Shades of Sherwood










Shades of Sherwood Overview
Rating
Phone (507) 732-5100
Address 14334 Sherwood Trail, Zumbrota, MN 55992, USA
Website http://www.shadesofsherwood.com/
Hours
Monday, 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Tuesday, 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Wednesday, 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Thursday, 9:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Friday, 8:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Saturday, 8:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Sunday, 8:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Shades of Sherwood Location & Map
MinnesotaGoodhue CountyZumbrotaSherwood Trail
Shades of Sherwood About
For those of us living in Minnesota, the call of the great outdoors is a familiar and cherished one. When it comes to finding the perfect spot to set up camp, unwind, and create lasting memories with family and friends, Shades of Sherwood in Zumbrota, MN, often comes to mind. This campground has built a reputation as a family-friendly destination, offering a unique blend of natural beauty and engaging activities that cater to all ages. It’s a place where the simple joys of camping are elevated by thoughtful amenities and a commitment to providing a memorable experience.
Shades of Sherwood aims to be more than just a place to park your RV or pitch a tent; it strives to be a community where campers feel welcome and have access to a variety of entertainment options. While individual experiences can vary, as with any popular destination, the campground's dedication to guest satisfaction, as evidenced by direct communication with ownership in certain situations, suggests a desire to ensure positive outcomes. It's a place designed for fun, relaxation, and embracing the true spirit of Minnesota camping, offering plenty of opportunities for water-based activities and more.
Shades of Sherwood is conveniently located at 14334 Sherwood Trail, Zumbrota, MN 55992, USA. For Minnesotans, Zumbrota is an accessible town nestled in southeastern Minnesota, making it a manageable drive from the Twin Cities metro area, Rochester, and other surrounding communities. The campground's address places it in a serene, natural setting, allowing campers to truly disconnect from urban noise and immerse themselves in the tranquility of the countryside.
Reaching Shades of Sherwood is straightforward. From Zumbrota, you'll likely head towards the outskirts of town where the campground is situated, often involving a short drive on local roads that wind through scenic landscapes. The benefit of this location is its balance: it’s far enough removed to feel like a true escape, yet close enough to Zumbrota to access local amenities, grocery stores, and any last-minute supplies you might need. This accessibility makes it an ideal spot for weekend getaways or longer vacation stays for families across the state looking for an easy-to-reach camping destination.
Shades of Sherwood aims to provide a comprehensive camping experience, catering to various preferences from tent sites to RV hook-ups. Based on typical campground offerings and insights from reviews, their services likely include:
- Tent Sites: Dedicated areas for traditional tent camping, allowing for a classic outdoor experience.
- RV and Trailer Sites: A variety of sites equipped to accommodate recreational vehicles, potentially offering different hook-up options (e.g., water, electric, sewer).
- Restroom Facilities: Accessible and maintained restrooms for all campers.
- Shower Houses: Facilities for hot showers, which are always appreciated after a day of outdoor activities.
- Water Access/Activities: A significant highlight for the campground, suggesting ample opportunities for water-based fun, likely including swimming areas, slides, or other aquatic features.
- Office/Check-in Services: A central point for check-ins, inquiries, and potentially a small camp store for essentials.
- Credit/Rescheduling Policies: The campground has clear policies regarding refunds and rescheduling, although customer experiences indicate these are strictly enforced, but with potential for direct owner resolution in unique circumstances.
- Customer Communication: While some reviews highlight challenges with initial communication, direct engagement with ownership suggests a commitment to addressing customer concerns and working towards resolutions.
What truly makes Shades of Sherwood stand out for Minnesota campers are its distinct features and activities, which create a vibrant and engaging atmosphere for families and groups:
- Abundant Water Fun: This is consistently highlighted as a major draw. While specific water features aren't detailed, the emphasis on "water fun" suggests extensive options like large swimming pools, water slides, splash pads, or even access to a lake or river for swimming and boating activities. This makes it an ideal destination for hot summer days.
- Family-Friendly Atmosphere: The campground is explicitly described as "family-friendly," indicating activities and facilities designed to appeal to children and parents alike, fostering a welcoming environment for all ages.
- Variety of Campsites: Offering both tent and RV sites allows the campground to cater to a broad spectrum of campers, from those seeking a rustic tent experience to those preferring the comforts of an RV.
- Commitment to Customer Resolution: While initial experiences with staff can vary, the notable positive experience with the owner resolving a significant issue demonstrates a commitment to guest satisfaction and a willingness to "make things right." This can be a strong reassurance for potential visitors.
- Natural Setting: Located in Zumbrota, the campground benefits from a natural, potentially wooded or riverside environment, providing a scenic backdrop for camping and outdoor relaxation.
