Tommy Z.recommendsSeptember 17, 2023
Site 5 Walnut Grove
It’s was extremely well kept and beautiful. Bill was also a very nice and helpful host!
Derek H.recommendsSeptember 6, 2023
Site 1, Little Brushy Creek
Really enjoyed camping here and was able to appreciate the surrounding area and woods on Bill's land! He is a great host and pleasant to talk to. There is a small pond which is a short walk through the entire camping area which is really peaceful and has plenty of space to sit back and relax! Party of 2 for tent camping and was given plenty of space in site 1. Sites 1 and 2 are able to park near and are still tucked back enough to have privacy. There is a little stream that runs through the property which is right next to site 1. Recommend camping here if you are in the area and want a quiet spot. Also easy to get to several of the parks in the area. Did not have cell service in this area so be prepared on directions prior to being in the area.
Kristopher S.recommendsAugust 24, 2023
Site 1, Little Brushy Creek
Father and son camping
I loved taking my son tent camping for his very first time on Bill’s property. It was incredibly beautiful, well kept and the hospitality was top notch! We are already planning our next return trip.
Andrew A.recommendsAugust 14, 2023
Campsite 7 Robert’s Mountain
Would recommend!
My wife and I had an amazing time tent camping at site #2! The map link on Bill’s Hipcamp listing took us straight to the campsites, and we were able to follow Bill’s directions to very easily get to where we needed to go to park our car and check-in. Bill is super friendly and easy to work with; we decided to switch campsites once we got there, and he had no issue at all changing our reservation for us. His little dog Missy is adorable and very friendly as well!
The “free bundle of firewood” mentioned on the listing is WAY more firewood than a normal bundle of firewood you’d buy from stores. If you manage to go through the whole pile Bill supplies, he is more than happy to supply you with another large pile for a small fee of $10. Amazing deal!
One thing to note is that if you brought a lot of camping stuff like we did, you may want to book sites 1 or 2, which allow for enough space to unload your car. The other sites are a bit further back into Bill’s land, and they would require you to load up Bill’s tractor and have him take you and your stuff to the sites, then he’d load you back up to take your stuff back to your car when it’s time to leave. Not a dealbreaker for us, just something to keep in mind!
Overall, we would definitely recommend Bill’s campground to anyone! He says he closes up shop at the end of September, but his land is beautiful in the Fall, so I’d recommend going around that time of year.
Melissa P.recommendsJuly 30, 2023
Site 1, Little Brushy Creek
Located about 15 minutes from Johnsons Shut Ins State Park, this is a hidden gem. Sites are spaced well apart for privacy. The sites also appear thoughtfully created and well maintained. We looked forward to getting in the ice cold creek after our 13 mile Taum Sauk Mountain hike!
Bill was a great communicator and we even shared a cup of coffee on his porch and heard how the camp came to be! Would highly recommend!
Trenna S.recommendsJune 5, 2023
1855 Campground
1855 Campground is Amazing!!!
Bill’s property is in the beautiful Mark Twain National Forest. The entire property is gorgeous and well maintained, and you can tell Bill cares deeply about the land. We stayed on Robert’s Mountain—it was quite a hike to get to it, but it was wonderfully serene and Bill helped us get our supplies up to the site with his tractor. I loved every second of the trip: the land, the critters, Bill’s generosity, and the conversations we had. There’s so much property to explore, with trails, a creek, and a pond. Bill also pointed us to the Johnson State Park Shut-Ins, which was a wonderfully refreshing day trip. I hope I get the chance to return, this was an outstanding camping trip with much left to be discovered. Thank you for everything, Bill.