Doug

We loved dry camping here. In Cactus Wren (the cheapest dry camping area) there is the most room to space out, even though you don't have a view of the lake. You still get incredible sunsets and sunrises every day, plus the sky is filled each morning and evening with hot air balloons, which was a treat. We loved the pool, the clubhouse activities (like the free ice cream social!!) and having everything on site - water fill, dump station, gas station, laundry, etc. It did get busier on the weekends, but we still had plenty of space and weren't bothered by excessive noise. Like others, we did hear the wild donkeys on several nights, but never caught a glimpse of them. We would definitely come back and next time with friends.

The park is split in half more or less, with half of the park occupied by full time residents. We still had no problem finding a spot mid-June and the park staff was very nice. There is a Camping World down the road with anything you might need and it is a quick ride from Chattanooga for all sorts of attractions and entertainment. The playground was small and had no shade, but we did enjoy the pool.

We really enjoyed our short stay here. The mesquite camping area was easy to navigate and had water and electric hookups. We also had a covered picnic table and fire pit with a grill. We even got a full 5g signal with AT&T in the campground - it was hit or miss in the rest of the canyon. We enjoyed the trails both in and around the canyon. We also enjoyed the blue bell ice cream at the camp store after a long day of hiking. They also had very reasonably priced gifts.

Just be aware that even in October, when the temperatures were mostly in the 70s, our trailer was full of flies from the moment we arrived. We bought 2 rolls of fly paper in the park store and they filled up overnight.

This was our 2nd time in the campground and we love it here. Especially during the warmer months, having a lake & beach just for the campground was fantastic. We could walk/bike down to the lake and spend hours there. We launched our paddleboard and enjoyed the water all day. And there is so much more to the park - the trails, nature center, interactive center, and the main beach at double oak lake. We were sad to hear that the demonstration farm closed, but we still enjoyed every moment.

This park is outstanding. There are so many different trails for hiking and biking and they all have something a little different. We obviously saw lots of gators in our stay here (none in the campground, don't worry) and there are many nice picnic areas. Also, try to come on close to a new moon when there are clear skies - the stars are incredible. The George observatory was closed when we came (Covid-19...) but normally it is open on Saturdays. We just sat out and looked at the stars ourselves and it was great.

There were a few issues while we were there with the laundry facilities and the bathrooms, but the park staff was very attentive once we informed them. Oh, and there is no cell coverage whatsoever in the park. You can drive down to the entrance where there is wifi (doesn't work so great) or hope to find cell coverage in the 40-Acre Lake parking lot.

We stayed here for a few nights around Christmas time. There was good privacy between the sites and my kids enjoyed biking around the park and playing in the sand at the beach. I also liked that our site had a covered picnic table, as well as a fire pit and grill. As others mentioned, there are 2 different loops - one with full hookups and one with electric & water only.

We also saw lots of birds and plenty of deer. The best time to go to the birding area is in the morning, when the put food out for the birds.

If you are staying for more than a few nights (or staying at other state parks in Texas), definitely consider buying the Texas State Parks Pass - it's good for 1 year and gives 50% off the second night and covers the day-use fee.

We stayed while visiting family in the area, so we didn't spend much time in the park. The owners however were very friendly, as were all the tenants. Spots were tight, but it didn't feel too cramped. It wasn't far from some major roads, but we didn't notice to much noise.

The campground had decent privacy between sites, but they were not very spacious and there was noticable highway noise. The bathrooms were alright, but a bit dated. They were clean however and they have laundry machines for $1.50.

The park itself is very small and outside of a short nature trail and canoeing to the lake, there wasn't much to do. Make sure to check out the mammoth oak (short walk from the ranger station).

The roads and sites were paved and pretty level side to side. There are pull throughs and back-ins and each site has a picnic table, fire ring, and grill. We didn't use the bathrooms, but only one building is open (it seems that it's been like this for a while). We arrived on a rainy Sunday afternoon on Thanksgiving weekend and most of the spots were available. When it cleared up the next few days, we hiked the Trace and to old Rocky springs. It is beautiful. Keep in mind that there is ZERO cell reception whatsoever.

We really enjoyed our week in Yosemite and used this as our home base to explore. If you have a big rig or cannot get a spot in the park, this is just outside the entrance. Since the park is big, if you want to explore multiple areas, I would definitely recommend sleeping in one if the park campgrounds.

The park was nice - full hookups and spots are shaded. The laundry was nice as well, at only a dollar per load (I would suggest using the dryer on the bottom). Also, we had no cell service, but the wifi was good enough to stream Netflix at night.

Don't expect a resort though, as the pictures on their website can be deceiving - the pool is closed, the playground is just a swingset, and the place is a bit rundown. The manager was also very helpful with questions and anything we needed. We understood from him that there is a new owner who is going to rebuild the entire park, so things may change.

All in all, it's expensive (as is everything in the area), but if you set your expectations and only use the park as a base to explore Yosemite, it's perfectly fine.

Also, we were warned of a bear that comes through every night. We left out a decorative pumpkin by our door and sure enough it was eaten with only crumbs left in the morning. Be aware!