FAQ

Things To Know Before Your Stay

Visit www.mendocinomagic.com/plan-your-stay for our amenities, activities, packing lists, day trips, and more!

WAIVER
EACH GUEST must sign the Mendocino Magic Waiver of Liability before entering the campground. Please ask each person in your party to digitally sign this waiver before they arrive: www.mendocinomagic.com/waiver

CANCELLATIONS
30+ Days in Advance: You may cancel your reservation with at least 30 calendar days notice and receive a refund.
7 to 29 Days in Advance: You may cancel your reservation and receive a gift certificate for any amount paid. Gift certificates are good for 1 year and may be transferred to a friend.
0 to 6 Days: No refunds or credit, but you may transfer your reservation to a friend.

ACTIVITIES & SUPPLIES
Mendocino Magic offers ice and cooler rentals delivered to your campsite. To ensure availability, add them to your reservation before you arrive. Ice is $5 per 5 pound bag.

Mendo Paintball is the newest addition to Mendocino Magic. Battle your friends over multiple fields and scenarios. Check out www.mendopaintball.com for open games or to schedule a private game with 8+ friends.

ARRIVAL INSTRUCTIONS
Cell signal is limited at Mendocino Magic. Make sure to download maps and your reservation details before you arrive.

Mendocino Magic Address
3000 Branscomb Road, Laytonville, CA 95454
https://goo.gl/maps/E3tTRZPkcTbsET6L7

It’s a good idea to plan extra time for traffic, a meal, and a shopping trip. The nearest large town is Ukiah (45 minutes south). For restaurant & grocery store recommendations, visit www.mendocinomagic.com/provisions

Our Laytonville is a small town with about 1,500 residents and limited services. Please be kind to our neighbors by obeying all speed limits and tipping generously.

CHECK IN & CHECK OUT
Check In: 4PM-8PM
Check Out: before 12PM

Arriving before sunset is highly recommended if you are setting up a camp site or RV. If you arrive after 10PM we may place you in a camp site closer to the parking lot to avoid disturbing other campers.

Please contact us by calling or texting 707.367.0002 if you are going to be early or late. The campground is secured by a green gate outside of check in hours.

CAMPGROUND RULES
DRIVE 3MPH
Drive 3MPH at Mendocino Magic. Any speed that kicks up dust is considered speeding!

QUIET HOURS ARE 10PM TO 8AM
From 10PM to 8AM please be respectful of our valley neighbors and other guests by being as quiet as possible. Sound travels far in our valley! There is no amplified sound or generator use allowed during quiet hours.

PLAN TO PACK IT OUT & LEAVE NO TRACE
There is no trash service at Mendocino Magic. Plan ahead to pack out all your trash and recycling. You will be charged $25 per bag for any trash or recycling left behind. Cottage rentals include garbage service.

The closest waste transfer station is at 1825 Branscomb Road (2 miles towards Laytonville). They are open Wednesday to Sunday from 10AM to 3:45PM.
- Bring sturdy trash bags and clear recycling bags. There is no composting here.
- Bring CASH to pay the waste transfer station. CRV recycling is accepted at no charge if properly sorted.
- Remove excess packaging and recycle it at home before you pack.
- Carry a small trash bag with you to pick up personal trash. You will be charged $5 for each cigarette butt or piece of trash left by your camp.
- Walk your campsite every day to pick up small trash. Leave time to check your campsite after you pack up.

FIRE SAFETY
Join us in protecting this 600-acre forest from wildfires. Due to the high potential of wildfires in California–campfires and charcoal grills are NOT ALLOWED. Gas grills are available for your use at the Central Camp Area. Propane camp stoves are available for rent at the Front Porch. Mendocino Magic Staff will run a fire pit in the Central Camp on Friday and Saturday nights.

- All propane camp stoves and gas grills must be supervised while hot, with absolutely no exceptions. Place camp stoves on a table instead of the ground.
- Be aware of location and proper use of fire extinguishers at your site.
- Drive only on gravel roads. Do not drive through grass or park on tall grass.
- Place generators on bare dirt or gravel. Generators must be supervised by an adult whenever in use. Store gasoline containers in the shade. Staff may facilitate generator use.

Anyone violating fire safety principles may be asked to leave immediately with no refund.

SMOKING
Tobacco and Cannabis smoking is allowed outside. Due to wildfire danger, please smoke on gravel roads & concrete surfaces. Do not smoke in tents or cottages. Carry a portable ashtray with you for butts. You will be charged $5 for each cigarette butt left on the ground.

Please maintain a respectful distance from others who are not smoking.

WATER SAFETY
Holland Reservoir is the jewel of Mendocino Magic. Join us in protecting this beautiful place & our drinking water. We welcome catch-and-release fishing without a fishing license on our private lake.

THERE IS NO LIFEGUARD AT THE RESERVOIR

- Do not go into the water alone. Use the buddy system. Children and pets must be supervised at all times.
- There are no motorboats allowed in our reservoir. Bring your favorite floaty toy, stand-up paddle board, or borrow one of our kayaks.
- Please use reef-safe sunscreen and body products. Toxins in your sunscreen end up in our drinking water.
- Do not use glass containers at the Reservoir.
- Bring water shoes to navigate the steep banks and sharp rocks.
- Wear a hat, shirt, and sunscreen. Sunburn is our most common injury.

Do not visit the Reservoir at night. No water activities are allowed after dusk.

