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Stacy
Trip Date 07/28/2022 Posted On 09/16/2022 12:50:55 |
Camping | Glamping | Texas | El Campo | Lost Lagoon RV Resort | RV Resort | Family Friendly RV Parks | Snowbirds | Lazy River | Wibit Sports Park | Fishing | Entertainment | Activities | Dining | Fun in the Sun | Beat the Summer Heat | Vacation Rentals
The high summer temperatures surrounding our Austin area home were becoming unbearable. We were longing for a place to go where we could beat the summer heat. A quick Google search for "Central Texas RV Parks with Lazy Rivers" found Lost Lagoon RV Resort in the city of El Campo. Online it looked like the perfect resort for a camping (or more like a "glamping") getaway. Our week long stay inspired us to learn some of the property's history, but experiencing the amenities firsthand is something we already know we want to do again.
With a swimming pool, lazy river, Wibit Sports Park, fishing, dining options and entertainment, there's no doubt that families will enjoy fun in the sun at the resort. But Lost Lagoon is not just a destination to add to a list of family friendly RV parks. Snowbirds looking for a winter retreat in the south will love the activities ... as well as the hot tub and fire pit. Even those without an RV are sure to find that one of the many vacation rentals will be perfect for a family gathering or trip with friends.
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The Backstory of Lost Lagoon RV Resort
Rewinding back to early in the year of 2017, a drive along Texas 59 between the big city of Houston and the not as big Texas city of Victoria would have taken you past a livestock ranch in El Campo. Upon closer inspection, you might have noticed a couple of residential homes and a barn, plus an oversized swimming pool. (Fun fact: The home was actually featured in an episode of Cool Pools on HGTV.)Later that year, the property changed hands, and in May of 2019, Lost Lagoon RV Resort was born. It actually took about 1 1/2 years to transform the working ranch into the fun-filled RV campground and resort that it is today. Improvements to the resort didn't stop at the time of the grand opening. One of the more recent upgrades was the addition of a kiddie lagoon aimed at ensuring that the resort appeals to people of all ages.
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What Can Water Lovers to Do at Lost Lagoon RV Resort?
For starters, what was once recognized as the largest residential swimming pool in the world is now advertised as the "world's largest RV resort swimming pool". As you try to decide whether to descend into the pool via one of the many ladders or just by walking right in through the beach-like zero entry, there's no doubting that the pool is huge. (Fun fact: Filling up the entire pool requires 700,000 gallons of water!)If taking the steps or walking into the pool isn't exciting enough, there are other options. Feeling like it's the day for you to do your best Tarzan imitation? Take a climb up the rocks, grab the rope swing and drop into the pool when you are ready. (Going this route will likely require a short wait. During our week long stay, it was a very rare time when there wasn't at least one person waiting in line to swing in.)
Although the wait is usually not as long as at the rope swing, sliding into the pool is another popular option. There's even multiple slides to choose from. Slide down one of the tandem slides for a quick entry into the shallower waters. If you dare, climb up to the top of the 21-foot pool slide. Once you blast off, you'll be in the refreshing water in no time!
Those hoping to spend more of their time in relaxation mode while at the resort are sure to enjoy the lazy river. (After all, it was the promise of a refreshing float along the river that lured us to the resort.) We chose to blow up and laze upon our own floats, but plenty of tubes are available for guest use at Lost Lagoon - and at no additional charge.
From beginning to end, the river measures up at about 500 feet in length. The timing of your journey under bridges (and waterfalls), alongside a bar and back into the huge lagoon all depends on the speed of the adjustable current.
Fun fact: Houstonians who visited the city's former amusement park known as Astroworld may notice a relic from years gone by. Looking up overhead as you enter the lazy river, you'll pass right under the sign that was formerly at the park's Thunder River whitewater ride.
Even during the summer, the hot tub is well received by guests, including the two of us. Fortunately the temperature was adjusted slightly below its high of 104 degrees to be enjoyable for a summer evening. Although the hot tub is advertised as "adults only", there were often children under 18 relaxing in the warm waters. The good news is that, during our stay, everyone was well behaved!
