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jjjandrbaker's avatar
jjjandrbaker
Explorer
Jun 08, 2016

Impact of Texas flooding on my travel plans...

First and foremost- I pray for those who have suffered actual loss of property and life during the floods this year. That all makes my issues trivial.

I am taking a trip to St. Louis this summer. I plan to take 6 nights getting there and 6 nights getting back, staying at a different park each of the nights. I booked my sites (all within a 3 hour drive of each other) back in March.

Two of the parks on my itinerary have already cancelled on me. Lake Whitney SP and Lake Somerville SP are not anticipated to be opened back up by the time of my stays. Atlanta SP is currently closed with no definite reopening date. Mother Neff SP and Eisenhower SP are both showing some kind of flooding issues that have parts of the parks closed. For that reason, I double-booked some alternate parks just in case.

Has the flooding changed anyone else's summer travel plans?

10 Replies

  • Acampingwewillg's avatar
    Acampingwewillg
    Explorer II
    Jun 09, 2016
    Finally got a hold of the Ranger at the Thousand Trails Lake Whitney....it seems even though they have Lake access, there far enough away and on higher ground to be not affected by recent flooding. Medina Lake TT and Colorado River TT have sections of their CG's closed but with each passing day now, some area's are drying out.
  • BB_TX's avatar
    BB_TX
    Nomad
    Jun 09, 2016
    Acampingwewillgo wrote:
    I just called two of the four Park's....of course the two I didn't reach were Lake Whitney and Medina Lake. I'll try again in the AM.....and hope for the best!

    Here is the Lake Whitney State Park web site. It states that as of May 5 the park is closed and to check back for updates. But no updates currently show. So there may be no one there to answer phones.
  • Community Alumni's avatar
    Community Alumni
    Jun 09, 2016
    I'm still heading out to McKinney Falls near Austin. A lot of the trails are closed because of flood damage, but the rest of the park is still open. I wanted to head out to Lake Travis, but it's currently closed to boaters since the lake is overfilled. Hopefully they can get it drained off enough to reopen it.
  • 1971duster340's avatar
    1971duster340
    Explorer
    Jun 09, 2016
    In some affected areas, people are living in camps till the water recedes, damage to their homes is repaired, water levels drop on roads, roads/bridges are repaired and the summer vacation tourist inflow. All that adds up to more sites than usual are occupied and for longer terms. You probably know the issues around SA, but along and East of I45 is the worst. Trinity R. at US79 was amazing, but not closed. Look at the Drive Texas webpage.
  • Acampingwewillg's avatar
    Acampingwewillg
    Explorer II
    Jun 09, 2016
    I just called two of the four Park's....of course the two I didn't reach were Lake Whitney and Medina Lake. I'll try again in the AM.....and hope for the best!
  • BB_TX's avatar
    BB_TX
    Nomad
    Jun 09, 2016
    Lake Whitney is currently about 28' above normal. Best check before heading that way.
  • Acampingwewillg's avatar
    Acampingwewillg
    Explorer II
    Jun 09, 2016
    I've been watching this closely too although I haven't heard of any of the Thousand Trails parks closing. I'm booked in a number of TT and Tyler State Park for a week. The mention of Lake Whitney does have me concerned...we're booked for a week a TT Lake Whitney...mmmm I may have to get on the phone.
  • phone_man's avatar
    phone_man
    Explorer
    Jun 09, 2016
    I live close to Austin and I spend a lot of time at many of the Highland Lakes. That being said, I've pretty much had to cancel most of my trips so far this year.
  • BB_TX's avatar
    BB_TX
    Nomad
    Jun 08, 2016
    We were at West Burns Run COE park near the dam on Lake Texoma a couple weeks ago. Ranger said the bridge approaching Denison Dam from the south is expected to be completed by the end of June. I would call ahead to make sure as that is the easier approach.
  • Golfcart's avatar
    Golfcart
    Explorer
    Jun 08, 2016
    I only had to rebook once so far this year.(whitney)

    As for eisenhower, the parks camping areas are high above any water table. not much to worry about sites flooding there, The swim beach and some trails are currently closed due to the lake level. The problem is the main road getting into the park goes right past the spillway and it washed out a bridge that they've been trying to rebuild since last octobers flooding. The only way to get in is a side way that goes down a 2(one) lane road through a rural neighborhood to get there.

    Its kind of a pain but the park is well worth the stay. I really like going back there

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