2025-05-14 Trip to Rockport TX

 Elaine drove over from Abilene and stayed at an RV park in New Braunfels on Monday. She actually just picked up her new to her long bed crew cab 4 wheel drive Ram 3/4 ton truck right before she left. Tuesday we met at Walmart and headed down to Rockport TX. We planned to arrive two days before the Texas Ramblin' Roses rally which was starting on Thursday afternoon. We thought we would have down time but a number of our friends arrived early also.

We stopped at the office to check in. I told Elaine to go first since I had to unhook my car. They escorted her to her spot and helped get her backed in. It was her first time parking in a back-in with her new to her truck and the road is narrow in the row closest to the clubhouse so it was challenging.

This park is wonderful for rallies. In addition to a great location, they have a huge rally room.

A fun game room.

And they also have a great kitchen. They also treat us very well. I have hosted about 6 rallies there over the years.

We managed to get a walk in every day which isn't easy. One of the cactus plants was blooming.

This palm tree was struck by lightning and survived. The top is mostly there but you can see where the lightning entered and exited the trunk. Pretty amazing.

We cooked burgers on my grill for my two co-hostesses and me the first night. 

Another night, Barb cooked spaghetti and pasta with shrimp for Elaine, Kathy, and I. It was great!

This was my first RV trip without my co-pilot Harley. Getting in the RV and taking off that first morning was hard because he was always ready to hop in and go with me.

2025-04-12 Paluxy Heritage Park, Glen Rose TX

 The last place we visited before we left Glen Rose was Paluxy Heritage Park which is across the Paluxy River from Big Rocks Park. You can actually walk there if you walk across the dam.

It's a lovely park where you can take a little history tour or have a picnic and play on the playground across the parking lot.

This is the playground and picnic pavilion across the parking lot.

I had to take one more picture on our way out because of the blue bonnets. This is a great park.

2025-04-12 Oakdale Park Motor Inn Camping, Glen Rose TX

 Oakdale, the original family campground opened in 1925 as a campground and motor court. The swimming pool was the largest pool in Texas at that time. It's called the Oakdale Plunge and holds 330,000 gallons of water so it still ranks up there as one of the largest pools. It is one of the only private RV parks in the country listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Oakdale has hosted many events from family reunions, RV rallies, swimming parties, and music concerts over its 100 year reign.

The office is located right next to the pool. The park has 120 full hookup RV spaces, 20 tent spots with electric, 24 cabins, two bath houses and 2 meeting spaces. In addition there is a huge nearly 100 year old updated building at the front of the park called The Casino which has also been an event center, a dance hall, and a roller skating rink. 

Check out the Cowgirl Motel.

There is a large modern laundry.

The pavilion is huge and has an outdoor kitchen.

There is also an outdoor amphitheater which hosts bluegrass concerts.

Let's talk about the cabins. These smaller cabins are called casitas and they have 2 full size beds, a bathroom with walk-in shower, a Magicaire fridge and microwave and coffee pot. Originally they were located at the front of the property but were moved to the back.

There are also larger family size cabins with 2 full size beds, a sofa bed, a full size bathroom with walk=in shower and a full kitchen. These were actually homes who entrances faced the street behind the park. They were added to the park and the entrance moved to the park side. 

There is also a bunkhouse that has 11 bunkbeds, two bathrooms, and a full kitchen.

Elaine and I shared a buddy site so that our RVs faced each other. Harley was on his way over to Elaine's trailer.

The Texas Ramblin' Roses have had at least 3 rallies here at Oakdale. Sister's on the Fly were leaving as we arrived and a Winnebago Rally started after our rally ended. One of these days we will have a rally there when the pool is open.

2025-04-12 Glen Rose TX

Glen Rose is an interesting place to visit.

They have an impressive courthouse in the town square.

This view with the bluebonnets is especially wonderful.

There are a number of cute shops around the square and everyone is very friendly.

This is just one of the many dinosaurs you will find around town in front of shops or even in people's yards.

Bluebonnets are hardy and pop up wherever they feel like it.

While we were in one of the shops, I saw several oil paintings with this building shown. I knew I had seen it somewhere else online so I asked the shopkeeper if it was located in Glen Rose. She told me we could find it on a road behind the 7-11 gas station on the highway so off we went. And there it was. The property has recently been purchased by a private owner and I suspect they may build a house on the land behind it as there was grading equipment working there.

This place has some definite history. Known as the Outlaw Gas Station, it was built by Ed Young in the 1920s. It was initially a service station but soon found a more lucrative purpose. Glen rose which was already known as the "Whiskey Woods Capital of Texas" provided the perfect place for Young's foray into the world of illegal alcohol. The station, built from petrified wood and colored brick, became a hub for the distribution of moonshine, eventually transforming into a speakeasy that rivalled the local White Rock Roadhouse. It thrived as a speakeasy known more for its moonshine than its gasoline. Bonnie and Clyde were rumored to have visited since they were in the local area. By the 1950s and 1960s, it morphed back into a legitimate gas station and grocery store but it eventually closed its doors.

We ventured a little further down the old highway and discovered some beautiful bluebonnet fields blooming.

Glen Rose is definitely worth a visit.