Berryessa now...

I have been a regular at Berryessa for about 7 years. First I had a trailer at Pleasure Cove, which I was forced to remove along with everyone else. Now I have a houseboat at the same resort and feel lucky to be there. Currently there are only 3 resorts opened while things are in transition. All the long term trailer owners have left or are leaving. The whole intent of the change was to create a place more friendly to day or short term use. Well, I must tell you the short term use is a disaster. This weekend was the worse. I can not believe how little regard so many people have for the lake. First, I walked the shoreline around the resort and it is covered in cigarette butts and countless cans and bottles. There is trash and garbage everywhere. Second, there were people driving boats and jetskis with no regard for anything. Time after time I watched as they plowed through the 5 mile and hours zone or did just plain careless things. Finally, the docks were just crawling with people. These docks are rented from anywhere from 125 to 380 per month and are were never intended to be the party spot of the lake. Yesterday there must have been 60 people on one of the dock strings using it as a 'beach'. Climbing on and off and all over peoples boats. In talking to many of the boat owners at Berryessa, many have had theft, vandalism, etc. happen to their boats. The houseboat across from me had 50 gallons of gas pumped out of it. This lake is not well set up for day use for those who do not have a boat. The camp grounds are right on top of each other at Pleasure Cove and there is no beach to speak of. I sure hope it gets better. It saddens me to see so little regard for the lake or for the property of others. It was really a different place when many of the trailer owners were there...they took and interest in how things looked and cleaned up after themselves. I just can't get over how much it has changed for the worst.

I hear ya. I grew up day tripping with my parents and friends to the lake. About 7 years ago we bought a trailer at Rancho Monticello and used literally every weekend thru the summer. The trailer owners were the ones that kept the park clean, picked up after themselves, and had a vested interest in the resort. It was always the day use and weekend campers that were causing trouble and leaving the resort camp grounds looking like a war zone(especially on holiday weekends). I sure hope they get things sorted out up there soon. We've only been up to Berryesssa 2 time this year and it has been an absolute zoo at the free launch. When Steele Park closes after Labor Day, that will leave only 2 resorts on the whole lake open. The BOR promised very little disruption in service during the transition...what a bunch of CRAP! It could not have gone any worse than it did. Very dissapointed

Is Spanish flats still open ?

Spanish Flats is closed. Its pretty erie to see everything boarded up and no people at all these closed resorts.

Walt, the whole north end is closed

I guess we'll have to find a new place for the annual Thanksgiving weekend trip.

I sure miss that place. I had a spot at Spanish Flat. Just so you know 70% of the lakes revenue came from the long term owners. IMO, I thought kicking us all out would ruin the lake financially. We also figured that it would make the lake seem more trashy since a lot of the people who grew up at berryessa would leave--leaving all those reckless boat owners/renters to trash the lake.

Im still very bitter about the whole thing. I would love to point the finger at the BOR and say "told you so". But my love for all things lake wont let me!

Keep us posted as to your experiences

During the week is the best time to go now since there really isnt any camping. Not really anyone on the water during the weekdays. On sundays I have been riding the delta. I get up there around 2 or 3 and ride til 7 or 8. People are leaving the water around 2 or 3 and 15 minutes is all I have had to wait to drop my boat in. It also seems that the people that go out there seem to know what there are doing at the dock. Havent seen any stupid drunks or people spending 20 minutes to put there boat on the trailer. And after 5 or 6 we only see a handful of boats go by us on the water. Only thing i worry about on the delta is the wind.

I've been boating at Berryessa for the past 4 years. I would only go there now, if my daughter wants to swim or just chill with the family. Yes, the place changed a lot. Too many boats with the water levels being low everywhere. They all flock to Berryessa. A lot of wakeboarders go to the north bridge, and after 3 boats that place is all rolled out. You can't even get in a decent straight ride without going over everyones power turns!