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Reviews for True West Campground, Stables and Mercantile in BSF
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Jamestown, TN

Overall TRAIL RATING with 745 votes:
Overall CAMP RATING with 756 votes:
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What a nice place to stay with horses or without. We went along with our daughter and friends to babysit the dogs while they were on trail. We stayed in the Miner's Shack and it was great. I walk with a cane, but I got up the stairs just fine. During the week we parked in front of the cabin and then when the spot was rented we walked up to the main building parking. The cabin only had cold running water, but in August we didn't even miss hot water. It had a nice porch. There was one chair, but we put our comfortable folding chairs out and visitors sat on the steps as well. Just loved the peaceful setting between the ponds. ! The firewood was very good. It burned easily and didn't snap sparks all over the place. And it was great to have our own toilet, The owner took the group's horses to the trailheads some days so the riders didn't have to backtrack and we didn't have to worry about shuttling trailers. Having the horses safe in stalls meant that everyone could go their separate ways and not worry. One group went to Dollywood, another group shopped the many area tack stores, hiked the Twin Arches trails and other trails. We went to Pickett Park and took a boat ride through the natural arch, explored under the Gorge bridge, went to Sargent York's Park, and rode the Big South Fork Railway and coal mine tour. Great campground and great area. The week just flew by so fast. I highly recommend. Oh and Hurricane Ida came through during our stay, but the campground is well drained so the group's tents didn't float away and everything was just fine except for a few leaky seams in the tents.
Reviewed by: TravelingBoomer on 9/16/2021 5:02:46 PM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 8/29/2021 Hometown: Brecksville, OH

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True West Campground did not disappoint! The campground was clean, owners were friendly and welcoming, they offered great add-on amenities and for a reasonable cost. The trail system was right across the street and offered so many scenic places to visit. The maps were easy to read and the trails were marked making it very easy to navigate. We can't wait to go back!
Reviewed by: aej0587 on 7/26/2021 11:08:48 AM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 7/21/2021 Hometown: Townsend, DE

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Owners Shawn and Donna are hard working and great hosts. There is always a friendly social atmosphere in the big barns. Facility is always in tip top shape. We’ve been coming to South Fork for ten years and tried many venues. True West has become our go to spot for horse friendly camping. With incredible hosts, close access to fabulous trails and now WiFi in the campground - we don’t go anywhere else.
Reviewed by: M&BJohnson on 6/29/2021 11:36:18 AM
More reviews by M%26BJohnson 		Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 6/24/2021 Hometown: Hendersonville, TN

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Owners Shawn and Donna are hard working and great hosts. There is always a friendly social atmosphere in the big barns. Facility is always in top top shape. We’ve been coming to South Fork for ten years and tried many venues. True West has become our go to spot for horse friendly camping. With incredible hosts, close access to fabulous trails and now WiFi in the campground - we don’t go anywhere else.
Reviewed by: M&BJohnson on 6/29/2021 11:36:05 AM
More reviews by M%26BJohnson 		Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 6/24/2021 Hometown: Hendersonville, TN

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After a whirlwind weekend of miscommunications and high tensions, I feel as though True West Campground is not the best fit for large groups. As a favor to the owners, our group offered to put some of the horses in a pasture so they could book more stalls. Unknowingly to our group, pasture was the SAME price, as stalls. If this was known we would have never given up our stalls. Secondly it poured rain (I know weather can't be controlled) and the owner of the horses was worried about a couple of the horses and asked if they could be stalled for the night. The response was always "they are full we have no available stalls". When confronted about the empty stalls in the barn, the response was "I don't know I don't have horses". We think highly of our horses, and they come first. The only cussing that was ever done was when Shawn confronted me and my friend while feeding her horses, and how he speaks to his hired help. As previously stated, no, this isn't a facility for us and our group. We never used any Bad word toward any of them or there help. Like what I read from the owner. I wish I could attach the picture of the 15 stall that where empty, and of what the field looked like that our horse were in, the mud up to there knees.
Reviewed by: sue Ukura on 6/9/2021 5:18:48 PM
More reviews by sue Ukura 		Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 5/28/2021 Hometown: Jarrettsville, MD

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Great clean campground, Donna and Shawn were very nice and accommodating! Great experience!
Reviewed by: MTSterling on 12/16/2019 7:31:19 PM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 4/5/2019 Hometown: Shelbyville, TN

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Donna and Shawn are the best hosts ever and this campground is amazing. Anything we or our horses could have possibly needed they made sure we had. They're great sources of information about the area and have trail directions that make it impossible to get lost. We will definitely be back and look forward to seeing the many additions that you have in store for campers.
Reviewed by: Lori_P_T on 12/14/2019 1:52:54 AM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 6/10/2019 Hometown: Kent, OH

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Great camping, riding and the owners are very accomodating! Showers were ALWAYS clean and hot water available! Trails were marked well and exciting to ride. Trails were easily accessible from TRUE WEST. We truly enjoyed our stay. Guernsey County, Ohio Horsemans Council.
Reviewed by: RitaT on 12/14/2019 1:42:19 AM
 Experience: Expert Ride Date: 10/19/2019 Hometown: Navarre, OH

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We had a great stay, everyone was so helpful. The place was so nice, had a great time riding the trails. My husband doesnt ride so he stayed at camp and fished. A win win
Reviewed by: JCarter on 11/15/2019 12:12:00 AM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 6/26/2019 Hometown: Allens, TN

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I absolutely love <3 True West & the owners Shawn & Donna they go above & beyond to make u feel at home
Reviewed by: KJoseph on 11/14/2019 11:56:21 PM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 10/5/2019 Hometown: Brandenburg, KY

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Beautiful and fun filled atmosphere. Shawn and Donna are great! The barns and campsites are maintained and they have everything you need. We left a couple of weeks ago from our second visit there. I highly recommend this place. We always enjoy our time there. We will be back
Reviewed by: ACREECH on 11/14/2019 11:45:20 PM
 Experience: Expert Ride Date: 10/20/2019 Hometown: Miamisburg, OH

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Great campground with wonderful customer service!!! Access to the trails is great. Amenities in camp were wonderful. The staff was outstanding in customer service to make sure they could help in any way. Hope to return! The were there to greet us and unload our horse and supplies. They even cleaned out the trailer!
Reviewed by: Diane J on 11/12/2019 11:41:47 PM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 10/16/2019 Hometown: Fremont, OH

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Wonderful camping Donna,Shawn and Brittany are all so very nice! Campground is very clean! They would give directions everyday for the trails and take the time to answer are questions. Also for those looking for something different their covered wagons and tipi's would be fun to stay in!!!
Reviewed by: Shelly B on 11/12/2019 11:25:44 PM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 10/19/2019 Hometown: Navarre, OH

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Wish we could have stayed longer! Donna and Shawn work hard to keep you and your animals comfortable! From helping tote your hay, feed, and tack into the barn, as well as hosting activities on weekends, like potlucks and live entertainment, to enjoy after your day of riding in Big South Fork.
Reviewed by: Dun-Lucky76 on 10/26/2019 1:43:11 PM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 10/16/2019 Hometown: Georgetown, KY

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Great place to camp and ride! Shawn and Donna are so accommodating. From the help with getting everything unloaded and put in the barn, cleaning out the trailer for us, helping with ride/trail info and maps to having a DJ on Sat. and cowboy church on Sunday....the whole long weekend was perfect! You won't be disappointed if you stay at True West Campground and Stables!
Reviewed by: Mpusbach on 10/16/2019 2:03:10 AM
 Experience: Expert Ride Date: 10/3/2019 Hometown: Hormer, GA

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My first time to True West Campground and I will be back! This was my first time camping and riding here. We had an amazing time. We appreciated the hospitality and friendships made during our stay. Donna and Shawn were super friendly and helpful in every way. They roll out the red carpet so to speak with unloading our gear, feed, and even cleaning our trailer out. The facilities were clean and well kept. I can't wait to come back!
Reviewed by: Angie_W on 10/12/2019 4:58:01 PM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 10/2/2019 Hometown: Bradley, SC

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This is a great place to ride and camp, Shawn and Donna are so sweet and very accommodating, this was our 2nd year our group's 3rd year and we already made reservations for next year!! If you haven't been go at least once!
Reviewed by: MelissaH on 10/12/2019 4:51:09 PM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 10/2/2019 Hometown: Anderson, SC

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Donna and Shawn are the sweetest, friendliest, caring and respectful hosts I've ever meet I think. Probably one of the cleanest campgrounds we've ever been in. 100% awesome hospitality and we will be back hopefully sooner than later!
Reviewed by: ckriner on 10/6/2019 12:27:38 PM
 Experience: Not Specified Ride Date: 8/31/2019 Hometown: Linnville, TN

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Very nice Campground. campground was clean, the barn was very nice. even though your horses are away from your site you can see them and hear them. Shawn and Donna were very helpful in all ways. only thing is i would like to see a new sprayer on the wash hoses! lol i got just as wet as my horse. lucky it was hot and it felt good...:)
Reviewed by: David S on 10/1/2019 5:39:00 PM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 9/14/2019 Hometown: Rockwood, IL

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We really enjoyed our stay at True West. The campground, barn and stalls were immaculate. Shawn helped us unload our horses, tack and hay. He even cleaned out the back of our trailers and assisted our husbands in backing up our rigs. They were very helpful in discussing the trails and provided a map. We did get a guide to take us around to some of the further out trails and that was awesome! We had a blast. Highly recommend True West.
Reviewed by: Patty Quirin on 10/1/2019 4:58:13 PM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 9/14/2019 Hometown: Waterloo, IL

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Fantastic service. We got to the camp after dark but were welcomed with a smile by Donna. Her husband Shawn helped us unload the trailer and even mucked it out while we moved tack into the barn. The next day shawn provided us with turn by turn directions for out trail ride. When she learned my wife got hurt on the ride, Donna brought over some first aid supplies and made us feel very much at home. The campground is well equipped and the barns are clean and well maintained. The bathhouses were immaculate. This camp is located very close to the Cumberland trail head and has access to numerous trails in the Spruce Creek area as well. There are many camps in this area to choose from but I cant imagine service anywhere else being as good as one gets at True West.
Reviewed by: tw19 on 9/9/2019 7:19:05 PM
 Experience: Beginner Ride Date: 6/10/2019 Hometown: Kent, OH

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This is the best horse RV campground we have stayed at!! Great facilities, clean, well organized, great riding, beautiful country AND wonderful folks running it. Thank you Donna, Shawn, Brittany and Weston. You are all the best!
Reviewed by: tdougherty on 9/9/2019 7:13:15 PM
 Experience: Expert Ride Date: 4/3/2019 Hometown: Fort Collins, CO

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Excellent!! Sean and Donna are great owners and their hospitality ❤️ is non surpassed. Their daughter Brittany holds down the front desk and is always friendly and accommodating. Ride right off the property to great trails or Sean will trailer you to other trail heads and pick you up. The Best!
Reviewed by: dharris on 9/9/2019 6:59:35 PM
 Experience: Not Specified Ride Date: 5/26/2019 Hometown: Signal Mtn, TN

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traveled 4 hours to get to this campground and heard about it through a friend. Everything was Great. We were very satisfied with everything and had no problems but it was a little work taking the tack to the barn. Stay friendly and helpful! We give you 5 stars!
Reviewed by: Bill&Brenda on 8/3/2019 1:51:14 PM
 Experience: Not Specified Ride Date: 6/24/2019 Hometown: Lynchburg, TN

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The best hospitality. This was my second visit to True West (the first being 5 years ago). Shawn and Donna are the most gracious, helpful people. As far as I'm concerned, there's nowhere else to camp in the Big South Fork Recreation Area.
Reviewed by: Marilyn P on 7/4/2019 1:45:47 PM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 6/9/2019 Hometown: Crete, IL

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Best trip ever! Best people with the the best hospitality. Clean ,well cared for couldnt ask for a better place to stay with our horses with great riding and great hospitality. Love ❤❤ Show house was clean. Trail are wonderful, maped out great, stalls are awsome, barn is clean wash area is nice campsite are great. Store is awsome The owners are wonderful.
Reviewed by: Marge T on 6/16/2019 3:54:21 PM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 5/18/2019 Hometown: Pilot Grove, MO

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Phenomenal service, great hosts, nice facility, super location. This horse campground offers the best service we've ever had anywhere. We arrived after dark, but were greeted by Donna who made us feel at home. After checking in with her, Shawn helped us unload horses and tack at the barn and mucked out our trailer right after that. He then helped us back the trailed and motor home into our site and get everything settled. The next day, he happily gave us recommendations for trail destinations and provided turn by turn directions so we wouldn't get lost on the trail (we've been known to do that). When Donna learned my wife fell off her horse and injured her hand, she came over to our site with a finger splint and tape to help fix her up. When we couldn't ride, Donna provided recommendations for local sites to visit and activities to do while we were out. The barn was set up centrally and well-maintained. They provide a nice outdoor grill for cooking and have very clean bathroom facilities. The camp is located just outside the BSF park about a 1 mile horse ride along a private trail. We had a great time at this camp largely due to the hosts being so helpful and engaging. If you're traveling to the Big South Fork area, I would highly recommend True West. I don't think you'll find better service anywhere.
Reviewed by: adjuster-jd on 6/16/2019 3:36:55 PM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 6/10/2019 Hometown: Kent, OH

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this was our first time staying here at True West it was fantastic. They helped us unload our horses and feed. Which was great after a 6hr drive. We will be going back again in the future. Owners are very nice and helpful.
Reviewed by: Carla hall on 5/28/2019 3:23:56 PM
More reviews by Carla hall 		Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 5/24/2019 Hometown: Covington, tn

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Amazing place - very close to trails - as in across the street. Wonderful hosts that take care of everything for you. A great service to drop you in park so you can cover more trails that way. Clean facility. Great open barns. a MUST DO!
Reviewed by: Kevin MacRitchie on 4/18/2019 4:28:42 PM
 Experience: Not Specified Ride Date: 4/13/2019 Hometown: Holly, MI

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Amazing Hospitality! Donna and Sean were more than accommodating. Their grounds are stunning and we were greeted with a warm welcome. Our camp ground was right on a small pond with beautiful views of the property. My sister and I traveled with two 9 year old girls and we felt very safe having them roam around the property. Donna taught the girls how to make fairy houses uses natural materials and let them pick giant acorns on the property. They have two cats that are the sweetest and make the place feel extra homie. Sean was extremely helpful with our camper. We arrived late in the night and he helped set up our water and sewage hoses and connect our hot water system. He gave great tips for our camper and even got behind the wheel and backed us out of our camping spot. I would highly recommend True West! The bathrooms are very clean and around the corner from all camp sites. It safe for kids, fun for adults and a great Western experience. Thank you Donna and Sean, we will be back! -Lulu and Larissa
Reviewed by: LuluLarissa on 3/23/2019 3:35:53 PM
 Experience: Beginner Ride Date: 1/1/2019 Hometown: East Hampton, NY

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Horse camping Heaven! We had the best time from the time we checked in and had all the help we needed to unload horses get them stalled and the horse trailer to the camping spot in no time at all !! True West made us all feel welcomed and very attentive not only our needs but our horses too! We will return in the spring and hopefully we will make this a must do trip every year!
Reviewed by: KellyR on 12/31/2018 7:06:11 PM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 10/24/2018 Hometown: Oxford, OH

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October 2018 was our “first vacation “ with hauling long distance with our horses and we couldn’t have had a better experience than at TRUE WEST CAMPGROUND! Such a friendly family operated business that makes you feel so at home and welcome! The food from the STAGE COACH CAFE was excellent! We were allowed to bring our dog and that was a plus! The trails are gorgeous! It was almost surreal in the Big South Fork being so deep in a forest and the fall colors were magnificent! Picture perfect place and we are going back not once but twice in 2019! We have found a little Horse Heaven on earth at True West! Thank you so much Shawn, Donna and Brittany for all of your hard work! Your efforts to make our vacation wonderful did not go unnoticed! Looking forward to our stay in May!
Reviewed by: 1faithfulandtrue1611 on 12/25/2018 3:24:02 PM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 10/25/2018 Hometown: Cropwell, AL

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First time there, lovely place and wonderful trails.
Reviewed by: lbernert on 12/6/2018 10:29:59 AM
 Experience: Expert Ride Date: 11/8/2018 Hometown: Cincinnati, OH

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Donna Martin and Shawn Martin and Brittany with True West Campground. We had such a wonderful Thanksgiving week for the 7th year in a row with you all. TW is the best campground with the best campground hostesses and the most accommodating campground we have stayed at. Thank you all three for being who you are. We are definitely lifers. This is our goto place.
Reviewed by: Pepsigirl12 on 11/27/2018 8:41:36 PM
More reviews by Pepsigirl12 		Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 11/22/2018 Hometown: Corinth, KY

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Absolutely wonderful campground & owners!! I would recommend True West to anyone looking to visit the Big South Fork! Amazing hospitality right from the moment I arrived and throughout my entire stay!! I arrived late on a Sunday evening, and yet the owners Donna & Shawn we waiting for my arrival. They checked me in quickly, helped me unload my trailer (Shawn even mucked it out for me - SO NICE after a long drive!), then helped me back it in to my campsite in the dark, etc. The owners were always around the campground, always greeting you with a smile and hello and do you need anything my entire stay. I really like the central set up of the campground too with the office/store, patio/rec room, washrooms/showers & barns in the middle and close from any site. And I loved that the barns were clean, open & airy (my horse gets allergies), with lots of wheelbarrows/forks at hand, several horse wash areas, etc. I stayed there over Thanksgiving, and on Thanksgiving the owners made a wonderful dinner for the entire campground in their lovely covered patio room! November 18th-23rd 2018
Reviewed by: jessica_P on 11/25/2018 12:30:51 PM
 Experience: Expert Ride Date: 11/18/2018 Hometown: King, ON

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Horse Trip of the Year! Spent 8 days at True West Campground’s. With the first four days being rainy we entertained ourselves by going to different Westrrn Stores within driving distance. We also watched a movie at night in the community room. The owners joined us when they weren’t busy and were very helpful in making sure we enjoyed our stay. Even though it had rained nonstop the trails are so well taken care of that they were very safe to ride. When riding from True West there we never ran out of new trails to ride. I loved it and would definitely go back many times.
Reviewed by: Renee A on 11/2/2018 11:09:58 PM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 9/22/2018 Hometown: Scottown, OH

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Awesome Horse Camp!!! Beautiful horse camp with an amazing barn! Everything was clean and ready for our stay and the owners were very helpful with directions to other area attractions as well. We enjoyed every minute of our stay and hope to go back again next year.
Reviewed by: arabianlady65 on 10/28/2018 10:30:57 AM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 6/10/2018 Hometown: Chandlersville, OH

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such friendly, welcoming hosts! I have stayed at a lot of campgrounds, but the owners of True West have gone to a lot of trouble to make this horse camp truly a great experience. The barn is clean and well stocked with equipment, the stalls are well maintained , the campsite is cozy, clean has anything you could need for a stay. travelling alone with a rig, Shawn was helpful with hookups and dumping as well as checking on all the horses before bed. I felt totally comfortable leaving my horse there and of course the riding was spectacular. Would definitely go back.
Reviewed by: otis5047 on 10/25/2018 1:26:38 PM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 8/31/2018 Hometown: Stroudsburg, PA

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Loved our stay!! We had a wonderful time with True West! They were very accommodating and always so helpful! We also saw a bear while out riding the trails! Beautiful riding! Definitely will be going back! Thank you True West for everything!
Reviewed by: jackie_g on 10/21/2018 9:31:35 PM
 Experience: Expert Ride Date: 8/20/2018 Hometown: Scotts Hill, TN

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Fantastic Horse Camp, extraordinary service! I've been to True West a few times and keep returning. Top notch service, from check in to check out. The stalls were clean and ready for us upon arrival with Donna and Shaun helping with move in and even cleaning out our horse trailer. Service beyond expectation! We'll be back.
Reviewed by: tpompei on 10/16/2018 10:15:18 AM
 Experience: Expert Ride Date: 7/4/2018 Hometown: Centerville, OH

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Wonderful stay and wonderful people! Stayed at True West Campgrounds for a week in June 2018. Had a wonderful stay. The owners are very helpful and they do anything they can to make your stay pleasant and enjoyable. They are very horse friendly and the trail are awesome.
Reviewed by: L4694QFmarys on 10/12/2018 10:13:52 PM
 Experience: Not Specified Ride Date: 6/16/2018 Hometown: Butler, PA

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Our Spring Trip to ride in Big South Fork. Highly highly recommend Love True West, the Martins & their HORSEPOTALITY for both horse & rider! Large clean, level stalls for your horses, saddle racks, bridle hooks, water close by, wash bays, nice level sites for trailers & they are dog friendly too! There is no better place in my opinion to stay! As a matter of fact this was our 6th time GLAMPING (Glamour Camping) at TW. We’ll be back soon! Suzanne, Jim, Kahmir, Trigger, Cowboy & Roper
Reviewed by: Suzanne S on 10/10/2018 7:54:15 PM
 Experience: Expert Ride Date: 5/2/2018 Hometown: Leoma, TN

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Horsepitality like no other! Our group has traveled and horse camped together for several years. We are from Wisconsin, Illinois, and Missouri. My wife and I arrived late due to a flat tire on the way. I couldn't believe the concern and welcoming attitude of Shaun and Donna. We have never been anywhere that helps you settle in like they do. OMG! While we were getting our horses settled Shaun cleaned out our trailer. It was a real mess after two days and 855 miles of travel with three horses. I love their barn set up with plenty of wheel barrows and forks, roomy stalls, water accessibility, sawdust, and easy wheel barrow dumping. Wash stations for the horses were close to barns. The whole place was clean and well maintained. We are self contained so didn't use the shower houses, but when I looked at them they were neat and clean. Their camp rules are easy to comply with and I feel are in place to enhance your stay. Shaun will take you to other trail heads with prior arrangements..Rates are average, but cheap when you factor in amenities Only negatives I can give are very minor and really being picky. We'd like a sandy spot for horses to roll. Ours did use the round pen, but it was a bit hard from recent rains while we were there. As far as the Big South Fork Trails are concerned, we were disappointed. They are great for beginner riders and gated horses. Not challenging for us and we prefer single track trails. The trails are the only reason we probably will not return.
Reviewed by: Dan S on 10/9/2018 8:24:46 PM
 Experience: Expert Ride Date: 6/1/2018 Hometown: Mondovi, WI

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Great hosts, great trails, great accommodations! Shawn and Donna are wonderful hosts. From meeting your trailer with a fork and a cart to clean out the back and haul your tack and hay to your stalls, to providing detailed maps and directions to the trails, they are there to help make your stay enjoyable. Shawn was able to help us out with a rider who got overheated and met us out on the trails with a trailer to take her and her horse back to the barn. Our sites were close to the barn and the restroom/shower house and the stalls were airy and comfortable for our horses. They do have some large stalls for big horses (which I used to have and would have appreciated for them). The regular stalls are plenty big for our (now) more normal sized steeds! We just scratched the surface of trails available from the campground and will be back to explore some more. Nice deck and covered room where we got to watch the Belmont stakes!
Reviewed by: Marti C on 9/2/2018 12:19:11 PM
 Experience: Expert Ride Date: 6/4/2018 Hometown: Milton, IN

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We went for a Trail Riding weekend had a wonderful weekend at True West Campground. Hospitality was beyond excellent, clean stalls, campsite was level and well drained, nice trails leading out of camp, well descriptive maps of all the trails. We will most definitely return, hopefully for a longer stay.
Reviewed by: SherryG on 8/18/2018 3:00:45 PM
 Experience: Expert Ride Date: 6/1/2018 Hometown: Candler, NC

