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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Ohio

Ohio (2)

Tuesday, 21 May 2019 03:29

Rocky Fork Ranch Resort

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Rocky Fork Ranch Resort, Kimbolton, Ohio

     Fortunately, there isn't a story with the drive to the campground.  However, if you follow your GPS when coming from the south, it will take you down a gravel road with low branches.  When we arrived we were assigned a 30 amp site which we changed to a 50 at no extra charge.  The 30 amp site wouldn't have fit us anyway.  The campground is located on the top of a hill overlooking most of the ranch.  The resort offers everything from shooting ranges to GaGa (whatever that is)  There is also an archery range, a paintball area, an arena for rodeos, a miniature golf course, basketball, horseshoes, disc golf, an outdoor pool, an indoor pool with hot tub, a standard golf course (nearby), tennis court, a nature center, complete with microscopes, golf cart rentals, a store, and more.  Our campsite was nice enough.  It was in the trees with a full hookup.  The roads were a mixture of paved and gravel, but the dust wasn't too bad.  

     While we were there, we drove down to Salt Fork State Park.  It has a campground but we didn't visit that section.  We did, however, find the beach and the park's nature center.  The park looked as if at one point it was a very happening place, but not so much anymore, but then we were there on a rainy weekday.  We did drive through Cambridge and walked around a bit and took a photo of the county courthouse.  Overall, we found Ohio beautiful, but it lacked anything much to do.

 

Type: Premier

Good Sam Rating: 7.5/7/8.5

Address: 
74978 Broadhead Rd
Kimbolton, OH 43749
Phone: (800) 370-1645

Reservations Phone: (855) 432-8457

Resort Information: Nestled in the wooded hillside of Southeastern Ohio. Next door at Salt Forks State Park is fabulous fishing and one of Ohio's premier 18-hole golf courses.

Reservation Requirements: 5-day cancellation policy.

Web Site: travelresorts.com

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

Full Sites: 49

Partial Sites: 249

Pull-through Sites: 11

Rental Units: 3

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

RV Site Minimum Stay: 2 nights

Rental Unit Minimum Stay: 2 nights

Open: Jan 1 to Dec 31
Peak: May 15 to Sep 15

Maximum Electrical Service: 50 amps.

WiFi Available: No

Maximum RV Length: 40 feet

Amenities: Clubhouse recreation hall, indoor pool, outdoor pool, health, and fitness center, archery, shooting range, volleyball, tennis, basketball, stables, horseback riding, paddle boats, driving range and mini golf, paintball, fishing nearby, golf nearby (18-hole). Tourist attractions nearby: Pro Football Hall of Fame, The Wilds, Longaberger Basket Co., Holmes County Amish Country, Roscoe Village.

RV Notes: Please give the exact length of camper, if your camper has slide-outs. Site includes water and electric. We only accept Coast Trip Points. Nov 1-May 15 water not available to sites.

Rental Notes: Rental units available. Trip Points accepted. Contact the resort directly.

Restrictions: Pets allowed with prior approval in limited units at an additional charge.

Accepts Pets: Yes

Pet Restrictions: Limit 2 pets - (cats or dogs only)

Visitor Mail Accepted: No

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Monday, 20 May 2019 20:32

Kenisee Lake RV Campground

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Kenisee Lake RV Campground, Jefferson Ohio

     Our drive from Niagra to Kenisee Lake was an eventful one.  Our "stop engine" light and buzzer came on and it was almost an impossible find to locate an auto/RV/truck mechanic that had the equipment to analyze our trouble.  We finally did, got the issue resolved and was able to make the 173-mile drive in just a bit under eight hours.  The other thing we found is that if you're using Google Maps as your GPS coming from I-90, it will direct you to go under a ten-foot bridge just before reaching the campground.  Once we got to the campground we found that they had already chosen our site for us.  (not the norm for a Thousand Trails park)  Fortunately, it was a 50 amp site as we found that there are just a few of them. I'm guessing that the assignment was to prevent RV's without 50 amps from using the available sites.  The campground is very nice, the sites are large and all have grass lawns with full hook-ups.  There are tent sites with just water and electricity as well.  Like with most campgrounds that rent out annual sites, the better locations we filled with people who don't travel.  The campground is only open half the year.  The other half power and water are turned off, but people can keep their RV's in their sites.  We found that most of the annual sites are just used on the weekend.  The campground is very well kept up and has decent amenities.  The pool could be bigger and the shared sports court could be split up so that you didn't have to set up a net everytime you wanted to play pickleball.  The small lake is fine for boating but swimming isn't allowed.  There is also a good number of folks with ATV's and they drive them from the campground to go mudding somewhere nearby.  Overall the campground is one of the better ones we have visited, the people are very friendly and the feel of the campground is welcoming to traveling RV'ers.

     While here at the campground we didn't find a whole lot of excitement in the surrounding area.  We drove to Geneva by the Lake, (the local tourist area) then followed the road east along the lake for twenty miles or so.  Unfortunately for the town, since the 70's the lake has eaten up the beaches and businesses who once had nice beaches to draw customers in no longer have them.  We drove through town around eleven on a Monday and found most stores and attractions to be closed.  We also stopped at a couple of parks along Lake Erie and had a chance to wade out into the lake.  It was surprisingly warmer than I expected.  The problem is that the geese and seagull population at the parks is so numerous that most of the grass and beach areas are minefields and not very pleasant to hang out in.  

 

One Beautiful Lake, One RV Campground in Ohio

     Looking for a fun trip away from it all? Fishing, hiking trails, family activities, and pristine waters await you at Kenisee Lake RV Camping. Surrounded by breathtaking foliage and water views, this RV campground in Ohio offers the perfect getaway for couples, friends, and families.

    With plenty of campsites, guests can take their pick at their ideal setting. Choose from heavily wooded sites, clear and open camping, or scenic sites with a water view. Like to fish? Then Kenisee Lake RV camping couldn't be more perfect. Home to a beautiful lake and three ponds, guests can spend the day fishing and create memories by the water.

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