This is a hard one to write because while we did officially visit Indian Lodge State Park, we did not do the thing that it is known for – which is lodging there. Overnight. Indian Lodge State Park is nestled in a very pretty part of Davis Mountains State Park and is a full-service hotel complete with a fancy restaurant, which I fully admit several people recommended we try while we were in the area. But unfortunately we didn’t do that, either.
I’ll just spell it out since you might be head-scratching at this point. TexansTravel.Life is what The Man calls a “passion project,” which I’m pretty sure means that we do it for fun and don’t make bank. Since the night time temps during the summer in the Davis Mountains – where the Indian Lodge is located – dip into the 60’s, we opted to tent camp in the park for $15/night instead of get a room in the Indian Lodge. Sorry, ILSP. Budgetary considerations and all.
Why We Love Indian Lodge State Park
Location. I thought I wanted to retire out-of-state where the weather wasn’t as unbearable during the summer as it is in Texas. Until I visited the Davis Mountains, that is. I am in love.
Pool. It gets into the 90’s during the summer in the Davis Mountains. I can imagine nothing more refreshing after a hot hike than a cool dip in the Indian Lodge pool.
Restaurant. People recommended eating at the Black Bear Restaurant to us more than once.
Must Do’s
Pamper Yourself. That’s what this place is all about. If you love the outdoors, but would prefer a hot shower without insect companions joining you at the end of the day, not to mention a comfortable place to rest your head, stay at the Indian Lodge.
We’d love to hear about your experiences at Indian Lodge State Park! Please share your thoughts on this most accommodating State Park in the comments.
*In all natural areas, you are a guest. Educate yourself on what lives in the areas before your visits, always talk to the Park Rangers upon arrival and take precautions so that your experiences end as positively as ours.
We included Davis Mountains State Park on our trip to West Texas in July 2018 for the glorious fact that the nighttime temps during the summer months dip into the lower 60’s and the daytime highs are only in the 90’s, which is completely hospitable weather for tent camping in Texas during the summer!
This spot reminded me of Bonanza for some reason.A scenic overlook en route to the McDonald Observatory a few miles away from DMSP.
Heading into the Davis Mountains on the quaint, two-lane SH-17 is nothing short of giddy bliss, dear reader. Mile upon mile of twisty, turny roads through mountain passes as you gently ascend and descend, climbing steadily higher toward more hospitable temps and ever-increasing scenic views that comprise the lovely – nay, awesome! – beauty that is the Davis Mountains. If one can form an emotional attachment to a location akin to love at first sight, then The Manling and I had that in spades as we drove through the Davis Mountains to the State Park that would be our home for the next 24 glorious hours.
We entered the HQ completely enraptured! I think I caught a glimpse of big red hearts in The Manling’s eyes as he registered us with the Park Staff and we secured a primo campsite right next to the creek (site 81 – secluded, shaded, mountain views, mere feet from the {dry} creek bed). Summer love happens fast, my friends, and we were head over heels before we’d even left the HQ.
After pitching our tents – and allow me to detour here to boast that Mama pitched her very own tent. For the first time. In her life. And set up her own cot. So, I was feeling pretty high on life as we sat on our camping chairs in the cool shade of our awesome camp site, sipping our refreshing H2O in full view of my colossal achievements and feasting on the gorgeous Davis Mountains scenery –
The Maning and I kicked back to discuss the array of wildlife that called the Davis Mountains home, during which I attempted to act all cool about the possibility of seeing snakes, mountain lions, and javalina.
– for a while before heading up the Scenic Drive in the Tiny Toyota Tardis (because the Yaris is bigger on the inside) to enjoy the various overlooks. We were eager to explore and gain a bird’s eye view of this majestic place we got to {temporarily} call home. By the time we were at the last overlook (where Scenic Drive dead ends at the park’s boundary), we heard the faint, but very distinct sound of a bugle playing a familiar tune. Intrigued, we decided to explore the tiny town that we saw at the foot of the peak. After all, we seldom have down time on our Texans Travel road trips to explore past the boundaries of the State Parks and on this particular trip, we did!
We explored much of Fort Davis on foot while we geocached the laid back, drive-through town, stopping at one place in particular –
This thrift store off the main road in town benefitted the same rescue agency that brought homeless dogs to the state park for a weekly hike.
– because another draw for us to DMSP was their “Hike with a Homeless Dog” the following morning. Dog lovers that we are, this activity listed on the park’s event page was irresistible to us.
Another stop we made was to this place, reputed among the locals as having the best salad bar, burgers, floats, and the like in the area.
