Turn Key

TO ANY ONE HEADED TO CLEBURNE SP, TEXAS OVER THE NEXT 4-6 MONTHS, READ THIS!

Just got back from a great 3-day trip to Cleburne SP, Texas (9/10/04). Park was in great shape even after a very long holiday weekend. It's "hats off" to all of the park crew for a job well done.

Did find out one bit of information from "Mr. Ranger". It seems the bid has been let to re-do all the sewer hook-ups in the park. Those that have been to this park know that this was one of the problems that they have been dealing with for a good while. There are a few "full hook-up" sites that just aren't and there have been other problems as well.

At any rate, starting in the near future there will be contracters in the park re-doing all the sewer lines. "Mr. Ranger" states that it is alleged that this will not disrupt the camping or close any sites but even he doesn't seem to have a lot of faith in this. He states that it may be a very good idea to call the park direct a day or two prior to arriving to make sure all is well.

So, if your headed in that direction, give the park a call in advance. The number is 817-645-4215. Since we're out there pretty regular, I'll keep the 'board posted on the progress.

Hope this helps.

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Turn Key

New Information as of Feb 15, 2005

At this point, work has begun. I had been promised when originally told about the plans that there would be no closure of any of the camping areas. As I figured, this turned out to be not all together so. The back "full hook-up" loop (sites 44-58) are "closed". I was told that test holes have been dug and that trenching should begin next week.

When the back loop is complete, the area known as "The Strip" (sites 32-43) will be started. With that area complete, all "full hook-up" sites will be up to speed. They are then going to move on to the "power & water" sites.

I was also informed that work has been slowed a bit due to the amount of rain we have had down here. Further, we are looking at a "180 day contract" so this is going to be going on well into summer.

Even though there has been a closure of part of the park, it would seem that they are doing all they can to keep as much of the park "up and running" as possible. We are looking at a 3-day trip to Cleburne SP for the week after next. This will give me an opportunity to do a first hand inspection. I will be sure to post my findings here.

Hope this information is of some help to all. Will continue posting information as I receive it.

Happy Camping!

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Turn Key

Cleburne State Park
Construction Up-Date
Early March, 2005


Got out for a little bit of camping last week and headed for Cleburne State Park, Texas. Wanted to get a first hand look at the new construction and see how all was shaping up. Had a great trip that I was able to stretch from two to three days due to a day of “Jury Duty”. Had wonderful weather and a fine time to relax a bit.

Prior to heading out that way, I had phoned and spoken to Officer William Grubbs (Park Manager). I told him who I was and explained my interest in the progress of the new construction. He stated that it would be possible for me to get a tour of the construction area so that I could pass the information on.

True to his word, on Wednesday afternoon (3/9/05) Ofc. Grubbs picked me up at our camp site and we headed for the construction area. Our first stop was at the southern end of the area known as “The Strip”. It is just south of Site 43 where the camp site road connects back to the main park road. From this point you can look south into the woods and see where the new sewer line has been laid in and filled. The new line is complete from this point, south to Site 44. It will later extent north as the sites in “The Strip” (32-43) are closed and completed. At some point, this line is also to head west under the creek to service the soon to be built, new park store and shower houses.

We then headed back into the southern most “full hook-up” area (Sites 44-58). This is where the major part of the work is going on at this time. On this day, workers were busy trenching in new lines for sites 44, 45, 46 and 48. Regular visitors to this park know that these sites were the main cause of all this work. The sewer line for these site was either partially clogged or totally collapsed. I must say, seeing my three favorite sites (45, 46 & 48) torn asunder with 8’ trenches running through them, kind of made my heart go pitter-patter! Oh, well. Got to have a little destruction before you can have any construction. Even with all the heavy equipment and materials around, the contractors seem to be doing their best to get the work done with a minimum of collateral damage to the park. The entire area will ultimately be trenched and have new sewer lines laid in. Ofc. Grubbs also informed me that “clean out” boxes are being added to keep the problem from re-occurring.