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Very nice and well run campground. Clean and friendly. Owners do more the necessary to help campers get in and set up. Barn was very safe and roomy. Camp and store very clean. Owners strive to make sure every guest is cared for and needs are taken care of. Camp is just off the trail heads so no need to ride long distance to vet to trails. Cowboy Wayne from Broken J Farms
Reviewed by: cowboywayne on 8/15/2018 7:59:40 PM
 Experience: Expert Ride Date: 5/25/2018 Hometown: Boonville, IN

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Great riding and great people! We love going to True West From the minute you get there until you leave they take care of you! I like pulling in and they help you unload everything at the barn and clean out your trailer. The views are beautiful with lots of trails. We will definitely be back again, hopefully soon!
Reviewed by: Deborah_H on 7/30/2018 4:22:02 PM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 5/25/2018 Hometown: Princeton, KY

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We arrived late and Donna and Shawn was waiting on us. Shawn went straight to the barn and help us get all settled in and helped us get our trailer set up for the night. Could not have asked for a better place to stay. They are always willing to help. We love the big barn they have for our horses.
Reviewed by: kathytrotter2 on 7/27/2018 7:53:25 PM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 5/7/2018 Hometown: Rogers, AR

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I came for a Family graduation visit. We had a wonderful time. We had to make day trips to Knoxville to visit family and felt safe leaving our horses behind. Stalls and barn are very nice. We got a chance to ride a couple of days. Trails were beautiful and Shawn and Donna were very helpful with descriptions of the trails . We are planning a return trip in September with additional family coming with us to ride. Nice campground. Looking forward to our return trip.
Reviewed by: Theresa G on 7/23/2018 7:44:28 PM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 5/8/2018 Hometown: Wickenburg, AZ

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We enjoyed our visit very much. We arrived later than we intended to that evening & Ms. Donna was there waiting on us. She helped us unload our horses, tack, ect. & picked out our trailer too. Campground was nice & bath houses were clean. Barn & stalls were good, it was nice having our tack there at the barn. Trails were good, wished we would have had more time to ride. We will definitely go back!
Reviewed by: AngieBradford on 7/21/2018 3:53:59 PM
 Experience: Expert Ride Date: 4/15/2018 Hometown: Town Creek, AL

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Horse Vacation! Thoroughly enjoyed it there was 11 of us that came down and spent a week at true West campgrounds the owners were very helpful the barn was really clean the trails were awesome would definitely recommend it for Trail Riders.
Reviewed by: Gary F on 7/21/2018 2:15:29 PM
 Experience: Expert Ride Date: 4/14/2018 Hometown: Burch Run, MI

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3rd time at BSF and 1st at True West. Went there due to ratings on this website and we were not disappointed. We have an LQ trailer and our stay was terrific. Excellent service, campground, trails, etc. Nice to have a store and have it open long hours. We will be back!
Reviewed by: NCwalkers on 7/7/2018 4:15:45 PM
More reviews by NCwalkers 		Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 5/25/2018 Hometown: COLUMBUS, NC

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Hags with Nags - This is the 2nd yr in a row that we have stayed with Shawn & Donna.. we always have a great time while there.. they go above & beyond to ensure everyone is having a wonderful experience.. the bath house is clean, the barns are well kept, the campground is clean.. This year was especially wonderful the trails were in really good shape... we will camp there again..
Reviewed by: Kat_J on 6/29/2018 8:23:18 PM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 4/27/2018 Hometown: Brandenburg, KY

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Great Place! The stalls are in great shape, a good place for the horses. Trails are well marked and easy to follow with beautiful scenery. Hookups are easy to back into. The gorge getting there was interesting but doable! Well be back for sure!
Reviewed by: Chelsey_H on 6/26/2018 9:58:21 PM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 4/27/2018 Hometown: Statesville, NC

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True West Campground owners were very accommodating and made sure our stay was great. They were extremely helpful with unloading horses, tack, hay and feed, and making sure your stay was pleasant. Camp had easy access to several trail heads. Barn and stalls were clean and well maintained. Campsites were also well cared for with all amenities working.
Reviewed by: qtrhrsrdr on 6/11/2018 8:35:09 PM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 6/8/2018 Hometown: Social Circle, GA

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Charit Creek Couples Ride. This is the second time we have been to True West and we love it. Sean and Donna are just the best hosts we have ever come across. This is a must stay at place!! The barn is clean and the stalls are in great shape. They care as much about our horses and they do us.
Reviewed by: LynP on 6/11/2018 7:58:28 PM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 4/16/2018 Hometown: Bruser, MO

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Always Amazing! Shawn and Donna are always striving above and beyond to meet the needs of their campers. If you happen to forget something, they probably have it in the store , and if the weather keeps you from enjoying the trails, they have a common area filled with games, movies, etc , so you can still enjoy your time away from home. Always a super accommodating stay. Between the cabin, camper, tent sites, water & electric sites, and the Marshall Suite, they’re sure to have a place that will accommodate all types of campers. They’ll even COOK FOR YOU at the Stage Coach Cafe! I had vehicle trouble during a previous stay & they offered to help me any way they could- really means a lot when you are hours from home! You can access some on TN’s most beautiful trails from True West and you can make the ride as easy or as challenging as you’d like. I’m partial to True West- it’s hard not to be once you’ve stayed there and been spoiled with their amazing hospitality . :)
Reviewed by: tennesseewbry on 6/10/2018 4:39:28 PM
 Experience: Expert Ride Date: 3/24/2018 Hometown: Woodbury, TN

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Shawn and Donna are always striving above and beyond to meet the needs of their campers. Info you happen to forget something, they probably have it in the store , and if the weather keeps you from enjoying the trails, they have a common area filled with games, movies, etc , so you can still enjoy your time away from home. Always a super accommodating stay. You can access some on TN’s most beautiful trails from True West and you can make the ride as easy or as challenging as you’d like. I’m partial to True West- it’s hard not to be once you’ve stayed there and been spoiled with amazing hospitality . :)
Reviewed by: kdavenport on 3/26/2018 7:58:46 PM
 Experience: Expert Ride Date: 3/27/2018 Hometown: Woodbury, TN

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What Can I say about True West? From the moment you pull in the stress goes away. I actually have stayed at True West for a week every year since 2015. Donna and Shawn are like family. Since my first visit I have had a running joke with Donna about pens, when she learned that I was diagnosed with kidney cancer this year, a whole box of pens arrived in my mail box. It made me laugh, an it also made me realize with Donna and Shawn, you aren't just a reservation. I have actually stayed 3 times at True West this year. My annual week of riding and camping, once when I just passed through on my way to Muddy Pond for Sorghum making, and over Thanksgiving when I had planned on riding but my horse was down, SO we went camping anyway. The trails are great easy or challenging. 2018 plans are made, see you then.
Reviewed by: the pen guy on 12/31/2017 9:16:48 PM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 4/22/2017 Hometown: Leicester , NC

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This is one of the best places I have ever camped! Everything is so clean, Owner's are always available for questions. I never feel like my horse is unsafe when we take a day off due to weather or we just want a trip to Muddy Pond. The fourth trip to True West was just as amazing as the first! My reservations for 2018 are already made!
Reviewed by: amanda sexton on 12/31/2017 8:36:20 PM
More reviews by amanda sexton 		Experience: Expert Ride Date: 4/23/2017 Hometown: Leicester, NC

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Great place, great people. Had a great time in spite of the rain. Can't wait to go back!
Reviewed by: MargaretF on 12/26/2017 12:16:59 AM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 4/23/2017 Hometown: Boaz, AL

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You will see us again soon, thank you.
Reviewed by: JoanieR on 12/25/2017 6:52:25 PM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 5/17/2017 Hometown: Owens Cross Roads, AL

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Excellent camp site and excellent host! They help you in anyway that you can think of whether it be getting directions or information on a certain trail or where local attractions may be. They even visit your camp site and set a spell with you just to make sure everything is ok. They even check the animals before they close up for the night. Cant wait to go back and highly recommend this camp site.
Reviewed by: TerryF on 12/25/2017 5:36:28 PM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 9/1/2017 Hometown: Maryville, TN

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Beyond my words! Safe, family oriented, accommodating.... best place I have found for my family! Met great new friends! Lasting memories! Even looked for us beyond the time for us to be expected back. Would recommend to anyone and everyone! We will be back!
Reviewed by: FrancisS on 12/25/2017 12:52:45 PM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 10/29/2017 Hometown: Lewisburg, TN

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Loved this campground!! Great people, super nice, beautiful campground, clean, and great customer service!!
Reviewed by: BrandyG on 12/24/2017 10:23:09 AM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 11/24/2017 Hometown: New Paris, OH

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Loved everything about True West. Looking forward to a return visit. Donna and Shawn were so nice. Highly recommended True West.
Reviewed by: MichelleD on 12/23/2017 3:06:55 PM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 11/24/2017 Hometown: Vestavia, AL

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Amazing place. Amazing owners! Rolled in at midnight due to 2 blown tires and a broken brake line. They were still up and helped us get the horses unloaded and in the barn and even cleaned out the trailer while we settled them into the stalls . The camp was clean and set up nice. The store had everything we needed. They even delivered the firewood we bought there to our campsite. They were more than willing to go through the maps and even give you turn by turn directions printed out if you would like them. I cannot say enough good things about Shawn and Donna. I will highly recommend this place to my friends!
Reviewed by: Sam D on 12/17/2017 2:55:16 PM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 8/15/2017 Hometown: Midland, OH

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Fun and Friendly..... a true vacation. We love True West Campground, the owners and service is wonderful. When you first check in you are helped with your tack by the owner, they do seem to go above and beyond making each trip a true vacation. We have been going to True West for five consecutive Thanksgivings and also other times if we can arrange it. But we will definitely be going back, come and join us. The trails are very nice, and so are the barns, stalls and the campground itself.
Reviewed by: Robin W on 12/16/2017 3:54:36 PM
 Experience: Expert Ride Date: 11/22/2017 Hometown: Croinh, ky

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Great Time! This was my first time to visit True West. I traveled about 4 hours and I chose to stay in the Marshall Suite. Upon arrival, the staff was very friendly and helped us get settled with our horses and our gear. The barn accommodations were great and the Suite was perfect for us. The suite does not have a kitchen sink but does have a full bathroom to supply hot water to clean up what few dishes we had. The suite also had plenty of room, bed space and living room area to accommodate several more than just us two. The trails that we rode we're very nice, offering access to some private trails and trails within BSF. I would stay here again and would recommend to anyone looking for a pleasant experience in a smaller campground setting.
Reviewed by: Teresa B on 12/16/2017 3:48:45 PM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 11/24/2017 Hometown: Horton, AL

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Best Place Ever! I haven't been back to Big South Fork in several years but had no hesitation selecting True West Campground when I arranged a riding trip with several friends in early November. How many places help you unload your horse, tack, feed and hay and THEN clean your trailer?! Brittany is hands down the sweetest hostess that met our every need, including making reservations at a local eatery. A huge hand to all of the owners for hosting an annual American Flag disposal dedication. Brought tears to our eyes. Clean stalls, bath house and sites with the added pleasure of feline personal lap heaters every evening when sitting on the front porch. Super nice and well organized place that I highly recommend.
Reviewed by: Paso2go on 11/27/2017 7:36:09 PM
 Experience: Expert Ride Date: 11/2/2017 Hometown: Murfreesboro, TN

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Great Place. We had the best time there! We have never before encountered the high level of service we received. Not even at any of the high end rv resorts. The campground is spotless, as is the barn and the bathhouse! We were helped with unloading our horse gear and then helped parking our trailer and rv. The owners are great! We also met some wonderful people from all over the country. We will definitely go back!
Reviewed by: Claudia F on 11/24/2017 7:08:26 PM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 10/16/2017 Hometown: Palatka, FL

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Great Place! We stayed in their cabin this fall. The hosts were very nice and helpful. The campground and shower house was very clean. The barns for the horses were very well kept as well. Wi-Fi at the office was a nice touch but I did not miss internet enough to use it much! We loved the riding from the campground. Very nice place overall! We are hoping to plan a trip back!
Reviewed by: otte6 on 11/24/2017 5:46:06 PM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 10/19/2017 Hometown: South Amana, IA

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Trails thru the private property were a bit muddy and slick from all the rain, but a beautiful ride to main trail. I love riding BSF and the TRUE WEST CAMPRGOUND is a nice place to stay. Camp ground is close to trail head and owners are super nice. The barns & stalls are very nice. The owners help you get settled upon arrival to include cleaning horse trailer, getting tack, feed & hay in place before you go to camp site. I am comfortable with the idea that if I decide to leave the campground my horses are safe. The owners are in and out of barn area several times a day, if a problem would arise it would be handled professionally. If you have not visited TRUE WEST you need to put on your bucket list.
Reviewed by: shortcake on 11/17/2017 11:49:25 AM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 11/5/2017 Hometown: limestone, tn

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Best of the best! This was our second trip back and Donna and Shawn treat you like your best next door neighbor. Great location, facility and all around hospitality that you could ever find at a campground. Everything is in order and very detailed all the way to the barn and your stall, clean and friendly. We will definitely be back and we are considering 2 trips next year.
Reviewed by: gregrussell618 on 11/16/2017 11:20:32 AM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 10/13/2017 Hometown: Creston, NC

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Great Camping and Riding Experience! This was my 2nd time staying (brought 9 friends with horses) at True West. The owners, Donna, Shawn, and Brittany are awesome, taking great care of us during our visit. They treated our horses like their own. They have a very nice indoor area for eating, dancing, or just hanging out. Shawn trailered us out to several trailheads. They make nightly horse "bed checks" making sure our horses are safely tucked in for the night. Thanks for a great vacation.
Reviewed by: ArleneS on 11/15/2017 7:08:16 PM
 Experience: Expert Ride Date: 10/6/2017 Hometown: Marietta, GA

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Our 7th time here! We have been coming here now for 7 years. Always the last week of September. You just can't find any place better to camp and ride horses. Campground is immaculate, the bathroom and shower house are kept so clean your not afraid to use them! The barn is top notch. Equine hotel you could say. Shawn and Donna, and Brittany work very hard to make you feel like you are truly welcome and a part of their family. So trot on over and visit them at the campground and ride some of the most scenic trails in East TN. at the Big South Fork.
Reviewed by: campinh on 11/15/2017 7:04:10 PM
 Experience: Expert Ride Date: 9/23/2017 Hometown: Scotts Hill, TN

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Another 5 star experience! This campground is by far the best we have ever been to! The owners are down to earth people who are kind and generous to their campers. We come back every year to this campground because it is simply the best. They take care of their campers and help them any way they can. Rates for this campground are reasonable. The sites and barn are always clean and neat. The bathhouses are kept clean. There is a general store to shop in and a large porch to sit and have fellowship with other campers. They are a kid and dog friendly camp. The trail access is great as well. There are 3 ways to hit the trails and have access to most of the park with a short trip across or beside the road to get to trail heads. We absolutely love this place and will keep coming back as long as we are able to!
Reviewed by: OliviaKillian on 10/23/2017 7:34:52 PM
 Experience: Expert Ride Date: 9/14/2017 Hometown: Vale, NC

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After a blown break line and two tire issues delayed our arrival time, and we rolled in @ midnight. Donna and Shawn still came out and greeted us, helped us unload our horses and tack and also cleaned the manure out of our trailer. Shawn then also helped us park our trailer. The next day they helped us locate a tire shop to get our tires replaced! Each day before we rode Shawn gave us turn by turn directions and a very accurate distance estimate. When it started getting late one night and we were not back they even checked with us to make sure we were ok and would make it back safely! The barn, and shower house was very clean. I Can't say enough good about this camp and it's host! Wonderful people, very well maintained campground!
Reviewed by: CherylD on 10/6/2017 9:48:06 AM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 8/15/2017 Hometown: Midland, OH

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True West is AWESOME! Beautiful place and well maintained. They couldn't be anymore helpful as they go passed above and beyond with the services they offer and are looking for ways to improve. I'll be back. Thanks for everything Shawn, Donna and Brittany!
Reviewed by: BillB on 10/1/2017 10:02:41 PM
 Experience: Beginner Ride Date: 7/3/2017 Hometown: Cookeville, TN

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Awesome facility, tons of trails. We stayed here the 2nd week of June and I will say it was an awesome trip. Slightly humid, but the trails are mostly shaded, so it was good. The barn is very well kept, and the sites were immaculate. The fish in the ponds were fun to watch and feed. I would highly recommend staying here.
Reviewed by: ErinO on 9/23/2017 11:55:46 AM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 6/13/2017 Hometown: Taylors Falls, MN

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We love this campground! It has a friendly fun atmosphere and the owners are like family. The barns and the sites are clean and tidy. The bath houses are large and kept clean. There is a porch for sitting and fellowship as well as a general store for anything you might need. The trail access is great as it's right in the middle of the park. There are trails for every kind of rider. The owners will gladly trailer you to a trailhead if you want to go to other portions of the park. We love this place and have been coming every year since 2012. Highly recommend to anybody wanting a great place to stay!
Reviewed by: Olivia on 9/19/2017 11:01:20 AM
 Experience: Expert Ride Date: 9/14/2017 Hometown: Vale, Nc

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We had such a great time at True West this trip. I owe a debt of gratitude to Donna who quite possibly saved the life of my husband when the horse he was riding reared up and went over backwards knocking both him and the horse out and pinning my husband under the horse. We were deep in the woods at the White Oak creek, heading to the O&W Bridge. Donna and I had just crossed the river and didn’t see my husband behind us so we went back across the river and found the horse lying on top of him. It was Donna’s calmness and ability to assess a life threating situation that kept me calm. Her expertise in handling horses prompted her position herself by straddling the horse’s neck and grabbing both of the horse’s front feet and tucking them up with a lead rope so the horse could not kick my husband in the chest or face or try to scramble up thus further injuring my husband. She then calmly told me to go down to the river and yell to the people that we saw taking our picture on the other side of the river, and to ask them for help. I also want to express my heartfelt thanks to those people who responded without hesitation and then took my husband to the hospital in their side by side. We had no cell phone coverage at that point, nor were we in the position for any emergency personnel to reach us. Donna remained calm throughout the whole situation even when my horse and my husband’s horse broke free and took off up the trail heading back to the trailer. Because of her leadership skills with people she quickly put the people who had responded to our call in charge of helping me with my husband while she took off after the run-away horses. Due to her knowledge about horse behavior she was able to capture them calmly without causing them to run further and was back at the scene before long where she quickly took charge again. I had never ponied a horse before but I had to learn fast. Donna’s calmness assured me that I could do it. We rode the eight miles back to the trailer at which point her husband Shawn was there waiting with the car to take me to my husband at the hospital. Our rescuers from the river called him when they were within cell phone reach. There are no adequate words that I could use to express my sincere thanks and gratitude for the kindness of Donna and Shawn Martin of True West and the wonderful people from Oneida who came to our rescue and transported my husband to the hospital. Quite possibly saving him from bleeding to death from the laceration he sustained on his upper thigh. Thankfully he has no serious injuries from that event. In spite of all this, True West is still our favorite place to camp not only at Big South Fork but in all of Tennessee. Donna and Shawn are wonderful camp hosts. Their facilities are always immaculate and they are eager to assist campers in any way they can. We look forward to our next great adventure next year and can’t wait to ride the trails again. I’d give them 100 stars if I could.
Reviewed by: nancys2horses on 9/12/2017 10:19:45 PM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 8/13/2017 Hometown: Memphis, TN

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Great folks! Nice Campground! We actually booked with another local campground near True West, when we made reservations there 6 months prior we made it clear that we wanted a trailer to access various trailheads. This campground had a trailer for use,....so they said. The trailer in question had 2 flat tires and the floor did not appear to be safe. They didn't live up to what they agreed upon. Needless to say we scrambled and found True West! They were more than accommodating for our party of 6 and 3 LQ horse trailers on Memorial Day weekend! It is a 1st Class facility and the BEST part is the owners! They are wonderful people that specialize in hospitality! If you want to see/ride the Big South Fork and DON'T stay at True West YOU are missing out! I'll never stay anywhere else when I am at The Big South Fork Recreation Area! 5 STARS from me!
Reviewed by: SamL on 8/28/2017 8:00:30 PM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 5/27/2017 Hometown: Good Hope, GA

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Amazing! We had an amazing time at true west... the owners Shawn and Donna were so friendly and helpful and always around if you had any questions or needed help deciding which trail to take or how long a trail would take you. The campground and bathrooms were always clean. The stalls were nice and roomy for the horses and it was easy to get water to them. We loved our experience and can't wait to go back
Reviewed by: SarahC on 8/12/2017 4:10:15 PM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 5/30/2017 Hometown: Dawson Springs, KY

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Ready to go back! If your looking for a great campground for you an your horses you have to try true west we had the best time there we went with another couple an rode the most beautiful trails an already making plans to go back.They unloaded our hay an our saddles right in front of our stalls an cleaned out our trailer after a long trip.They make you feel at home from the time you go through the gates until you leave them.Safty is a big concern of mine an there you don't have to worry they check on you an your horses through the night an that made me feel so much better. Youll love the trails the owners an very clean campground.
Reviewed by: Pauline M on 7/12/2017 3:34:17 PM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 5/27/2017 Hometown: Martinsville, OH

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Beautiful facility, terrific people, nice trails!! We just got home from spending a week at True West Campground, and I have to say it was the nicest campground i've ever been to (and i've camped all my life). The owners were terrific in taking care of their guests, and we couldn't of been happier! Thank you for going above and beyond to make sure your guests have a successful vacation! Happy Trails!
Reviewed by: Theresa A on 7/8/2017 10:59:48 AM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 4/28/2017 Hometown: Wilmington, Il

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No Comment
Reviewed by: Nikki Sacksteder on 6/26/2017 9:28:30 PM
 Experience: Not Specified Ride Date: 6/8/2017 Hometown: Brookville, IN, IN

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Great Hospitality!! True West is where you will want to stay for easy access to numerous horse trails in Big South Fork. There are a few campgrounds in the area, but none have measured up to the hospitality we have received at True West Campgrounds! The owners are on site and assist with unloading horses, tack, hay, and all your necessities you need to have at your stalls. They clean the manure out of the back of your trailer after horses are unloaded. This is nice after a long trip & keeps their barn area clean. Shawn will then assist in getting you parked comfortably at your campsite. Sites can accomodate large rigs/trailers/motorcoaches. All sites have water/electric and a few even have septic. Not into tent/trailer camping? They have the cutest cabin available for rent or "The Marshal's Suite" above the main office that can accommodate a family or a group of friends. Great set up for those with a trailer w/o living quarters. They even have an easy place to park your trailer. Stalls are 10×10, I believe. Plenty of room for the Belgian draft horse that we saw staying in the first barn. Sawdust is free for the stalls. Stall cleaning services are available during your stay or you can choose to opt for last cleaning for an additional fee. You can clean your stalls yourself as well. Departure day you must strip the stalls down to the bottom. Gates to stalls are sturdy & have 2 different closures for safety. 2 bucket holders are mounted in each stall. Bring hay bags as the stalls don't have hay feeders. Several wash racks are available for use. Water for horses is located in the middle of each barn. They have plenty of hose to reach all stalls so you don't have to carry buckets. Plenty of wheelbarrows, apple pickers, & shovels are located throughout both barns. Round pen available for use beside the first barn. The"chuck wagon" is open for breakfast hours Friday-Sunday as well as some afternoon/evening hours. We didn't eat there but other campers enjoyed grabbing a quick bite there before & after their rides. There are 2 clean, maintained, and well stocked bathrooms/shower houses for men & women. There is a mercantile that has all sorts of clothing, horse items, maps, ice, and various items. There is a general area that you can use free WiFi, play games, and grill on the attached deck. Now for the service & hospitality! Shawn & Donna Martin have done a wonderful job meeting the needs of their guests. We had reserved a campsite of our choosing several months prior to our stay. Unfortunately, we couldn't get our LQ level to our satifaction on the site due to its length despite several attempts w/Shawn's help..... at 11:30 pm! Shawn radioed the front office and then escorted us to the other sites that were available for our stay. We chose a site & Shawn cheerfully assisted in getting us parked & leveled....... at 12:00 am. Shawn & Donna are happy to answer any questions from places to ride, trail conditions, directions to attractions in the park & local area, places to eat, and things to do on the several rain days we experienced during our stay. They take care to make sure riders return from their rides & even pick up riders/horses from trail heads when they have become lost on the trail after dark. We bought a horse while in TN and Brittany shuffled stall arrangements so our new filly had a stall next to our other horses for the remainder of our stay. On the 3rd day of owning the filly we noted swelling/lump to the side of her abdomen. We treated her & went to bed for the night. Donna & Shawn do barn checks every night to make sure everything is secured & safe for the evening. Donna noted the swelling & attempted to call us. Our phones don't work well in the park area, so she came to our camper in the pouring rain at 10:30 pm when she couldn't reach us by phone to make sure we were aware of the filly's situation. She offered to call one of the vets in the area if we would like since our phones didn't have much service. We were so impressed the problem was noted & every effort was made to make sure our horse was taken care of. There were many other interactions w/Shawn & Donna and we felt they were great hosts. We also witnessed interactions with some very difficult guests during our stay, and we felt they were handled very well. We enjoyed our stay despite the inclement weather. Thank you True West Campgrounds for a great experience! We will be back. I hope this review was helpful. I would not hesitate to stay at True West!
Reviewed by: Steve W on 6/17/2017 12:59:33 PM
 Experience: Expert Ride Date: 4/28/2017 Hometown: Three Rivers, MI