Yes, we ate in a drugstore. And loved every minute of it!
Tummies nicely satisfied, we sat outside on the bench a spell to take in the irresistible charm of this precious small town, an idyllic setting for the next great American novel, before heading back home in time to catch the sun set in the bewitching Davis Mountains. (Ahhhh, that has such a nice ring to it, home in the Davis Mountains.)
On our first exploration of the peaks within the park, we discovered some rock sculptures lovingly left for our enjoyment by previous visitors. We are intrigued by these 3D art installations because on our trips to Llano, Texas, the month before, we discovered dozens and dozens of these in the city park. No explanations. Just the sculptures all over the place.
The two little beauties that greeted us on the first of many trips up to the first Scenic Overlook.
When we returned to the first Scenic Overlook a few hours later, prepped for a spectacular sunset, we discovered that something had demolished the sculptures in a “Leave No Trace” thoroughness that was a tad on the disheartening side. With nothing but time on our hands until the Big Show, we decided to make one of our own. I collected rocks of all sizes and shapes while The Manling got to work on our sculpture. Our labor of love provided interest to fellow park-goers as they trekked to the overlook to join us for sunset, some stopping to take photos of our masterpiece. It was all very gratifying. Before we knew it, it was time for the Big Show.
The sunset was so spectacular that we decided to catch it’s debut the next morning from a different spot, one perched atop the cool CCC structure that is designated on the Park Map as the middle overlook on Scenic Drive.
The Tiny Toyota Tardis enjoyed the view, too.
Afterward, we {reluctantly} broke camp – props to this Mom who broke down her own tent and cot for the first time, in the history of ever – ate a simple breakfast of trail bars with caffeinated peach tea, and then headed over to the Interpretive Center for the pièce de résistance – our much anticipated Hike with a Homeless Dog, a cooperative event offered at DMSP with Grand Companions in Fort Davis, a no-kill animal shelter all about giving dogs who are down on their luck second chances.
While we liked the hike with the pooches immensely, we loved the interaction with DMSP Interpreter, Ty, and the lovely intern, Erica. Not only did they share a wealth of information on an area that had already quickly captured our hearts, they shared some of themselves as I inadvertently grilled them on the life choices that led to their career decisions to work within the Texas State Parks. (You’re welcome, Manling.)
These two. We loved getting to know you, Ty and Erica. (FYI, they let us know they are not a couple.)
Why We ABSOLUTELY Love Davis Mountains State Park
Mountains. So stinkin’ pretty!! I loved every square inch that I saw. This place may be in my retirement future. Fingers crossed.
Hospitable Temps. Y’all, they are so cute in the Davis Mountains with their heat advisories because it’s in the 90’s. The 90’s! On our way home, we saw several signs that read 112 and 113. Just sayin’. And in the lower 60’s at night. The Davis Mountains make tent camping a possibility in Texas during the summer!
Hiking. Trails up and down and all around the mountain peaks. Plus, the park will throw in some homeless dogs for you to share the experience with! I call that #winning.
Camping. Did I mention the hospitable temps? The Manling and I actually got COLD during the night. In Texas. During July. This is a phenomenon not to be missed. Get yourself there asap.
Staff. Ty and Erica were a wealth of information on careers in the Texas State Park, which I think would suit The Manling to a T. Additionally, Ty happens to be the guy that started the Ambassador Program geared toward connecting The Manling’s age demographic to parks all around the great state of Texas. Love!
Sunrise/Sunset. These are not-to-be-missed moments in DMSP. Get yourself up to the peaks for both. You won’t miss the sleep once the Big Shows start. I promise.
Must Do’s
Camp. In addition to getting down into the 60’s overnight, we had a few unforgettable critters visit our campsite during the night – a fox hung around The Manling’s tent; we had quite a few skunks walking around our campsite during the night (which sounded like they walked on 2 feet, interestingly enough!); flashlights flashed their lights all night long (which I later learned belonged to campers hoping for a glimpse of a king snake because they come out at night).
Sunrise/Sunset. This is mandatory. No excuses.
Fort Davis Drugstore. Get the salad bar. Grab a burger. Top it off with a shake. This place is precious.
Park Activity. Check out the Events Page like we did and join the Park Staff on an unforgettable adventure!
We’d love to hear about your experiences at Davis Mountains State Park! Please share your thoughts on this love-at-first-sight State Park in the comments.
*In all natural areas, you are a guest. Educate yourself on what lives in the areas before your visits, always talk to the Park Rangers upon arrival and take precautions so that your experiences end as positively as ours.
