appeared abandoned and dilapidated, and these were, in fact, the motel buildings. The condition certainly did not justify the $35 per night rate, although the inclusion of a free ticket to the on-site museum was a slight consolation.
The museum itself, while housing interesting artifacts, was in a state of disrepair and noticeably unclean, triggering my allergies. Having visited numerous museums recently, this one stood out as both the most expensive and the least maintained, which was a shame given the potential of its collection. Observing ongoing restoration efforts, I hoped that the admission fees were being directed towards improvements and future enhancements.
The most unsettling aspect of our stay occurred after we had departed. More than 24 hours later, I received a message from Mary containing unwarranted personal attacks, accusing me of poor parenting and labeling my daughter a liar. This was particularly perplexing, especially in light of Mary’s earlier anecdote about a loose dog on the day of our arrival. Throughout our stay, there was no mention of any issues or concerns regarding our behavior or our dogs. In fact, we pride ourselves on being responsible campers. Having traveled through 22 states and stayed at a wide range of campgrounds, from National Parks to Disney resorts, we have always been meticulous about cleanliness and have never faced such accusations before. This unprofessional and unwarranted message from Mary left a lasting negative impression of Pioneer Village Motel Minden Ne, overshadowing any potential positives of the location itself.