- Potential for Community: Like many campgrounds, the shared amenities and activities can foster a sense of community among campers, especially during peak seasons.
- Outdoor Activities: Beyond water fun, it’s reasonable to assume the campground offers space for general outdoor recreation, such as open fields for games, fire pits for evening gatherings, and opportunities for enjoying the natural surroundings.
Specific, universally advertised promotions or ongoing special offers for Shades of Sherwood are not readily available in public information. Most campgrounds of this nature tend to have dynamic pricing based on season, demand, and duration of stay. However, it's always advisable for prospective campers to directly contact Shades of Sherwood to inquire about any current deals or packages. They might offer:
- Off-peak season discounts: Rates are often lower during less busy periods, such as early spring or late fall.
- Extended stay discounts: For those planning a longer vacation, some campgrounds provide reduced rates for weekly or monthly bookings.
- Group rates: If you’re planning a large family gathering or a group camping trip, inquire about special pricing for multiple sites.
- Theme weekend specials: Many family-oriented campgrounds organize themed weekends which might include bundled activities or special pricing for participants.
- Loyalty programs: While not explicitly stated, some campgrounds offer incentives for returning guests.
Given the feedback about communication, while direct contact is the best approach, campers should be prepared to be clear about their inquiries. Any potential promotions would be best confirmed directly with the campground office at the time of booking.
To get the most accurate and up-to-date information on availability, pricing, or to inquire about reservations at Shades of Sherwood, you can reach out using the following contact details:
- Address: 14334 Sherwood Trail, Zumbrota, MN 55992, USA
- Phone: (507) 732-5100
- Mobile Phone: +1 507-732-5100
It is important to note that while phone contact is provided, some customer feedback indicates that initial interactions or getting through during busy periods might require patience. However, as demonstrated by the owner’s follow-up in a complex situation, direct communication channels can ultimately lead to positive resolutions. When calling, it is always helpful to have your desired dates and any specific needs ready to facilitate the reservation process.
For us Minnesotans, Shades of Sherwood in Zumbrota presents a compelling option for a local camping adventure, particularly for families seeking a vibrant and engaging outdoor experience. Its convenient location in southeastern Minnesota makes it easily accessible for weekend trips or longer vacations without extensive travel, a significant benefit for those looking to maximize their time off. The campground’s strong emphasis on "water fun" and its explicit family-friendly atmosphere means there’s ample entertainment designed to keep children and adults alike happy and occupied, especially during our warm summer months.
While customer service experiences can vary, the documented commitment of the ownership to address and resolve significant issues speaks volumes about their dedication to guest satisfaction. This proactive approach to managing concerns provides a level of reassurance for campers. Choosing Shades of Sherwood means opting for a destination where the natural beauty of Minnesota meets a fun-filled recreational environment. It's a place where local families can create cherished memories, enjoy refreshing aquatic activities, and experience the simple joys of camping, all within a reasonable drive from home, making it a suitable and appealing choice for any Minnesotan looking for their next outdoor escape.
Customer Reviews
Update Feb 2025: June 2024 we did not have a good experience with the staff at this campsite. My post is long to explain the unusual weather situation but also showing how the staff could have handled it in any other way but chose not to. My update comes from a conversation I had with the owner. He seemed genuine when he apologized for our experience. He wanted to make things right even if that meant we never camped there again. He refunded the $300. He did not push for us to camp there again or try gaslighting me. He listened, related and did all he could to make things right. I respect the way he handled the situation. It does seem like a great family friendly campsite. Because of the experience I had with the owner we might reconsider camping there! I made reservations in early May 2024 for reservations in June 2024. During the month of June 2024 is when all the flooding was happening along with Shades of Sherwood. I called about 3 days before our reservations to see if we could reschedule as this is when the flooding was moving near this campsite. I did not provide my name nor did they ask but I did mention we were camping in tents. They responded with " we do not refund or reschedule as we do not control the weather." 