Marval Resort - Gore, Oklahoma

Jordan

Nothing was as advertised. Heated pool? Nope. Pedal carts? Nope. Pizza? Nope. Mini golf? Nope. Arcade? Barely. Activity center? Nope.

We booked our first trip here based on everything they advertise on their website.

The arcade wasn’t even open until we called to ask about it. Once it was, we didn’t bother — the air hockey table was out of order, and the change machine didn’t work. They didn’t even bother to turn on the lights.

We asked about the activity center and were told it was closed due to staffing issues. Yet, we saw several employees just sitting around. After I pushed the issue, Janey said, “It’s my birthday, so I don’t want to work more than I have to, but I’ll open it for an hour if you call when you’re ready.”

The pool wasn’t heated at all, despite their claims. No pizza was available, even though it’s advertised. Pedal carts? Also unavailable.

Their attempt to make up for it? A free golf cart rental for one day. I took it because, at that point, I was over it. My kids were disappointed, we definitely won’t be back.

If you’re thinking about staying here, do your research. I don’t recommend it.

0/5 stars if I could.

Cullen M.

My family visited for 3 nights and stayed in our motorhome. We did not experience the cabins.

The staff was friendly, the RV Sites were nice. Some were paved, most near the water were not paved, but rather on gravel or dirt, but accommodated us well. We had great trout fishing opportunities, campfires and the overall grounds were nice. Nice bathrooms in multiple locations with hot showers.

Only negatives worth mentioning are the following:
The amount of "strict" rules and regulations stated are usually high. No cloth lines, no places to dry your clothes in your campsite, no corrals, cages or lead lines permitted for your dogs. (although we did see some there) 2 dog limit. (we have 3 and left one home) Many of these rules are not typical for state parks so be aware that since privately owned this is their prerogative. We heard a rumor that the resort is owned by people out of state, maybe west coast, which would explain possibly why they did not seem to run the resort in a manner typical of Oklahoma resident perspectives. This was a downside for me. It felt overbearing.

Also, not all advertised amenities were available during our stay. The pizza shop/cafe, clubhouse with kitchen, "reunion hall" etc were closed and didn't look like they had been open recently. The activity center was open some and closed some. When they were closed, pedal cars, mini golf etc. were not available because its managed through the activity center. We didn't experience any outdoor movies or themed weekend activities (but we were there on a weekend). I would have appreciated more communication prior to arrival that these things were seasonal, or closed. We were told they had a staffing shortage.

Jump pillow, pedal cars, basketball, basically the activities that didn't require staff support were available during our stay.

In light of the downsides, we would go back, we just recommend better communication from the staff about available amenities and consider loosening up on regulations to be more in line with other destinations.

Andrea W.

We just had the best weekend at Marvel. We had never gone in the winter before and it was just as much fun as it is in the summer. It was so peaceful, quiet, and beautiful. The staff are so gracious and the accomodations were excellent. I have been going to Marvel for 25+ years and it is my favorite place to camp. We cannot wait to go back.

katy P.

The cabins are rustic, the views are beautiful, so many fun things for the kids to do. We will be back!!!|Bring your own bedding to the cabins. Bring your swimsuits, there’s a heated pool. Water shoes are needed for walking around in the river.

Sherri D.

Edit: someone must have moved our fire pit, so we were able to find it and move it back to our area. We also found out that the answer machine does not notify them when they have a message, so they didn’t know they had a message until this morning. So, really other than the lack of people for the activities, things are worked out. I wanted to make sure and review that they explained things to us. And it’s worked out fine. The scenery is beautiful, and I look forward to a great trip.

The staff we’ve been in contact with have been very helpful and friendly. There just aren’t enough of them. It’s our Spring Break week, and we booked here at Marval for the whole week. One of the selling points for coming here was the daily activities available to the kids. We’ve come before and the kids really enjoyed all the activities available to them. Last summer, they were fully staffed, and everything promised was available. Apparently, they do not staff for Spring Break week the same, even though the campsites are very full and the cabins are completely full. The lady at the check-in desk told one man that he was getting the last cabin they had available. We booked for the this week knowing there are activities everyday. We got here today and found out there are no activities on Monday or Tuesday, because they don’t have enough staff for the busy week. Another complaint, there's no after hours number to call for information. I had a few questions, so I left a message, as did my husband later, all to not receive a call back. I’m assuming they will call in the morning. There is also no fire pit at our site. So far, the place next to ours is empty, one of the few. We can use that one for now. My last gripe of the night is this awful WiFi. We've FINALLY gotten connected, and the service just cuts in and out. It’s very frustrating. The flowing river, trees, and overall scenery are beautiful, and the amenities they do have are very nice. I would like to come back when they get a few things ironed out.

Julie T.

This is a beautiful resort off the beating path with NO highway traffic noise- tucked back along the Illinois River. I work with Thompson's Mobile Rv Repair, and we are there very often. The customer service is always amazing. The grounds and cabins are always clean. It's truly a great resort for families of our kind.

Papablue

Very nice place. Easy to get camper into our spot. Like the security a lot.

Would go back with grandkids (this was adults only).

Staff went out of their way to help. Specifically we had nonstop rain so wanted to cook, eat, play games under Pavillion. Lights didn't work, so they did troubleshooting (faulty switch).

Only negative was the tornado warning. Marvel didn't help with safety until bugged 3 times. Campers met at the concrete bathrooms with staff to watch high winds and rotation over river.

With all the alerts going on, sure would have expected the resort to communicate and help out.

Cassidy B.

We have been going to Marvel for several years now with our family, and are already planning our next stay! It is a great place to take the kiddos with swimming, crafts, jungle gym, basketball, and more! The staff is amazing and very helpful! If I could change one thing, it would be the beds! Those suckers are very firm. Other than that, the resort is very family friendly and I feel safe having my kids there. 10/10 recommend! Also, definitely rent a golf cart!