Pactola Marina

• C

  Charles and Hannah Baird· 11 months ago

  We rented an 8-passenger pontoon boat for 4 hours and had an absolutely wonderful time!!! This was the first time we had been on a pontoon, but the staff made it so easy to learn the ropes of everything. All the staff were so friendly:) The views are beautiful, the lake is easily navigable, and the boat was SO FUN to drive! We had a picnic on the boat, got off to swim for a bit, and just relaxed as we went back and forth on the lake, enjoying the breeze on our faces. We thought it was a pretty reasonable price, too:) Unforgettable experience and totally do-able even for those who aren't used to boating:) Next time we want to rent the boat for longer and spend all day on the lake!!

• 6

  605ArmyVeteran· a month ago

  First, I want to start by saying that the campground itself was very clean, well-maintained, and cared for. The ladies who manage the campground entrance were friendly, helpful, and welcoming, and we appreciated the effort they put into keeping the area nice. I also want to recognize the younger male employees working at the boat dock. The young men who assisted with the boats were friendly, respectful, and more professional in their interactions than some of the management-level staff we dealt with. They were helpful and seemed to genuinely care about the customers’ experience. However, our experience with other staff members was extremely disappointing... At the South Beach entrance, Beau was very rude and aggressive toward visitors. He was yelling at people and creating unnecessary situations, including making people turn around in the middle of the road instead of allowing them to safely drive through or drop off items near the beach area. This type of interaction is not only frustrating for families trying to enjoy their day, but it could also create a safety and liability concern. We also rented a 9-passenger pontoon boat (Boat #8, the brown boat) for approximately $400 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. The boat was not properly maintained... The starter repeatedly failed, and the boat would not start. This happened three different times. After the second incident, staff acknowledged the problem and told us that if it happened again, they would switch us to another boat. Unfortunately, it happened again while we were in the middle of the lake, leaving us stranded. We had to call for assistance and waited approximately 40 minutes for another boat to change onto. The boat also did not have an anchor provided, the Bluetooth/radio system was not functioning properly, and it was clear the boat had significant maintenance issues... One of the younger employees even commented that Boat #8 should probably just be removed from service "already", which made it even more concerning that customers were still being assigned that boat. We also discovered that the tube tow rope provided to us had a broken clip, which was another serious safety concern. Between the failing starter, missing anchor, broken Bluetooth/radio system, and defective tow equipment, it was clear that the rental equipment was old, poorly maintained, and not being properly inspected before being given to customers. When Angie, a supervisor or manager, contacted us during the rescue situation, I asked if they could help make up for the inconvenience by allowing us to switch to a tube rental since the boat was capable of towing one. Instead of handling the situation professionally, the conversation became frustrating. She stated that they had already offered us to give us another boat and we declined. Bascially saying that the inconvience was not on Pactola but on us, which was not what happened. Only after I expressed that I would be sharing our experience through reviews and social media did the conversation change and she stated that she was going to have the tube ready. A business should not wait until a customer is upset or mentions leaving reviews before trying to make a situation right... Good customer service means acknowledging the inconvenience and taking responsibility. As a Lakota person, I also want to acknowledge that Pactola is located in the Black Hills, within the homeland of the Oceti Sakowin. Because of that history and connection to this land, I believe visitors and guests deserve to be treated with respect and kindness when they come here. Unfortunately, because of the poor customer service, the unsafe handling of visitors, and the condition of the rental equipment, we will not be returning to Pactola Marina or renting from them again. I would recommend that families consider other lakes such as Angostura or Sheridan, where we have had much better experiences and friendlier service! Please don't waste your time or money here. EDIT: The response from the "Owner" goes to show the lack of accountability. Do better.

• A

  Andrea Felker· 3 months ago

  We rented a pontoon for 2 days, the price was very reasonable and the process of getting checked in and out was a breeze, probably the easiest I’ve ever encountered. The boats were nice and lake was beautiful. The owner and her son were very friendly, helpful, and accommodating, would highly recommend!

• M

  Mitchell Hendrickson· a month ago

  We had a blast renting a 10 person pontoon boat from Pactola Marina! Everyone there was super friendly and everything was spotless from the boat to the store. The boat was great and they guided us and gave us a map of where to go explore. Definitely recommend and can not wait to do this again!

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