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

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New Mexico

New Mexico (3)

Monday, 20 May 2019 20:52

Lordsburg KOA

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Lordsburg KOA

      As with most of our KOA visits, it is just for a night stay-over while driving through because there were none of our membership parks nearby.  The Lordsburg KOA was no exception, it appeared that 90% of the RV’s in the park were just there for a night as well.  We hit some bad weather driving down from Mesa and pulled into the park at one in the afternoon and it was lightly snowing.  By the time we were in our site and set up the sun was out and it warmed slightly.  The park has full hookups with both 30 and 50 amps sites.  There was an extra $3 for a 50 amp pull-through.  I can’t say anything bad about the park but plan to spend forty to fifty dollars for a place to park overnight.  The whole campground is a large gravel parking lot.  It does have all the standard amenities like most all KOA campgrounds do and a few more niceties that we missed because of the weather and the shortness of our visit, like “kamper kitchen,” the activity building, the pool, and the general store.  It is also easy to get to from the freeway.  We would return to the park again if we were traveling I-10 through New Mexico.

 

 

     You'll feel an away-from-it-all serenity at Lordsburg KOA, despite its easy-access location off I-10 halfway between Tucson and El Paso. Desert beauty surrounds you with scenic views of the Pyramid Mountains and big-sky sunsets. Tour ghost towns, search for opals and agates at Rockhound State Park, see the Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument, hike in the Gila National Forest or climb the dunes at White Sands National Monument. At this KOA, you'll find a swimming pool in season, game room, free cable TV, free wireless internet, special holiday treats and a Camping Kitchen ready for group events. An activity center is available for groups as well as food service on certain days. This is the place for relaxation in the Western desert. Pool: May 15 - September 15. Max pull thru 80 feet.

Published in New Mexico
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Monday, 20 May 2019 20:10

Hidden Valley Mountain Park

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Hidden Valley Mountain Park, Tijeras, New Mexico

      After a very long drive from Oklahoma, we finally reached Hidden Valley Park.  We were assigned a site (after a $6.45 charge per night for 50 amps) and pulled forward to disconnect only to find the car battery was dead.  So I drove the motorhome up to our site and got the AC running for the Yahoos (the dogs) while Jackie found someone to jump the car, only then did I remember that I had the car keys.  In short time, we got the car going and set up camp.  The park was just that, a place to park with utilities, it had neither the feel of a resort or a campground.  The roads are all dirt and gravel while the sites are tight and not well maintained.  There was hardly room to walk down the right side of the coach, so forget about setting up chairs or the barbecue.  We walked around the park and found the pool drained and the pet area to be a small space alongside the road behind a sign.  

     We did have the good fortune to meet some nice folks that invited us to sit and chat.  They had an end site so they were able to set out chairs.  However, it was located on a busy corner with clouds of dust everytime someone came around the corner faster than 5mp (which was pretty much everyone)  Again, good company made up for the dust issue.  We also made a trip down into Albuquerque to run some errands, visit the National Museum of Nuclear History and Science, and have lunch at Whataburger (our new favorite fast food burger place since we discovered them in South Texas).  Albuquerque is a beautiful city and we would enjoy spending more time here.

     Back in the park, the staff and the people we met while there were very nice, but I think that in the future, we'll probably pass on a second visit.  

Address:

844B State Hwy 333
Tijeras, NM 87059
Phone: (505) 281-3363
Fax: (505) 281-2026
Reservations Phone: (505) 281-3363
Reservations Fax: (505) 281-2026
Resort Information: Resort is 10 miles east of Albuquerque, a short distance from the Sandia Crest Ski and Recreation Area. Nearby: national forest, ghost towns, Indian pueblos, Rio Grande Zoo, Coronado Ruins, and Monument. Albuquerque's western edge reveals a history page of petroglyphs, volcano cliffs, and the Folsom Man Site.
Web Site: hiddenvalley-rvpark.com
EMail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Full Sites: 104
Partial Sites: 2
Pull-through Sites: 59
Check-In/Check-Out Times: 1 p.m.-4 p.m./ 11:00 a.m.
Open: Jan 1 to Dec 31
Peak: May 1 to Oct 15
Maximum Electrical Service: 50 amps
WiFi Available: Yes
Maximum RV Length: 45 feet
Elevation: 6607.0000
Amenities: Recreation Hall, outdoor pool (seasonal), playground, nature hiking trails, basketball court, fitness room, tenting, gift shop, hot showers, picnic tables, dump station, mountain setting, terraced sites, laundry, TV room, full kitchen for groups, library, tourist attractions nearby. Nearby: National forest, ghost towns, Indian pueblos, Rio Grande Zoo, Coronado Ruins, and Monument.
RV Notes: Coast rate not honored in Oct during Balloon Fest. June is in high demand, make a reservation as early as possible. Rate includes 2 people. Additional charges: 30 amp $3.23/night, 50 amp $6.45/night. After hours check-in box. Internet access in clubhouse, Wi-Fi access in lower level sites only.
Accepts Pets: Yes
Visitor Mail Accepted: Yes

Published in New Mexico
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Monday, 20 May 2019 19:30

Coronado Campground

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Coronado Campground, Bernalillo, New Mexico

     Coronado Campground is located a few miles northeast of Albuquerque in a town called Bernalillo.  It is within walking distance of an archeology site and a casino.  The first thing that I noticed about the campground was how much pride the owner had in it.  Each sited had an adobe shelter built over its picnic shelter and each shelter had hand-painted walls.  The campground was laid out nice and was set up with the customer in mind.   Our site had 50 amps and water, but the campground has a one airconditioner rule.  We walked around and found that there was a good view of the Rio Grande river and away from the RV section of the campground was a tent campground with facilities and some sheltered picnic tables.  There was a group tent camping area with groomed laid-out out spots for tents.  Overall, I was very pleased with our visit and it was also pretty inexpensive as well.  I will make an effort to return for a longer visit one day.

 

Coronado Campground doesn't have a website, but here is a link to reviews of the campground.

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