Where We Are Now

We landed this afternoon at Ely KOA Journey, pretty much right in the middle of Nevada, elevation, 6500 ft. This is just a stop-over for a night, but it really is a nice campground. We plan to drive around this after and check out the town.

   Ely KOA our site

Where We Are on the Map

Where to Next

From here we're heading north to Idaho. Our first stop is a place called Anderson Camp. We plan to spend a couple of days there so we can check out Shoshone Falls and what's left of Twin Falls

 Anderson Camp Stock Photo

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Wednesday, 25 December 2024

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Sam Houston Jones State Park, Lake Charles, LA

Our Visit

      Sam Houston Jones State Park, was just a one night stay over, but after going there, I wish we would have stayed longer. The park is beautiful with swamps and a river, cabins, RV, and tent camping. The campground is wooded with mostly paved sites.

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Sam Houston on the map blue burned

Most are a bit tight for bigger rigs, but we managed to fit. Walking around the park we saw that the swamp directly across from the campground had been drained. (to restore some of the forests)  As we followed the road we found a large picnic area with plenty of tables along the river bank. There is a boat ramp and we saw someone out in a kayak paddling up and down the river. There is a boat ramp with a warning sign not to swim and a possibility of alligators. Further along, the road was several very nice cabins to rent. There was a second swamp, this one not drained with a large wooden bridge crossing it. In the middle of the bridge was an amphitheater. From the bridge looking down into the swamp, we saw dozens of turtles swimming about. (I took pictures, but you need to zoom in to see their heads poking out of the water and their bodies under the surface) As we passed the cabins along our walk around the park we discovered a full 18-hole disc golf course. Had we more time, we would have grabbed our discs and tried it out. Alongside the road, we could see that water had recently receded from there and discovered what we later found to be mounds of mud with holes in them made by crawfish digging into the ground as the water evaporated. Being from the Northwest, this was new. Later we searched You-tube and watched a video of someone pushing his arm (up to his shoulder) in a hole and pulling out a crawfish. A second video showed him using a trap in a creek using dry dog food as bait and catching them by the dozen.

     Overall, we really liked the park, we met some great people there and would recommend two nights if you’re using it as a stopover on your way down the road.

Campground number eighty-six. 

  • April 18, 2018 -  1 day
  1. Campground Information
  2. Their Description
  3. Amenities
  4. Policies .
Website:
  crt.state.la.us
Type: State Park
Address: Sam Houston Jones State Park, 
       107 Sutherland Rd,
        Lake Charles, LA 70611
Phone: (337) 855-2665

Originally named for the Texas folk hero who traveled extensively in the western reaches of Louisiana, Sam Houston Jones was given its current name in honor of the state's 46th governor, who was instrumental in setting aside this tract of land for the public to enjoy for both day-use and overnight visitors.
Because the caretakers of this 1,087-acre park have worked to keep the land in its natural state, abundant wildlife inhabits the area. Tree-filled lagoons and mixed pine and hardwood forest combine to create a unique natural environment. The park is located just north of the most productive birding region of Louisiana. The bird watching is always excellent, but at certain times of the year, nearly 200 species of birds can be seen at or within 30 miles of the site.

The Office of State Parks has partnered with Sasol in Lake Charles on the Longleaf Legacy Project,  to preserve the iconic tree's rich history, restore the splendor of local forests, and ensure the resiliency of such habitats for generations to come.  The project includes the restoration of over 70 acres of longleaf forest in the park and companion educational programs for local teachers and families.

Sam Houston Jones State Park is home to more than 70 acres of longleaf pines, the oldest living southern pine species. They were once one of the most abundant tree species in the United States, stretching across 90 million acres from Virginia to Texas. Over time, land-use practices such as logging, farming, development, urban encroachment, and fire exclusion have diminished the longleaf pine, leaving less than 4 million acres of longleaf forest and less than 10 percent of their original presence in Louisiana.

The numerous waterways in this area make water sports a natural highlight at the park. Two boat launches are conveniently located on the West Fork of the Calcasieu River, providing access to Calcasieu Lake, about 20 miles away. (No-Wake Zone Advisory )

The three hiking trails winding through this beautiful park make strolling or serious hiking, pleasurable. Particularly interesting is the old stagecoach road, which hikers may travel to explore the park and the banks of the various tributaries to the Calcasieu River.

 

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Hours of Operation:
Site is open daily.

Gate Opening Times:
Sunday through Thursday

  • open at 6 a.m.
  • close at 9 p.m.

Friday, Saturday and days preceding holidays.

  • open at 6 a.m.
  • close at 10 p.m.

Entrance Station Hours:
Sunday through Thursday

  • 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Friday, Saturday and days preceding holidays.