One of the resort's newest additions is the Kiddie Lagoon. Even those at the resort without youngsters can't help but enjoy seeing kiddos climbing, sliding and laughing as the big bucket of water starts to swing and eventually dump. With a zero-entry, it's easier for kids to get in and out of the lagoon - and the partially submerged and shaded chairs are perfect for adults to keep an eye on their littles.
No matter where in the fenced-in lagoon area you choose to spend your time, you'll be surrounded by tropical decor. There's palm trees, thatched roofs, multiple waterfalls and more!
It's the wristbands, required for all resort guests, that allow access to the lagoon pools, lazy river and hot tub.
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Guests willing to shell out an additional $19.99 for a day of fun can also have access to the Wibit Sports Park. Similar to a water park, Wibit is full of fun activities. The biggest difference is that it is inflatable and floats in a man-made lake. Wearing a life jacket (required and provided by the resort), you can balance, bounce, climb, slide, jump and more.
What About Fun for Those Who Prefer Land Activities?
In addition to fun in the water, a resort wristband provides access to a variety of activities that don't require submerging yourself. (Caution: Some may give you a work-out and cause a little sweat!)Beginning on Thursdays, summer weekends at the resort bring a variety of activities geared to both the young and not so young. Although we missed out on the karoake, we enjoyed listening to both live and recorded music during our stay. We couldn't pass up munching on a pre-dinner poolside s'more and even had fun watching (and laughing) during both the rubber duck race and dance party with Perry the Parrot.
For those with a remote control car, there's Perry's Speedway, an RC car track. During our week long stay, there was seldom a time when multiple car owner's weren't controlling their vehicles from atop the observation deck. Even those like us without an RC car, had fun watching the cars go forward and backward, around and around ... and even stalling or crashing into one another!
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Fisherfolk staying at the resort can take the opportunity to keep up with their skills in the stocked fishing pond. All "catches" (bass, bluegill, catfish and perch) must be released, and those who don't bring their fishing gear along can borrow some from the resort office. (Live bait is also available for purchase.)
Younger kids will have fun at the playground while both youth and adults can form teams for a friendly challenge - either indoors or out. There's a sand volleyball court, a basketball court and a Gaga ball pit plus a coin operated arcade filled with video games, air hockey and more.
Those aged 18 and over who are interested in keeping up with their exercise regimen will be happy to know that there is an on-site fitness center. With both cardio (bicycles, treadmill and stair climber) and weight machines, there's no excuse for taking too much time off from your routine. There's even a fenced in park for the dogs to get their daily exercise!
Depending on the season during which you plan a visit, your timing may coincide with a special event. The resort features BBQ and chili cook-offs, a Freedom Fest, Fall Harvest and a wine walk plus special holiday events. Be sure to inquire early as some events do require advance ticket purchases. In addition to warming up in the heat of the fire pit or hot tub, snowbird season brings horse shores plus indoor events.
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Want to Stay Out of the Sun?
If you are at all like us, you may prefer to limit your exposure to the sun. When we were not floating on the lazy river, we were almost always in the shade. Both beach umbrellas and chaise lounge chairs can be found on all sides of the swimming pool. (On really busy summer weekend days, you definitely need to plan ahead as the chairs can fill up.) There's even umbrellas mounted inside the pool (and the kiddie lagoon) where you can enjoy both the shade and the refreshing water simultaneously.For an extra fee, shady cabanas are reservable on a daily basis. There are both upstairs and ground level palapa style cabanas of varying sizes. You'll have to decide if you want quicker access to the swimming pool and lazy river or a panoramic view of the resort grounds.
What's There to Eat (or Drink) at Lost Lagoon RV Resort?
As you would expect of any luxury campground, Lost Lagoon RV Resort has an on-site cafe, a swim-up bar and a snack hut - all open varying days and hours depending on the season. Burgers, chicken strips, pizza (flatbread or 16 inch), appetizers and drinks are available for dine-in or take-out at Chester's Cafe.An airstream trailer is home to Lulu's Snack Hut - a favorite for Bill's lemonade and sno-cones. Without ever leaving the waters of the hot tub or lagoon, drinks are available from our favorite venue, the swim-up bar.
