2026-2-21 Lake Casa Blanca State Park

This year our Texas Ramblin' Roses Chapter had a rolling rally that started the beginning of January and continued on through the end of February. I couldn't go on the whole trip but managed to catch up for the last two stops. Stop number was at Lake Casa Blanca International State Park. Not sure why the international is part of the name because it is in Laredo TX but not right next to the border with Mexico.

There were lots of pelicans enjoying the lake even though it was a little rough and pretty low due to the ongoing drought in much off Texas.

Xena and Elaine's dog Tiana were "enjoying" the dog pen I brought along.

The park itself is very nice but over half the sites are unlevel.....very unlevel. The first site I was in was impossible to get level. It really should have been just for tents because the tent pad was level but the drive was horrible. I was able to get moved to another site but I was not able to get level using my built in jacks....first time this has ever happened. Even using a multitude of the lego blocks borrowed from several chapter members, I still was not really level.

Elaine's site was a pull through and she was able to get fairly level using a number of blocks.

This unique building was up on the hill above us. There really wasn't much info available but we finally figured out that it muse have been a spanish hacienda. You can see a double entry in the middle.

Looking through that entry, you can see an inner courtyard. All the inside doors open into the courtyard. Out front there is what looks to have been a well.

View looking down from the hacienda.

Looking back up the hill towards the hacienda.

This grove of palm trees looked a little out of place and very unique in the landscape.

There was a nice lont fishing dock.

Not sure what the original purpose of this building was.

we rented this building for the day to have a potluck dinner. It looked like it might have been a stables at one time.

 

Hosts Teri and Anne had a craft program going. This involved fabric, glue, and computer discs to make holders for playing cards.

Pat really got into the cooking groove. She was working on some ingredients for breakfast burritos.

Elaine is always in the middle of cooking up something good.

Breakfast was great and it was just the start of the day.

Some of us made a trip to do some siteseeing in Laredo.

We stopped by the Border Heritage Museum but they were kind of in the middle of things so there was nothing to see. Apparently they set up presentations for groups.

We checked out this beautiful and expensive hotel.

Everything was built around several courtyards.

We almost made a side trip to Mexico while we were looking for a Mexican market. It turned out that the road past a shopping mall ed to a side gate to the border crossing. The border guard waived us through and opened another gate to let us out but that's a whole nother story. We did finally find this shop so Karen could get a bag.

They had a little bit of everything for sale.

After all that, we needed a coffee. It took a while but we finally found a place.

Xena stayed home in the RV and took a nap. She likes to pull down the blanket on the recliners to cover her.

This was a nice park but you really need to beware of the RV sites. About half of them are extremely unlevel. It is the first time my jacks could not get me level.