JIM HOGG PARK, LAKE GEORGETOWN, GEORGETOWN, TEXAS

Our Opinion: A great public (Corps of Engineers) park. We had heard good things about this campground from friends - we will return and we will recommend it to others.

Date of Stay: April 6th through 9th, 2008
Returned: April 15th and 16th

Weather During Stay: Arrived in breezy sunshine. Temperature reached 90 degrees, low was 67 degrees. During our stay, the humidity continued to climb; days were partly/mostly cloudy with highs in the upper 80's and humidity over 80%. Thunder, lightening, wind and rain one night as a storm blew through.

Sites: 148 sites with 30 amp E and W at sites. No sewer connections, but restrooms are decent, with showers. Dump station available on the way out.

All sites have large, sturdy picnic tables under a substantial wooden ramada on a concrete slab and a grill. Sites are large enough for big rigs, but many (half) are too sloped for us (most of the larger, level sites are on the outsides of the loops). All sites are back-ins.

Park is open 6 am to 10 pm. You can exit 24 hours, but can only enter when the park is open. Sites 1-78 are open year round. Site 79-148 are open March 1st through December 1st.

Rate: Usual rate is $18 per night Half price discount with Golden Age Pass, so we paid $9/night. Reservations accepted, but not for specific sites: 877-444-8777.

Phone/radio/TV: Good phone reception; aircard on Broadband. Excellent local NPR available on 90.5 from the University of Texas in Austin. Two PBS stations on antenna, along with several network local stations.

Elevation/Landscape/Terrain: Jim Hogg Park and Cedar Breaks Park are COE parks on opposite sides of Lake Georgetown. Jim Hogg Park has two loops; some sites have good views of the park - but very little shade. Terrain is gently rolling with large trees, so some sites are well shaded (watch for tree limbs when backing in). We choose a very well shaded site, #73 (top photo), but the trees made a MESS on top of the MH and stained the sides where water dripped down. Elevation is 930’.

Lighting: A few high orange “streetlights” near the restrooms; otherwise dark at night.

Favorite Sites: The Bartees were in site #72 (second photo), shaded but with less tree mess. Sites 14 and 97 looked good - level with trees on the side, but none overhead. Site 34 (third photo) is on the lakeside - long and level, but very exposed to the sun. In the other loop, we liked 101, 121 and 125. Lakeside sites are exposed to the sun and much more windy than others.

Hiking/Walking: Walking the campground loops was enjoyable, with views of the lake. We also walked down to the water on the boat ramp. A 25+ mile trail circumnavigates the lake.

Special Features: The lake adds to the ambiance here. Thanks to a Del Webb’s Sun City nearby, the Georgetown area has grown recently with mostly upscale development - subdivisions and the services they need. There is a big H-E-B very close by. The historic section of Georgetown, less than 10 miles away, has a beautiful old courthouse… looks interesting to peruse the area. The Monument Café in the southern part of Georgetown was recommended to us for delicious organic meals. We had a good and inexpensive catfish dinner at The Catfish Parlour, as few miles east on Williams towards Georgetown.