We loved our respite from travelling at this RV spot. The owner could not have been more…read moreaccommodating. There is a pool and restaurant and a lovely break area. Many shady spots that are level. Thank you for such a reasonable rate!

!!Warning!! ~Beware~ of Buffalo RV Park near Buffalo, TX. If any of you are planning on pulling in…read morethere, I would NOT. It is under a new owner David Arndt (he's owned it about a month), and he is not a nice person. Long post ahead... We pulled in on Wednesday afternoon around 3ish. I had called about 30 minutes earlier to let him know that we were about there, so he could put us where he wanted us. He answered, pretty frazzled, to say that while digging they had hit unmarked water and electric lines, and he was busy trying to get that fixed. I commiserated with the guy saying "It sounds like he'd had a rough day, and I wouldn't keep him on the phone." He said the water, and power would be back on that evening the power company would be there at 4:30. Ok, no problem. We pulled in, got halfway set up, and then went to get something to eat (with our dog in the truck, with it running bc we weren't going to leave her in a hot TT.) We came back around 4, and sat outside to wait for word that the power was on. Word finally came, so we flipped the breaker...and nada. Nothing. Zilch. We had already been told there would be no sewer hookup, but that he had a pump truck contracted to come around. Ok, not ideal, but we can deal with it...but now no power. Ugh. Ok, so the guy that works for this man, comes down drinking beer, not really knowing what he's doing telling us we DO have power(using our voltometer, because he didn't have one that worked), it must be something with our camper. It was plugged in at the house the day before, but hey as you all know things happen with campers. He tells us to cut our cord to see where the problem is because it wasn't on there end. I ask if he's the maintenance man for the campground. He says"Yeah, but not for long the new owner is a d!#k." Um, ok. By now it's close to 7:00, and my husband just wants to get in the house, take a shower, eat supper, and go to bed; after all he does have a welding test in the morning. So, we with the help of a very kind couple about 10 spots away, cut the cord, the guys find nothing wrong with it, but what's done is done. They proceed to jerry rig it up, so we could have power for the night which I'm sure was neither legal nor safe(meanwhile maintenance guy is gone, bc he's worked all day, and clearly it's our problem). We had no outlets, no microwave, but one working AC, so we said fine, and went to bed. Knowing full well that this is not good on your camper to have messed up electric, it can fry appliances, converter etc... The next morning (thursday) I drive 3 hours round trip to Tyler, TX to buy a new power cord for $220, bring it home and try to plug it in. Nothing. I wait for Isaiah to get home, thinking I am just doing something wrong. He gets home, and tries it himself. Nope. Owner, David comes down to help... THIS IS WHERE IT GETS GOOD.... My husband and this dude, try every box down the row, and none are working, or are only getting a little power. It's still somehow our fault. Again the sweet couple Ricky & Jen from down the way come down with his mechanic truck with a generator on it, and we plug our camper directly into that. Everything pops right on! Hmmm?? No somehow it's still us. David is getting more and more pissed off, as he is finding that it is clearly his electrical problem. He yells at us, and says, "I'm not a f*#king electrician!" Isaiah says, "Well that's clear." He's worn out, and just wants to be done with this crap, he asks can the guy just call and actual electrician? They check one more box, and it works! The row we were on is just messed up. We will have to move the camper. Isaiah says, "Don't you think you owe me an apology?" Because by this time the guys been ranting and raving for awhile(something he does quite often we come to understand. Another neighbor said he heard the guy screaming and cussing at his employee the day before...nice.) Well, he LOSES HIS EVER-LOVING MIND Y'ALL!!!! He's screaming at us to get our sh*t and leave!! Get off his property. My husband says, no he's not leaving. It's late, and he has to work the next day. David Arndt then calls the police. LOL!! He's telling them that we've been cussing him, and yelling at him. To which I finally say, "What!?! No sir, you've cussed us, and cost us time and money!" He puts the phone down to his side, and screams "F#*k You, B*^ch, leave!!" I laugh and say, "You're gonna do great in this business." My husband steps forward, bc now he's pissed, and I tell him not to worry about it bc people like him get theirs. He storms back down to our spot to collect his things, and throw our surge protector and cord.Lol! I ask him when the police will be there bc I would like to talk to them. He responds, with a screeching voice and crazy eyes, "You know damn good and well they don't give a f*^king ETA!!" "Um, no sir I actually don't know that. I don't often deal with the police in my life." Isaiah says that we want our money back. He gets in his truck, and peels out

