Back to Dreamcatcher RV Park

I crossed over into New Mexico hitting the Anytime Fitness club in Las Cruces and then continued on to Deming, NM to the Escapees' Dreamcatcher RV Park I previously reviewed here:  Dreamcatcher Review .

As always the staff at the Escapee park were super friendly and I extended my stay for a few days while zeroing in on a great looking boondock destination on some nearby BLM land.  I'll review that location in my next post.

Thanks for reading!

Campground Review: Davis Mountains State Park Fort Davis, TX

Five miles west from Fort Davis along Texas 118 is the turn off to Davis Mountains State Park, where I headed after touring the Fort Davis National Historical Site.  Constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in 1933 the park was opened in 1938 and occupies 2700 acres at elevations of 5000 - 6000 feet.  Campground facilities weren't added to the park until 1967.

5200 feet.  Who would have guessed in flat old Texas?

94 campsites are nestled into a small valley between to sets of large foothills at Davis Mountains state Park.  I got assigned to one that was shaded by a huge live oak tree.

Campsite number 47.

Here's the park data sheet:

Hookups:                                             30, 50 amp, water

Fire ring:                                              Yes

Water Access:                                     No

Fresh Water:                                        Yes

Trash Service:                                      Yes

Toilets:                                                Yes

Showers:                                             Yes

Dump station:                                      Yes

WiFi:                                                   Yes

Level sites:                                          No

Laundry:                                              No

Store:                                                  Yes (memorabilia only)

Pool:                                                   No

Shade:                                                Yes

Verizon reception:                               None (occasional 1 bar 4G)

Internet reception:                               None

Cost:                                                 $20 /  night

When I got my camp set up and checked Verizon internet reception I found there was absolutely none, even with my signal booster, given there was a large mountain between me and the cell towers in Fort Davis this wasn't surprising.  I'm not sure this was the reason but the park actually had usable from campsite free wifi unlike every other Texas State Park I've visited to date.  You couldn't stream Netflix but it was more than adequate for email and casual surfing.

Note the Wifi antenna on the roof of the Interpretive Center.

The Interpretive Center was close enough to my camp to allow me to access it's wifi antenna.  The Center contained displays of local wildlife and a video loop about the park projected on a big screen TV.

The mini-museum within the Interpretive Center.

The park has several miles of hiking trails and seven miles of equestrian trails in a special section north of Texas 118 (most of the park is south of 118).

Sign at one of the trail heads.

There is even a trail that goes all the way from the park back to the visitor center at the Fort Davis Historical Site but it looked like about a 10 mile round trip so I passed on taking it.

Davis Mountains State Park is one of the quietest Texas State Parks I've stayed at.  The three days I stayed there had almost ideal sunny temperatures.  Again, it's one of those places you don't end up in unless you set out to go there in the first place but, combined with a visit to Fort Davis Historic Site, would make a great four or five day outing.

 Thanks for reading!

Fort Davis National Historic Site Fort Davis, TX

From Goliad I continued my western trek and arrived at Fort Davis, TX a tiny town of 1000 Texans which is named after a famous Army fort from the Indian frontier days.  Fort Davis was established in 1854 and was occupied by US Army troops until 1861 when Texas succeeded from the Union and became Confederate territory including the area around Fort Davis.  The troops at the fort tried to get back north to Union territory but many were captured and spent years in a Confederate prison in San Antonio.  Confederate troops then occupied Fort Davis until being driven out by a California-based Union force in 1862.  Union troops promptly abandoned the fort and it remained unoccupied until 1867.   After the Civil war traffic along the San Antonio - El Paso road once again was targeted by Apache and Comanche raiders so Fort Davis was reestablished to protect the settlers pushing west.

The entrance to Fort Davis Historic Site.

The visitor center is within the enlisted men's barracks and is the white posted building in the photo above.  Entrance fee is $7.00.  Within the visitor center is a small museum with displays depicting scenes from Fort Davis in the 1800's.

One of the museum displays at the visitor center.

Whenever I think about Army forts in the west I always picture log walls with guard blockhouses on each corner but that wasn't how Fort Davis was constructed, probably for lack of trees.  It was a group of buildings built in a three-sided canyon with the southern face being open.

Officer quarters, some of which you can tour.  Note the cliff in the background.

A second enlisted men's barracks has been set up as an adjunct to the museum and holds larger items.

A cannon display within the enlisted men's barracks.

After the Civil War Gatling Guns capable of firing up to 300 rounds per minute were standard equipment for Army units.

This gun was never fired due to lack of ammo to practice fire it.

The display sign said when a lieutenant asked the Fort Davis commander for permission to practice firing the Gatling gun he was told he could but he'd have to pay for the ammunition out of his own pocket -- so the gun was never fired.

There was a group of volunteers that dress up in authentic uniforms and civilian clothing from the 1870's and stay in character when or if they interact with the site's visitors.  Being able to tour through some of the furnished officer quarters and especially the post's hospital was really interesting.

The post hospital.  It contains displays of medical practices from the 1870's.

 

Readers of this blog know I'm a sucker for history subjects so you probably guessed I really enjoyed touring Fort Davis.  It's not exactly "on the way" to anywhere but there IS a very nice Texas State Park (more about that in my next post) within five miles of the Fort that could be a trip destination.

If you're in the area don't miss the chance to tour the historic site.

Thanks for reading!