Balmorhea State Park was one of the bucket list locales on our Tour of Texas Waterholes we did several summers ago with The Manling and Kinder Frau. During the planning stages of our trips, BSP showed up on list after list as this big deal in Texas. Like, you’ve not arrived until you’ve experienced Balmorhea in person. It is, after all, the WORLD’S LARGEST SPRING-FED SWIMMING POOL and it just so happens to call Texas home. So obviously, being the good Texans we are, we pointed the Tiny Toyota Tardis (because the Yaris is bigger on the inside) toward West Texas to see what all the fuss was about.
But first, we spent the front half of the day sand boarding at Monahans Sandhills State Park, making sure we were primed and pumped to experience the desert oasis that is Balmorhea SP. Once we were completely sandy, abominably hot, and desperately seeking some sand-free refreshment of the H2O variety, we began the exciting 1.5 hour drive to BSP.
Exciting, you may ask?
Yes, exciting!
The north-to-south road that we traveled the bulk of our trip on looked like the set of an old-fashioned movie akin to The Grapes of Wrath. Lots of dust was blowing in winds that were constantly causing us to course correct the Tiny Toyota Tardis. Lots of skeletal structures peppered the landscape after something had clearly blown the rest of the building materials away. We seldom passed another car. We saw another living soul exactly never. And in the west, the vast expanse of sky was growing the largest storm you could imagine – heading toward us. With no where to seek refuge, we continued driving south, sometimes at a snail’s pace, as we helplessly watched that storm slowly sweep toward us, overtake us, and finally – thankfully! – leave our tiny two-door Toyota in it’s dust. Never have we driven in more frightening and unexpected weather than we did that day.
By the time we reached the entrance to BSP, the rain had stopped even though the clouds lingered. We had no idea if the park remained open during inclement weather, but we entered the HQ with our fingers crossed and our prayers prayed that what we’d just driven through would not have been in vain.
It wasn’t! To the contrary, the storms that we had driven through caused an understandable mass exodus from Balmorhea State Park, and now? Now the park was ours to explore and enjoy in almost complete solitude!! (With a cap on the allowable number of visitors per day, it is a big deal that we got in, much less that we practically had the place to ourselves.)
I love that Kinder Frau is practically on top of The Man. I’m laughing so hard I’m crying. Swimming with the fish can be a Man thing. We’re good with that.
We headed straight for the cool of the pool and enjoyed a few unforgettable hours of swimming, cannonballing, and snorkeling the deep end (a 20 footer!) to get a closer look at the pool’s finned inhabitants (no fishing or noodling allowed).
No noodling? No fishing? No problem! He’ll snorkel.
I’m super glad we had that unforgettable experience in yesteryear because when The Manling and I returned mid-July 2018, our experience was not quite the adventure we remembered. As in, we were there for a whole ten minutes which included a bio break, our signage selfie…
…and registering the car in the HQ with the Park Staffer who regretted to inform us that everything except the picnic area was closed. Every. Single. Thing. See?
Turn that frown upside down, fellow Texas Travelers. They will be open and renovated and repaired and ready to help you create your own memories to share very soon!
Why We Love Balmorhea State Park
Water. Come on. It’s the WORLD’S LARGEST spring-fed swimming pool. WORLD’S LARGEST. That’s worth checking out. You can swim, scuba dive, or snorkel. (The fact that the constant temp of the pool is in the mid-70’s during the summertime in Texas is bonus gold.)
CCC Buildings. Truly, your mind wanders and wonders if you’ve somehow stepped back into history and are living in your own West Texas version of Dirty Dancing focused on swimming with the locals instead of sneaking out to forbidden dances with them.
Must Do’s
Swim. WORLD’S LARGEST spring-fed swimming pool. Why do I have to keep telling you this? Check this one off your bucket list. It’s a definite Must Do!
Stay. Camp. Motel-type lodging. With the Davis Mountains as your backdrop, this is one sweet place to park yourself overnight, or over an extended weekend.
We’d love to hear about your experiences at Balmorhea State Park! Please share your thoughts on this wet & retro State Park in the comments.
*In all natural areas, you are a guest. Educate yourself on what lives in the areas before your visits, always talk to the Park Rangers upon arrival and take precautions so that your experiences end as positively as ours.
This is a hard one to write because while we did officially visit Indian Lodge State Park, we did not do the thing that it is known for – which is lodging there. Overnight. Indian Lodge State Park is nestled in a very pretty part of Davis Mountains State Park and is a full-service hotel complete with a fancy restaurant, which I fully admit several people recommended we try while we were in the area. But unfortunately we didn’t do that, either.