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I was there for the Hags with Nags ride. This was our 1st time to True West. Donna & Shaun were awesome we checked in late in on a Friday night they helped us unload the horses and get them settled. The accommodations were fantastic. The barn was clean the stalls were clean and well kept. They have an awesome bath house that was clean and well equipped. It poured down rain the hole time we were there and Shaun still went out an made us breakfast which was very good. The grounds were are well maintained there are lots of trails to ride on and easily accessible. The gift shop has everything you may need in it. I will be returning it will be a regular place I go. Thanks True West
Reviewed by: Kat J on 6/17/2017 12:39:53 PM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 4/21/2017 Hometown: Brandonburg, ky

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We stayed in the Marshall Suite for 3 days. We had an awesome time there after 2 long days on the road! My family and I are not horse people but we wanted to visit BSF. Can't wait to go back there again next year and stay at TW again! The hiking in the park was terrific. Challenging enough to entertain our teenage boys but not so hard that we couldn't keep up. Thanks to Donna & Shawn for taking us to Charit Creek. Twin Arches was a beautiful place to watch the sunset! Donna & Shawn were wonderful hosts for our short visit! The bonfire was fun too! Thanks so much for everything!
Reviewed by: PaulDenise on 6/15/2017 9:53:45 PM
 Experience: Not Specified Ride Date: 5/15/2017 Hometown: Hampton Falls, NH

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Awesome Campground for both us & our horses. Love not only the Campground but the owners Donna & Shawn Martin who always go out of their way to accommodate their campers & their horses! We have been numerous times & are returning Fall 2017 this time we have invited friends from out of State to ride the pristine trails of Big South Fork River & Rec Area & introduce them to the Martins & their immaculate campground.
Reviewed by: Suzanne on 6/14/2017 6:18:00 PM
 Experience: Expert Ride Date: 6/2/2017 Hometown: Leoma, TN

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We are from OK, and this was our first time staying at True West and we had an awesome experience! Our site was by one of the ponds and was very spacious. Mark cleaned out our horse trailer for us when we arrived and helped us find our camping site. He writes the horse's names on a small chalkboard on each stall, and ur site number, in case of a problem with ur horse. The trails were easy to follow and very well maintained. The barns were clean and nice. My horse got spooked and stepped on a rake and broke it and Shawn was very nice about it and told us not to worry about it. The mercantile shop is really convenient and has a little bit of everything. We had trouble with our truck when we arrived and Shawn was very nice to follow my husband to a repair shop and bring him back, then take him back to get it. Awesome people! We enjoyed our 10 nights there!
Reviewed by: pwhis on 6/13/2017 3:01:02 PM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 4/24/2017 Hometown: Muskogee, OK

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The stalls are clean & plenty of them! Friendly staff with everything you need on site! Clean bathrooms & showers. They provided free sawdust & the option of paying to have your stall cleaned. A nice little retail shop for all things cowboy ( or girl)
Reviewed by: Dian B on 6/13/2017 2:56:37 PM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 4/7/2017 Hometown: Loudon, TN

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Donna and Shawn are the nicest people you could ask for. Shawn was very helpful when we arrived giving better service than I have ever received anywhere. After being there four days when we wanted to leave our motorhome got stuck, because of the several days of rain, and my screw up. Shawn came out at 7 AM on a Sunday morning and helped me make a potential catastrophe into a none event. I can't say enough about how they made our stay very enjoyable. Highly recommend this place if you want to enjoy you trip. Thanks again.
Reviewed by: LarryV on 6/12/2017 5:34:33 PM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 5/2/2017 Hometown: Austin, AR

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We had an amazing time at true west... the owners Shawn and Donna were so friendly and helpful and always around if you had any questions or needed help deciding which trail to take or how long a trail would take you. The campground and bathrooms were always clean. The stalls were nice and roomy for the horses and it was easy to get water to them. We loved our experience and can't wait to go back
Reviewed by: Sarah C on 6/12/2017 5:21:27 PM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 5/23/2017 Hometown: Dawson Springs, ky

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We pulled into True West after a hard drive, anxious to unload, take care of horses and ourselves. To our surprise check in was easy and thorough and to top it off Shawn lead us to the barn and helped unload then cleaned out the back of the trailer! We had what they called a "shared site" with our friends, they encouraged awning to awning parking, how nice is that! We where first timers there with winter horses, hadn't seen a hill yet, the Martin's understood and where able to recommend trails that wouldn't over work out horses. On Saturday we had covered dish Mexican night. It was such fun to get to know our host Donna and Shawn Martin! Really looking forward to going back! What a wonderful horse camp!
Reviewed by: djar on 5/31/2017 8:59:37 PM
More reviews by djar 		Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 3/10/2017 Hometown: Bethel, OH

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I think we have found our favorite place to go.owmers are great they take care of you an your horse from the time you pull in until you leave.An that sure makes you feel safe.campgrounds an barns are wonderful clean an we'll kept.I can see why they got 5 stars cause that is what I have them.trails are great we'll marked an kept up.cant wait to go back hated to leave so next time we'll plan on a longer stay. You need to try this place just don't take my word for it.
Reviewed by: Robert mozena on 5/17/2017 9:17:40 PM
 Experience: Expert Ride Date: 5/10/2017 Hometown: Martinsville, Oh

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HAD A SUPER DUPER TIME AT TRUE WEST CAMPGROUND - PEOPLE WERE AWESOME - DONNA AND SHAWN ARE VERY ACCOMODATING - HELPED WITH UNLOADING HORSE AND OUR TACK, DONNA WAS A TRUE HOST, FRIENDLY AND HELPFUL, CHUCK WAGON WAS GREAT FOR A BITE TO EAT. TOTALLY LOVE THIS PLACE AND LOVED RIDING THERE, ONE OF MY BUCKET LIST ITEMS AND WAS SO GLAD I GOT TO ACCOMPLISH THIS. TRUE WEST IS CLEAN AND KEPT UP GREAT - BARNS WERE GREAT FOR THE HORSES AND OUR CAMPSITE WAS CLEAN AND ACCESSIBLE - WOULD DEF. GO BACK HERE AND LOVED MEETING THE OWNERS. THEY ARE DOING AN AWESOOME JOB
Reviewed by: PEGSWAY on 5/15/2017 9:07:20 AM
 Experience: Expert Ride Date: 4/28/2017 Hometown: ELGIN, IL

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Barn turned into a social place and was very handy with tack & feed as they helped you move it from your trailer when you pulled in. Met a lot of great people there! Had a nice wash station & turn out for your horse. Common area was nice with tv to watch football and also had a great 2 man band on Sat. Store was very cute and what a variety! Every night found out info on trails to ride the next day and they always knew the milage and would go over the trails and show you on map so I loved that! I had their map and a different one too so we did well. Had some quick snacks out of Stage Coach trailer which was nice. The riding is Great! Rode to Fiddlers Arch, Hippy Cave, WildCat Den, Cumberland Valley, Grooms Branch, N White Oak & OL, Coyle Branch, Yellow Face, Salt Pine Trail, Leatherwood, missed bear here by 10 minutes, and saw Hwy Bridge. Was 750 miles for us and would go back! Very helpful with trail & local information. We drove to Sgt. Alvin York and enjoyed the site seeing. Shawn, Donna & Brittany have good personalities for their business! Thanks from Morris & Linda Dolph & Alice
Reviewed by: Linda & Morris Dolph on 1/17/2017 5:45:20 PM
More reviews by Linda %26 Morris Dolph 		Experience: Expert Ride Date: 10/5/2016 Hometown: Waterloo, IA

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We came down from Wisconsin to check out True West Campground for the first time. It is everything we imagined and more. From the minute we pulled in we were greeted by the owners, Donna and Shaun, and they helped us with everything from cleaning out our trailer to unloading our tack. We had the unfortunate luck of one of our horses getting hurt and Donna helped us with everything. She got ahold of the vet and helped us take care of him. He healed up great and she pointed us to some of the awesome sites to see here in TN. Shaun even helped us repair our trailer. They are ways right tbere to help you anyway they can. We will definately be back. 5 stars from me!!
Reviewed by: BrendaMcfarland on 12/30/2016 11:04:21 AM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 11/3/2016 Hometown: Deerfield, WI

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We had the best time riding and talking to the owners we arrived and they cleaned out your trailer for you and hauled your tack to your stall for you and the camping area was very clean and so close to the trails we will be back.
Reviewed by: Chuck Mcfarland on 12/30/2016 11:00:47 AM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 11/3/2016 Hometown: Deerfield, WI

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We just got back from a long weekend of trail riding and camping at True West. Highly recommend this place. Well run, clean and friendly campground. Plenty of directions for trails and helpful tips. Located right at the trail heads. They have a nice gift and supply store and they offer breakfast and lunch via a food cart. Would love to go back!
Reviewed by: Laura Krelwitz Groenier on 12/30/2016 10:56:44 AM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 10/30/2016 Hometown: Oregon, WI

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Wrangler and I had an awesome stay at True West. Great pride in this place and it shows! I mean hey, they help you unload and even clean your trailer for you. Better than family. :) Many thanks for a wonderful few days!
Reviewed by: Amanda Jahnke Sauer on 12/29/2016 6:32:31 PM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 10/30/2016 Hometown: Lourdes, IA

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What an amazing place. One of the best horse camping places that we have experienced. Great camp sites and great horse barn. Shawn and Donna were so accommodating and unloaded all of our hay and feed when we arrived. Leaves were changing and October was the perfect time of the year. The only concern is that the back of horse trailer was too far up for me to reach the doors when parked because the site had a drop off in the back. Other than that, it was perfect. We will definitely go back. Comment; I would like to see some evening activities.
Reviewed by: Vicky Burns on 12/29/2016 3:58:06 PM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 10/24/2016 Hometown: Granbury, TX

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We had a WONDERFUL time at True West!!! Donna, Shawn, Brittany and Mark were all so courteous. Upon arrival, Shawn and Mark unloaded our horses, put them in their stalls, cleaned out our trailers, unloaded all our hay, feed and tack, and got us set up in our camping spots. All the feed and tack are kept right at your stalls since horses are not allowed at the camping areas for safety and cleanliness. The barn was great and the stalls were more than adequate. Bedding was supplied every day at no charge. The riding in Big South Fork was spectacular this time of year. Leaves were changing brilliant colors every day, trails were mostly sand vs rocks, and the scenery just couldn't be beat. My ONLY complaint was with the trail map and some areas not marked (hence the 4 star vs 5). It was a VERY long drive for us since we drove from Fort Worth, TX but the whole trip was well worth it! Thank you Donna, Shawn, Brittany and Mark!
Reviewed by: Tammy Dressman on 12/29/2016 3:54:01 PM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 10/23/2016 Hometown: Granbury, TX

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I have NEVER had people work so hard to make us feel welcomed. The stalls were great, campground was wonderful, everything we needed was right there. Trails were nice. Could not ask for anything different. Thank you!
Reviewed by: Donna Birthisel on 12/28/2016 4:56:56 PM
More reviews by Donna Birthisel 		Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 10/16/2016 Hometown: Ripley, WV

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Donna and Sean do such a great job here. We couldn't ask for a better experience. Everything is kept so clean. Would love to go back!
Reviewed by: Teresa Boldwin on 12/28/2016 4:50:06 PM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 10/13/2016 Hometown: Danville Center, VT

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Best hospitality ever received while camping. The riding was great and beautiful trails for all level of rides!! Owners were so friendly - felt like family! Restrooms and bath house cleanest I've been to!
Reviewed by: Catherine Phillips on 12/28/2016 4:35:59 PM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 10/10/2016 Hometown: Benton, KY

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Reviewed by: Haley Jones on 12/28/2016 4:25:21 PM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 8/13/2016 Hometown: Nashville, TN

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Did not want to leave! Trails are awesome, Campground and facilities and owners are awesome. It is truly a first class establishment.
Reviewed by: Kimberly Decouto on 12/28/2016 4:21:14 PM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 6/30/2016 Hometown: Beaver, PA

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True West is an excellent place to stay and ride your horses. The owners are very helpful and hospitable, they help you clean out your trailer upon arriving, carry your tack to barn, feed, ect...You can't ask for any better host bar none! The accommodations for your horses are wonderful. The riding is great, with something for everyone to enjoy. I will be back ,love it there!!!
Reviewed by: AudreyRody on 12/28/2016 4:10:02 PM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 6/16/2016 Hometown: Columbia, TN

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This was our Third Time at True West, I usually review each time right after the trip. Didn’t get to it, but just happened to see True West getting awarded another best campground award. Congratulations!! Then read some of the reviews. I am glad to see most people feel the same as me, this campground is the best. The rules are in place for the campers safety and comfort. Not all people like to have dogs running loose in the barns, grounds. Frankly the rules did not bother me in the least, I had no problem with them as I didn’t plan on breaking them. As the last two times with the Martins, Shawn, Donna, Brittany they were wonderful hosts. The barns was clean, the bathrooms/bathhouse were clean, the campground was clean and neat. We were there at Halloween for a costume contest and they had several campers and horses participate. Fun! Shawn trailered us out to a trailhead for a ride, we gave him a gratuity for his time and expense. He never asked but it is the right thing to do. They really work very hard and it is really nice to see them, get these award/s. We (all six of us) had a great time once again. We will be back again in the future.
Reviewed by: Kay Workley on 12/18/2016 3:50:51 PM
More reviews by Kay Workley 		Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 10/28/2016 Hometown: Culleoka, TN

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Great place to camp! Owners are wonderful! Very accommodating! Great place for kids!!! The riding is beautiful! Can't wait to go back!
Reviewed by: Laura White on 12/15/2016 11:25:41 AM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 6/16/2016 Hometown: Princeton, KY

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We loved it there. We were on our honeymoon and rode every day. Can't wait to go there again. . Thank you so much
Reviewed by: Andy Bradford on 12/13/2016 4:06:49 PM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 6/4/2016 Hometown: Moulton, AL

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Thank you for a great week. Wonderful campground and great people.
Reviewed by: Ronda Morris on 12/13/2016 3:53:14 PM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 5/29/2016 Hometown: Reidland, KY

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Super friendly people, safe and comfortable facilities, clean and well maintained grounds, loved it!! We will be back in October!!
Reviewed by: Jillian Pollock on 12/13/2016 3:43:23 PM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 5/27/2016 Hometown: Jamestown, OH

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Very nice campground. Shawn and Donna go out of their way to help you . Love the riding at BSF.
Reviewed by: gina mcgee on 12/13/2016 3:39:56 PM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 5/20/2016 Hometown: Mulberry, TN

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Love the Big South Fork, True West is the place to stay for you and your horse, good trail access. Camp host and hostess.... The Best!!
Reviewed by: Shelba Hicks on 12/9/2016 3:07:57 PM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 5/11/2016 Hometown: Leakesville, MS

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Reviewed by: Tracie Dunn on 12/9/2016 2:57:54 PM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 5/10/2016 Hometown: Paris, KY

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We just got back from staying at True West Campground. Very nice, clean campground, barns, and trails. The owners, Shawn and Donna were very helpful from checking in to leaving. We will definitely stay here again when we return to Big South Fork.
Reviewed by: Lisa May on 12/9/2016 2:53:11 PM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 4/9/2016 Hometown: Cynthiana, KY

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This is in response to Tammy's review. We're sorry you felt you had such a terrible time in August 2013 & May 2014 when you were here. Your first review (if you scroll down to 8/6/2013) said you had a great time and would be back! We gave you the same great hospitality the next trip in May 2014. Our rules are few - just 7 of them - and they are posted in more detail on our website but are abreviated during checkin (which usually takes no more than 10 minutes) so we can get your horses off the trailer as quickly as possible. Rules are for the safety and courtesy of all, both human and animal. We do have a waiver that is lengthy (one page long) but that is a liability waiver that everyone must sign and it is required by insurance. Most campgrounds have this. We also have a copy of that on our website if you wanted to read it in advance. And when Shawn helps everyone unload in the barn, he follows up with "let me tell you about the barn" - it is not "let me tell you about the rules". The only one rule he adds is the food in the fire pits. This is to stop the WILD animals from being attracted to the campground. We do have bears and coyotes as well as skunks and raccoons. We wouldn't mention it if people didn't do it. Unfortunately you'll encounter rules everywhere you go. As for the posts about Kimba (my kitty that was killed), I feel I had a good reason for that. A perfect reason we must reiterate the rules when people check in. I'm sorry that our campground did not suit you but we do appreciate you giving us a try. Shawn & Donna
Reviewed by: trooperflash on 11/29/2016 12:04:53 AM
 Experience: Not Specified Ride Date: 11/28/2016 Hometown: Jamestown, TN

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My stays were actually in 2014 & 1015 but after seeing and hearing so many things I feel the need to give my review. We have stayed at True West a couple of times and on our last stay we decided we would never go back. Our first trip was a guided trail ride to Charit Creek (26 miles round trip). We enjoyed that stay for the most part and camped very close to the barn. A letter size sheet of paper with ALL of the barn and campground rules had to be signed that we had read and understood them. Like we honestly had time to read them during the check in process and paying. We had traveled 3.5 hours to get there and the horses were still on the trailer so we didn't really have time to read the rules. Once we had our trailer in our campsite and the horses in their stalls, we were met by Shawn and verbally given the barn rules and campground rules and this happened with both of our stays. Don't throw any trash or food scraps in the fire to burn, don't leave anything or any food scraps on the ground or out because they don't want their dogs and cats eating it. Honestly, I truly believe that most adults don't need to be verbally given rules of the campground. If you feel you need to give verbal rules then please make a note in the file that you've stated you keep on your campers that I have been there before and that you did not have any problems from us. I have seen a few complaints on here about how long the barn is and I would like to comment on that. The barn is extremely long and the stalls are nice but the problem is when you have to muck your stalls daily and you're at the front end of the barn, you have to dump your wheel barrow at the other end. If your campsite is at the bottom of the hill, you have a good hike up a hill to the barn. Our second trip, we took some family members and some friends with us for another guided trail ride. This time we were not informed in advance that this guided ride would be an additional fee per rider. My husband and I had just camped the weekend before at Timber Ridge so we knew where all the sites were and told our group we would take them on the trails. Our campground was at the bottom of the hill and within the verbal barn/campground rules we were told that we were not to take our horses down the hill because it would cause problems with the grass and damage to the hill. If we wanted to take our horses to our trailers we had to take them around using the gravel drive around the camp. It was preferred that we leave our feed, saddles and tack in the barn in front of our horses stalls. When we were on the trails, Shawn saw us and made the comment "so you decided to do the ride after all". When we arrived on our second trip and after we were set up and thinking about taking a short ride out, my husband asked Shawn if there were any trails directly out of the campground, behind it or any that were close. Shawn's response was not really, there's one over there (and pointed) and that's all he said. I never felt welcomed to be there by Shawn really. I don't feel the trails are close enough to the campground and you have to ride on a gravel road for about a mile or so before you hit a trail. The trails are nice on the state park but if you're looking to see Hippy Cave, Wildcat Den or any others, you will be riding from morning until dark. Donna was very friendly when we arrived both times and was very social on the Charit Creek ride. I have seen a lot of posts on Facebook from Donna when she gets upset with campers and the problems they cause or the extra work those campers cause her or her husband. There was an instance where one camper's dog killed her cat and I can completely understand her pain there but she proceeded to go on to tell everyone how those campers couldn't even return her call. She's complained about campers not mucking stalls daily and leaving them to do the stripping. I don't think an owner of a business should go on and on about their horrible campers and that she'll be making a note in their file to charge them more or to up the rate with a possible refund. I don't understand how this place is receiving so many awards/campground/RV camground of the year to be honest. I have run in to so many people on the trails that refuse to go back for a lot of the same reasons I won't go back. One example I was told about was that this couple had arrived a few hours earlier than their "check in" time so Shawn charged them an additional $12.00.
Reviewed by: TammySelvidge on 11/28/2016 3:59:46 PM
More reviews by TammySelvidge 		Experience: Expert Ride Date: 5/1/2016 Hometown: Cleveland, TN

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We had a fabulous experience at True West Campground! The owners were extremely accommodating and the campground was clean and well cared for. Our horses were very comfortable in their roomy stalls in the barn. We were there for Thanksgiving and they prepared us a scrumptious traditional thanksgiving feast. Easy access to trails in Big South Fork that were well marked. All in all a great experience.
Reviewed by: Liznjack on 11/27/2016 12:50:15 PM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 11/21/2016 Hometown: La Salle, Il

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The owners were very helpful with information about trail routes and conditions. The camp and barn facilities and services were outstanding. The location makes access to trail heads on the west side of the Big South Fork convenient. The other campers were very friendly. Ice is available on-site and fuel is available less than 10 miles from camp.
Reviewed by: Boiler Maker on 11/7/2016 7:57:36 AM
 Experience: Expert Ride Date: 10/22/2016 Hometown: Sunman, IN

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Went to true West for our 3rd time in October 2016. As usual we had an excellent experience. We were promptly checked in, then able to unload our horses and gear at the barn. The owners help with this and even clean out your trailer. The camp is extremely neat and clean. They haul the manure away frequently which i believe is important and helps with the overall cleanliness of the facility. The bathroom/shower sheds are clean and warm. The owners were very helpful in selecting trails for our riding and even took us in a trailer to an outlying trailhead to start our ride. The trails are pretty easy, well marked, and there are not small loops here. The rock formations are fabulous. Shawn, Donna, and Brittany are friendly and helpful. They are constantly working to improve things. This year they added a food concession. We only ate there once, breakfast, but it was a wonderful and tasty breakfast sandwich on a bagel. Hot off the grill!! I would highly recommend this camp for any level of equestrian.. We met some wonderful people there.
Reviewed by: rachelv on 11/4/2016 7:54:58 PM
More reviews by rachelv 		Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 10/25/2016 Hometown: Chardon, OH

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Nice covered barn, free stall shavings, clean bathrooms, cute store, close to trails, they have detailed,written directions for the trails, campground owners are very nice and helpful, unload your tack, gear and hay and transport to the barn, clean out the back of your trailer. Will definitely come back again!
Reviewed by: Becky G on 11/4/2016 1:55:00 PM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 10/28/2016 Hometown: Brooklyn, WI

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This is a very nice campground. The barns and campground are clean and easy to navigate with the larger trailers. Trails are easy for the beginner riders.
Reviewed by: Sharon Bryant on 10/17/2016 9:12:54 AM
 Experience: Expert Ride Date: 10/12/2016 Hometown: Memphis, TN

