I made my first visit to SFF Hazelton this weekend. Here is the skinny.
Finding it: It is not marked on any of the major roads, or is the exit. Traveling west on I-83, about three miles over the Md/WVa border, take the first exit (Hazelton Rd) towards Hazelton, then the first right onto Casteel Rd. The USP is about a mile down on the left.
Checking in: First get a locker key. You cannot take any personal keys in, so you will have to at least locker your car keys. No pat down or search is conducted. Belongings and metal items go through x-ray, and you go through metal detector in the usual manner, Wallets were not searched. Coins may also be taken in. They then run a tool quickly over a portion of your clothing and skin to sense for drugs, so don’t wear anything that might have been around someone who has been using anything.
Waiting time both days was short… no more than 5-10 minutes. They will take you back to the visiting room immediately.. you don’t have to wait for the inmate to get there first.
Visiting room: The visiting room is spacious, but there are only ten tables, which filled up each day around 10AM. Tables and chairs are fixed pedestals, but they also have additional plastic chairs. For those bringing children, they have a separate, large play room with toys and a TV where the inmate and his family may go, so the kids don’t have to tolerate the boring main visiting room, and the inmate can have some privacy with them. Kinda nice.
The really nice thing about the visiting room is that it was no-hassle. Hugging, kissing, hand holding, and personal contact was not restricted to just a hug and kiss upon arriving and leaving. We kissed and hugged whenever we wanted, and no one ever said anything. Very low key. They have three vending machines that provide soda ($1.25), coffee ($1.00), sandwiches ($3.00), and candy and snacks ($.75-$1.50). Two microwaves are provided for use. The inmates may use the microwave, but can go no closer than six feet from the vending machines, The vending machines take quarters and dollar bills. Unlocked, clean, and larger rest rooms are provided for visitor use, but inmates may not use them. They must be escorted to a separate rest room, and are strip searched before returning. But it is quick and no-hassle. It was not a problem at all. When in the visiting room, inmates are not subjected to any counts or recalls, so they are not bothered. You and they can stay all day if desired without interruption. It is very low key. I strongly suggest that you take a jacket, sweater or sweatshirt, as the visiting room is very chilly. Sweatshirts may NOT be gray. The guards in the visiting room essentially ignore you, and do not patrol or keep close watch. Overall, a good environment. I was pleased, for the first time, with BOP for the very good visiting atmosphere that they permit.
Overall, I was pleasantly surprised at how enjoyable my visit was. I hope this helps.
Lodging: Bruceton Mills is about 6 miles further down I-83 (next exit past Hazelton Rd). It is a little bitty town with a small motel called Maple Leaf. Old and plain, but clean and $49 a night for a sinlge. Refrigerator, microwave, cable, and wireless internet. Bruceton Mills has a truck stop restaurant and a small grocery store, but little else. But it is only ten minutes from SFF Haz.

Hazelton is stressful at times. But i will continue to go through to see my fiance...

Another visitation caution for SFF Haz. They do lockdowns there when the fog gets bad outside, which could cause a quick lockdown to occur with little notice, so if you plan a visit, be sure to call 304=379-5500 just before you leave to make sure visitation is in effect. If is fairly common there......

A new motel just opened directly across from the USP/SFF Hazelton entrance. Prices are only around $50-60, and they offer free cable, laundry, free internet (need a wireless adaptor), and free local and long distance phone calls. It is called Microtel, and can be found on the web.

they are on lock down again! this time it is serious.:(

The lockdown is only at the USP. The SFF is not on lockdown. One does not affect the other, except that staff from the SFF is being called over to the USP during the investigation of the homicide there. So it curtails programs at the SFF, but they were only on lockdown for a few days.

SFF Hazelton has initiated new visitation policies. No paper currency may be taken into the visiting rooms, period. Coins are limited to $20 total. No open toe shoes. No watches. Leave all that stuff in their lockers. In my last few visits, I have seen increased use of the random ion drug scan, so make sure your clothing has not been around anything that would read positive on a scan. I have seen situations where some legal and prescribed prescription drugs have been detected, and entry denied. If you test postive, you will be denied entry, period. Make sure that if it is morning arrival, you get there before the 11:00AM count, or you could wait for an hour for count to clear. For federal holidays, they usually add a visiting day on the day before the holiday, so call ahead for added days.

BOP has recently eliminated the use of the dreaded and nasty ion drug scan detectors. As a subsitute, at least at SFF Haz, they now do random pat-down searches for about every five visitors.

SFF Haz has become a bit more relaxed. In the past six months, I have seen a visitor hassled for only one thing....he was wearing khaki pants, a definite no-no.

They used to do full strip searches of all inmates entering and leaving the visiting room. They have relaxed that demeaning ordeal, and it is better for them and for us.
The ion drug scanning has not been in use for over six months, and in the last four months, I have never seen a pat down search of any visitor.

For those who are planning to visit SFF Haz, I can tell you from long experience there that the staff is always respectful, and you should not expect any unreasonable hassles. Lockers are provided to check anything they wont let you bring in. All that you can bring in is up to $20 in coins, no bills, and the locker key that they provide you for stashing anything else. A very pleasant visiting enviroment once you get to the visiting room, and with minimal delay.