BUCKHORN LAKE RESORT, KERRVILLE, TEXAS

Our Opinion: Recommend - if you are looking for a high-end “Resort” that deserves the name.

Date of Stay: February 13 - 15, 2010

Weather During Stay:  Quite cold at night; a mix of sunny and cloudy days – both quite cool.

Site Description: We were in site 6105.  In this site (and many others), we pulled in head first, facing a small pond.  It gave a nice feeling of privacy.  All sites are level concrete, FHU with 50 amps and cable TV, a mix of pull-throughs, back-ins, and pull-ins.  All sites have concrete patios surrounded by grass, and at least a picnic table; “Executive” sites have teak tables and chairs!  All sites are larger than those in a typical commercial RV park. 

This is truly a “Resort”, with well manicured sites and all the extras designed for rallies and high-end, long-term stays: a fitness room, day spa, store, pristine common areas, swimming pools, spas, laundry rooms.  One loop of the park is an “adults only” area.  Very impressive.

Rate: We paid $94 for three nights on an “internet special”: pay for 2 nights, get the third one free.  The way they calculate this is extremely nitpicky and marred our first impression.  Normal rates vary depending on type of site, with non-discounted daily rates ranging from $39 to $49, weekly from $210 up to $260, plus electricity.

Phone/radio/TV: No obstacles for our roof-mounted satellite (and cable was provided).  NPR was available on one or two stations.  The big surprise: VERY WEAK Verizon service in our site.  Our phones cut out frequently, and our aircard didn’t connect!  Since we were ¼ miles off of Interstate 10, this had never occurred to us when making our reservation.  The park has free WiFi, which would tear along at blazing speeds, then slow to a pitiful, frustrating crawl - I would expect better from a park of this caliber.

Elevation/landscape/Terrain: This is a gently undulating campground in a rolling, hilly landscape at 1,800 ft. elevation.  The park has some lovely, mature trees and several ponds.  Views are of neighbors, well designed and maintained buildings, trees, grass, and ponds.  Very appealing.

Lighting/noise: Night lighting is unobtrusive, and noise is minimal.

Favorite Sites: Wow - the Executive sites(most costly) are great: huge, grassy, with wonderful views.  Many nice sites in this park.

Hiking/Walking: Laps around the park.  No good distance walking without a drive.  A well-equipped fitness room kept Odel happy.

Comments:  This park is way out of our normal price range, but we wanted to visit a friend who was there (and we were ready for full hookups).  After a poor first impression caused by the way they handled the “pay for two, stay three” internet special, we enjoyed the park.  Excellent hill country location for sightseeing, but the lack of Verizon coverage means we wouldn’t return - even if we were willing to pay the high rates!

TOP OF THE HILL RV PARK, BOERNE, TEXAS

Our Opinion: Recommend - but above our normal budget.

Date of Stay: January 25th through February 2nd, 2010.

Weather During Stay:  A real mix: sunny and warm, cloudy and cold, rainy, windy (even a tornado watch) and some sub-freezing nights.  We had it all.

Sites: The campground map shows 103  FHU sites, but the layout of the campground makes it seem much smaller.  The campground is on a hill, with several different tiered levels, so you see only a fraction of the sites from any spot.  Most sites are gravel, all reasonably level, and of varying lengths.  Our site and others in our area easily accommodate a 40’ motorhome and towed. 

We had site 54, a LONG pull-through right on top of the hill.  Several trees in this upper area provided dappled shade and a relaxing ambiance.  All sites have 20/30/50 amps, water and sewer - and a small wooden picnic table.

The campground roads are paved, but narrow and somewhat potholed - access to the unusually long sites can be a slight challenge for some rigs.  Trees scattered throughout the campground provide some shade.  There is a large common room, a communal kitchen, a library, reading room, pool table and swimming pool.  Nice laundry room and restrooms, small camp store.

Rate: Rates vary depending on the size and location of the site.  Ours was a “Gold” site, regular rate $41.25.  For our first two nights, we paid half price using our Camp Club USA card.  Then we switched to a weekly rate, $198/week.  This much higher than we usually are willing to pay, but events conspired to keep us in the area and we didn’t feel like researching something cheaper when we liked our site so well.  Being lazy!

Phone/radio/TV: The usually strong Verizon phone and aircard signals sometimes disappeared - a few of our calls were dropped.  Few obstacles for rooftop-mounted satellite TV.  A small number of independent stations available on TV antenna.   NPR available on 89.1.  The park has free WiFi, usually strong and speedy but, like our aircard, it sometimes slowed to a crawl.  Someone downloading movies or Skyping?

Elevation/Landscape/Terrain: Level parking on several tiers on and around a hill.  Views are of other campers, graceful trees, and forested rolling hills.  Elevation is 1650 ft.  This is a quite appealing Texas Hill Country landscape.

Lighting/Noise: Interstate 10 is just down at the bottom of the hill, and the noise floats up.  It is noticeable outside and in.  Because we stayed here during winter, the noise did not bother us at night with the windows closed.  It would be more intrusive in summer.  Night lighting in our area was very subdued.

