Goliad state park in February?

[tonyj]

At Inks lake, SteveH and Sonetpro said several people discussed trying to arrange a small gathering at Goliad State Park in February or March. Because I really didn't want to work today, and since it is too far to drive to Madjack's for Thanksgiving leftovers, I cruised up to Goliad to check out the park. This is a link to the pictures I took:

http://s220.photobucket.com/albums/dd18/tonzj/goliad%20state%20park%20recon/

The park is in a nice area on the San Antonio River 2 miles from Goliad and within driving distance of La Bahia Mission and walking distance of Mission Espiritu Santo. The park has 4 camping areas: two tent areas with water only and not really suitable for us. If the weather is rainy, I wouldn't want to tent camp there as both areas are all dirt, so major mud puddles in the rain.

The two trailer areas would work. The first area has 20 pull thru spots ($15/day plus entrance fee) with water and electric on a small loop, bath and shower facilities (didn't look at these). The group area would work for us, but is basically a large U-shaped parking lot lined with sites with water and electric, and covered picnic tables. It would be an "intimate" setting as the trailers would all be backed side by side into their sites. The sites in the center would be on pavement, backed galley to galley and separated only by the power and water hookups.
Would not be able to set E-Z Up's in the center sites. There are 12 sites on the perimeter and 12 sites in the center ($13/day plus entrance fee). The main advantage to this are is the location of a group pavillion that can be reserved for $65 a day. If the weather is cold and damp (like February might be), that group pavillion would be worth the cost and would work well for a Saturday night pot luck. The bath/toilet facilites are minimal--one toilet, urinal and shower for the men and I assume similar for the ladies.

The park person I talked to said they will work to try to put groups close together in the group area, but can't do the same with the pull-thru area. She said the park is not usually crowded in February to possibly the first weekend in March. After that, spring break and activities at the end of March fill up the park. Sounds like February is better than March.

I am not even sure I can make another camp-out until summer, so someone else with have to do the planning for this. I think the park would be good for a small group. As we all know, February weather can be downright nasty, but if the weather isn't too bad, it wouldn't be a bad place to camp.

[tonyj]

If you don't want to click thru to the pictures link,

a picture of the loop:


a typical pull thru spot:


the group area:


note the center sites vs the perimeter sites (I was towing my trailer and had to show it to the people with the pop-up!):


the group pavillion:

[SteveH]

Tony,

Now that I see the pictures, I remember the parking lot group area....went to a car "thing" down there once. It was good for the car thing, but for a gathering we could just as well camp at a WalMart, but that's just my opinion.

[tonyj]

The perimeter sites aren't too bad. Lots of grass, covered picnic tables. Just no trees. But I do like the loop better.

This would be a good park for a relatively small get together of say eight to ten trailers. Even if the trailers aren't next to each other in the loop, it is a very small loop.

[SteveH]

Toni,

If we go ahead with it, I would vote for the later part of February, and try to get in the "loop". Maybe someone who lives close could get there early and pick up our sites and get us in the loop??? hint, hint, hint.

[tonyj]

Can't be me. Wish I could. I'll probably get a site once the date is set, but I won't know until the last minute as to whether or not I can even make it.

[EVAC A SHACK]

February sounds good to me if we could just get a date and have someone close by head things up. Surely some one from Corpus or San Antonio will step up to the plate. Thanks for the pictures Tony.

[SteveH]

Guess there's not much interest in this gathering?