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True West is truly an A+ establishment!!! Very well located to many trail heads. Shawn and Donna are the most amazing hosts offering full service camping facilities with something for everyone! You feel like you are family the minute you arrive. We camped at TW for 10 days and will be back again for sure.
Reviewed by: Tammy Phinney on 10/16/2016 3:50:40 PM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 10/3/2016 Hometown: Baskerville, VA

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The service and accommodations at the campground surpass any I have experienced in my 5 years of horse camping.I especially appreciated the trailer cleaning and availability of supplies such as water, shavings, etc. for my horse. The trails were perfect, mid-level riding. I found them to be challenging, but not killer. The scenery was wonderful. I appreciated feeling like we had an elevated riding experience, but neither my horse nor I felt ready to drop over. I would definitely return to the area and campground.
Reviewed by: nortiviv on 9/25/2016 7:45:16 AM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 9/8/2016 Hometown: Wisconsin Rapids, WI

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I have been here 2 times. Both times I had a great time. The campground is clean, well kept, level sites. most important, customer service is great!! The barn is also very well kept and plenty of shavings near by. I recommend that you go here for a trip. Make sure you talk to Shawn, he knows the trails well and give you great advice on the type of trail you prefer.
Reviewed by: tom licata on 9/14/2016 11:00:17 PM
More reviews by tom licata 		Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 9/11/2016 Hometown: rapidan, va

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Very well kept campground and the hosts were very accommodating. friendly and helpful.
Reviewed by: Sheila Hinman Staelens on 9/13/2016 7:12:29 PM
 Experience: Expert Ride Date: 9/9/2016 Hometown: Oriskany Falls, NY

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True West gets a 5 star because the staff and facility exceeded my expectations in all ways. Cleaning out your trailer and moving all your hay, feed, tack, etc... I mean wow! Trails get a 4 because they are fairly rocky and eroded. There are many places where erosion control has been put in place but much more is needed. Geologic sites were spectacular.
Reviewed by: Nancy Adams on 9/12/2016 5:09:49 PM
 Experience: Expert Ride Date: 9/10/2016 Hometown: Savannah, , TN

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This was our 2nd time to stay at True West, it will not be our last! Our 5th time to ride in BSF. We have been horse camping in the South and South East for 25 years. True West is by far the best!!!!. Donna and Shawn do every thing possible to make your stay as good as possible. They help unload your trailer when you arrive. They are very friendly, checking with you your whole stay to be sure you are satisfied with their camp. The barns are very good, they even make a check of all horse before they go to bed at night just to be sure all is well. They are very, very knowledgeable of the trails and give good advice. You can ride out of camp to many miles of trails or Shawn will trailer you to other locations. The riding is beautiful, well kept, and there are trails for any level of rider.
Reviewed by: PEGGY HARRIS on 9/12/2016 2:50:00 PM
More reviews by PEGGY HARRIS 		Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 9/7/2016 Hometown: Louin, MS

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Unfortunately I was not aware that all of the trails around the camp have 20+ miles in a loop. I am only able to ride 5-10 miles at a time, so this was a disappointment. The camp owner will take you by stock trailer to the park for shorter rides, but they are still quite long. There are charges at the campground for everything, including the dump station. We had never run into that before.
Reviewed by: Newmoovet on 9/12/2016 1:13:40 PM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 9/5/2016 Hometown: Renfrew, PA

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this was one of the best campgrounds I have rode at. they met us at the trailer and help unload everything. cleaned the manure out of the trailer. Very friendly and takes very good care of the campground. the trails were great too.
Reviewed by: cheryl jackson on 8/26/2016 7:08:36 PM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 8/12/2016 Hometown: ashland city, tn

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The campground is neat and clean. The barn is great. The owners are the fantastic. They help you unload your horses and get settled. THey are very friendly and helpful. Sean knows the trails very well. Reasonable prices. Love staying there.
Reviewed by: DebraWorthington on 8/15/2016 4:25:40 PM
 Experience: Not Specified Ride Date: 8/12/2016 Hometown: Spring City, TN

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Campground was very clean and friendly. Owners made the stay as pleasant as possible. Loved the barn accommodations!! Would definitely recommend a stay to anyone!!
Reviewed by: Christy raszkowski on 8/3/2016 4:13:36 AM
 Experience: Expert Ride Date: 7/28/2016 Hometown: Union city, IN

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I was surprised when the owner met us at the barn to help us unload hay, feed, tack etc... Shavings are provided free of charge. Super nice barn.
Reviewed by: Lisa Taylor on 8/2/2016 9:52:06 PM
More reviews by Lisa Taylor 		Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 7/27/2016 Hometown: utica, ky

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We had a great time and never worried about the horses or anything when we were out exploring. I love the True West campground and trail access. The hospitality was awesome!!
Reviewed by: Sandy Witherspoon on 7/22/2016 1:39:52 PM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 5/7/2016 Hometown: Baltimore, OH

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The campground is very clean and well maintained. There are nice spots for your horse trailer, plug ins etc. I arrived at 9:30 at night, exhausted after a 9 hour drive and a flat tire in the mountains. The staff welcomed me, escorted my trailer over to the barn, and loaded all of my horse equipment - hay, feed, saddle - into a jeep and drove it right up to my stall and unloaded it all for me. I had the horse settled in her stall, and me in my trailer spot in less than 30 min. It was very nice after a long haul getting there. The trail head into big So. Fork is right off the property and the trails there are great. The cell service is non existent but the owners let you use their land line for emergencies. I had a great experience there and will return.
Reviewed by: JeannieJ on 7/21/2016 2:22:47 PM
More reviews by JeannieJ 		Experience: Expert Ride Date: 9/24/2015 Hometown: Aiken, SC

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The campground and hosts (Donna and Shaun) were absolutely top notch. The trails were also some of the nicest terrain I've ever ridden. They were mainly sand covered with some sandstone rocks in places. Overall, I would rate the whole experience an A+.
Reviewed by: patty wright on 7/13/2016 11:52:38 AM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 6/25/2016 Hometown: West Sunbury, PA

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Everything was GREAT.
Reviewed by: Lenora.rainey on 7/13/2016 9:19:20 AM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 7/1/2016 Hometown: White Bluff, TN

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This was our first time to stay at this camp and it was great!! Check-in was easy, then Mark help us unload all of our gear into the barn, which I wasn't to sure about doing but turned out to be great! He then helped unload the food for the horses and helped set us up in the barn. Very clean and nice big barn, plenty of room in isleway and nice clean,safe stalls. Then he cleaned out the trailer!! We then got the trailer set up, nice clean campground. The trails we rode were nice, clean and mostly shaded, plenty of water too. We would absolutely stay there again !!
Reviewed by: Jo Ann Worthington on 6/7/2016 9:12:40 AM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 5/27/2016 Hometown: Sadieville, KY

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Our week at True West was wonderful. Shawn, Donna & Brittany did everything they could to make us feel welcome. The camp & barn is clean and very well taken care of. Leaving your tack in the barn made me nervous at first, but then to see that Shawn was constantly in the barn working, I relaxed and all was great. The camp is definitely 5*. I gave the trails a 4* due to the length of the trails. They were beautiful, but very long. I wish there had been more cutoffs. Shawn did offer the use of their day haul trailer to get us closer to location, so the ride would not be as long.
Reviewed by: tlsullenger3 on 6/1/2016 4:05:10 PM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 5/22/2016 Hometown: Kevil, KY

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We had a great family vacation at True West! Our 7 year old daughter had a blast. Her and her horse went through the trails like champs. Some trails are smoother than others, but we enjoyed them all. We are already planning on coming back in the fall. Shaun, Donna and Brittany are great people and try very hard at making your experience the best. We loved it!!
Reviewed by: Danielle and Van Rouse on 6/1/2016 2:30:48 PM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 5/27/2016 Hometown: Tazewell, TN

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Awesome! Shawn, Donna and Brittney are terrific hosts. The facility is clean and complete. The location to trail heads is very good and I can't wait to return.
Reviewed by: shelley serota on 6/1/2016 2:20:17 PM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 5/25/2016 Hometown: Kenosha, WI

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We were scheduled to stay just 3 days and ended up staying a week. We couldn't have been treated better. The camp and stables is clean and has everything you could possibly want, Shawn and his crew will do anything you need, from helping you unload, cleaning the barn, hauling your tack and making you feel 100% welcome! We were surprised to have a pork BBQ dinner, a chocolate fondue and most important a massage therapist there at the camp! The trail head is just across the road to Big South Fork destinations such as E.Laurel overlook,the O&W rail trail, Hippie cave, Wild Cat Den and much more. This is a good and fun place to stay in the Big South Fork area. We will be back, Jim and Debbi Payne
Reviewed by: Jim Payne on 5/23/2016 4:15:21 PM
 Experience: Expert Ride Date: 5/16/2016 Hometown: Scott Depot, WV

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We had a great time even with two rainy days. Shawn took us out for an 18 mile ride which was great. He is a hard worker for sure and we were glad to have him with us. The facilities were very clean and nice. I have no complaints at all Thank you Donna and Shawn.
Reviewed by: Rustee Shoffner on 5/22/2016 6:31:42 PM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 5/15/2016 Hometown: Russiaville, In

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Staff was extremely helpful...stayed in camper was clean... beautiful view ...bath house very nice and clean ...stalls were also very nice... Trails were maintained and some were rocky was glad we had pads and shoes
Reviewed by: A poortenga on 5/18/2016 1:12:33 PM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 5/9/2016 Hometown: oxford, fl

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Great place to camp! Friendly clean and accommodating. Donna and Shawn really know how to run an equestrian campground. Regarding the riding, ride out from camp. There are private trails that belong to the equestrian community across the street. You ride those to get out to the BSF. Rides into the BSF will tend to be long so bring lunch. Or you can stay in the private community trails for a 2 - 4 hour ride. Arrangements can be made to trailer out to some further trailheads. They will take you, drop you off and you ride back to camp. Trails vary from sandy and wide to rocky and narrow. This was our second time here coming from Florida and will definitely be back.
Reviewed by: PattyH on 5/16/2016 5:07:51 PM
 Experience: Expert Ride Date: 5/7/2016 Hometown: Summerfield, FL

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Reviewed by: JoAnn Gross on 5/12/2016 4:03:43 PM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 5/5/2016 Hometown: Blanchester, OH

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Camp and stalls were well maintained. Hosts were very considerate and helpful. Will definitely return. Can't wait to go back.
Reviewed by: Micdavis on 5/5/2016 9:35:21 PM
 Experience: Expert Ride Date: 4/28/2016 Hometown: Perryville, MO

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True West has a great horse camp. The host are great. The Cumberland Valley Trailhead is only a short ride on well maintained private trails from the camp. It was very clean and the barns were great.
Reviewed by: Gina Roberts on 5/5/2016 1:52:46 PM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 4/23/2016 Hometown: Newport, TN

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Once again Ture west pulled out all the stops and it was 5 star treatment all the way! Our 3rd trip and the fourth is already on the books for next year. Clean restrooms, clean campground, and a really safe environment for us and our horses. A trip or 2 to Muddy Pond and we knew the horses were in good hands. I love that Donna and Shawn aren't complacent with their accomplishments at True West and are continually improving on an already great place to stay. The trails are your choice, easy and relaxing (a wonderful place for gaited horses, or non-gaited, you can flat gallop if you want to) or fun and challenging. We rode to the needle's eye and the O & W Trestle bridge this year. Even did the OH S##t trail. Breathtaking beauty in God's creation. This is definitely one of go to places every year.
Reviewed by: Amanda sexton on 5/5/2016 9:50:52 AM
More reviews by Amanda sexton 		Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 4/23/2016 Hometown: Leicester, NC

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Trails were wonderful--I love the river ride in particular. Great for gaiting and not crowded on the trails. Very well marked too. Campground was nice, hosts were very gracious and accommodating. We would definitely come back. Only 2 negatives: There's no shade in the campground and sites are lined up right next to each other--we prefer more privacy. The directions to the campground on the True West site need to give mileage. If you're coming from Knoxville, it'll be another 1.5-2 hours before you're at camp and it's impossible to glean that from the directions that just say turn on this or that road and when you get to the 4-way stop go right (meanwhile you have driven over 10 miles to find the next direction! Kind of like a scavenger hunt, but not fun when you're tired and want to be at camp!) This would be easy to fix however by just filling in the details on the directions. Thanks for a wonderful stay!
Reviewed by: MarynDan on 5/4/2016 4:49:23 PM
 Experience: Expert Ride Date: 4/28/2016 Hometown: Concord, NC

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Shawn and Donna have again been the MOST gracious hosts! This is our second trip to True West and we look forward to many more visits . The campground and stables are absolutely perfect and Shawn and Donna go out of their way to give personal attention to all their guests. Thanks again for a perfect week of camping and riding. We love you guys!!
Reviewed by: Cyndee Leatherwood on 4/30/2016 7:36:54 PM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 4/26/2016 Hometown: Candler, NC

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Had a great stay. Clean restrooms, stall ready for horse, help with unloading all my stuff. Great place to stay will be back next year. Donna & Shawn are really nice people. Thanks for all you did for me!
Reviewed by: JOSIE on 4/27/2016 1:38:01 PM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 4/23/2016 Hometown: Fall Branch, TN

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Hospitality was fantastic, the stalls and campground were clean and neat, and the trail options spanned from beginner to expert so it was fantastic for all in our group. We rode right from camp and they also provided a porter service if we wanted to ride further away trails or one way destinations. We took some time out to do some hiking and sightseeing and didn't worry once about the safety of our horses or equipment.
Reviewed by: scott mckeand on 4/13/2016 4:14:12 PM
 Experience: Expert Ride Date: 4/5/2016 Hometown: Jeddo, MI

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Very clean. The owners went out of their way to help with whatever was needed. Trails were both scenic and some very challenging. I'd go back again.
Reviewed by: Deborah brown on 4/12/2016 6:44:51 PM
 Experience: Expert Ride Date: 4/2/2016 Hometown: Port Huron , Mi

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Camp was clean and neat. Barn had large stalls and everything you need. Good trail access.
Reviewed by: Jerry Rieckers on 4/12/2016 5:01:18 PM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 4/10/2016 Hometown: smiths grove, ky

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Hi Donna, Thanks for giving me a heads up on the stalled website. I had been doing some maintenance and didn't correct the file location when I uploaded a change. I appreciate you keeping your eye on things. John.
Reviewed by: jtrider on 1/16/2016 4:32:09 PM
More reviews by jtrider 		Experience: Expert Ride Date: 9/20/2015 Hometown: Columbus, NC

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This was my 2nd trip to True West, my 3rd is already planned for 2016. Donna and Shawn are the best. Be prepared for the star treatment the moment you pull in. If you want to sight see without horses, while you are there, don't worry, your horses are in good hands. The special events, bonfires make it fun for everyone.
Reviewed by: Amanda sexton on 12/31/2015 11:59:11 PM
More reviews by Amanda sexton 		Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 4/27/2015 Hometown: Leicester, NC

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Wonderful campground and hosts who went above and beyond to take care of our group and our horses during a very eventful stay...to say the least. As always the trails at BSF are my very favorite in all of the southeast. I will be back!
Reviewed by: thejennybug on 12/31/2015 11:28:41 PM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 9/15/2015 Hometown: Mount Airy, NC

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Will trailer to different trail heads. Great stalls. Will come back again!
Reviewed by: missyw on 12/31/2015 9:53:44 PM
 Experience: Expert Ride Date: 2/15/2015 Hometown: lynchburg, TN

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Easy to get you trailer in for women drivers. Great service. Excellent trails.
Reviewed by: missy woodard on 12/31/2015 9:48:38 PM
 Experience: Expert Ride Date: 12/30/2015 Hometown: lynchburg, TN

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amazing campground,very clean sites that are easily accessible, firepits, picnic table, hookup and water, clean bathhouse, stalls, service at check in and unloading horses, help carry gear to stalls, clean out trailer. Helpful and informative about trails, great events held...definitely will be back many times looking forward to 2016 for more events.
Reviewed by: slvrwolffe1 on 12/31/2015 9:36:42 PM
 Experience: Expert Ride Date: 9/15/2015 Hometown: Kingsport, TN

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I question the validity of this site and reviews when the owner of the campground is on Facebook asking for reviews, offering free camping in August to get those reviews, asking for user names and passwords to post the review. This campground is nice and deserves its reviews honestly, not by soliciting them through social media. I enjoyed my camping experience here, not the trails so much but the campground was nicely run, this is a shame.
Reviewed by: Jillshounds on 12/31/2015 8:53:24 PM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 6/12/2015 Hometown: Lexington, Ky

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Great customer service. Very accommodating and cleans out your trailer. Easy to get your trailer in. Great location. Really nice barns.
Reviewed by: Alice Pyles on 12/31/2015 8:00:16 PM
 Experience: Expert Ride Date: 12/30/2015 Hometown: Chapel Hill, TN

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This is our first visit to True West. We have never had anyone help us unload and clean our trailer. One of the nicest Campground we have visited. We loved the trails we rode today. Donna and Shawn are just what we have heard the best host. Campground and barn are very well kept. We will be back
Reviewed by: GMShofner on 12/31/2015 7:45:04 PM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 12/30/2015 Hometown: Mulberry, TN

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The ladies trip to Charit Creek was the most amazing trip I have taken in a long time. Donna's organization of the ride was outstanding and we couldn't have asked for a better trip, better people or a better time. Will definitely be back!
Reviewed by: tngliderider07 on 12/31/2015 7:32:53 PM
More reviews by tngliderider07 		Experience: Expert Ride Date: 9/13/2015 Hometown: Chapel Hill, TN

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True West is always one of the premier destinations. If you want peace and quiet, customer service, and great rails...GO THERE!!
Reviewed by: lea valentine on 12/31/2015 7:17:27 PM
More reviews by lea valentine 		Experience: Expert Ride Date: 10/12/2015 Hometown: Knoxville, TN

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Spent Thanksgiving at True West this year and it was a wonderful experience!! Shawn and Donna ensured all bases were covered to provide a Thanksgiving experience that made us feel like we were with family. They provided the main Thanksgiving meal and all sides and included the campers by requesting they bring deserts. We had an incredible time! Their stable cleaning service is a wonderful perk, riding time is not sacrificed for maintenance and allowed us to maximize our riding time, plus my husband HATES the cleaning part. That being said, I did not have to listen to his complaints :) We have stayed there twice and will return again. We plan on making Thanksgiving and annual event at True West.
Reviewed by: Heather J Smith on 12/31/2015 6:47:57 PM
 Experience: Expert Ride Date: 11/28/2015 Hometown: Clarksville, TN

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Campground was clean and well organized. Stalls were clean and located close to the campgrounds. Unloading horses was easy and convenient. Donna and Shawn are the best host, they are always visible to help and make sure you have everything you need. Planning to go back.
Reviewed by: Phyliss Thornton on 12/31/2015 4:06:00 PM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 8/9/2015 Hometown: Limestone, TN

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Trails are very good and miles of riding available. True West is a great campground, Donna is awesome, and her husband, bless him, helps clean out your trailer when you arrive. They have great facilities for your LQ. Everything you could possibility need in one great location. We are planning several return trips during 2016.
Reviewed by: Bill Thornton on 12/31/2015 3:03:14 PM
More reviews by Bill Thornton 		Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 8/9/2015 Hometown: Limestone, TN

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Great place to stay and visit/ride Big South Fork. Donna and Shawn are excellent host for the campground. Stalls are good and close to the camping.
Reviewed by: Jackson1pa on 12/31/2015 2:41:43 PM
More reviews by Jackson1pa 		Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 11/21/2015 Hometown: Georgetown, KY

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I would definitely recommend True West Campground. If you like to ride in Big South Fork this place is the best place to go. Trust me...I know!
Reviewed by: Jillr on 12/31/2015 1:21:57 PM
 Experience: Expert Ride Date: 12/30/2015 Hometown: Murfreesboro, TN

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For some reason the ratings did not come through. 5-starts for both trails and campground.
Reviewed by: jillrandy on 12/31/2015 1:09:48 PM
More reviews by jillrandy 		Experience: Not Specified Ride Date: 12/4/2015 Hometown: Murfreesboro, TN

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True West is the best centrally location campground in the BSF area. Multiple trails in any direction. Well kept campground. Very accommodating hosts. When you get there they are ready to help you unload and will even clean out your trailer – whether you get there at 2 in the afternoon or 2 in the morning! We just keep coming back for their great service!
Reviewed by: jillrandy on 12/31/2015 12:50:10 PM
More reviews by jillrandy 		Experience: Expert Ride Date: 12/4/2015 Hometown: Murfreesboro, TN

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We were there for a week the end of Sept 2015. We got there just before dark the customer service was amazing. From unloading and cleaning our horse trailer to y'all staying up way late for our friends that got turned around and didn't end up getting to camp until after midnight. The cleanliness of the barns, customer service and the camp site was better than any place we had been before. We will be back! All 5 stars!
Reviewed by: crysgodsd1 on 12/31/2015 12:29:42 PM
 Experience: Expert Ride Date: 9/19/2015 Hometown: Merrill, mi

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Reasons we prefer True West over other campgrounds: 1.superior service from Donna, Shawn and Brittany, 2.trails in the BSF area are the best trails for any rider, and have the best views, 3.True West Campground has different sites for different people, from sites right near the barn, to sites down the hill tucked away by the pond, 4.superior facilities, the bathroom is fantastic, the covered deck is spacious and comfortable, the store has everything you accidentally left behind at home and meant to bring, the barn is what every horse owner would want on their own property because it is big and airy and just an all around beautiful barn to keep your horses in, 5.if you don't feel like family when you get there then you will definitely feel like family by the time you leave!
Reviewed by: L Stilfield on 12/31/2015 12:24:07 PM
 Experience: Expert Ride Date: 7/6/2015 Hometown: Algood, TN

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True West has great stalls that are safe for your horses. The campground is very well kept and the location to trail access is a plus. We love it here.
Reviewed by: randyjill on 12/31/2015 12:19:55 PM
 Experience: Expert Ride Date: 10/30/2015 Hometown: Murfreesboro, tn

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We've been to True West several times this year already but keep coming back! True West is great campground, in a great location to access the trails and Shawn and Donna are the best hosts! You'll want to keep coming back too!
Reviewed by: randyjill on 12/31/2015 12:01:57 PM
 Experience: Expert Ride Date: 9/4/2015 Hometown: Murfreesboro, tn

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Our first trip to Tennessee was FANTASTIC thanks to Donna, Shawn and Brittany at True West. We spent 12 days at the campground and found it to be superb in terms of facilities, stalls, and trails. We were so impressed that we booked a return visit in September 2016. Thanks to Donna, Shawn and Brittany for your great facilities and assistance. See you next year!!!
Reviewed by: jeffreykoch on 12/31/2015 12:00:07 PM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 12/19/2015 Hometown: Chaffee, ny

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My wife and I go to True West at least once a year and we have a great time every time we go. When we get there they help us get everything unloaded into the barn and then they clean out the trailer so that it doesn't smell the whole time you are camping. We have a living quarters trailer that we hook up and the sites are easy to pull into and hook up with no problems at all. My wife is the one who pulls the trailer and having the campsites easy to pull in and out of makes a big difference. The horses are always comfortable in the stalls there and we can usually see them sticking their heads out of the stalls from our campsite. My wife and I usually only ride for a few hours at a time and the trails from True West are perfect for that, we can do a small loop or go straight out and straight back on a trail and it is always a trail with beautiful views. Some of the nicest trails we have ridden are from True West Campground.
Reviewed by: Ric on 12/31/2015 11:59:37 AM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 7/1/2015 Hometown: Cookeville, TN