Finally, the resort office is home to a convenience store offering snacks and drinks. You can actually find just about anything that you would want to enhance your stay at the resort including swim shirts, hats, floats and sun screen. There's even RV supplies, fishing poles, souvenirs and so much more.
For those opting in to allowing wristband charges, there's no need to keep track of a wallet, credit card or cash while enjoying the resort amenities. All purchases can be "charged" to your account by having your wristband scanned. All that the resort requests is that you close your tab out each day. (We were even pleasantly surprised at the price of our frozen adult beverages - $16.32 for two Miami Vice drinks. Compared to many resorts, we thought that the price was very fair! )
There's a large pavilion covering six picnic tables situated beside the Airstream snack hut. It's perfect for taking a break from the water to enjoy your lunch, snacks and drinks. There's no need to worry about the possibility of dropping anything in the water! (Larger groups also have the option of renting a meeting or banquet room for more space and privacy.)
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Getting Around Lost Lagoon RV Resort
As Lost Lagoon is quite large, many of those who prefer not to walk the grounds either bring or rent a golf cart to get from place to place. There is a $10.00 per day permit fee for those who bring their own quiet golf cart.Golf carts seating either 4 or 6 persons are available for rent directly through the resort. Prices range from $90.00 to $140.00 per day for rentals. No matter whether it's a personal golf cart or a rental, all drivers must be 21 years or older and have insurance.
What's it Like to Camp at Lost Lagoon RV Resort?
The resort has over 200 RV sites - each with a concrete parking pad. Site pads measure at least 16 feet wide by 78 feet long with an adjacent grass lot and will accommodate a maximum of 8 persons per site (no matter the guest's age). All sites are full hook-up with 30/50-amp electric, water and sewer. Most (or maybe all) sites have a wooden picnic table. Bathhouses at the resort are clean and updated and there is a coin operated laundry room.The resort offers five levels of RV sites:
- Most sites in the resort are either premium pull-through or pull-through. The biggest difference between the two is proximity to the resort amenities;
- Deluxe back-in sites are all "waterfront" and back up to the fishing pond;
Waterfront Deluxe Back-in Sites - Premium back-in sites measure in at 18 feet wide, an extra 2 feet of space; and
- At 80 feet long by 20 feet wide, executive sites are all larger "waterfront" back-in sites. They all back up to the Wibit Sports Park and are among the closest sites to the resort amenities.
Reservation and site selection is available online, and other than a three night requirement for holidays, there is no minimum stay. Standard wifi is included with all RV sites, and premium service is available for an additional cost. Dumpsters are available in the resort and trash is picked up daily at each site after 9:00 AM. (Guests are instructed to place trash at the curbside between 8:00 AM and 9:00 AM).
Four resort wristbands are included with each RV site reservation. Larger parties can purchase up to 4 additional wristbands for a maximum of 8 per RV site. Extra bands come at a cost of $20.00 per wristband per day and are required for all guests over the age of 1.
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Pull-Through Site 123
We reserved pull-through site 123 for our week long stay. The total cost for 7 nights was $453.50 (approximately $64.80 per night), payable in full at the time of the reservation. (We did take advantage of a "1 free night" promotion available during the time of our visit for 5 - 7 night stays.). The site was level and had all advertised amenities. There was a small amount of litter on the site, presumably left from the previous guest.There was a tree on our site, however due to the newness of the resort, trees are not yet tall enough to provide shade. The resort has a good selection of broadcast television channels, and with both Verizon and T-Mobile, our two cellular carriers, we had good phone and data service. We were quite pleased with the speed of the standard wifi - there was no need for us to consider upgrading (even when the resort was approaching capacity during the weekend.).
Our Favorite Sites at Lost Lagoon RV Ranch
Before choosing a site, it is important for you to decide whether cost or convenience is most important. Since all RV sites at the resort have full utilities, the primary difference between sites is size (length and width of paved pad) and location (distance from amenities or "waterfront"). It is these two features that differentiate between the price of each site.For us, a lower price was more important than the distance from our site to the resort amenities. Since we try to get exercise by meeting daily step goals, we regularly walk. Parking a little further away from resort amenities would actually help us to get (at least a portion of) our exercise in!