  • 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Entrance Fees

  • $3 per person
  • Free for seniors (62 & older)
  • Free for children (3 & under)

Camping
A $6 non-refundable fee will be assessed on each reservation transaction made online, via phone, or as a walk-in.
( map of sites 23-43)  ( map of sites 44-62)

9 Premium Campsites (pull-through sites with water and electrical hookups) $33/night plus tax, Fri-Sat
$30/night plus tax, Sun-Thurs, Apr-Sept
$25/night plus tax, Sun-Thurs, Oct-Mar
26 Improved Campsites (water and electrical hookup) $28/night plus tax, Fri-Sat
$25/night plus tax, Sun-Thurs, Apr-Sept
$20/night plus tax, Sun-Thurs, Oct-Mar
Backcountry campsites (maximum capacity of 6), 5 available on a first-come, first-served basis $9 per person/night, plus tax
Primitive camping area (maximum capacity of 20) $20/night plus tax
America the Beautiful Senior and Access Passes (formerly Golden Age & Golden Access Passports) (Available through the National Park Service. Click here for more information)
Holders of the Passes, whose state of residence also honors the America the Beautiful pass, are entitled to a 50% reduction on camping fees at Louisiana State Parks. (Passport holders are allowed one site per passport).

Additional Information About Overnight Facilities

Monday, 20 May 2019 22:35

Ponderosa Falls RV Campground

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Ponderosa Falls RV Campground, Cheney, Washington

     Ponderosa Falls is not a public campground, it is a KM resort which welcomes Coast to Coast members.

    We arrived at the campground around 9:30 am on a Saturday and had to wait until ten for the office to open.  The office assigns sites based on availability and size of rig.  They were very friendly and suggested a few sites that we either empty or going to be available by noon and welcomed us to go check them out before deciding.  We found a great site that was to be available that morning, so we opted to wait for them to pull out.  They did but without their trailer.  After a couple of hours of waiting, we picked another site, which turned out just fine. (without the grass) Most of the sites had full hookups and varied in size with plenty of both pull-throughs and back-in sites, along with a few cabins.

     The campground had a very nice lodge with some weekend meals.  It also had a very small indoor pool, a weight room, and laundry.  Outside there was a basketball and pickleball court, horseshoes, a kid’s play area, and one of the better miniature golf courses we’ve seen.  Each hole had three holes to choose from.  For little kids, there was a small paddle boat pond. 

     Just a few miles away was the Northern Quest Casino.  We checked it out and saw that it had headliners like Donny & Marie.  The gaming floor was nice as well. We also drove into Spokane to walk around.  The city has some neat history, but what I enjoyed most about the city, is that it’s the site of the 1974 World’s Fair.  I was there when I was twelve and some of the old pavilions are still standing.  Over the years the city has let the area go, but are currently rebuilding it.  I look forward to seeing it again when the construction is complete.  The Spokane River runs through the center of the city with several natural waterfalls.   

Ponderosa Falls Resort 

Type: Deluxe

Good Sam Rating: 7/7.5/8.5

Address: 
7520 S Thomas Mallen Rd
Cheney, WA 99004

Reservations Phone: (509) 747-9415

Resort Information: Nestled among beautiful pines in the foothills of Eastern Washington, this year-round resort offers the very best in amenities and local attractions. It is famous for its style of camping where the fun never ends.

Directions: 10 minutes W of Spokane. From I-90: Ex 272, S to 4-way stop by Petro truck stop. Go straight, through the housing development. At next stop sign, see our sign and turn R. Where the road turns to gravel, see our carved rock sign and turn R.

Web Site:kmresorts.com

EMail:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Full Sites: 168

Pull-through Sites: 47

Check-In/Check-Out Times: 1:00 p.m./ 11:00 a.m.

Peak: Apr 1 to Sep 30
Open: Jan 1 to Dec 31

Maximum Electrical Service: 50 amps.

WiFi Available: Yes

Maximum RV Length: 40 feet

Elevation: 2400

Amenities: Indoor/outdoor pool (heated), sauna, hot tub, fitness room, kiddie lagoon with paddle boats, sports center kiosk, basketball court, pickle ball court, volleyball court (sand), horseshoes, 18-hole mini golf, game room (adult and children), group activities (scheduled in season), laundry, outdoor movies in season, big rig pull-through, pet walk, cable TV, playground (4), meeting & kitchen facilities, Wi-Fi, BBQ grill, community fire pit.

RV Notes: Additional charges: Cable $2/night, electric $2/night. Reservations required.

Pet Restrictions: All pets welcome. Please leash your pet, pick up after them and do not leave outside unattended.

Visitor Mail Accepted: Yes

Visitor Mail Restrictions: Packages accepted, no regular mail.

Read 3438 times Last modified on Friday, 24 May 2019 04:57
Published in Washington
Rick

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