Rustic. I can't describe it any better. After passing the Bean Creek Ranch sign you'll see longhorn…read morecattle to your left. After you pass that pasture the Big House makes its appearance. It looks exactly how I'd imagine a cattle ranch home to look like. Swing around the little lake--bigger than a stock pond--and the cabin is dead ahead. No mints on the pillow. Everything is well worn but clean and comfortable. The bed was good enough. I really enjoyed all the pictures on the wall. Most of them had to do with native American's and their horses. It was as good a three night, mini-vaca as we could have hoped for. Did I tell you about the quiet? We were invigorated.

This is my first time at this amazing resort, and I am already looking forward to my next visit…read more Lisa at check-in was extremely helpful and genuinely happy to see you. The cabins are clean and well furnished with a full kitchen. The grounds are very well kept and beautiful. Butch the owner of Purple Peacock, is a great host. Also happy to see you, and extremely helpful. He even went out of his way purchasing a new BBQ grill for us to use. The Bird Cage is a great place to meet and mingle with other guests and have fun. I can say this wasn't one of the most positive and welcoming clothing optional resorts I have been to. Thank you Butch & and Lisa. I am looking forward to seeing you next time. CHEERS, David

Clothing optional resort just outside Palestine TX. I went here to visit a friend of mine who…read moresometimes lives there months at a time. I got to spend three weeks here and it was the absolute BEST TIME of my life. I wish I could come back here as often as I could. And as a single female I feel totally comfortable in this environment. Everybody made me feel so welcome! I would call this place home if I could.

The view from my room is so charming. Very nice and clean…read more The gentleman who checked us in was nice, efficient and kind! Thank you

Absolutely filthy. I felt like I had stepped back into a…read morehotel from the 70's that desperately needed a deep clean and new items. Checking in was pleasant and the young woman was very nice. It went downhill the minute I opened the door. Bed was hard as a brick. Tub and bathroom floor were dirty. Broken mirror had been painted along the cracks. Fridge wasn't cold and freezer was absolutely frozen and wouldn't close completely. TV automatically stops after about an hour and you have to hit the guide button to go back to watching the show. It was quiet and close to restaurants. I came to town for a funeral and didn't want to have my clothes smell badly so I went and bought air freshener for the room since there was a strange odor in there. You'd have to be 9 feet tall to sit in the broken chair at the desk. Pillows were nice.

Reservation: I called in the middle of three week, left a message. He called me back the next…read moreday, and I was able to book a reservation for my son's birthday dinner on Sunday. He was very accommodating. Restaurant: it's very quaint. We will have to check out the bed and breakfast next time. Service: super nice and friendly. I love family owned establishments because they feel warmer and unique than chain restaurants. Food: great food! See pictures. I can't wait to try breakfast next time.

Excellent food. Cozy, clean, pleasant environment. We dined here two nights in a row. Indoor and…read moreoutdoor dining available. Chef Webster is personable and accomplished. He has created a lovely dinning experience. We will visit Palestine again just to visit this Restaurant.