Please Note The Following; Ofc. Grubbs has further informed me that even though this work is on a “180 day” contract, due to weather, the work is a bit behind schedule. It is not clear at this time when the work will actually be completed. Due to the work being done and not knowing for sure where the contractors will need to be, the park can not take reservations more then three (3) days ahead of your planned day of arrival. Unfortunately, some of the reservation services are showing Cleburne State Park as either “full” or “closed”. Neither of these are true. The park is open and will accept reservations for camping if you will call the park direct, not more then three (3) days prior to your expected date of arrival. The number to call is 817-645-4215 during normal business hours.

There is other work scheduled to be done during this time. The five “primitive” camp sites running north off of Site 44 are to be eliminated. These appear not to have been used for many years and are in poor repair. It’s doubtful many park visitors even know these sites exist. Further, the shower houses at “The Strip” (Sites 32-43) and at the southern “full hook-up” area (Sites 44-58) are to be refurbished with some new fixtures. Also, the swimming area at the park store is to receive some attention. With all of this work going on, Cleburne State Park is well on it’s way to becoming one of the “premier” parks in North Central Texas. I know that it has long ago become our “home” park.

While gathering all of this information, I took the opportunity to take some pictures. As many know, my computer skills are limited so I’ve never set up something like Web Shots. If you are interested in seeing these pictures, e-mail me and I’ll be pleased to send them to you. I’ll keep the shots available for about two months.

I would like to sincerely thank Officer William Grubbs for the time and information he shared with me. With his help, I was able to compile this up-date to share with you. I hope that if you have the time to take a trip to Cleburne State Park, you will look up Ofc. Grubbs, shake his hand and thank him for a job well done! He’s another one of our wonderful state park employees!

Well, that’s about it for now. Hope you find this information of some help and you can plan a trip to Cleburne State Park some time in the future. You can bet that DW and I will be headed that way again in the near future and our paths may cross. Until then and always, happy camping!

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Turn Key

Cleburne State Park
Construction Up-Date
Mid-May, 2005


Got out to Cleburne SP yesterday (Thursday, 5/19). Didn't camp, just took the 'yaks out for a couple of hours of paddling and a picnic. Got a chance to check on the progress of the work and thought that others may be interested.

The work on the back camping loop(Sites 44-58)is complete and that area has re-opened. Except for a small pile of fill, it would be very difficult for any one not familiar with the park to tell that any thing had been done. The work was completed with very little damage to the area. By next spring, all hints should be gone.

The area known as "The Strip" (Sites 32-43) is now closed and work is proceeding there. I was not able to gat a progress report but given what I could see, I would judge that the area should be complete in approxamatly one month.

Reservations are still restricted to 3 days in advance and can only be made by calling the park directly. The number is given in my posts above.

We hope to be camping at Cleburne SP around the first of next month. If so, I will try to get more info and some new pictures to post. Until then and always, happy camping!

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Turn Key

Cleburne State Park
Construction Up-Date
Late-May, 2005

Camped at Cleburne State Park last week and had another look at the work being done. "The Strip" (Sites 32-43) is near completion and all camping facilities should be open again soon. Ofc. Grubbs is hoping for the second week in June but assures me that it will not be later then the first of July.

The back "full hook-up" area (Sites 44-58) is complete and back in service. Only problem we saw was that the construction is causing some errosion during rain falls. The should be self-repairing as the vegatation fills back in.

Please Note: Cleburne State Park has reverted to using the TPWD reservation system and Reserve America. This means that you can now reserve sites up to 11 months in advance of need and reservations are not taken at the park office.

I will continue to track this work until completion and all camping sites are in full operation. At that point, I will delete this thread as un-needed. Hope all have found this information helpful as they plan their camping trips. Hope to see you at Cleburne some time and until then,

Happy Camping!


Added by Shannon on June 28, 2005:

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