DRINKING WATER
Our drinking water is filtered but has a light iron taste. You may prefer to bring your own drinking water with you. Be prepared to pack out your disposable bottles.

Potable water is at the central camp or in orange water jugs throughout the campground.

DRUGS & ALCOHOL
Alcohol may be consumed by adults over 21. Intoxicated guests that require staff help will be charged an adult babysitting rate of $250 an hour.

No illegal drug use is allowed. Cannabis is legal for adults over 21 in California. Please only smoke in areas where it is permitted.

CHILDREN & FAMILIES
We welcome children & families to Mendocino Magic throughout the year. Children must be directly supervised by an adult at all times. The campground, tents, and cottages are not childproof.

Explain the various dangers of the environment to your children.
- Use sun protection and drink plenty of water on hot days.
- Wild animals are not pets and should not be approached or fed. Animals we share this land with include rattlesnakes, scorpions, wild pigs, and deer.
- Look for poison oak before you walk or sit.
- Check yourself for ticks regularly. Wear long sleeves and pants when hiking.
- Wasps, bees, and mosquitos are common throughout the campground. If your child is allergic to bees, make sure to carry an epi pen.
- There is NO lifeguard at the Reservoir. Children must be supervised at all times while in or near the water. The Reservoir shore is steep with sharp rocks.
- Life jackets are not provided. Bring your own life jacket.

DOGS
Please consider your dog’s comfort and safety before bringing them to Mendocino Magic. There are no fenced pet areas, so your dog will have to be on a leash with you at all times. Our cottages and luxe tents are not dog-proof but well behaved dogs are welcome. We share this land with creatures that may injure or kill your dog–including bears, wild pigs, scorpions, and rattlesnakes.

Most private events and weddings do not allow dogs. Check with the organizers if you’re coming to a private campout.

- Dogs must be supervised and on a leash at all times.
- Clean up and pack out all the dog waste. Bring your own poop bags.
- No pets on the furniture or beds. Guests may be asked to pay a pet cleaning fee.

Owners not playing by these rules will be asked to tether their dog for the remainder of the campout. On second notice the owner will be asked to leave the property without a refund.

BIKES & ATVs
Bikes and electric skateboards are welcome throughout the campground. Motorcycles & ATVs must stay on marked gravel roads at all times. Motor vehicles taken through the tall grass can cause a wildfire. Remember to store gasoline in the shade.

PACKING LISTS
Visit www.mendocinomagic.com/what-to-bring for everything we recommend you bring for a camping or glamping weekend.

WEATHER & CLIMATE
Check the weather for Laytonville, California, 95454 before you pack.
https://www.google.com/search?q=weather+95454

We are located at 1,900 feet above sea level in the rolling hills of the Mendocino forest. There can be a 40 degree difference between our high and low for the day. Bring layers.

BANNED ITEMS
You will be charged a $250 fine for these items.
- Charcoal grills or campfires
- Styrofoam
- Fireworks, flares, explosives, flying lanterns, incandescent lamps.
- Candles (battery-operated candles are allowed)

Click here to read our guidebook to The Magic- a comprehensive list of FAQs for Guests, Event Organizers & Group Leaders

Click here to view our policies

Q. Are dogs allowed at the property?

A. We LOVE Dogs at Mendocino Magic. As long as impacts are minimal, and dogs stay under control of the owner at all times, we are happy to have them here.

For Campouts and Weekend Rentals: YES! While dogs are welcomed, they must be kept on leash for the safety and security of themselves, other guests, other guests dogs, and for protecting our native habitat and many natural facets of our ecological space. Owners must be responsible for their pets and their pet’s behavior, and poop must be picked up and placed in a garbage can (not in the compost). Owners noted not playing by these rules will be asked to tether their animals for the remainder of the campout. On second notice the owner will be asked to leave the property without a refund.

For Events & Weddings: NO! We do not recommend bringing dogs to private parties and weddings.

A few examples of what could go wrong:

Two dogs barking and fighting during the ceremony is a bad way to share your vows
Dog gets into the kitchen and ruin sanitation elements of food prep
Dog gets into someone’s tent and nabs that unsuspecting guest’s snacks
Dog defecates somewhere no one knows until it gets stepped in
We ask event organizers to please understand our reasoning for not allowing dogs on site for weddings and events.

Q. i think i’d like to get married at mendocino magic. what are the next steps?

A. Great! We are honored that you are considering Mendocino Magic for your upcoming wedding, and so excited to share your special day with you. Please fill out this form and we will be in contact!

Q. How does sweat equity work?

A. Sweat equity gives you the opportunity for a discount on your wedding or event by helping us with projects on the property- everybody wins! We often host events wherein the group's guests are able to contribute as well through volunteering or in-kind contributions. Some examples from previous hosts can be found, read and laughed about here. Guests are responsible for organizing their own volunteers to come visit us in the spring, and all sweat equity must be completed before Memorial Day. Examples of projects include: helping us slap a fresh coat of paint onto the decks, weedwacking, helping load and unload things, burning brush piles, mowing lawns, etc. Alternatively, if you and your wedding party have a particular skillset you want to apply (welder, electrician, plumber, carpenter, animal husbandry expert, you name it), we'd love to talk about how we can include it in your volunteer time. All sweat equity must be completed by Memorial Day.

Take a look at our calendar- you can find the volunteer weekends labeled throughout the spring months leading up to Memorial Day.

Q. can i volunteer with mendocino magic?

A. Absolutely. Please fill out our Volunteer Submission Form here and we will be in touch.