Oh Ennis, Such a Disappointment!

We had such anticipation heading down the road for Ennis, we have been going there for 7 or 8 years and always looked forward to it.  Even though we weren't fishing this year we were still looking forward to getting into our site with its incredible views, and enjoying the peace and quiet, and darkness of the RV park.  Since we were there last the park was sold to another company and we wondered what might change.  First off the reception in the office checking in was dismal, not a hello, smile, nothing, just handed a list of rules and off we went to our site.  The first thing we notice is there is now a house sitting on what used to be several of the primo view sites, and next to it are 2 5th wheels in sites that are supposedly pull-ins, with a wooden fence surrounding one of them.  Then as we turn into our site we notice the site next to us looks like a garbage dump, there is a utility trailer backed in, then a class C with stuff and crap piled everywhere, an absolute abomination.  As we get settled in, we also notice that the area in front of the sites, where the view is looks like it hasn't be trimmed back, maybe ever.  It always been a bit rough but nothing like this, and then the barking dogs.  Well, they never stopped barking for the next 4 hours, we saw they were on runners inside the fence where the fifth wheel was parked.  Going crazy we decided to look over the new rules, we had intended to wash our rig while there, we always were allowed to in the past, but no, no washing of RV's or vehicles allowed.  Then you are warned to be sure your site doesn't have any storage bins or stuff piled around or under your rig, the penalty, eviction.  No dogs may be tied out unless the owner is with them, no barking dogs will be tolerated, etc.  We had booked a whole week, and when this cacophony didn't let up for hours and hours, we decided then and there we would leave early, a real pain as there are no refunds for that.  We were only able to shorten our stay by 2 days, and we were really glad of that because in the next several days after we would get back from being away most of the day, the barking dogs were waiting and barking and even joined in with another tied dog at the next fifth wheel.  Amazingly, the ones inside the fence barking all day and left alone belong to the office staff!  And the one next door was a staff member as well!  Suffice it to say we will not go back, and the company that bought the Ennis RV Park is Starry Night, and they have several other RV parks and lodging around the country that we will be sure never to visit if this is an example of their management.  Okay, enough.

Still has the views though. 

One of the days we took a beautiful drive up through the hills and mountains on a big loop, and had a nice picnic.

Then as we were circling back we at first noticed this one guy.

Then we noticed he had company.

And then as we were driving away, yet another came up out of the brush.

We stopped on the way back at the Ennis Overlook for coffee, it sure was a gorgeous day.

We took a long drive up (south) along the Madison River past Quake Lake, and Hebgen Lake to West Yellowstone, and a nice picnic along the way in an almost deserted National Forest campground.

Then into West Yellowstone where we walked around the town and found an awesome cup of homemade huckleberry ice cream, what a treat.......for me.  Then back around to Quake Lake again for coffee.

Another day we headed into Bozeman to do some errands, get the truck tires rotated, hit Costco, etc, and of course, stopped for a sushi lunch at Dave's, and even that seemed a little off, maybe it's just our memory inflates our opinion of things:-)

Then after a pretty sunset on the mountains we bid farewell to Ennis.

Too bad I can't play the wonderful sounds of barking dogs:-(

Down the road 65 miles to Henry's Lake State Park, one of the prettiest parks and views anywhere.

A few days here and then heading south.