After having spent a week at the resort during some of the hottest days of summer, the goal for our return will be a site with more shade. Our refrigerator struggled with keeping cold as the hot sun was beating on it hour after hour each and every day. Since the onsite trees won't grow into shade trees for quite a few years, the angle of the site becomes more important. With the refrigerator in our bumper-pull trailer being on the driver's side, we'll be choosing from the following sites:
- 1 - 57
- 90 - 108
- 129 - 151 and
- 172 - 199.
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What if We Don't Have an RV?
As Lost Lagoon does not offer day passes, the only options for enjoying the resort amenities are staying in an RV or in one of the cottages, penthouses or homes. The minimum stay for onsite lodging is two nights (3 nights for holiday stays). Unlike RVers, each and every guest staying in onsite lodging (even those under the age of 1) is required to wear a wristband.The Pearl
At over 7,000 square feet, The Pearl has 5 bedrooms and 4 1/2 bathrooms. The vacation home has a full kitchen and both a formal and more casual dining area. With 2 king beds, 4 full beds, 2 twin beds plus a full over twin bunk, the home will comfortably sleep 17 adults. Flooring in the house includes both wood flooring and carpeting and there is a wooden grand staircase leading to the second floor. This two-story "mansion" is filled with many upscale decor items.Twenty wristbands are included with reservations for The Pearl. A maximum of 5 additional bands can be purchased for a fee of $25.00 per band per day.
The Homestead
The more casual Homestead is a 2,700+ square foot home. A king, 2 queen and 2 full beds are allocated between 4 bedrooms. In addition to living areas, the home has a large tiled kitchen with an island, 3 bathrooms and a laundry room. Each reservation for The Homestead includes a maximum of 12 wristbands.
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Cottages
At just under 400 square feet, there are 9 two-bedroom cottages available for rent. Each cottage has a bedroom, full bathroom, seating area and kitchen downstairs plus a second bedroom in an upstairs loft. There's even an outside grill and picnic table - perfect for grilling a meal for the family! While towels are provided, all bed linens (including blankets and pillows) are the responsibility of the renter.Four wristbands are included in the quoted price for cottages, with an optional two additional wristbands available for purchase.
Penthouses
Known at the resort as Perry's Penthouses, the two upstairs accommodations each have 1,500 square feet of living area. Both penthouses have a master bedroom, living area, kitchen and dining areas plus a bathroom with a combined tub / shower. Each has a king bed in the master and two double bunk beds in the living area. A covered porch with two picnic tables is shared between the two penthouses.Towels and linens are provided in these two upstairs accommodations advertised as having the best view of the lagoon or park! Four wristbands are included for those reserving either penthouse, and two additional wristbands are available for purchase.
We'll Be Back
When we rate RV parks and resorts, it's not too often that we dole out a rating of 10 out of 10. In the case of Lost Lagoon RV Resort, the highest rating is well deserved. Although we didn't take advantage of everything that the resort offers, all of the amenities that we did enjoy were top notch. We have always been lovers of both hot tubs and lazy rivers, and Lost Lagoon is home to our all time favorite lazy river (at least so far). And, who can resist a hot tub that shares a wall with a full service bar! The lagoon pool, with both in-pool and surrounding shaded lounge chairs, is icing on the resort cake!
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Galveston Island KOA Holiday
We recently made our third visit with our RV to Galveston, Texas. Our first stay was at Galveston Island RV Resort which has since been purchased by Kampgrounds of America (KOA). Check out our article A Taste of Resort Life on Galveston Island - RV Style to see some photos and read about one of our favorite RV parks. We'll be updating the article soon to share some of the newest additions to the park since it became a part of the KOA family.Favorite Texas RV Resorts
If you were asked "What is your favorite RV resort in Texas?", how would you respond (and why did you choose the resort that you did)?Weather:91F Humid and Partly Cloudy
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