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Our first trip to Tennessee was FANTASTIC thanks to Donna, Shawn and Brittany at True West. We spent 12 days at the campground and found it to be superb in terms of facilities, stalls, and trails. We were so impressed that we booked a return visit in September 2016. Thanks to Donna, Shawn and Brittany for your great facilities and assistance. See you next year!!!
Reviewed by: jeffreykoch on 12/31/2015 11:59:25 AM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 12/19/2015 Hometown: Chaffee, ny

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True West is the best campground in Big South Fork! Shawn and Donna are very accommodating. Shawn will help you unload your horses and your tack and even cleans out the horse biscuits! Definitely should try this campground.
Reviewed by: randyjill on 12/31/2015 11:53:48 AM
 Experience: Expert Ride Date: 9/4/2015 Hometown: Murfreesboro, tn

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A group of friends and I stayed at True West and we had a great time! We had a site by our horses and it was really cool to be sitting around the fire at night and look up and see the horses watching us! We used the bathroom a lot to get ready before the rides and it was always clean and that was definitely great because some campgrounds have horrible bathrooms! We took the horses down by the river and it was really pretty down there, I was surprised that it was so close to the Campground and we had a picnic with the horses and it was so fun! The girls and I will be back next year sometime to do it again!
Reviewed by: Appaloosa lover on 12/31/2015 11:39:42 AM
 Experience: Expert Ride Date: 8/6/2015 Hometown: Kingsport, TN

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True West is the best campground in Big South Fork! Shawn and Donna are very accommodating. Shawn will help you unload your horses and your tack and even cleans out the horse biscuits! Definitely should try this campground.
Reviewed by: randyjill on 12/31/2015 11:26:39 AM
 Experience: Expert Ride Date: 9/4/2015 Hometown: Murfreesboro, tn

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We love every time we go stay at True West!! We are always greeted by Donna like we are family!! We always feel so at home while we are staying at True West because it is such a nice place to stay and we are sure our horses are going to be taken care of!! Our horses love the stalls there, they are always calm and comfortable when they stay in the stalls and that is a big deal to us, if our horses are happy then we are happy!! We live close but don't get up to ride the trails there very often so we really enjoy riding those trails when we are there, they have so many different kinds of trails from easy and wide (which we love to canter down!) to rocky and difficult (which we love to challenge our horses with!) There is a trail for every type of rider right outside the camp :)
Reviewed by: Lara Grigsby on 12/31/2015 11:22:17 AM
More reviews by Lara Grigsby 		Experience: Expert Ride Date: 7/4/2015 Hometown: Cookeville, TN

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True West is one of my favorite places to stay anytime I have a week off to go down, we really enjoy ourselves every time we are there, we are able to ride every day on a new trail thanks to Shawn taking us to different trail heads, the sites are near the barn and the horses are safe and sound inside the stalls that they have, Donna even checks on the horses before she goes to sleep and that is over and above what any other camp owner has done for us, definitely a five star camp
Reviewed by: Trail Rider on 12/31/2015 11:12:41 AM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 6/12/2015 Hometown: Wade, IN

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We went to ride at True West and were so surprised at how nice it was!! We were told by friends that it was a nice campground so we wanted to ride there to make sure before we chose to camp there and we couldn't believe how nice it was! A big beautiful barn with big stalls for the horses and the horses could look out easily, very well kept bathroom facilities that were so much cleaner than any other campground we stayed at! The sites down by the pond were so peaceful and relaxing, especially when you get to fall asleep to the sound of the frogs chirping! I would recommend this campground to anyone! But if you want to see it for yourself like we did you should go and you will not be disappointed!
Reviewed by: mygoldiegirl on 12/31/2015 11:03:01 AM
 Experience: Expert Ride Date: 10/5/2015 Hometown: Crossville, TN

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My daughter and I stayed at True West over Thanksgiving with our mules. The facilities and accommodations are excellent. I must say I have never had my trailer cleaned out and tack unloaded and loaded before! The owners are very helpful and accommodating. A nice Thanksgiving meal was provided. Will definitely go back!
Reviewed by: Billie Carter on 12/31/2015 11:02:53 AM
 Experience: Expert Ride Date: 11/26/2015 Hometown: Williamstown, KY

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We went to ride at True West and were so surprised at how nice it was!! We were told by friends that it was a nice campground so we wanted to ride there to make sure before we chose to camp there and we couldn't believe how nice it was! A big beautiful barn with big stalls for the horses and the horses could look out easily, very well kept bathroom facilities that were so much cleaner than any other campground we stayed at! The sites down by the pond were so peaceful and relaxing, especially when you get to fall asleep to the sound of the frogs chirping! I would recommend this campground to anyone! But if you want to see it for yourself like we did you should go and you will not be disappointed!
Reviewed by: mygoldiegirl on 12/31/2015 11:02:51 AM
 Experience: Expert Ride Date: 10/5/2015 Hometown: Crossville, TN

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My mother and I stayed at True West over Thanksgiving. We felt welcome and safe. The facilities were very nice and the owners are very friendly and helpful. Will go back for sure.
Reviewed by: Destiny Jackson on 12/31/2015 10:58:20 AM
 Experience: Expert Ride Date: 11/26/2015 Hometown: Williamstown, KY

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My prior review should have indicated Trail at 5 stars
Reviewed by: Billie Carter on 12/31/2015 10:54:59 AM
 Experience: Expert Ride Date: 12/26/2015 Hometown: Williamstown, KY

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I stayed in October of this year, just as the leaves were peaking. One of the best trips yet. The Campground and facilities are very well maintained. You also couldn't ask for better host. I don't think I could come up with a single negative thing to stay. I plan on returning as soon as possible in the spring.
Reviewed by: Katie Haley on 12/31/2015 10:52:08 AM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 10/12/2015 Hometown: Columbia, Sc

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best campground at BSF. Shaun and Donna are great hosts. If you want to camp and ride at BSF, TW is the best campground
Reviewed by: randyjill on 12/31/2015 10:51:08 AM
 Experience: Expert Ride Date: 4/3/2015 Hometown: Murfreesboro, tn

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I must say we felt pampered at True West. The accommodations are great and the hospitality above and beyond. My daughter and I stayed there with our mules over Thanksgiving and enjoyed the Thanksgiving meal which was provided. The owners are very helpful and I have never had any horse camp clean my trailer and help unload and load my gear. Would definitely recommend and will visit again.
Reviewed by: Billie Carter on 12/31/2015 10:50:29 AM
 Experience: Expert Ride Date: 11/26/2015 Hometown: Williamstown, KY

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come to TW often. Shaun and Donna are wonderful hosts and take great care of the barns and campground. Would recommend this campground to everyone who rides in BSF
Reviewed by: randyjill on 12/31/2015 10:18:34 AM
 Experience: Expert Ride Date: 1/16/2015 Hometown: Murfreesboro, tn

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I rated the trail on my previous review but forgot to rate the campground......definitely 5 stars!
Reviewed by: Daniel on 12/31/2015 4:08:42 AM
More reviews by Daniel 		Experience: Not Specified Ride Date: 12/27/2015 Hometown: Knoxville , Tn

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I can definitely see why this facility has such great reviews. Donna knew me by name by the 2nd time I called with any questions before we even arrived. We rolled in after dark but they were more than happy to meet us, cleaned the trailer while I unloaded horses, gave us a run down of the facilities and basically treated us and the kids as though we were visiting relatives for 3 days. Absolutely the best service and genuine care about us and our horses I've ever experienced at a campground. Any questions/concerns we had about anything they really took care of us. If you want top notch service this is the campground to come to!
Reviewed by: Daniel on 12/30/2015 9:56:28 PM
More reviews by Daniel 		Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 12/27/2015 Hometown: Knoxville , Tn

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We heard about True West from a friend and traveled over 200 miles to get to True West and we are so happy we did. The barns and stalls are great. The amenities satisfied our every need, the friendliness and professionalism of the staff were great as was the overall cleanliness of the campground. Time went by too fast. If we could give the campground a 10, we would! We had no issues while we were there and would definitely return again and we recommend it to everyone.
Reviewed by: JaniceSmith on 12/27/2015 4:54:52 PM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 5/1/2015 Hometown: Fairview, NC

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The facilities are clean and inviting. The Owners are extremely helpful and work hard to provide you with a positive camping experience. AND, they have the BEST CAMP STORE I've seen anywhere! There are Trailer supplies, clothing, jewelry, horse tack, ice cream and other necessary staples. Overall GREAT EXP EXPERIENCE!
Reviewed by: maggie2797 on 12/27/2015 4:46:17 AM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 6/2/2015 Hometown: Kentwood, LA

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Reviewed by: CR Wilson on 12/22/2015 10:40:13 AM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 9/25/2015 Hometown: Spickard, MO

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We really enjoyed the total experience at your place and you guys were so nice. After two days of driving we arrived at your place to a pleasant, stress-free check-in. Our horses were very comfortable in your barns (I love your barns!) and the campfires at night were quiet and peaceful. My friend had mentioned East Fork Stables for camping but I got such a great vibe from your website and that's why we chose your place I'm very happy that I was right in my choice.
Reviewed by: Lara Comithier on 12/22/2015 10:37:25 AM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 9/23/2015 Hometown: Greenville, NY

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We have been going to Big South Fork for close to 14 years, and stayed at different camp grounds. True West by far has been the most accommodating. Not just to us I see it in their concern for other quests. Like this year a couple got lose Shawn found where they were at, and pick them up in his trailer, They wouldn't have to try coming back in the dark. Little thing like this show me the level of service they are willing to give.
Reviewed by: kyrider on 12/15/2015 10:55:45 AM
 Experience: Expert Ride Date: 10/25/2015 Hometown: Corith, ky

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We are totally in Love with True West, Donna, Shawn and Brittany. It has been our new Goto place for the past 3 years and will be our Goto place for the future. The detail they provide to you as a camper/horse rider is above the norm. The attention to detail,value and service you will receive during your stay is above our other stays that we have had in the past at other horse camps.
Reviewed by: Pepsigirl12 on 12/15/2015 9:21:45 AM
More reviews by Pepsigirl12 		Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 11/25/2015 Hometown: Corinth, KY

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Reviewed by: Chrystal T on 12/9/2015 10:01:43 AM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 7/24/2015 Hometown: Columbia, TN

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From the moment our group arrived we were astounded by the personalized service that we received. It was a pleasant surprise when we were greeted at the barn and our saddles,tack and feed were placed by our stalls for our convenience. The attention to detail extended to our horses names added to their stall along with our campsite # in case we needed to be contacted during the night as you checked the barn. Major points were scored when you scooped out our trailer after horses were unloaded. We will definitely return to visit your fine establishment.
Reviewed by: Rhonda P on 12/8/2015 10:15:50 AM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 9/4/2015 Hometown: Jackson, TN

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We always enjoy our stay at True West! Donna and Shawn are great people.
Reviewed by: Kelly M on 12/7/2015 12:54:59 PM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 10/14/2015 Hometown: Howey in the Hills, FL

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Awesome Campground and Owners they are very accommodating! After checking in at the office they will meet you at the barns, he'll you unload your horses, feed and tack, take it to the barn and before you pull down to your sure they will clean out your trailer of all the horse manure! They will help you with directions, things to see on the trails and even carry you and your horses to a trailhead to make your ride a little shorter. Down Home atmosphere with good people Shawn & Donna Martin!!!❤
Reviewed by: Susan Swan on 12/4/2015 10:52:14 AM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 7/24/2015 Hometown: Lawrenceburg, TN

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It really says a lot when you only hear of this place from others! That's because it simply can't be beat! I took my wife here for our anniversary/Halloween weekend and we absolutely fell in love with the place from the second we pulled in. Stalls prepped and ready for our horses to get settled after a lengthy drive. Shawn & Donna were beyond helpful throughout our entire 4 day stay from cleaning the back of our trailer when we unloaded and helping us carry our tack to the barns, to giving us trail directions, delivering our firewood, and helping get the trailer hooked up late at night in the cold. Unfortunately, the time change that weekend caused the sun to set a little sooner than anticipated and we ended up lost in the dark trying to get back to camp. We contacted Donna and even though she was out of town that evening, she was able to phone the neighbors to come pick us up at a rendezvous point. She made sure we got back safe and luckily avoided a torrential downpour in the process. It was a very clean campground...shower houses/bathrooms especially! Halloween festivities were fun, the pitch in was great, and we ended up winning best decorated trailer! I've been to many campgrounds throughout the years and the quality of the trails and campground here are some of the very best I've visited. My wife and I can't wait to go back and this will probably be a frequently visited spot for years to come. Kudos to Shawn & Donna for running this place like a well oiled machine.
Reviewed by: Zach on 12/2/2015 2:14:45 PM
 Experience: Expert Ride Date: 10/31/2015 Hometown: Indianapolis, IN

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Best hospitality! Helpfulness, caring about your comfort and your horses. Clean,well organized, great trails, reasonable rates,and great rescue service for way wayward riders! Thanks Shawn and Donna! We ll be back!
Reviewed by: Traci Kolpack on 12/1/2015 4:53:12 PM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 10/25/2015 Hometown: White Lake, WI

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We stayed there in May and couldn't have been treated any better!!Wonderful place to stay. We will definitely go back there.
Reviewed by: Rita Parker on 12/1/2015 2:14:59 PM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 5/23/2015 Hometown: Louisa, KY

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Love this place!! They always take good care of us
Reviewed by: Daryl Avans on 11/30/2015 10:51:15 AM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 10/4/2015 Hometown: Knoxville, TN

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Stayed at True West in their suite for 4 nights. Nicest accommodations I have seen at a horse camp. Owners Donna and Shawn went above and beyond to make our stay great. Beautiful room and barn and prettiest trails I have been on yet. Would highly recommend this campground to anyone. Also loved the on-site tack store!!!
Reviewed by: Debbie Craven on 11/25/2015 8:47:05 AM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 11/20/2015 Hometown: Metamora, mi

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Fun memories were made at this campground! Not only were the trails and attractions beautiful, the hospitality and accommodations were outstanding. Shawn and Donna took us in like family and we had a fabulous experience trail riding.
Reviewed by: Lisa Braun on 11/24/2015 2:08:33 PM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 11/20/2015 Hometown: Lake Orion, MI

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The barn was super nice and the campground was clean. It was nice having internet. The dinner you had catered was really good. The trails weren't challenging enough for me.
Reviewed by: Anita Duncan on 11/24/2015 1:39:13 PM
 Experience: Expert Ride Date: 5/25/2015 Hometown: Shelbyville, TN

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Just came back from a 4 night stay at True West! Wow, can't say enough good things about this place! Great hospitality, clean surroundings, well maintained barn to stall my horse in at night, tack shop on the premises, and did I mention the trails?? Absolutely beautiful! Prettiest place I've ever ridden, overlooks, river riding, rock formations, and well marked trails. Donna and Shawn of True West went above and beyond in accommodating our group last minute, picked out our trailers, loaded up all our gear and delivered it to our horses stalls. We were so grateful after driving for 11 hours! Shawn even met us at the trailhead on a rainy evening to give us a lift back to the barn, what a nice surprise. You will love this place, give it a try!
Reviewed by: Pam B on 11/23/2015 8:28:59 PM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 11/21/2015 Hometown: Davison, MI

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This was our second trip down to Big South Fork. We loved this time so much more because of True West Campground. Donna and Shawn are such wonderful people and made us feel at home. Everything was ready for us when we got there and it was so nice having our saddles right up at our stalls. They told us all the good riding trails and some beautiful hiking trails too. We are planning 2 trips back next year. Best Campground for sure smile emoticon
Reviewed by: Jennifer Conley on 11/23/2015 11:17:11 AM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 10/20/2015 Hometown: Circleville, OH

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They are awesome. Very accommodating and understanding. Transmission went out of my truck and they let me keep where i camped till the people coming to get could get there. Thank you so much you guys ate awesome and can't wait till i come back.
Reviewed by: Sabrina Blackwell on 11/19/2015 10:16:07 AM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 10/10/2015 Hometown: Ne Philadelphia, OH

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They were great helped us unload in the rain. Went above and helped us out when our truck broke. Donna and Shawn are great people to get to know we came as people left as friends.
Reviewed by: Carla Ross on 11/18/2015 2:52:21 PM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 10/9/2015 Hometown: Dover, OH

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The hospitality was amazing! Great people, great camping. Stalls were good size and nicely set up for horses. Can't wait to come again already.
Reviewed by: Kristi Sanders on 11/12/2015 10:13:11 AM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 10/11/2015 Hometown: Terre Haute, IN

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Best campground in Tennessee!! The owners are great!! The facility is clean and the stalls are always clean and your tack is always safe in the barn. They understand the area and the trails so if you are looking for a specific challenge on the trail they can direct you. We enjoy the special events the campground has for it's campers and it's fun to get to know the other campers and share trail stories. I highly recommend this facility over all other...you will not be disappointed!
Reviewed by: Marc Aranda on 11/11/2015 4:05:51 PM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 6/6/2015 Hometown: Greenback, TN

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I love this place. The owners ALWAYS go out of their way to help and make you feel at home.
Reviewed by: Teri Parks on 11/10/2015 11:42:40 AM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 5/25/2015 Hometown: Shelbyville, TN

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Had a great stay at True West campground during the Halloween weekend. The owners where great and very accommodating they help unload all I our things at the barn and helped get horses settled in. We stayed in the cabin and they also helped us carry everything to the cabin and showed us around even though we pulled in at 8:30. Campground was very nice and clean and the cabin was great ! We received good directions for riding both days and even was able to call and get directions when we took a wrong turn. This is the first place I have been so far that's had really great owners that where around if you needed them. Look forward to staying here again!
Reviewed by: AmandaB on 11/7/2015 1:13:54 PM
 Experience: Expert Ride Date: 10/31/2015 Hometown: Chapel Hill, TN

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Shawn, Donna, and Brittney were wonderful hosts. The campground is well maintained and the barns are clean and safe. I like that the horses were kept away from the camping area so bugs were kept at a minimum. The campground is located in a great spot for riding the Cumberland trails or the other (can't remember the names) trails. One mile from the Cumberland trail head with access to some incredible riding. The trails are mainly sandy or clay with a few rocky areas but my horse was barefoot and did just fine the 5 days we were there. I would definitely return to this area and campground.
Reviewed by: Carrie Q on 11/4/2015 4:29:01 PM
More reviews by Carrie Q 		Experience: Expert Ride Date: 10/20/2015 Hometown: Green Bay, WI

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By far the most hospitable campground I've stayed at. They are the nicest hosts and hardly let you lift a finger. From the moment you pull in they are unloading your trailer with you and cleaning it out for you and helping in any way they can. The trails were incredible and just challenging enough to be exciting but still enjoyable. Will DEFINITELY be going back.
Reviewed by: Kate Ryczek on 11/1/2015 6:39:45 PM
 Experience: Expert Ride Date: 10/28/2015 Hometown: Dixon, IL

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Great campground, great hosts. My campsite was roomy, easy to get level. I thought I wouldn't like not being able to bring my horse to the trailer to tack up, but it actually worked out really well. My horse had a large, airy stall with mats and a window, so he could entertain himself by watching horses outside. Some in my group complained of having to ride a mile or more to the trailhead, but it didn't bother me because it's a pretty ride and there's lots to see. I was surprised at how easy the trails were compared to riding in the Ozarks. The trails in BSF re beautiful--water features, rock outcrops, and the wonderful flora. I will definitely go back to True West. There are lots of other places to camp in BSF, but many of them are someone's back yard with a pen, so be sure you check things out carefully before making a reservation. You can't go wrong at True West.
Reviewed by: Beth Braznell on 10/31/2015 9:49:38 PM
More reviews by Beth Braznell 		Experience: Expert Ride Date: 10/10/2015 Hometown: St. Louis, Mo

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just spent the week of October 12th at true west and had a wonderful time. The weather was perfect and the trails were beautiful. Pulled in at dark on Monday evening and Donna was right there to get us checked in. After getting copies of our coggins and health papers as well as trail maps we pulled down to the barn and Shawn was there to help us unload our supplies and feed. Showed us to our stalls and where the barn lights, wheel barrels, extra saw dust, ect. Shawn then cleaned our trailer and since this was our first time at true west and I wasn't familiar with the campground and it was dark, he parked the trailer for us and made sure we knew where the shower houses were and even got us and electrical adapter that we needed. i wasn't sure how i would like tacking up at the barn, we normally tack up at the trailer, but it worked out really well and there was plenty of barn and isle space. We had a very nice week, met some great people, Donna and Shawn do an exceptional job and have a wonderful campground. We will definately be back.
Reviewed by: Alison on 10/29/2015 1:58:36 AM
 Experience: Expert Ride Date: 10/13/2015 Hometown: Peebles, Oh

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1. did anyone bother to tell me I could buy more shavings for the trailer ? 2. I had to ASK to have help moving the picnic table !!! 3.Were you in the office with me when I asked questions about the trail map ? But you assured people this was not true ... 4.Noone told me not to go to the trailer with my horse to throw in my lunch and not to mount at the campground 5.I have been called spoiled and a nitpicker for giving my honest opinion ...Nice...thank you 6. I have been to several other campgrounds in the Jamestown area and feel I have had better service 7. I did say in my review that everything was very clean but the shower stall was small , I fit just fine ...and you ... Just saying 8. Happy trails everyone
Reviewed by: Paula on 10/27/2015 6:37:30 PM
 Experience: Not Specified Ride Date: 10/23/2015 Hometown: Cumming , Ga

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My husband and I just left True West Campground this morning. We own and operate a guest ranch in Northern Colorado and host 40 guests a week from May until September. We try to escape our little slice of heaven each year and rude our horses in another state. True West was recommended to us from some friends who own a place in Jamestown. We were able to unplug and relax for an entire week with incredible weather and unbelievable Southern hospitality!!! Shawn and Donna did everything except turn our sheets down and place a mint on the pillow! As mentioned in a review earlier...they greeted us with warm smiles and then proceeded to clean out our trailer, assist in unloading our horses, tack, hay and feed! At check-in, Shawn went over the details of where everything is located and requested that we tack up at the barn. How wonderful to NOT have horses all over the campground. We actually had grass all around our camping spot without flies and poop! Shawn came by our trailer that first night and asked if we needed anything from town as he and Donna were headed into town and would be happy to pick up anything we might need! Also, every morning, Shawn picked up our trash. Talk about FULL service!!!! Our last night, we found Shawn picking up some riders who had gotten lost and Donna picking up another group of ladies! Donna greeted these riders with hot cocoa at the barn since she said they would be chilled from the rain. This family knows how to treat people and are over the top with personal touches that make their place somewhere that we will definitely return to year after year! You have made us 'Raving fans.'
Reviewed by: Christine on 10/27/2015 4:43:33 PM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 10/19/2015 Hometown: Livermore, CO

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The best campground around. Well worth the trip and we will be going back. I would recommend True West to anyone, their hospitality and costumer service is out of this world! And the trails were great also.
Reviewed by: HARRY on 10/27/2015 2:51:03 AM
 Experience: Expert Ride Date: 10/18/2015 Hometown: WILLIAMSPORT, OH

