Holiday Park Campground

Lots of families enjoying the nice weather the weekend we were there. Cabins looked fine from the outside.

Holiday Park, Fort Worth, TX (Scale 1- bad, 5-Very good

(71 yr olds in 17’ trailer.)

Overall Rating: 4 for very large sites and nice bathroom/shower facilities. Price 2023: $ 14 w interagency pass Security: Cannot drive in after 10 Usage during visit: Full over the weekend Site Privacy: No Site Spacing: Large sites Pad surface: blacktop Reservations: Yes Campground Noise: Lots of children fun noise during our busy weekend. Outside Road Noise: No Through Traffic in campground: No Electric Hookup: Yes Sewer Hookup: No Dump Station: Yes Potable Water Available: At site Bathroom/Shower combo rooms. They are very clean and nice. Pull Throughs: Some Cell Service (AT&T): 2 to 3 bars. Setting: Along lake with trees sparsely spaced throughout the campground. Recent Weather: 70s to 30s Host: Several. Rig Size: The largest. Sites: Large sites is a big plus. Perimeter sites are much better than inner loop sites - our site is along a lakeshore more than lakeshore.

When we got to Benbrook, we used the campground(CG) website instructions as we didn’t see any signage for the CG on US377 coming in from the east. We turned right onto Pearl Ranch Rd and followed it to the Holiday COE entrance about 2 miles straight down the road. Check in was easy and the guy who checked us in was very informative. We needed to fill our freshwater tank and he pointed out on the map the two dump stations with potable water. We proceeded to the dump station just inside the gate to find out there was not a potable water spigot just the usual rinse hose. We went back to the entrance and he informed us the park ranger had told him they are on well water and thus the water at the dump station was safe, even though there was a sign clearly stating it was not safe to drink. We were then told we could go to an empty camp site that had water hook-ups and fill up there, which we did. Not sure what we would have done if this had been a busy weekend with all of the water sites full. We then proceeded to pull through site 72 with 30/50 AMP. There was plenty of space for our 39’ fifth wheel and F-450 on the asphalt pad. The site had a covered cement patio with picnic table, and bbq/fire pit that we couldn't use due to a burn ban. Site 73 was the only other site in our little cul-de-sac. For the intent of this review, we toured the campground specifically looking for free standing water spigots, but didn't find any. The showers/restroom were old but in workable shape. If you want to stay where we did in sites 72-75 they were definitely electric only, contrary to what other reviews mentioned. There were water spigots at the sites but they had been capped off. Sites 76, 77,& 78 were also electric only and sat up on a hill with a slight lake view but are across the street from a neighborhood that backs up to the park. Sites 83- 93 had water and electric as well as some of the sites near the front of the park. We got 3 bars on Verizon and a whole bunch of OTA channels. We enjoyed the view of the lake and privacy at our site since we were the only ones there the whole time of our stay during the week.

Campground Review

I spent a night at Holiday Park which is one of three on Benbrook lake. It used to be father outside of town, but as the suburbs creep in, it is slowly becoming surrounded. In fact, it appears part of the property had been sold off for development as one camp road ended and houses began. It must be a wonderful perk for those residents to be able to just walk in for swimming or fishing. I neglected to do a satellite view before choosing my spot, so I was in one of the handful that had no trees. It was fine though as there are covered tables and the polls were strong enough to hold me in a hammock as well as put up shade. I was also right on the water, so there was a nice breeze.

If you’re into fishing, this spot is for you. Every couple of minutes there was a “plop” from another fish popping out of the water. If you have a small boat, you could drop in right from your site and head out across the lake. Take care though, there are a few boats and some moving pretty quick.

Love wildlife? There were dozens of deer out of all sizes. I came across 5 different groups of them as I was driving around taking in the entire campground. Of course, where there are deer there are ticks. Make sure to use insect repellent and give yourself a check.

The toilets and showers are showing their age, so they are not for the squeamish. There are no hiking trails to speak of, but they do have an equestrian trail and sites if you have horses. Bicyclists seem to love it here as I saw dozens riding the streets. I got to barely hear a Friday night football game being called across the lake with bright stadium lights and all. Site prices were $14 for just the covered table or $28 with water and electric

Pros

• Close to town
• Easy online check in
• Friendly park staff
• Access to various water sports

Cons

• City is encroaching
• Relatively expensive
• Not many hiking trails
• Aging facilities

Product Review

As a ranger for The Dyrt, I get to test products from time to time. I was given the opportunity to test the Hellagood blanket by Belmont Blanket. As a cover, it is very warm. The soft layer is a faux fur with medium plush. The other side is a rubbery, waterproof material. The soft side tended to hold onto debris and pet hair, but cleaned up with a few shakes. It's a bit heavy, weighing about 3 lbs, so it's not bad for day hikes, but I would not recommend it for long excursions. I laid it out on the wet ground and it is completely waterproof. If you camp in a rainy area, the blanket would act as a decent rain shield. It got a bit chill once the sun went down and the breeze came off the lake. Soft and warm by the fire. When I went to sleep, I realized I’d forgotten my pillow so I folded it up with the soft side out and slept like a baby. All in all, I love the blanket and look forward to using it on other trips.

Pros

• Soft
• Waterproof
• Washable
• Durable
• Handmade in the USA

Cons

• A bit heavy
• Tricky to roll up
• Kind of pricey