Favorite Sites: We really liked our nice long, level pull-through, and all of those in the same area (sites 50-60).  Lots of appealing sites here.

Hiking/Walking: Up and down the hills and loops, but nothing substantial without a drive.

Comments: Though the rates here are above what we usually pay, they are in keeping with other parks in the area.  Boerne is an interesting little town with both chain and independents stores and restaurants.  Many good day trips from here - San Antonio is a 25 mile drive.  We enjoyed the historic PoPo restaurant about ¼ mile away - very good fried chicken and fried catfish with a reasonably priced wine list and comfortable ambiance.  We would return to this park for at least the two nights available at the 50% off PA or Camp Club rate - perhaps even a month-long stay.

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.

LADY BIRD JOHNSON MUNICIPAL PARK, FREDERICKSBURG, TEXAS

Our Opinion: A great public (city) park. This is our second visit here; we will return and recommend this park to others.

Date of Stay: April 1st through April 5th, 2008

Weather During Stay: Arrived in breezy sunshine, temperature in the low 70’s at 1:30 pm. The following day, the humidity caught up with us again; we had two days of overcast with 98% humidity with high’s in the 70’s, lows in the upper 60’s. Finally that all cleared out (firing off a few severe thunderstorms nearby) and we had a day of beautiful sunshine.

Rate: $20 per night for 50 amp FHU with cable TV. Long-term winter rates available 9/1 through 3/31: 2 weeks for $160; $250/month if designated sites are available. Mail and deliveries accepted at office. Reservations: 830-997-4202 M-F 9 am to 6 pm.

Sites: 90 sites have 30/50 amp FHU with cable TV.

Verizon: Great phone reception; aircard on Broadband

Elevation/Landscape/Terrain: Gently rolling campground in a 330-acre city park at 1680‘ elevation. River, small lake, not heavilty forested, but lots of mature trees provide shade, grass picnic and play areas. Swimming pool, tennis courts, 18-hole golf course and driving range. Softball and baseball diamonds. Adjacent to the Gillespie County airport (small planes). Good birding.

Lighting: Low lighting, reasonably dark at night.

Favorite Sites: The campground has three distinct areas. Our favorite sites are in the Horseshoe Loop (8 sites only), or on the small ridge adjacent to the airport near the office. Horseshoe Loop sites are back-ins, very spacious; the ridge top sites are LONG pull-through. Top photo: site 75 in the Horseshoe, April 2007; second photo: site 87 B/D on the ridgetop, April 2008; photo on left: sites on the ridgetop.

Hiking/Walking: Not many miles of developed trails, but on 330 acres, there is plenty of pleasant, safe walking.

Special Features: Odel enjoys the 18-holes golf course, $22 to walk on a weekday. The park is a short drive (a few miles) from Fredericksburg, the heart of Hill Country, with all kinds of shopping and good restaurants in F'burg and beyond. Outstanding natural features (including Enchanted Rock, 18 miles north) and historic sites (LBJ Ranch National Historic Site 16 miles east) nearby. The HEB grocery store is fantastic. Natural food store also available in F'burg. Local NPR available at 90.1 FM.

PARKVIEW RIVERSIDE RV PARK, RIO FRIO, TEXAS

Our Opinion: A very nice, rural, private park. We would stay here again and recommend this park to others during “off season“. It is probably very crowded and noisy with families from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

Date of Stay: 3/29 through 3/31/2008

Weather During Stay: Warm, cloudy and very humid. High's around 80, low's upper 60's.

Rate: We paid $15/night with our Passport America discount.

Sites: 93 sites each have 50 amp FHU and cable TV. Riverfront sites have sewer connections on both sides so you can park overlooking the river in a 5er or motorhome. Each site has a picnic table. Most sites have trees, so are partially shaded

Verizon: no cell phone service (pay phone at the laundry room and phone hookups are available for long term stays); no aircard reception. WiFi is available for a fee through Road Connect. We paid $12.95 for their three day package.

Elevation/landscape/terrain: This is a flat campground at 1370’ elevation on a bluff overlooking the Rio Frio, across the river from Garner State Park, in the southern part of Texas' Hill Country (between Leakey and Concan). Views are of the river and the surrounding heavily wooded hills and limestone bluffs. Large trees line the river and are sprinkled throughout the park, which feels open yet shaded. Not good for roof-mounted TV satellites, but cable is included in the fee.

Lighting: Reasonably dark at night, and very quiet during our stay.

Favorite Sites: We were in site #6, a long, flat, riverfront site with good WiFi reception. Any of the sites near us would be fine.

Hiking/Walking: Not much walking at the park, but the road outside the gate is VERY lightly traveled, suitable for walking. It is a short drive to Garner State Park, which has reasonably long, appealing walking trails.

Special Features: The sites overlooking the river are great. Two stairways go from the bluff top park down to the river for wading or swimming. Lots of birds here.