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This is in response to a review I just read about this facility and I just NEED to comment. I live in Jamestown so have stayed at True West only twice. Each time I was amazed at the things Shawn and Donna do to make their campers feel welcome and at home. At NO OTHER campground have I EVER had the owner (or anyone else) come unload my saddles, grain, hay, etc, help get the stalls ready with water buckets, etc., then clean out my trailer or offer to help me get my rig set up and level, if needed. On to the issue of a "long" barn" -- is there something that I'm missing here? I LIKE the fact that they can accommodate many horses with a WIDE aisle to allow horses on both sides to be cleaned and tacked up without interfering with, or causing a problem, for others. When the "young man" went to clean out the trailer and strip it, I personally would have hugged him, NOT complained about him "stripping" it. Really? How much does a new bag of shavings cost so you can haul your horses home in clean bedding? And I'm sure Shawn would have given you bedding if only you had asked. As for "moving" a picnic table because someone moved it in your spot - really? He did come help so WHY EVEN BRING IT UP? Sounds like "nit picking" to me! Maps? Yes, most campgrounds I've been to have them in B&W, not color. So what? Were you able to find a trail to ride without difficulty? And it depends on who was in the office at the time. Donna rides and knows the trails and I am certain she did not come across as being "bothered" by your questions. As for the horses not being in the camping area, I have personally had to clean up many a site because others were discourteous and left their horses' messes or had to fill in the holes that they pawed in the ground. Did you bother to explain to Shawn about your girlfriend having 13 screws put into her ankle? I'm thinking the answer to that question is most likely No. If you had your nice stable plastic one, would it not have made more sense to ask Shawn to bring it up to the front for you? And you choose to leave early due to the weather and you are now complaining that no one is helping you get all your stuff back where it belongs. Yikes woman, you are SPOILED and obviously have unrealistic expectations. AND the stall showers are too small? Wow! Good things that are mentioned are clean barns, stalls, safe environment, campgrounds are very clean (guess why? Because they don't let horses travel through them), showers and bath house are clean. And you feel the shower stalls are small - they're typical stall showers - how much room do you really need to shower? And the bottom line after all these positives is YOU WILL NOT GO BACK. And you say you're an "experienced" rider and are still not happy? Stay in GA Paula and leave TN to those that appreciate campground owners that go above and beyond.
Reviewed by: doreencarol on 10/26/2015 9:42:44 PM
More reviews by doreencarol 		Experience: Expert Ride Date: 10/24/2015 Hometown: Jamestown, TN

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I read all the reviews here on this site and posted questions about True west on a trail riding site on FB before I booked this trip . I was shocked at the way we were treated when we showed up . I walked into the office and showed my Coggins and was told where to go ( Nice enough ...right ? ) okay ...here we go and pull around to the barn , a man a another young man show up and start unloading our tack , feed hay ect , they have a four wheeler with a cart attached to it to haul all are stuff to our stalls which were at the very end of a LONG barn . The young man jumps into the back of the trailer and starts to shovel out the manure ( which was very nice ) But then he starts to strip it , I said no , please don't do that , I need some shavings left in there for the ride home . I'm glad I saw him doing that , again ...no big deal , he was a nice kid So we are shone are stalls and the owner and the young man help us fill the water buckets ...and then the man points to our campsite which sits down a hill and tells us that's your campsite but you have to move the picnic table because someone moved it in your spot ....???? OK ...I ask ...can you help us ??? And to his credit he did come down and help us . The next morning we're up and ready to ride , the map they gave us was all black and white so I went into the office to ask for specifics and maybe a suggested loop or points of interest ( which she did but , I got the feeling I was bothering her ) After we tacked up , we brought our horses down to the trailer to put our lunches and water in our saddle bags , the owner came down on his 4 wheeler and told us we couldn't tack up at our trailers ...OK.... We didn't we were just throwing in our lunch ...and don't mount up here ....OK ...so we walk our horses to the front of the building and my friend who just had 13 screws put into her ankle last year now has to mount from a wobbly cut tree , we had a nice stable plastic one just 300 feet from our trailer ....????? OK The trails were very nice and pretty well marked ( yes you do have to ride a mile to the main trail head but who cares , you're on your horse ) The next morning it's raining lightly , we decided we're going home a day early , I go to the front office to let let know , I don't ask for a refund ( I chose to leave earlier ) the owner says ok ...What ??? Where's the four wheeler now ??? We have 4 water buckets , 2 saddles , 2 bales of hay , PLUS PLUS PLUS to get to the top of a very long barn and 2 horses . I am not saying they are bad people because they are not ...But nowhere what I excepted !!!! Good things are the barns and stall are very clean and I felt safe leaving my tack in the barn , campgrounds are very clean ...except you may have to move a heavy picnic table to get to it ...showers and bath house are clean but shower stalls are small I will not go back
Reviewed by: Paula on 10/25/2015 6:13:03 PM
 Experience: Expert Ride Date: 10/23/2015 Hometown: Cumming , Ga

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had a great time at True West. They were very understanding and helpful when our truck broke down. We had to stay a few extra days til we could get family down to get us. We will be back.
Reviewed by: shazzyear on 10/21/2015 8:27:50 PM
More reviews by shazzyear 		Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 10/10/2015 Hometown: strasburg, oh

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True West is a great place to stay!!! The owners are so nice and so accommodating. We actually had to book this place last minute b/c there was problems with where we were suppose to be staying and True West were more than willing to help us out and get us in (which True West was a better choice from where we were staying anyways) The campground is nice, clean, and with level sites. They have two barns that are both spacious, clean, and full of equipment that you need ( plenty of water, wheel barrows, shavings, and pitch forks). Upon our arrival they helped us unload everything. They took our hay, feed, tack, and whatever else to our stalls for us; they even cleaned out the back of our horse trailer!!! I have never been anywhere that did that for you. Their bathhouse was very nice and clean ( always smelled nice) The owners live their so there always around for anything you need. They do nightly checks on all the horses before they turn in. They even put your horses name on their stalls with your site # in-case of any problems. They have maps of all the trails and are more than willing to help you plan your ride and offer suggestions. They are VERY knowledgeable with the trails and give GREAT recommendations; we never got lost. The trails are nice; there are a few climbs but nothing hard or dangerous (that we went on). They have a lot a pretty sites to ride to, but you do have to ride a long ways to get to them- just make sure you and your horses and in good condition and you want have any problems. I can not say enough goods things about True West- the campground, the owners, and the trails. If you enjoy camping and riding this is the place for you!!! We meet a lot of good people their- We will definitely be going back!!
Reviewed by: courtney on 10/21/2015 7:34:59 PM
 Experience: Expert Ride Date: 10/16/2015 Hometown: lyman, sc

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We just got back from a week of riding in the Big South Fork and staying at True West. We have been planning this trip for many months and to finally go and ride and stay at True West was truly a trip of a lifetime. My husband and I had the most perfect week. The weather was amazing! We were very eager to do as many trails and miles as we could during our time there. We did over 70 miles of riding in 4 days. The trails are great for many levels of riders and horses. Flat sandy trails are great for gaiting as well as more challenging trails for those brave enough! The overlooks and destination points we saw did not disappoint. We loved True West and the above and beyond service that Donna and Shawn provide is superb. The barn is so spacious and we loved having all of our tack right there with the horses. Not having your horses at your trailer really keeps the area clean and keeps the grass growing. The campground is very clean and Donna and Shawn were very helpful with our endless questions and getting our game plan together for the rides. The mercantile is loaded with lots of cool gifts. Thank you for making our week enjoyable and unforgettable!
Reviewed by: Aime King on 10/19/2015 5:33:33 PM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 10/11/2015 Hometown: St. Peters, MO

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Got to True West and Shawn was unloading our tack and smelled gas, he crawled under my truck to see what was going on, gas leak, he then went in the office and called garages to get an appt to get the truck repaired, don't know what we would have done, he made it so we could enjoy our vacation, cleaned out the trailer, took all our stuff to the camper. They go above and beyond!!! Would most definitely return!!
Reviewed by: Lisa Carr on 10/13/2015 2:31:46 PM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 10/7/2015 Hometown: Marion, NY

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I was so spoiled staying at True West, I don't know if any other campground will ever compare!!! Shawn, Donna and Brittany do an excellent job! From trailering to new trail heads to just stopping by your campfire they sure make you feel welcomed. The trails are beautiful with good terrain variety from sand to rock steps, steeps and river crossings. I recommend the campsites down below the barn as they have a little more room to spread out than sites by the road. Horse accommodations are great and what a service to clean out your trailer and unload tack when you arrive! ( this beats a hotel with a spa when you are a horse person 😉) I would drive another 15 hours to stay at TrueWest, just a fantastic vacation made even better by such hospitable owners. Thank you again!!
Reviewed by: Lynne F on 10/11/2015 12:12:32 AM
 Experience: Not Specified Ride Date: 10/1/2015 Hometown: Feura bush, Ny

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Once again all I can say is SUPERB!!!! Even tho we only got to ride 2 days before the rain set in our stay was still SUPERB True West Style. You will not find better host, campground and the want to please all there guest. Hats off My friends(Shawn,Donna,and Brittney. Already looking forward to the next trip. HAPPY TRAILS!!!!!
Reviewed by: gore on 10/10/2015 10:59:48 AM
More reviews by gore 		Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 9/27/2015 Hometown: lexington, tn

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Having never been to a horse campground, I wasn't sure what to expect. We ended up arriving later than planned with it already dark and we were very tired after an 8 hour haul from WV. Donna and Shawn were right there to help us register, unload and get our camping space set up. Shawn even backed my friend's truck and trailer into the camping site, making sure it was level. For the rest of the week we found them so helpful and hospitable. No matter how busy, they would stop and make you feel like you were the most important need of the moment. Their daughter, Brittany, was just as helpful and engaging. Truly a wonderful family! We are already looking forward to the next time we can come enjoy another stay at True West!
Reviewed by: Sandi Lewis on 10/8/2015 11:17:53 PM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 9/14/2015 Hometown: Forest Hill, WV

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Nice facility and great hospitality
Reviewed by: Sandy Kay on 10/8/2015 10:07:07 PM
 Experience: Expert Ride Date: 9/28/2015 Hometown: Franklin, Pa

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One of the finest horse campgrounds in the country! Donna and Shawn have the customer service thing figured out! They are very "hands on" owners and it's obvious they want to give you the best experience possible. The trails are nice. We rode there following a great deal of rain so there were some puddles and soft spots but the majority of our rides were on great, fairly sandy footing. A very nice service for us was Shawn's willingness to haul us to another part of the park to start our rides so we would not have to double back. This gives you some flexibility that not many campgrounds offer. First class experience.
Reviewed by: Dewayne Burgess on 10/8/2015 9:11:37 PM
More reviews by Dewayne Burgess 		Experience: Expert Ride Date: 10/7/2015 Hometown: Meriden, Ks

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We made a reservation for True West Campground for the first week of our 4 week vacation in June,2015. When we pulled into the drive we were greeted by Donna who was so welcoming we felt like family. She took us into the office office to review our accommodations and asked for our original coggins papers. Their policy of inspecting the documents before we could go past the office was very assuring to us. We've been to other camps that don't enforce this on the front end and we don't go there again. It doesn't matter if you have a donated or high priced steed, this needs to be done everywhere. Shaun helped us unload,helped water and feed then helped us set up our rig. The trails from camp were some of the best we've traveled. Shaun or Donna drove us to other trailheads (with horses) and gave great instructions for other trails. They have a huge round pen for anyone to use to exercise horses, a big enclosed community gathering room with a big screen on one wall and a projector with movie screen on another. Our one week stay stretched to two,then three,then FOUR weeks! At times all campers were invited to attend movie night in the common room, complete with popcorn and snacks. We had community hotdog picnics, and a great scavenger hunt on horseback! You used a phone or camera to take pictures of the scavenger items and the highest number found won a great prize. This should definitely be your destination for a great getaway. We will be returning as soon as we can free up another couple of weeks!
Reviewed by: Nancy Martin on 10/6/2015 11:14:57 AM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 6/2/2015 Hometown: Moscow, Tn

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I have been to True West several times and am always amazed at the service we receive. When you arrive and get checked in, Shawn helps unload your tack and hay and then cleans out your trailer. Donna and or Brittany takes care of all your needs. I had the pleasure of staying in the Marshal Suite this time and what a cozy little place it is. It was like being at home except very peaceful. Although Donna and Shawn were out of town due to unexpected event, Brittany and her helpers to care of everything. I love this campground. If you want to be pampered, this is the place to go. They have great service, nice stalls, best trails and just all around great people. Thank you True West for making my getaways the best.
Reviewed by: Binks73 on 10/4/2015 6:41:34 PM
More reviews by Binks73 		Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 9/24/2015 Hometown: SUNBRIGHT , Tn

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Is there a choice for 6 stars? I am used to arriving and setting up by myself, but Shawn was there to help me every step of the way. I unloaded the horse and put her in a stall only to return to the trailer and find it cleaned, with Shawn waiting to help me unload the tack, hay etc. I was there for seven days, and have never been so well taken care of. Not just use of a round pen for exercise, but also great service in the barn, and I even left my dog in doggie day care while we overnighted at Charit Creek Lodge. By the way, as you may have seen on a earlier post...we came home with one more horse than we started out with. Welcome to the world "Blue's Charit Creek Surprise", aka "Charit". The return from Charit Creek for some of us included a wonderful 20 mile loop with the prettiest trail I've ever ridden--and I've ridden thousands of miles of trails. I was part of the bee rescue, and benefited from the hosts sending a trailer to rescue us from our medical outpost later in the day. It was a very eventful 7 days. My only regret is that I could not have stayed for another week and maybe enjoyed the place in a little more peaceful atmosphere. Not really--wouldn't have changed a thing. Looking forward to next year!
Reviewed by: jclaypottery on 10/4/2015 2:47:04 PM
 Experience: Expert Ride Date: 9/20/2015 Hometown: New Castle, VA

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This should tell you the whole story. My husband Jim & I were at True West in July 2015 for 3 days, my birthday weekend. The best birthday present!And before leaving True West to head home we made reservations to stay an entire week with them in October 2015! Donna & Shawn Martin are two of the nicest & most accommodating couple you will meet! As soon as we checked in to the office, they followed us to the barn, helped us unload our horses, tack & hay. Then proceeded to clean out the horse poop & urine in our trailer. Never in my life have we had anyone go to these extremes! There are bucket hooks for grain & water along with saddle racks & bridle hooks at every stall which are 12x12 & your horse can look out. They also will trailer you to a bridle trail if you desire. In the evenings we enjoyed our DVD movies, shared our Tennessee wines & had fresh popcorn! Oh I almost forgot they also check each & every horse at night before bed to make sure all are okay. Folks it just doesn't get any better than this!! We have told all our friends about True West and will be back in the years ahead! See you real soon Donna & Shawn!
Reviewed by: Suzanne on 10/4/2015 2:34:25 PM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 7/24/2015 Hometown: Leoma, TN

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We do a lot of horse camping and stay at many different horse camps during the course of each year. True West will forever be a favorite of ours. From the time we arrived until we departed 5 days later, Shawn, Donna and Brittany were there to make sure we had a great camping experience. Brittany got us checked in efficiently and directed us to the barn with our assigned stalls. Shawn was at the barn waiting on us when we pulled around to unload the horses and directed us to our stalls. When we returned to the trailer after stalling the horses Shawn was up in our trailer cleaning the horse manure out. Mind you, our 3 horses had been on the trailer for 8 hours so this was no small task! The next day, Donna was readily available to provide expert directions for our ride to Charit Creek Lodge. Our ride down to Charit Creek was uneventful and we had a great time there but the excitement really ramped up the next morning when we found one of the mares in our group had an unexpected foal delivery in the stall. While some of us rode back to camp the next morning to make arrangements to get the mare and foal out the hollow Charit Creek is located in, the owner of the mare stayed with them. Shawn and crew immediately sprung into action and obtained a small trailer to get as close as possible to this primitive lodge to get them back to camp. Donna cleared out a large foaling stall in the barn for the new arrivals. The next day, several in our group were riding one of the Big South Fork trails and got into ground bees. One rider got stung multiple times and had to be evacuated from the trail by rescue and forest service personnel. The remaining riders ponied the rider's horse to a nearby campground where they called for a pickup. True West loaned us their trailer big enough to haul 5 horses and provided detailed directions on how to find this camp. We truly put True West to the test with our group's mis-adventures and they went above and beyond the call of duty each day we were there. We hope to return next year (without pregnant mares!) and continue to enjoy the great trail system that Big South Fork offers. True West will always be our campground of choice in the Big South Fork area!
Reviewed by: Ron Smith on 10/4/2015 1:11:06 PM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 9/16/2015 Hometown: Salem, va

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Great place to stay and ride. Will definitely make a return visit. Thanks Donna and Shawn and Brittney!
Reviewed by: Lisa Hicks on 10/2/2015 9:57:56 PM
 Experience: Expert Ride Date: 9/19/2015 Hometown: bedford, va

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very hospitable folks. BSF trail excellent, had to use spruce creek trail to get to cumberland trail and did not care for it. The stables were great, all staff fantastic. Had a great stay and will be back. Rented trailer and will go for cabin or room above office next time.
Reviewed by: Joni G on 10/2/2015 9:55:23 PM
 Experience: Beginner Ride Date: 9/26/2015 Hometown: sevierville, TN

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Central to so many trailheads and absolutely the best staff ever. Very clean and safe. Would never go anywhere else in big south fork
Reviewed by: Lisaroxon on 10/2/2015 8:26:34 PM
 Experience: Not Specified Ride Date: 9/28/2015 Hometown: Kalamazoo , Mi

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From our arrival, when they were there to unload our tack and hay for us (they said "you're on vacation"), True West did everything they could to ensure a great camping experience for us. We had a wonderful time. The the facility is top notch, trails were beautiful. We have already made our reservations to go back next year :-)
Reviewed by: Bonnie Flynn on 10/1/2015 10:15:39 PM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 8/12/2015 Hometown: Russiaville , In

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Excellent campground. Excellent trails. Worth the drive!
Reviewed by: johnteeter on 10/1/2015 12:27:58 PM
 Experience: Expert Ride Date: 9/16/2015 Hometown: Salem, VA

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We finally made a trip to True West Campground and it will not be our last. Brittany did a great job running the campground while her parents had to be out of town for a funeral. We were checked in and given great trail map along with several detailed printed directions for different trails, this was a great feature! The trails were well marked and in good condition. The campground itself is in wonderful condition and all the facilities are very clean. The mercantile is well stocked and reasonably priced. To be totally honest, we were hesitant about having to tack up our horses at the barn. We have always brought our horses to our campsite and tacked up there...let's face it that is easy and convenient for dealing with tack, but tacking up at the barn proved to be okay. The hallway of the barn is very wide and each stall has a saddle rack in front. We will be going back to True West again as soon as possible. Don't let a little change in your normal routine, lack tacking up in the barn instead of at your trailer, keep you from visiting this wonderful campground.
Reviewed by: TrailRiders on 9/28/2015 9:50:04 AM
More reviews by TrailRiders 		Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 9/25/2015 Hometown: Nashville, TN

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Shawn, Donna, and Brittany at True West Campground are there for your total vacation...from cleaning your trailer upon arrival, to hauling your hay to the barn...anything you might require. They are friendly pleasant and very hard working. The trails are clean, fairly well marked, with natural scenic overlooks. Will return again!!
Reviewed by: June Aldredge on 9/25/2015 6:52:58 PM
More reviews by June Aldredge 		Experience: Expert Ride Date: 9/12/2015 Hometown: Springfield, OH

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Shawn & Donna where the best at meeting all our needs while we were staying a True West Campground they go above and beyond! The campground is very clean & the barn accommodations are fabulous! The trails we rode during the week were really great already planning for another trip back to True West.
Reviewed by: Donna Whitt on 9/23/2015 1:37:01 PM
 Experience: Expert Ride Date: 9/15/2015 Hometown: Shady Spring, WV

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Campground hosts were amazing! We welcomed like long-lost family. Donna and Shawn are the best hosts ever! Knew the trail system well and provided good maps. Definitely want to go back.
Reviewed by: LCoffman on 9/23/2015 1:29:55 PM
 Experience: Expert Ride Date: 9/16/2015 Hometown: Fincastle, VA

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After I made our reservations, I received personal phone calls from Donna inviting us to a cookout and just following up on or reservations; very personable! Once we arrived, Shawn and his team converged on our trailer and downloaded our tack and horses! Shawn even picked our trailer clean! I was absolutely impressed with their hospitality and they way they went out of their way to ensure our vacation was just that, a vacation. They offer daily stall cleaning for a small fee. This was a tremendous perk for my husband as well as maximizes trail time. Shaw and Donna made it a point to visit each camp site to get to know each camper by name. We felt very much a part of their family and made reservations for Thanksgiving!! We can't wait to go back.
Reviewed by: Heather Smith on 9/23/2015 1:08:39 PM
 Experience: Expert Ride Date: 9/5/2015 Hometown: Clarksville, TN

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True West was fabulous, the accommodations, Donna, Shawn, and Becky! The organized overnight ride to Charit Creek was so well put together we had everything we needed for a great weekend. Shawn helped load and unload trailers, which is something that I have never encountered at a horse facility. Wonderful Weekend and Wonderful People will be back soon!
Reviewed by: Kristi May on 9/18/2015 1:05:23 PM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 9/12/2015 Hometown: Stewart, TN

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I cannot say enough great things about True West! As soon as you pull in you are greeted and welcomed. They go above and beyond to help you in every way starting with helping you unload not only your horses but your luggage to the place you are staying. The whole atmosphere is great. Quiet peaceful and relaxing and oh let's not forget you are sure to get a good dose of good ol southern horsepitality! The place feels like home away from home for not only me but for my horse. Thr horse barns are super clean and spacious. I was suprised to see how settled my mare. I thought it would be that the horses couldn't be right next to me camping but I quickly found that it didn't bother me or my horse in the least. The campground offers a nice large round pen and a few different wash racks. I stayed in the minors shack cabin. Simply adorable, clean and relaxing. I definitely recommend this cabin! The owners Shawn and Donna are so friendly and made me feel important. They both went above and beyond while I stayed there. I will definitely be back time and time again! Hated to leave. Oh, lastly... The trails have something to offer for everyone from easy to advanced. The footing goes from nice sand, dirt and slightly b rocky in spots. My barefoot mare did great on all the trails. I must add, the views- AMAZING! 5 STAR CAMPGROUND & TRAILS
Reviewed by: Wildspirit13 on 9/17/2015 9:13:08 PM
 Experience: Expert Ride Date: 9/11/2015 Hometown: Fort Knox, Ky

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we were there for the first time for 4th of July it rained all weekend. Shawn and Donna kept up with the weather and let us know where there were windows of clear weather for a quick ride. The campground was very nice. the barns were very nice and the service was awesome. Will go back again every opportunity available!
Reviewed by: Tracie Haskell on 9/17/2015 3:00:21 PM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 7/2/2015 Hometown: Lebanon, TN

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Went on all girl ride to Charit Creek Lodge hosted by True West. Staff at True West are exceptional!!!! Helpful, caring and knowledgeable of the area. Will definitely be visiting True West Campground in the future.
Reviewed by: Luvit512 on 9/16/2015 1:02:03 PM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 9/11/2015 Hometown: Big Rock, TN

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Special people run this facility - stalls are bedded with sawdust prior to arrival, Shawn helps you unload your "stuff" and brings it into the barn for you, there's a gift shop and many events have pot luck meals, the trails are varied for all types of riders and you can go for either long or short rides and sometimes overnighters. If you want to ride, you can't go wrong here.
Reviewed by: doreencarol on 9/15/2015 12:52:24 AM
More reviews by doreencarol 		Experience: Expert Ride Date: 9/12/2015 Hometown: Jamestown, TN

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We had a great time, as always!! Shawn and Donna are great hosts!!! Already looking forward to planning our next trip!!!
Reviewed by: Teric on 9/14/2015 9:29:06 PM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 9/11/2015 Hometown: ,

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These people are great. Donna & Shawn are great hosts. Excellent campground, great barn and stalls. When you arrive Shawn helps clean out your trailer and get you to your site. They check on your horse every night before turning in. If your looking for a campground at BSF you need to look no further. Trails are great after it is BSF.
Reviewed by: Bill & Phyliss Thornton on 9/14/2015 8:34:14 PM
 Experience: Beginner Ride Date: 8/28/2015 Hometown: Limestone , Tn

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Great place to stay, always very clean and the owners are always there to help you with your tack, hay and horses when you check in. They are always adding things to upgrade teh facility. You will not be disapointed, I promise
Reviewed by: mary kay nelson on 9/14/2015 7:56:49 PM
 Experience: Not Specified Ride Date: 9/12/2015 Hometown: loudon, tn