3 hours later they called to tell me our 3 reserved sites were flooded and they needed to move us but wanted to know if we needed electricity since our original sites had it. They said they would figure something out if we didn't have electricity. No word so I called back later that day and they said they found a site for us. Fri night had thunderstorms so we arrived early Sat morning. I went to the office to check in and right away the front desk person said we are not accepting reservations. I asked why wouldn't they have called me. They responded and this is word for word " we assumed you were not coming." After some discussion they said they have two sites we could look at (no refund for the 3rd site which is a $100 deposit per site). The two sites were located right next to another tent site that was flooded along with a hill that I can see the water level almost as high as the hill. We said no and we will take credit. So they did and I asked for verification on my credit - they responded with "you can go to the site" I don't know how that is possible as I do not have an account setup with them. Nothing on their site will show my credits. I asked for them to email me. They did but in the most vague way possible - noting I have been credited for sites reserved but did not state how many site. So I asked her to send another email stating how many sites but she kept in telling me it's in their system. We walked outside to figure out what we are going to do since we drove an hour and 45 minutes then some guy started to yell at me to move. They were moving campers out of the water and pulling them up to dry land. I understand people are busy but do not talk to me like that. He had plenty of room to get thru the parking lot. I spoke with an employee to confirm if this guy works there and they responded "we heard the whole thing and no he is a guest." It's really upsetting that they would not allow us to reschedule due to the weather which was dangerous at that point because we wanted to camp there and possibly make an annual tradition out of it.
This was our second camping experience at Shades of Sherwood. The weekend looked to be hot and sunny. Perfect for a weekend of water fun (which they do not lack!!). The unfortunate issue arose when we did have some inclement weather roll in. It was so busy that the WiFi network they have for guests couldn’t keep up- so when I heard sirens going off I called up to the office to ask what exactly we should do or if the sirens were for the severe thunderstorm. We had 6 kids with us in our party and would have liked to be safe vs sorry. The lady who answered was very nonchalant about my weather question/concern and told me that they didn’t know what to tell me. We ended up going up to the office just to be safe, but upon entering, a seasonal camping couple and the front desk folks were laughing and making fun of campers who had weather concerns. When you have kids it’s different. That was just very disappointing to hear. Not to mention there were folks stuffed into the shower houses already and no where to go eve if there were a tornado. All in all, our children like camping here. We don’t have issues with the camp minus the staff. It would be good to maybe have a plan in place.
First time at Shades of Sherwood will probably be my only time… Stayed in a cabin which I expected to be rustic as it is a cabin. I was confused why they charge a $25 cleaning fee on top of the price per night because it was not very clean. We stayed in cabin 3 and it was a dump…another family member was in cabin 4 which I will say was much nicer. The price per night for the cabin is a bit pricey for the quality of the cabin. On top of that they charge you $25 per person to use the water park- which is a one with inflatables…it wasn’t worth it. That $25 also included mini golf which is just a course with fake grass on it…pretty lame. It was also under water on some holes for the first couple of days that we stayed. You also get the pedal cars and jumping pillow for that as well as tubing. Tubing was not available for one day of the stay. The pool was very nice and our favorite thing during our stay since it was quite hot while we were there. Lines to check in or do anything in the office/store were very long. But the people were all very friendly. The seasonal folks must just drive around on their golf carts all day…lots of cart traffic! Overall the place was pretty mediocre and I we are looking for other options for next year.
First time camping down here. Usually take a 5 hour drive so a bit closer to home. We got a cabin which was clean. Swam for free the first day then the second day the lady didn't let one of my 6 kids swim without a wrist band. So that was a little disappointing. Other than that a lot of activities and friendly people. Highly recommend. The kids enjoyed catching the tadpoles and other swimmers in the man made pond. All in all can't wait to visit again.
We were here on camping 7/24-7/28. What a horrible experience we had. We did not see the additional charges for people, wrist bands, or anything. And for showers to be charged for. RC track was over grown, as I am into RC trucks and brought 9 with me, and never used it. Everything seems run down. Pedal carts were locked up and several were broken, and not able to be used. Dog poop on our site everywhere, mini golf run down and holes in the turf. The "POND" was filled with mold, snapping turtles, and minnows biting at our feet. Black tarps in the pond was showing as well as tubes or pipes going into the water, and people in our party as well as others fell because the sand was not covered. I went to the office to complain both Wednesday and Thursday. The office said the owner would contact me by coming to my site or call me as the one time he was bringing his daughter to gymnastics. We waited the whole weekend for this to happen and never seen or heard from the owner. We had two sites here and will never be back. To top it all off, 4 of us got sick Saturday night. If you want to come here, be ready for all the extra fees. As seasonals say the owner does not care about the weekend campers.
More Campsites Nearby

Hay Creek Valley Campground and Old Western Saloon
31655 MN-58, Red Wing, MN 55066, USA

Sportsman's Park Camping
61772 US-63, Zumbro Falls, MN 55991, USA

Creek Park
1415 Hwy St W, Dodge Center, MN 55927, USA

Freedom Island Campground and Marina
N650 825th St, Hager City, WI 54014, USA

Hallmark Terrace
325 55th St NE #6, Rochester, MN 55906, USA

Rice Lake State Park Campground
8485 Rose St, Owatonna, MN 55060, USA

Cart-In Campsites
3WPM+W5, Claremont, MN 55924, USA

Rocky Creek Estates MHC
627 Rocky Creek Dr NE, Rochester, MN 55906, USA

Bay City Campground
W6490 Lake Pepin Blvd, Bay City, WI 54723, USA