Rating: ⭐⭐⭐1/2 Location: Amarillo, TX Type: Commercial Park Check-in/Check-out times: 1:00/12:00 Site Quality / Amenities: Roads and pads are gravel with some asphalt below. There is a picnic table and concrete patio on each site and there *might* be enough space to park a dually truck in the back of the site next to the trailer. Additional amenities include a heated indoor pool, a rec hall with exercise room, a large playground, a fenced dog park, and pickleball and basketball courts. There is a large pond and stream (both man made) in the middle of the park with some nice outdoor seating areas. Part of the office includes a large store. Access: Easy access from the new Loop 335 W on West Amarillo Blvd just north of Interstate 40. Staff: Office staff were friendly and check in was quick and easy. Cellular/WiFi: There is WiFi at the park but we didn’t use it. We had a strong Verizon signal but I didn’t check speed, T-Mobile was 5 bars and achieved about 500 Mbps download and 12 Mbps upload. Although there are some trees around the park, our Starlink was unobstructed. Restaurants:Hook & Reel Cajun Seafood & Bar – We weren’t thrilled and will try somewhere else next time. Nearby parks: We have stayed at the Oasis RV Resort nearby several times. It is a newer park but a bit farther out of town and the last time we stayed there the roads in the park were in need of some maintenance. In addition, connections are in an awkward place. Overall, Fort Amarillo will likely become our go to place when staying in Amarillo. What we liked: Although there were some buildings on site that needed some major TLC, the park generally seemed to be well maintained. What we didn’t like: We’d prefer asphalt or concrete roads and pads but the gravel here was in good shape and was not a problem. Verdict: We will stay here again when in Amarillo.
I got a bit behind in finishing this post about our stay at the Vineyards Campground and Cabins in Grapevine as we visited there in mid April of 2024. Oh well, better late than never…
Grapevine, Texas, has a rich and diverse history that dates back to the early 19th century. The area was originally inhabited by the Caddo Indians before European settlers arrived. In 1843, General Sam Houston, representing the Republic of Texas, met with leaders of several Native American tribes in the area to negotiate a peace treaty. This meeting took place near present-day Grapevine, giving the city its name.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ Location: Abilene, TX Type: Commercial Park Check-in/Check-out times: ?/11:00 Site Quality / Amenities: Roads and pads are gravel. Each site has a concrete patio and a picnic table. Additional amenities include a dog run, playground, horseshoe pits, pickle ball and volleyball areas. There is also a pavilion, a clubhouse and a saltwater swimming pool. Facilities include restrooms, showers and laundry facilities. Access: The park is along East Stamford St. (Basically the service road for I-20) which can be accessed from exit 286C on I-20 whether you are going west or east bound. East Stamford is one way so you have to go east to Ambler Ave. if you want to continue west bound when leaving the park. Staff: The staff were very friendly and the check in packet included a thank you note which was a nice touch. Cellular/WiFi: There was free WiFi and cable TV but we didn’t use them. I also didn’t check cellular since this was a short stay but it should have been good since we were along I-20. Starlink was great as there were no obstacles to get in the way. Restaurants: There is a Twisted Root hamburger restaurant along with several other places nearby on Judge Ely Blvd. near Abilene Christian University. The Shed Market at 7925 Buffalo Gap Rd. was a bit further away but had very good Texas BBQ. Nearby parks: We didn’t look at any other parks nearby. What we liked: The park was easy to navigate and the sites were well laid out and it was a bonus to find good restaurants nearby. What we didn’t like: There are only a few small trees around the park so it could be quite hot here during the summer. Verdict: This is a good park for a short stay in Abilene.
Burnet is a typical small town with roots dating back to frontier days nestled in the heart of the Texas Hill Country. Known for its scenic beauty, outdoor recreation opportunities, and historic charm, Burnet offers a relaxed and inviting atmosphere for residents and visitors alike. The town sits on the shores of Lake Buchanan, one of the Highland Lakes, making it a popular destination for fishing, boating, and water sports enthusiasts. History buffs can explore attractions like the Fort Croghan Museum, which showcases artifacts from the area’s frontier days, or take a stroll through the historic downtown district with its quaint shops and eateries.
As was the case further south, the wildflowers were vibrant and plentiful in the area around Burnet and Lake Buchanan. The picture at the top of this post is an area behind the RV park that would typically be underwater. Instead, it’s covered in Bluebonnets.
We were lucky to be in town for the 41st annual Bluebonnet Festival which included live music, a carnival, food, and lots and lots of shopping. From Arts and Crafts vendors to Wiener Dog races, there was something for everyone. The festival includes one of the biggest and best parades in central Texas. Marching bands, antique cars, horses, fire trucks, special performing groups such as the Sunrise Beach Lawn Chair Brigade and Hill Country Plungettes brought a smile to everyone’s face, from the very young to the young-at-heart and ours. Approximately 150 entries lined up for the hour-long parade. On the banks of Hamilton Creek, the Annual Lakes Area Rod and Classic Car Show was also held although we didn’t make it over to that.
Just west of Burnet is Lake Buchanan and the park we stayed at was on the south east corner of the lake adjacent to the dam. Like many of the lakes in Texas that are suffering from drought, Lake Buchanan is also very low.
This picture was taken from an area that should be underwater but the lake is about 25′ low (46.5% full). Note that the water level is well below the gates at the dam.
Park Review – Lake Buchanan RV and Cabin Resort
Site 23Deck near the clubhouse and poolSwimming pool and hot tubPlayground
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ Location: Burnet, TX Type: Commercial Park Check-in/Check-out times: 12:00/11:00 Site Quality / Amenities: Sites were gravel and each site had a picnic table but nothing else. There were some larger trees scattered around the park as well as some small rock formations. Sites are FHU with 30/50A electric. They also have cabins for rent if you don’t have a RV to stay in. Other amenities include a store on site, laundry facilities, fitness room, guest lounge, clubhouse with kitchen, fishing, boat ramp with dock, swim dock, pool with hot tub, a large covered pavilion, nature trail, dog walk and playground. Access: Reasonably easy access from TX-29 west of Burnet then north on FM-690. Staff: Our only interaction with staff was at check in and they were friendly and efficient. Cellular/WiFi: We had decent Verizon coverage and the park had WiFi but we didn’t use it. Site 23, had a good clear view to the north and Starlink worked great from there. Restaurants: We didn’t end up eating out in the area but there were several possibilities. Nearby parks: On the north end of the lake is Canyon of the Eagles which has a small restaurant, 61 guestrooms and a small RV park. The RV park is beautiful and does have a few sites up to 87′ in length. In our judgement though the road through the camping area is small and winding and there are a lot of low trees. Although you could obviously get in and out of there with a big rig it’s hard to imaging doing so without getting a few scrapes. Because of that, we probably won’t plan a trip there in the future. Inks Lake State Park is also just to the south and is very nice but hard to get into due to the popularity of the park. What we liked: Nice clean park with good views of Lake Buchanan. The common areas were very nice for swimming, hot tubing and just relaxing in the hot Texas weather. Sites 1-25 are mostly good but check the satellite view for spacing and trees. What we didn’t like: Sites were just basic and were made of gravel which can track inside as well as getting messy in rainy weather. Verdict: This is a good alternative to staying at Inks Lake State Park should it be full.