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True West is one of the nicest, cleanest and best run campgrounds I have visited. Shaw and Donna do an excellent job, the service is outstanding. The barn is clean and the stalls are big and well kept. I love the fact that there are NO horses allowed in the camp sites. There are saddle racks and horse ties at each stall and the aisle way is wide so saddling your horse is very convenient. I highly recommend True West.
Reviewed by: Tommy Bradbury on 9/9/2015 5:07:11 PM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 9/6/2015 Hometown: Elizabethtown, KY

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Great barn area! Shavings right where you need them. Wheel barrels within reach. Tack up in the barn out of the elements. Showers are hot and strong. Some of the trails were in a controlled burn a couple weeks before we came but they should regenerate soon enough. Other trails had some great views. The ride by the river was awesome! We were trailered out to even more trails and back in. Thanks to the owners, taking the timeout to take us.
Reviewed by: dreamspinner on 8/16/2015 12:57:36 AM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 4/24/2015 Hometown: Adrian, MI

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My Mom had just passed away in March, and my Dad, who has Alzheimer's, started living with us at that time. I was very close to my Mom and really needed a getaway, so we went to True West. We loved the owners and loved our rides on the trails. The barns and the campground were very well kept. We definitely will go back to True West Campground and highly recommend you horse lovers to go as well.
Reviewed by: Dave & Beth Harris on 8/12/2015 1:58:48 PM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 4/15/2015 Hometown: Signal Mountain, TN

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Absolutely loved True West and its owners Donna & Shawn. They are two really special people. They both go above & beyond to accommodate both the riders & their horses. The place is immaculate. Never have we stayed at a campground who follows you to unload your horses, cleans out your dirty trailer, helps you unload & carry your tack to the barn, makes sure your horses are comfortable, takes you to your site & brings you wood if you pay for it. They also have a great commons area where you can watch movies, use their grill, or just hang out after a long ride. The toilets/shower houses are spotless. They have ample tack if you forget something or it breaks while you are riding. The trails are easy to navigate & have some beautiful Look-outs! If you want to take a break from riding there are plenty of places to hitch your horse. We stayed 3 days and didn't even put a dent into the trail system at Big South Fork. Going back in October and staying a week at True West Campground! Cannot wait! This place is definitely a 5+ STAR campground!
Reviewed by: Suzanne on 8/3/2015 5:34:41 PM
 Experience: Expert Ride Date: 7/24/2015 Hometown: Leoma, TN

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me and my 6 year old grandso stayed in The cabin it was amazing!! The pond was cool and the attractions were within driving distance. The horse trails were very cool!
Reviewed by: Teri Yount on 8/3/2015 10:17:41 AM
 Experience: Not Specified Ride Date: 7/6/2015 Hometown: Kentstore, VA

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My husband and I stayed at True West Campground at Big South Fork . This was our first stay with Donna and Shawn . I am so very glad we stayed with them!! no one wants to have a bad experience on the trail, but sad to say we did on the very first day! Our horses got away from us on the trail at Wild Cat Den. We were able to get a call to Shawn as we were walking back out. Donna mobilized everyone around via Facebook, phone calls, and letting everyone know. Shawn took time from a very busy day and met Cyndee and walked her back out while Tom kept looking for our horses.. It's a really long story but with the wonderful help from the owners of True West, we found our horses the next day safe and sound. These folks knew EXACTLY what to do and who to call to get us the help we needed!! They were prepared and ready!! I truly feel that if not for staying with Donna and Shawn we would not have had such a good outcome. The rest of our stay was wonderful and we got in several days do GOOD riding. We will return again and again to True West! THANK YOU DONNA AND SHAWN!
Reviewed by: Tom and Cyndee Leatherwood on 6/2/2015 1:48:38 PM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 4/24/2015 Hometown: Candler, NC

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Thanks so much to Shawn and Donna for another much needed relaxing weekend at True West! As always we had such a good time and we appreciate EVERYTHING you do for your campers. The campground just gets better and better and the trails were awesome. We really enjoyed the music on Saturday night. We look forward to the next time we can come. Thanks again for making us always feel welcome and all of the hard work you do so that we can enjoy your wonderful campground!
Reviewed by: Billy Hallum on 5/25/2015 6:36:00 PM
 Experience: Expert Ride Date: 5/23/2015 Hometown: Bethpage, TN

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Customer service is #1 at TW, the owners work hard and it shows. Big rig friendly, easy in and out. Big, airy barns with safe stalls, saddle racks and bridle hooks at each stall, wide aisles for tacking up. Wash racks with overhead booms so horses won't step on or get tangled in hoses. Nice, grassy campsites. Not much shade, but on the plus side you can easily get satellites for Dish or DirecTV! Water, electric and some sewer sites, dump station. There is a rental cabin a camper and rooms for those that do not have LQ trailers. Clean bath houses, big common area with wifi hotspot and TV. Store for shopping. Free shavings, plenty of wheelbarrows and manure forks. Round pen. BSF trails are not far, ride private trails as well. great spot for riders who like to ride all day. Very nice maps. The owners go above and beyond to make everyone welcome and are always available to answer questions or help the campers. Professionally run camp, great ambassadors for the area!
Reviewed by: Anne Glaser Breen on 5/20/2015 8:15:09 AM
More reviews by Anne Glaser Breen 		Experience: Expert Ride Date: 5/17/2015 Hometown: Macon, NC

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The owners of True West went above and beyond to accommodate me. I participated in the chocolate bingo evening where one lucky winner won a basket full of chocolate items that Donna picked out herself. Of course I wasn't the winner but had a lot of fun participating. The trails are beautiful and there are numerous trail heads you can trailer to. If you need to get to a trail head the owner's of True West will help you with that. I live about an hour and a half away and camp here several times each year. Come enjoy beautiful trails and true southern hospitality. Y'all Come!
Reviewed by: Tonkatoo on 5/14/2015 11:42:58 AM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 4/24/2015 Hometown: Crossville, TN

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We can not say enough good about True West, the camp, the trails, the host. We will go back.
Reviewed by: PEGGY on 5/13/2015 9:40:15 PM
More reviews by PEGGY 		Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 4/27/2015 Hometown: ,

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This was our first trip to True West. They were so nice and attentive. The trails were beautiful and well marked. We will for sure be going back.
Reviewed by: Nanci Nantz on 5/11/2015 8:29:43 AM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 4/30/2015 Hometown: London, KY

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Tried to post this month's ago & couldn't for some reason.first time was good other than weather bath and barn to far away from cabin. Second time was treated very Rudely and so was my friends and daughter. Had a camping site right in front of cabin and camper that we rented and couldn't even park there had to park up front. Bathroom and barn up the hill to far from cabin. Trails are great
Reviewed by: Princejava1 on 1/20/2015 12:31:59 AM
More reviews by Princejava1 		Experience: Expert Ride Date: Hometown: knox, tn

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Great place to stay. Donna and Shawn made us feel at home. Trails in Big South Fork are great. Have been riding this area for years. First time to stay with them since they took over as new owners. We will be back!
Reviewed by: crazytfarms on 12/31/2014 6:55:14 PM
 Experience: Expert Ride Date: 10/30/2014 Hometown: ,

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Awesome trails to ride. Awesome campground. Shawn and Donna are great hosts and really care about you and your horses!
Reviewed by: Emiko on 12/31/2014 6:11:33 PM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 5/25/2014 Hometown: McDonald, TN

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I come to True West when they have ACTHA rides. I've always had a great time. Shawn and Donna are great. Their rides are always organized and I love how they take such good care of their campers.
Reviewed by: scantrell on 12/31/2014 5:13:39 PM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 6/19/2014 Hometown: Crossville, TN

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What a great place to camp!!! I loved everything about it - especially the stall cleaning services! I traveled over 900 miles (one way!) to get to True West and I was not disappointed. Heard about it through a friend and was told I MUST try it - and I'm glad I did. Stayed for over a week and enjoyed every second. Shawn, Donna and Brittany were so nice and really went out of their way to help whenever help was needed. If I didn't live so far away, I would be camping here a LOT. It's a must try!!
Reviewed by: TracyMatern on 12/31/2014 4:55:47 PM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 7/1/2014 Hometown: Lucas, TX

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Brought our daughter and had a blast. Trails are beautiful; full hook up at camp site, bath houses are clean and my horses have nice barns close to camp site what else could you ask for; not to mention the owners go and check on horses and camp sites during the night to make sure all is good. No where else have I been they do that. Can't wait to go back!
Reviewed by: mark a corkwell on 12/30/2014 6:50:54 PM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 4/18/2014 Hometown: portland , tn

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My wife and I went there to just camp with friends. We had no horses; we met alot of nice people and had a great time. We had 2 dogs and this camp ground is nice and clean will definitely go back soon!
Reviewed by: dave york on 12/30/2014 6:38:09 PM
 Experience: Not Specified Ride Date: 4/18/2014 Hometown: scottsville , ky

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This is our second time to have Christmas there at True West. We absolutely love the camping there and not to mention the owners make you feel at home when you are there. YES even on Christmas the owners are working hard to get their guest settled in and comfortable; I ended up needing a bridle for my horse and there they were going above and beyond to help me out! That's just who they are - GOOD COUNTRY FOLKS with a huge heart for animals and people! We will make it every year our home away from home at Christmas time. THANK YOU SHAWN AND DONNA
Reviewed by: v.w.corkwell on 12/30/2014 6:29:40 PM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 12/25/2014 Hometown: Portland, Tn

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Our friends talked us into going camping there even though we had no horses. We had a blast! This place is not just for people with horses. This is a very nice campground that is very maintained. Nice bath house, nice screened in porch for grilling, relaxing and socializing. They have cabins, RV's and a motel if you need one. We all sat out in the common area and had chocolate fondue fountain goodies and snacks. Great time will go back!!
Reviewed by: CYork on 12/29/2014 7:30:06 PM
 Experience: Not Specified Ride Date: 4/18/2014 Hometown: Scottsville, ky

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Went with my parents to True West and had a great time. The trails were great; the camp ground is very nice and clean. From the horse barn to the facilities was all clean. They have a tack shop that offers nice gifts or tack for your horse. The owners Shawn and Donna care about there customers 24/7 and it shows. Hope to return very soon!!!
Reviewed by: jessica matthews on 12/29/2014 7:08:01 PM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 4/18/2014 Hometown: murfreesboro, tn

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New Ownership- definitely shows; Shawn and Donna help you unload your horses, tack and get set up at your site. They make sure your and your horses needs are met all the way through your stay. They live there at the camp site and are available anytime should any issues accur. They welcome you there and treat you like family. Not to mention they have a very nice tack shop we love shopping at. They have a covered screened common area for grilling and live music. This place is definitely our favorite camp ground! ENJOY going any time of year!
Reviewed by: mark corkwell1 on 12/29/2014 6:49:03 PM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 12/25/2014 Hometown: portland, tn

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True West is awesome; they care about you and your horses. They make sure that all your needs are taking care of and are available at any time. LOVE LOVE LOVE TRUE WEST!
Reviewed by: vicky w corkwell on 12/29/2014 6:33:08 PM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 4/18/2014 Hometown: portland, tn

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We camped at True West for Labor Day weekend and it was our second time there this year - and we hope to be back several more times before the year is out. Whenever we have the chance to camp, it's the first place we head to. We love to ride down by the river along the O&W. It is so pretty and so much cooler when it's hot out. Shawn and Donna are always helpful when we go - no matter how many times we are there, Shawn always cleans out the back of our trailer and helps us unload. It is not just a one time thing. It's the service we have come to enjoy. We are looking forward to our next stay.
Reviewed by: billyhallum on 12/29/2014 1:10:17 PM
More reviews by billyhallum 		Experience: Expert Ride Date: 8/29/2014 Hometown: Beth Page, TN

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This is not our first time to True West - nor will it be our last. We love coming here and we come as often as we can get away. We won't go anywhere else. The trails are beautiful and we especially like the Tee-Pee loop. It is a great little trail for a quick ride if you arrive late or want to squeak in one last ride before you leave. Donna and Shawn are great. They always make us feel at home when we are there. It's like visiting family every time. We highly recommend this campground.
Reviewed by: billyhallum on 12/29/2014 1:03:38 PM
More reviews by billyhallum 		Experience: Expert Ride Date: 6/6/2014 Hometown: Beth Page, TN

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the trails are usually well-maintained and the owners are always very nice and helpful
Reviewed by: carolavans on 12/28/2014 12:41:55 PM
More reviews by carolavans 		Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 10/25/2014 Hometown: knoxville , tn

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I had a great time camping with my friends here. The stalls were really nice - nice and open for buddy sour horses. It was clean and Shawn and Donna were very nice and helped us out with anything we needed. I liked that they had a wi-fi hotspot but it would be great if it could reach all the campsites. Having cell service was great too. Not many places in BSF have that. I would definitely recommend this place to my friends. Can't wait to send in pictures of my traveling trotter!
Reviewed by: katybender on 12/27/2014 12:44:03 PM
 Experience: Expert Ride Date: 4/29/2014 Hometown: Galena, OH

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What did I like the most? EVERYTHING! I heard about your campground through a friend, traveled over 170 miles to get there and I'm so glad I went. Everything was great, the reservation process, the friendliness and professionalism, the clean campground, nice stalls and barn and the trails were wonderful!! Keep being whom you are! We will definitely be back!
Reviewed by: cjenkins on 12/27/2014 12:31:48 PM
 Experience: Expert Ride Date: 5/21/2014 Hometown: Johnson City, TN

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Everything was great! They have nice, safe barn stalls and the campground was very clean. We like the smaller campgrounds so we are not on top of other campers. We loved the personal service! Thanks for everything - we really enjoyed our week! We would definitely return and we recommend this campground to others!
Reviewed by: D&L Gaughan on 12/27/2014 12:25:38 PM
 Experience: Expert Ride Date: 5/10/2014 Hometown: St. Atlanta, MO

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The check in process was great they are very friendly. When you arrive they help you unload your hay, tack everything. What a great service. The campground is very clean.
Reviewed by: Melissa Ayers on 12/27/2014 8:49:30 AM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 6/5/2014 Hometown: Harrisville, wv

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Very friendly. Nice and clean and great trail access.
Reviewed by: V Dean on 12/25/2014 10:35:34 AM
 Experience: Expert Ride Date: 4/25/2014 Hometown: McMinville, tn

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Shawn and Donna are great hosts. Campground is very clean. Easy trail access. Shawn helps you unload everything you need and cleans out your trailer. He even helps you set up if needed. Will be back
Reviewed by: Sheila b on 12/23/2014 3:39:51 PM
 Experience: Expert Ride Date: 5/31/2014 Hometown: franklin, TN

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Stayed at True West with some friends. The registration process was great and the friendliness and professionalism was good too! The campground was very clean. Really liked that they trailered us to different trailheads. The only thing that could make it better is if they offered breakfast in the morning!
Reviewed by: JamesParker on 12/7/2014 5:03:44 PM
 Experience: Expert Ride Date: 11/7/2014 Hometown: Bloomington, IN

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We were at True West for our 2nd Annual Thanksgiving. The campground is GREAT, Donna & Shawn are GREAT. We are definitely going back again. Wonderful, fun place.
Reviewed by: Pepsigirl12 on 12/4/2014 2:02:32 PM
More reviews by Pepsigirl12 		Experience: Expert Ride Date: 11/26/2014 Hometown: Corinth, KY

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I give true west campground a 10 this place is like heaven. The owners are just awsome and helpful. The place is so clean and the campsite are out of this world. The trails that leave out from there is like entering heaven and breath taking. Let's not for get the store it has everything you need from survivor to food and horse supplies I am so coming back and spending a few weeks. And Oh my god I love the showers and bathrooms lol
Reviewed by: Galroper2002 on 12/3/2014 7:51:24 PM
 Experience: Expert Ride Date: 6/1/2014 Hometown: Parker, AZ

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THE BEST HOSPITALITY IN THE BIG SOUTH FORK!. So enjoyed our stay at true west at the end of oct 2014!.. we have traveled a many of miles and never have we had someone take us to our stalls, bring in our tack, and give us the most wonderful hospitality that we have been given anywhere!.. the facilities are very nice, clean as a pen.. quiet campgrounds, and such pretty views...the store was of course a horse loves dream..couldnt have been more accommodating..when u leave u feel like family.. cant wait to return this spring to see the mt. laurels blooming!. wish it never had to end... thank u for everything!...
Reviewed by: pburke on 11/30/2014 1:40:17 PM
 Experience: Expert Ride Date: 10/25/2014 Hometown: Vevay, IN

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Shawn & Donna are the most caring people who go the extra mile to ensure their guests needs are taken care of.
Reviewed by: Toni Ashley on 11/25/2014 2:26:03 PM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 10/1/2014 Hometown: Beaufort, SC & Lindale, GA, SC

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Reviewed by: Linda Tipton on 11/25/2014 12:52:38 PM
More reviews by Linda Tipton 		Experience: Not Specified Ride Date: 9/18/2014 Hometown: Lancaster, KY

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I have been to several camps in BSF, but none have compared to the hospitality and genuine concern for us to have a good time that we met with at True West. Donna and Shawn are two of the most caring people I have ever met. Shawn spent a couple of hour trying to repair a flat trailer tire that we got on the way up. When he was unable to fix the tire (more than 9 holes in it) he took it upon himself to contact the tire dealer in Jamestown and make sure they had the tire I needed. He also obtained pricing for me so I was able to go into town and buy the tire I needed. Donna also trailered us to one of the off-site trailheads and took us on a marvelous trail ride. Although it was not necessary to trailer off-site, as the trail access from the campground is wonderful. We had an amazing time and plan to return next year for sure!
Reviewed by: tngliderider07 on 11/20/2014 2:55:12 PM
More reviews by tngliderider07 		Experience: Expert Ride Date: 8/1/2014 Hometown: Chapel Hill, TN

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Camping at Truwest campground was great. Donna & Shawn were super nice & super helpful with anything that we needed. Barn & campsites were very clean. The Mercantile had a lot of neat stuff. The trails were beautiful & well marked. We will definitely be back.
Reviewed by: Julie Ming on 11/12/2014 7:33:02 PM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 10/23/2014 Hometown: Albertville, AL

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What a wonderful experience we had at True West Campground. Donna and Shawn were wonderful hosts. Shawn was there to greet us and help us unload our tack, cleaned out our trailer, and helped us get our horses settled in. Donna was there to get us checked in and there to answer our many questions we had. Shawn kept our stalls cleaned while we were out riding during the day and even trailered us to different trail heads. The trails were fantastic, especially the one to "the needles eye". The Marshall Suite was excellent, can certainly spoil you! Thank you Shawn and Donna for making our first horse camping trip to Tennessee such a memorable one! Can't wait to come back!
Reviewed by: Jlloyd on 11/12/2014 9:39:36 AM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: Hometown: Pendleton, IN

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I have been camping and trail riding for 20 years and Donna and Shawn greeted us like we were family. Shawn helped us unload tack, hay, and cleaned out the back of the horse trailer. He hauled us to 2 different trail heads, helped us map out trips and they helped us out when we were unsure which way to turn on the trail. The barn is immaculate, my horse loved the view....he kept hanging his outside and watching. The campsites were awesome as well! Hospitality that is genuine and real! Next trip back we are going for a week....we only stayed 4 nights this time!! LOVED, LOVED, LOVED, this trip!
Reviewed by: jmorgan on 11/12/2014 4:42:39 AM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: Hometown: Gaston, IN

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True West as always is a wonderful place to spend a weekend. Nice campsites, roomy & clean stalls and great hosts!!!!
Reviewed by: mark fitzner on 11/11/2014 4:51:47 PM
More reviews by mark fitzner 		Experience: Expert Ride Date: 5/21/2014 Hometown: Livingston, tn

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The camp hosts, Shawn & Donna were very accommodating, including recommending a vet clinic for our very newly rescued dog, we found at the campground just before heading to True West. The campground was very nice. The shower house/bathroom is very clean and the showers have nice hot water and good pressure. The sites are pretty nice. The stalls are nice and solid/safe. The camp store is cute. Our horses were very comfortable and so were we. Shawn is kind enough to help you unload your trailer/tack/feed and even cleans out the trailer. Everyone we met at the camp and on the trails was so friendly. The only thing that disappointed us is that we didn't have quite as much time as we would have liked to explore the trails. We saw some beautiful sites out there but would have liked to have had more hours to ride and play. We probably won't be back as we like to explore different states/parts of the country but would certainly stay again if we are back in the BSF in TN. No complaints at all. :-)
Reviewed by: Kim C. on 11/11/2014 11:39:12 AM
 Experience: Expert Ride Date: 10/19/2014 Hometown: Brooklyn, WI

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Both Shawn and Donna are very accommodating to their customers and the community, very people and pet oriented. The #1 perk is their assistance to unload your items at the stable and also at your cabin. #2 perk, pay an extra fee to have your stalls cleaned while on the trail, after an all day ride it's worth it!
Reviewed by: Stacie Trybe on 11/11/2014 6:02:38 AM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 11/7/2014 Hometown: MANCHESTER, TN

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Shawn & Donna are awesome host...upon arrival Shawn helped unload horses, tact and hay. They were there to answer question about the trails and made our trip very comfortable. Camp ground and facilities were very clean. The trail are awesome as well. We had a great experience at True West and will definitely go back.
Reviewed by: Linda Tipton on 11/7/2014 5:40:05 PM
More reviews by Linda Tipton 		Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 9/26/2014 Hometown: Lancaster, KY

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Shawn & Donna are awesome host...upon arrival Shawn helped unload horses, tact and hay. They were there to answer question about the trails and made our trip very comfortable. The trail are awesome as well. We had a great experience at True West and will definitely go back.
Reviewed by: Linda Tipton on 11/7/2014 5:37:20 PM
More reviews by Linda Tipton 		Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 9/26/2014 Hometown: Lancaster, KY

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What a wonderful experience at True West. Donna and Shawn run an amazing campground and are eager to meet the needs of their guests. I've never arrived at a campground and had the owners help me unload my horses and tack. WOW!!! Will definitely make this my campground of choice for riding Big South Fork in the future.
Reviewed by: mmplatter on 11/7/2014 3:34:12 PM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 10/25/2014 Hometown: Crete, il

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True West is a great campground run by a very helpful couple. We arrived with a flat tire and Shawn attempted to fix it right away. It was however unfixable. He recommended a tire shop in Jamestown. The barn and trailer sites are well kept. The trails are beautiful. The only small problem was going past some houses with dogs to get to a certain trail. Donna was our trail boss one day and we had fun. I'll definitely return. I love the area but this is one of the best campgrounds.
Reviewed by: Alice Coble on 11/7/2014 3:03:07 PM
More reviews by Alice Coble 		Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 8/1/2014 Hometown: CHAPEL HILL, TN

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Beautiful grassy camp spot, awesome showers, gracious attentive hosts, very cool mercantile, secure barn & stalls, family atmosphere. Trails were muddy but pretty safe. Lots of rain that part of the season. Ride for days.....gorgeous....
Reviewed by: Paula Hunter on 11/7/2014 1:27:25 PM
 Experience: Expert Ride Date: 6/6/2014 Hometown: Bouse, AZ

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This a wonderful place to stay, with the best hosts. Had a great time, enjoyed the most beautiful trails and scenery and want to go back very soon! Great facilities for all levels. Rent a room, a camper or if you just need a hook-up for your trailer. Super cute and helpful/needed items in the general store. Barns, bathhouses all clean and well cared for. Don't think I have ever had anyone unload my tack for me! Shawn and Donna are the greatest!!!
Reviewed by: sheflystoo on 11/7/2014 1:09:36 PM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 5/18/2014 Hometown: Edmond, OK

