In my youth, my father, a native Texan like the rest of us, always wanted to go camping at lakes and tributaries in the Lone Star State. The selected locations included Red River and Lake Texoma, Brazos River and Possum Kingdom and Lake Whitney, Guadalupe River and Canyon Lake, and many more.
He referred to it as “roughing it” with dad and the boys. He always made it feel special that we were sleeping under the stars. Mind you, my sisters were invited as well, but they declined. They were always smarter than their brothers.
Sleeping bags were on the ground, open fire for cooking, water in a 10-gallon igloo dispenser, and baths were the same as swimming, only without soap so as not to impact the wildlife. We also had folding shovels, or “E-tools” for latrine duties. Dad always made us take the mandatory steps away from camp and waterways. This activity probably had a lot to do with my sisters declining the invitation.
These days, there is a major vacation craze known as the portmanteau, “Glamping,” or glamorous camping. Personally, I had to ask one of my Air Force buddies what the new craze was all about. He simply replied, “It’s where people all over the country are spending thousands of dollars to go on bivouac.”
Right here in the backyard of the Treasure City of Mount Vernon, we have our own version of glamping. Over the past 3-4 years, the Franklin County Water District has dramatically improved several parks around Lake Cypress Springs. The three primary parks with improvements are: Walleye Park, Twin Oaks Park, and Dogwood Park. The other three parks are in transition with updates to be determined.
Walleye Park has the most amenities, including premium RV hookups with electric and septic, RV pads, electrical outlets with 30/50 amps, running water, restrooms, showers, pavilions, picnic tables, grills, a boat ramp, dump stations, volleyball courts, and tent stations. Twin Oaks and Dogwood both have subsegments of these amenities. https://www.fcwd.com/content/lake/parks.php
Many may not know that the FCWD operates autonomously without tax dollars. It generates revenue through water sales to Cypress Springs Utility District, lease fees, park fees, etc. It is truly a valuable asset to our community, the state, and even visitors from other states.
So, whether it is your idea of glamping or not, most native Texans I know would consider camping at Lake Cypress Springs, camping in “tall cotton.”
