This is a mere 10 miles north of the Oklahoma-Kansas border on the rolling plains. It's stunning country, and as you drive north you begin to cross small creeks and rivers. Even on the Oklahoma side there are some historical markers. The Santa Fe Trail is not far from here.
The park is a marvelous oasis with a small man-made lake and surrounded with huge cottonwood trees. There are lots of juniper. This pears as a large slash of green against the rolling grassy plains. There are campsites pretty much all around the lake. The campsite I stayed at the first night, Cottonwood, was pleasant enough but very "public" in in full view of a very busy camp road. It was terribly crowded Sunday and there was back and forth traffic pretty much until 11 PM. I only saw law enforcement once. They stopped at a site near mine (Cottonwood #1) and spent a long time talking to some people in a small and very old trailer. It looked like they were living there semi-permanently with a huge woodpile, BBQ, etc. The truck belonging to the site was on its last legs. They (a couple?) seemed to be slowly patrolling by my camper van again and again, looking closely. Since I was the only other van in the campground I started locking my travel-all. I don't usually do that. There were enough large family groups in run down trailers and trucks, that I thought some casual theft wasn't out of the question. I couldn't figure out where all of the muscle cars with their loud music were coming from. Meade is the next nearest town and it's a good 10 miles north. Well, this is the place to cruise on a pretty day, it seems. There were just lots of cars and trucks, cruising around.
On Monday it was much quieter. You can really see what an oasis this is. I moved to Cedar #2. I had no trouble, as the park is only 10% occupied now. A pair of flickers is cavorting above my head in the trees. Site #2 has great shade. All I have to do is turn around and see the lake. There are lots of playgrounds and cool, green places for people to walk to. It's a fishing lake, so no powerboats. It's quiet because of that.
The bathroom and shower house that serves the whole park apparently is rudimentary at best. There are two shower stalls for women with no curtains. It is all open air. Just like girl scout camp you can see trees and sky when you shower. The water is warm and you can choose only one temp. There is no door into the shower house/bathroom itself. You just jog to the right of a brick wall and there you are. ZERO privacy. read more