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Loved staying with Donna and Shawn. What a great place this is. Everything for the horse and or mule, and everything for us riders. Great trails and good camaraderie in the campground, organized events were well done by Donna and her crew. Would love to go back, but it is a ver long drive from CA. Highly recommend this campground!
Reviewed by: Susan jackson on 11/7/2014 9:45:53 AM
More reviews by Susan jackson 		Experience: Expert Ride Date: 6/14/2014 Hometown: Norco, CA, Horsetown USA, , CA

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Loved staying with Donna and Shawn. What a great place this is. Everything for the horse and or mule, and everything for us riders. Great trails and good camaraderie int he campground, organized events were well done by Donna and her crew. Would love to go back, but it is a very long drive from CA. Highly recommend this campground!
Reviewed by: Susan jackson on 11/7/2014 9:44:08 AM
More reviews by Susan jackson 		Experience: Expert Ride Date: 6/14/2014 Hometown: Norco, CA, Horsetown USA, , CA

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We had a great time at True West. Shaun and Donna were great and Shaun really knew the trails. Couldn't have asked for better weather for late October. Campground was one of the best we saw in the area and we visited others. Very clean, showers were hot, stalls and barn neat and clean. There was a varity of trails no matter the skill level of rider or horse plus many more trails that you could trailer to that weren't that far away if you wanted. I would definetly recommend this campground to others and will be back. Thank you Shaun and Donna, everything was awesome!!!
Reviewed by: Cyndi625 on 10/28/2014 4:25:57 AM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 10/20/2014 Hometown: Jonesville, MI

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my husband and i were unfamilar with visiting tennesse, and we referred to true west by Prince Albert stables to visit this camp for rest of our new horse. We loved the place, and met lots of really friendly and nice horse owners that were also camping. We shopped in the gift shop and found so many things to bring home and have wonderful memories. Anything we needed Donna and Shawn was there, any questions, or help - Donna and Shawn was there. We watched people getting help parking trailers, caring for horses, AND . Donna and Shawn will even clean up after your horse if you need it, or want help. It was the most amazing, accomadating, exciting place i have ever been in my life. We will go back again and again, and may end up being the only place we take friends to ride and enjoy the camp, horses, new friends, and meet Donna and Shawn too. amazing folks for sure and we loved Hodge too! if on a scale of 10, they would be for sure a 10!! Mark & Dee
Reviewed by: dee gonzales on 10/27/2014 7:02:32 PM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 10/2/2014 Hometown: silsbee, tx

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Returned to True West this October for our second visit. Shawn and Donna were very helpful on many levels. The office is well organized, they help with unloading, unpacking, and settling in at your campsite. The store is well stocked. The facilities are immaculate - the bathrooms are clean and tidy. The trails are pretty well marked and extensive. Shawn and Donna both helped us plan our rides. We will be back!!
Reviewed by: RachelV on 10/26/2014 4:58:08 PM
More reviews by RachelV 		Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 10/23/2014 Hometown: ,

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This was our second time coming to TWC, it lives up to its five star rating, the campground is clean, well maintained, hot shower was fantastic, barn is clean and neat, both Donna and Shawn are good people. I hope to be able to come back and see the cutest pup ever, next year, see how big she’s gotten. Thank you again for another good time.
Reviewed by: kay workley on 10/26/2014 2:16:09 PM
More reviews by kay workley 		Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 10/22/2014 Hometown: Culleoka, TN

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Donna & Shawn were very accommodating helping all of us unload trailers, etc, answering questions, and getting us settled in. Saturday night dinner was delicious & the band was great! Will definitely go back!
Reviewed by: Ralph/Pat Lewis on 10/23/2014 4:19:51 PM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 10/16/2014 Hometown: Bracey, VA

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Our group of 10 had an incredible experience staying at True West. We truly had a blast! The horse accommodations were very nice and convenient. The entertainment on Saturday night was great. We really enjoyed the band, and the BBQ dinner was the best ever. We appreciate everything that Donna and Shawn did for us. They fit right in with our gang. Hope we can make it back some day. And you can bet we will be staying at True West!
Reviewed by: Sharon Dugan on 10/23/2014 8:08:01 AM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 10/15/2014 Hometown: Chesapeake, , VA

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Upon arriving they immediately went to work helping make things easy for us, they unloaded our tack and placed it at our stalls. Cleaned out our trailer, and offered to help us set up our campsite. We have never had such treatment and shown such hospitality. We will definitely return.
Reviewed by: Judy Anderson on 10/20/2014 9:06:58 AM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: Hometown: New Hope, Al

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We have stayed at True West campground several times and have always had a wonderful time. Shawn and Donna have always gone out of their way to make us feel at home. The campground is excellent> The grounds are super clean and the barns are beutiful, especially all lite up at night. Trails range from all types and are well maintained. We always look forward to our next trip to Big South Fork and visiting True West. We highly recommend you try it if you have never been!
Reviewed by: Billyhallum on 10/19/2014 11:10:07 AM
More reviews by Billyhallum 		Experience: Expert Ride Date: 8/29/2014 Hometown: Beth Page, TN

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A super nice campground- you could not ask for better hosts or nicer barns- the trails in Big South Fork are always nice, even in the rain, and True West is an ideal place to stay while in the area. A definite 5 star camp!
Reviewed by: ranger402m on 10/16/2014 6:13:14 PM
More reviews by ranger402m 		Experience: Expert Ride Date: 10/14/2014 Hometown: Bastian, VA

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Best place to stay in BSF!!! The camper is great for those of us who aren't lucky enough to have a LQ trailer! Wonderful hosts, too!
Reviewed by: STACEYSHELTON on 10/12/2014 1:00:35 PM
More reviews by STACEYSHELTON 		Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 10/3/2014 Hometown: Knoxville, TN

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Great place to stay with your horses! We stayed in the camper and it was perfect for us. The stalls are well maintained and the owners are more than helpful! Can't wait to return!!!
Reviewed by: STACEYSHELTON on 10/12/2014 9:06:22 AM
More reviews by STACEYSHELTON 		Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 10/3/2014 Hometown: Knoxville, TN

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We spent the better part of a week at True West and simply put, Shawn and Donna make this the best campground I have stayed at. They help you out at the campground the best they can and help you find the best trails according to what you are looking for. You may find an equal but will not find a better campground.
Reviewed by: dave m on 10/11/2014 12:29:48 PM
 Experience: Expert Ride Date: 10/4/2014 Hometown: otsego, mi

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The campground and shower facilities were very clean and well kept. We enjoyed the trails and will definitely be coming back.
Reviewed by: catcow on 10/9/2014 5:17:58 AM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 10/2/2014 Hometown: Darden, TN

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My favorite place to ride and stay!! Shawn and Donna. Are awesome
Reviewed by: carolavans on 9/26/2014 5:15:31 PM
More reviews by carolavans 		Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 9/1/2014 Hometown: knoxville , tn

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True West is great
Reviewed by: brenda durham on 9/26/2014 3:01:48 PM
 Experience: Expert Ride Date: 9/6/2014 Hometown: lancaster, ky

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True West Campgrounds is living up to their awards they have received over the past few years. Great hospitality from the moment we pulled up. Very organized and prepared for our arrival. Cleaned out our trailer and helped us unload everything into the barn. The campgrounds are beautiful. We love to fish, and the have 2 stocked ponds. Some of the sites are even on the pond. Our camping spot was in between both. The barns are the cleanest and the most well maintained I've seen in a while. I suggest you make a trip to True West real soon:)
Reviewed by: Lora hutchins on 9/22/2014 2:17:59 PM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 9/19/2014 Hometown: columbia, tn

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The Murder Mystery Dinner was such a good time! Donna and Shawn really went out of their way to make it an incredible dinner! There were really cute decorations that made you feel like you were really in the old west! Such a great idea, hope they decide to have it again next year! We each played a character and we all had a great time trying to figure out who was the "Murderer", and funny enough it ended up being my husband, LOL!! We will definitely be back to True West to camp again! Thanks Donna and Shawn for being great Campground owners and great hosts!
Reviewed by: Lara Grigsby on 9/17/2014 3:29:52 PM
More reviews by Lara Grigsby 		Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 9/6/2014 Hometown: Cookeville, TN

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Love this place, Thats why we have returned here many times this year and have sent alot of new people, some from Love Valley,NC to True West!! They love it as well and hope to return again this year!!
Reviewed by: Whitney Bowling on 9/8/2014 10:17:50 AM
More reviews by Whitney Bowling 		Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 8/15/2014 Hometown: Johnson City, Tennessee, tn

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Absolutely great campground and riding. We had a wonderful cAmp spot next to a small pond. Very private and scenic. The stalls were large and safe and sawdust was available for bedding. Camp store was well stocked and the owners would help any way they could. Trails just across the road from camp and trail maps you could actually follow. This will be a come back to place for us.
Reviewed by: brncntry on 8/30/2014 9:32:09 AM
More reviews by brncntry 		Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 8/7/2014 Hometown: Havana, FL

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Absolutely great campground and riding. We had a wonderful cAmp spot next to a small pond. Very private and scenic. The stalls were large and safe and sawdust was available for bedding. Camp store was well stocked and the owners would help any way they could. Trails just across the road from camp and trail maps you could actually follow. This will be a come back to place for us.
Reviewed by: brncntry on 8/30/2014 9:31:12 AM
More reviews by brncntry 		Experience: Not Specified Ride Date: 8/7/2014 Hometown: Havana, FL

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Another wonderful time at True West :) True West is definitely one of our favorite campgrounds!! We had three wonderful rides from the trail heads that are right across the street!! It's such a calm and peaceful atmosphere at the campground that is so relaxing!! My husband and I love it there so much and are going back in September so we can have another fantastic camping weekend!!
Reviewed by: Lara Grigsby on 8/23/2014 4:25:37 PM
More reviews by Lara Grigsby 		Experience: Expert Ride Date: 8/9/2014 Hometown: Cookeville, TN

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This is my third stay at True West, and it just gets better and better. Shawn and Donna treat their customers the best. It's the only place I have ever been that cleans out your trailer for you when you arrive, and takes all your tack and feed to the barn for you. Yeah! Their facility has everything a camper could want or need. I had vehicle trouble this trip, and their help and support was invaluable through it all. I love staying here, I recommend it to everyone, and I look forward to returning soon.
Reviewed by: Barbara Hopper on 8/19/2014 7:41:59 AM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 8/16/2014 Hometown: Nicholasville, KY

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One of the nicest trails I've been on, probably the best. Lots of views! Good sites! Trails would be a combined traverse. Some for beginners to some for the expert. Camp is very nice, with a "all exclusive" atmosphere, other than your own feeding and watering. Nice people who bend over backwards to help you. We will be back!!! Glad to have had the experience.
Reviewed by: Joe Harvey on 7/24/2014 7:17:52 PM
 Experience: Expert Ride Date: 6/27/2014 Hometown: Nicholasville, KY

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We had a great ride . We did the moonlight ride and it was so much fun. I will say if your going to ride at night you need a well trained horse. The campground was great as always. We love this place and stay there as often as we can.
Reviewed by: Darryl on 7/24/2014 7:02:40 PM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 7/11/2014 Hometown: knoxville, tn

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Had a wonderful time riding the trails with ACTHA, Staff was very friendly and helpful. The mercantile onsite was great! The campsites are adequate size with the firepits a safe distance. Sites are easily accessed with larger trailers. Would return in the future.
Reviewed by: wishduncometru on 7/23/2014 2:09:45 AM
More reviews by wishduncometru 		Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 6/21/2014 Hometown: Knoxville, tn

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The Staff were outstanding, the stalls and barn were great. I enoyed the trails, a little muddy in spots but that could not be helped due to the amount of rain everyone has been getting. The campsites were a little too close together and the firepits were right beside the campers but overall I enjoyed staying there and would go back.
Reviewed by: Tammy Smith on 7/20/2014 7:22:53 AM
More reviews by Tammy Smith 		Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 6/28/2014 Hometown: Pella, IA

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May was our first time at True West. We loved the full hookup we had access to and how easy it was to get to the Big South Fork trail head. Donna Shawn and the staff were so friendly and helpful. They made us feel at home even though we came alone. Never felt alone. I loved the fact that we could see our horses from our trailer. And Donna and Shawn checked on everyone's horses before they turned in for the night. Even though we were in bed and asleep. All I can say is we are going back in Oct. because they had made us feel like they really wanted us to return and they really cared about the welfare of our horses. It is nice to have great people to camp with.. See you in 3 mo. Donna and Shawn.
Reviewed by: Hilma Beuchert on 7/14/2014 6:36:25 PM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 5/3/2014 Hometown: Giraard, PA

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This was our first camping trip with the horses. I can not say enough on how great True West was. The owners Donna and Shawn made our weekend trip feel like a relaxed vacation. Shawn greeted us at the trailer and cleaned it out as well as unloading our hay and gear. The shop has a nice selection of merchandise at reasonable prices. The bathhouses were immaculate. On our first ride we ended up coming in after dark, Donna was watching for us and gave us a good old fashion whoop that we were back. There was a potluck on our second night and we met some friendly fellow riders and all had good stories and food to exchange. We have already planned our next two trips and I sure more to come. I would highly recommend visiting True West
Reviewed by: Laura waters on 7/13/2014 9:24:52 PM
 Experience: Beginner Ride Date: 7/11/2014 Hometown: Sunbright , TN

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Had another wonderful time at True West!! We just love the atmosphere there!! Donna and Shawn make you feel SO at home and will try and do whatever they can to make your stay an amazing experience!! I had a problem with my horse when we went out on the trails, he got stung by something and I had to take his saddle off, so I called Donna to ask if she could meet us and pick up the saddle so that I could just walk my horse back to the campground, and she was there within minutes!! I feel like Donna and Shawn would be there any time I needed them and that means everything to me!! I know when I stay there that my horses and I are going to be taken care of in any situation!! My husband and I have made two more reservations with True West because we love it there so much!! Go to True West and have an experience you will never forget!!
Reviewed by: Lara Grigsby on 7/8/2014 5:50:02 PM
More reviews by Lara Grigsby 		Experience: Expert Ride Date: 6/28/2014 Hometown: Cookeville, TN

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A clean facility and amenities, but the best thing about True West is the staff. I have never been to a campground where the staff did so much to make your stay a great experience for you and your horse. The trails were wonderful, too! I definitely will return!
Reviewed by: Claire Cantrell on 6/25/2014 1:13:42 PM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 6/21/2014 Hometown: Crossville, TN

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We had the best time staying at True West. Our hosts, Shawn and Donna, were extremely friendly. The bath houses were clean with lots of hot water. We rented their camper and loved it!! i would stay there again.
Reviewed by: lappoy on 6/24/2014 11:30:30 AM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 6/20/2014 Hometown: Lebanon, TN

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We were there with my niece during this time. As always we had very nice time. Shawn and Donna are great hosts. the trails are awesome.
Reviewed by: Elizabeth DeBorde on 6/23/2014 5:18:41 PM
More reviews by Elizabeth DeBorde 		Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 6/12/2014 Hometown: Arcanum, OH

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I hope that anyone considering camping in BSF will give True West a look. Let me begin by saying that we have stayed in the area several times in the past 4 years, but not at TW. However, we have stopped in and took a tour; we were impressed by the owners and the attitude that they have in person and on social media sites that I frequent. Always professional, welcoming and helpful to anyone, including non campers. This will always work in their favor! Other camp owners could take a lesson from Donna.
Reviewed by: Anne Glaser Breen on 6/23/2014 7:52:53 AM
More reviews by Anne Glaser Breen 		Experience: Expert Ride Date: 6/7/2014 Hometown: Macon, NC

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I loved everything about this ride. The hosts Shawn and Donna are top notch and they go above and beyond to make your stay pleasant. The trails are incredible. Beautiful sandy trails with just the right amount of ups and downs. I can hardly wait to go back. If you don't at least visit True West Campground at least once, you are missing out big time.
Reviewed by: lazydayhorsefarm on 6/23/2014 5:24:24 AM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 6/21/2014 Hometown: Lebanon, TN

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I have visited True West Campground in BSF twice this spring and I can't say enough about what an awesome place it is!! They go out of their way to make your arrival smooth and take such a load off the amount of work it is to help you set up camp!! They are right there helping you unload your feed, hay & tack and even clean out the trailer for you! Shawn and Donna are very knowledgable of the trails and they gladly helped steer us in the right direction so we were comfortable taking off on our own. I'm in the process of making plans to go back in July and feel just like I'm going to visit friends!! As far as the trails from True West... They are easy to get to and their campground is pretty centrally located so you can ride out in either direction and take a full day ride and see many beautiful sights! The river along the O&W trail is absolutely beautiful and the O&W bridge is a "must see" part of your trip to Big South Fork!! I can't wait to go back :)
Reviewed by: TerriKyTn on 6/19/2014 10:56:33 PM
 Experience: Expert Ride Date: 5/31/2014 Hometown: Murray , Ky

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My wife and I are frequent campers at True West. I do not normally take the time to write reviews, but I am compelled to do so because my wife and I are so happy with the great service and friendliness that is demonstrated by Shawn and Donna each time we visit. From the moment that you arrive at their campsite they make you feel like you are a member of their family and will attend to your every need with a smile on their face. The riding is great, bathrooms are spotless, the manure is cleaned from inside your horse trailer when you arrive, your tack and hay is unloaded and your stalls are cleaned for a nominal fee - a true vacation. I am a Vietnam veteran and appreciate the veterans discounts and the emotional Veterans day ceremony that they host on Veterans day. I highly recommend this equestrian campground, and promise that you will not be disappointed.
Reviewed by: George Young on 6/18/2014 6:14:48 PM
More reviews by George Young 		Experience: Expert Ride Date: 5/23/2014 Hometown: Jamestown, TN

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We had the best and most relaxing time at True West Campground. After driving 8 hours for the second day of driving, the owners welcomed us with smiles and helped us with unloading our horses and tack. I also liked the amenities they offered such as stall cleaning, a very nice store, plenty of ice, and their wonderful hospitality. The campsites looked like your own private park with pond views, well-maintained sites, and daily garbage pick up. Everything is kept very clean. The trails are very scenic and pretty well marked. We will definitely be coming back; I hope to visit in the fall when all the leaves are changing colors.
Reviewed by: Steve and Debbie Bourgeois on 6/12/2014 2:37:59 PM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 6/1/2014 Hometown: Lucas, TX

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Wonderful campground! Owners made you feel welcomed! They went well beyond on hospitality
Reviewed by: Rita Mangrum on 6/10/2014 2:00:09 PM
More reviews by Rita Mangrum 		Experience: Expert Ride Date: 5/1/2014 Hometown: Fairview, Tn

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Our group, Women on the Edge, chose True West as our 2014 Spring Ride destination and what a wonderful weekend it was. The facilities, campsites and horse stalls at True West are top notch and their staff is always very accommodating and friendly. This is the second year in a row that we have held our spring ride at True West and we have enjoyed it both times - the weather even cooperated this year with lots of sunshine. Thank you for a great weekend.
Reviewed by: Loretta Jones on 6/10/2014 10:48:50 AM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 4/25/2014 Hometown: Rock Island, TN

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Great campground with fun, helpful owners, nice site, good stalls, and LOTS of trails to ride! I went with a green horse but Shawn and Donna helped us pick good trails for her inexperience. We got it late after our GPS took us down some tiny backroads. They were up waiting for us though and Shawn helped us unload and park the trailer.
Reviewed by: Katy on 6/10/2014 8:14:43 AM
More reviews by Katy 		Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 5/2/2014 Hometown: Galena, Oh

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Donna, Shawn and the staff are awesome. The showers and barns are very clean and in good repair. The only thing is I wished that the front campsites were bigger and had shade.
Reviewed by: Foxyfilly on 6/7/2014 2:36:42 PM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 5/16/2014 Hometown: frankfort, ky

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A great experience. Shawn and Donna were awesome hosts and were always available when you needed them, day or night. The horses were checked regularly and the stalls were airy and clean. The entire camp was neat as can as can be. We went for a "girls" trip and had a wonderful time ... the trails were awesome! We will go back!
Reviewed by: DonnaJ on 6/6/2014 5:48:34 AM
 Experience: Expert Ride Date: 5/2/2014 Hometown: Cream Ridge, NJ

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Again a great experience . Shawn and Donna were right there any and every time you needed them. The horses were constantly checked on and happy. Stalls were airy and the horses were able to see out, and know their buddy was right there. Everything was neat and clean. Couldn't ask for a better campground or owners! We will go back!
Reviewed by: Gloria S Hager on 6/6/2014 5:41:47 AM
 Experience: Intermediate Ride Date: 6/2/2014 Hometown: Natural Bridge, Va

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Stayed here for a week and rode in the BSF. Loved the trails and this campground! Donna, Shawn, Candy and John are so hospitable! They will help you any way they can! Even take your tack and hay to the barn for you and park your trailer, if you are parking challenged! So much fun with them! Best camping and riding week ever!
Reviewed by: BJ Wilder on 6/5/2014 4:01:58 PM
 Experience: Expert Ride Date: 5/16/2014 Hometown: Kitts Hill, OH

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Finally, it will let me sign in so I can leave a review!!! Went to True West over Memorial Day weekend and had a very relaxing time. Wonderful stalls, wonderful campsite, wonderful trails and wonderful hosts!!!
Reviewed by: Tammy K. Fitzner on 6/4/2014 8:26:24 AM
 Experience: Expert Ride Date: 5/26/2014 Hometown: LIVINGSTON, tn

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Both Donna and Shawn were gracious hosts, from answering questions to guiding rides. I am not sure if they even slept the whole weekend. Seems they were always available. I like the diversity of trails. Band was super and I definitely would recommend for anyone to come visit. I know I will come back with my friends.
Reviewed by: RoyLeGaspi on 6/4/2014 8:21:57 AM
 Experience: Expert Ride Date: 5/31/2014 Hometown: Taylorsville, KY

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All I can say is, W O W!! We love, love, love this campground! We have been hanging our hats at another campground in Big South Fork for 6 years. It was time to explore some other places. I am SO thankful that we picked True West!! From the moment we arrived we were treated like we were guests on vacation! We unloaded the horses and got them settled and when we got back to the trailer it was all cleaned out for us! Yay, one less thing for us to do :) and VERY much appreciated. Then Shawn graciously helped my hubby get the trailer backed into its spot while I checked out the campground with our kiddo's. All the campsites are extremely level and clean. I love the fire pits....instead of an old rim, they have big rocks...it's very rustic :). The barn is immaculate and Donna, Shawn, and John check on the horses several times a day and always do a bedtime check (usually around 11 or 12 at night) before turning in. It made me feel soooo at ease. The trails are amazing, and though we didn't make it out to some of the more popular spots (our kids are 6 and 8 and we ride slow-poke quarter horses!), what we did see was gorgeous. The kids loved exploring the caves and the river is absolutely beautiful! Trail maps were great, and the trails are very well marked. We do carry a GPS with us though, just in case. Donna was so sweet to our boys. She let them play with her dogs and cats brought out games for them to play....she really took them under her wing. And she is a GREAT story teller :) We had a great time and made lots of fun memories.....checking our calendars now to see when we can go back :) This is a DO NOT MISS campground in BSF!!
Reviewed by: Heather H on 5/30/2014 5:41:31 PM
More reviews by Heather H 		Experience: Expert Ride Date: 5/23/2014 Hometown: Asheville , NC

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Friends of mine stayed at True West for Memorial Day weekend. I wanted to come ride just for a night and Donna and Shawn were nice enough to give me a stall for the night so that I could get a couple of great rides in that weekend!! They were so nice to make room for me when there were so many people coming and going because it was such a busy weekend!! Even though they were busy they still made time for me and my horse and that is what counts the most!! No matter what they are up to Donna and Shawn will ALWAYS go out of their way to help in any way that you need it!! I LOVE True West so much that my husband and I already have reservations for two more weekends this year and we cannot wait to go and spend the weekend with them!! I HIGHLY recommend going to True West to experience how horse camping really should be!!