I took my mother and son to Palestine, TX last year so that we could ride the Polar Express (Texas…read moreState Railroad). We stayed in a Fox Meadows guest home which was off the beaten path, by far, but that just added to its charm. Beautiful land with wildlife surrounded us. Our cozy guest home had a large bedroom (where my mom slept), bathroom, adorable kitchen stocked with everything including a huge basket of goodies for breakfast and a living room with a couch that had a fold out bed that me and my son slept on. The living room was decked out with Christmas tree and decorations. The fireplace in the living room was wonderful to have. There were many books and knicknacks for my son to explore and in the living room we had a tv with DVD and VHS player, along with a huge selection of DVDs and VHS. Their policy is that you can take a movie or book with you when you leave if you leave another one behind. There are trails to explore right out of the back door. The owners are a delight. I hope to have a chance to stay here again soon.

Went here for my granddaughters wedding. First I will say the outside setting is beautiful! It's…read more all very rustic and natural. The food was delicous and plentiful. Now for the negative, the parking area is not paved, so you're dressed up, wearing heels, and trudging through a gravel lot....for a fairly long way! Parking is not close. Then you enter this lovely rustic barn like building, but the ceremony was held outside. The walk through the woods was lovely, but hiking boots would have been better than dress shoes. And it was horribly hot! And mosquitoes galore, at least they had bug spray.

Our family rode the Piney Woods Express in the Presidential Car, and it was the perfect finale to…read moreour East Texas vacation. We booked seats in the Presidential Car, "Miss Joyce," and the experience was outstanding from beginning to end. The car features a comfortable mix of couches and chairs, with seating selected when you book your tickets. It created a relaxed atmosphere that made the four-hour excursion feel special without being overly formal. Our train attendant, Miss Joyce, was absolutely wonderful. She was warm, welcoming, and attentive throughout the trip, and it's easy to see why the car proudly bears her name. When we arrived at our seats, each passenger had a complimentary bottle of water and a snack box filled with watermelon, grapes, pretzels, and cheese cubes. The trip began with a champagne toast for the adults and sparkling apple cider for those who preferred it, which was a fun touch that made the experience feel like an occasion. Additional drinks, candy, and popcorn were available for purchase throughout the ride, and the attendants happily took orders and kept a running tab, making everything very convenient. During the stop in Rusk, we had time to stretch our legs and enjoy lunch. A converted railcar serves as a concession stand, offering items like hot dogs, nachos, chicken salad sandwiches, hoagies, and pulled pork sandwiches, with the option to purchase meals that include chips and a drink. There are picnic tables available, or you can take your lunch back to the train while it's parked at the station. We later learned that meal pre-orders are available, although we didn't notice that information when booking our tickets. The return trip to Palestine was a little quicker but just as enjoyable. From departure at 11:00 a.m. until our return around 3:00 p.m., the entire excursion was relaxing, scenic, and very well organized. If you're looking for a unique family outing in East Texas, we highly recommend upgrading to the Presidential Car. Between the comfortable seating, thoughtful amenities, excellent service, and beautiful scenery, it was an experience we'll remember for a long time.

My wife and I drove up from Austin for an overnight trip to Palestine, Texas, to take the evening…read moredinner train ride on the Texas State Railroad. We sat in the skylight car. Our experience was okay, but just okay. The train car was comfortable, though noticeably dated and in need of some freshening up. The bathroom was unpleasant -- no soap, no paper towels -- and it felt like the cars hadn't received any real attention in years. The train ride itself was pleasant enough, but too long for what it offered. The scenery consists mostly of trees lining both sides of the track, with occasional glimpses of meadows. Nothing dramatic. The train crept along at a snail's pace -- more, I suspect, to fill time than for any safety reasons. The midpoint stop was the highlight of the trip. We had dinner with live music in a lovely setting near a small lake -- genuinely enjoyable. However, the scheduled 1¼-hour stop stretched to nearly 1¾ hours, as we sat on the train for almost 30 minutes without moving before heading back. We arrived over 15 minutes later than scheduled. A few other notes: the train has no Wi-Fi, and the entire three-hour ride is accompanied by piped-in 1940s big band music. The first 30 minutes were fine; after that, it became tedious. Overall, I'd give this experience a 3 out of 5 -- and that's being generous, given the price.