As-Yet-Unfound & Almost Perfect
This destination is one of the best you will find in Texas Hill Country. It has almost everything I look for in a camping adventure: far away from the hustle (little to no crowd presence except for one other rental home and the occasional ranch worker/resident passing by), excellent star gazing (bring your telescope if you have one you can transport as the night sky here is about a 7.5 out of 10 - assuming ideal conditions), exceptional natural beauty, wildlife, decent hiking options, a chance to swim, kayaking potential, fishing (which we missed because we didn't bring gear), geological or anthropological interest (minerals, artifacts, ruins, a history of occupation by varying civilizations, rock formations, caves, cliffs, springs, fault lines, transitional elements, rivers, creeks, lakes, etc.) and geographical significance/topographical range. This camping spot has most of these requirements met.
The spot is on a large ranch in the shade next to a creek with lily pads. A canoe is available for use, though we were content to just use our floats and relax on the creek for hours. You will find a variety of wildlife populations including insect, bird, frog, snake, turtle, armadillo, deer, raccoon, squirrel, coyote, wild boar, rabbit, fish, lizard, salamander, and more. Expect to spend time with livestock if you leave the camping area.
Stunning rock formations (mostly sandstone) and geological features are also here as well as a chance of finding arrowheads or indigenous implements. This spot was certainly a chosen spot for indigenous people, and the amount of sculpted flint on this property indicates this.
Chris--your charming host and guide at this property--is very accommodating and knowledgeable about the property. If you have questions, needs, or concerns, she will likely help you get what you need or guide you to the right place.
I will return as long as this spot is available. And, I hesitate to leave a review because I don't want it to be so popular that it is difficult to return. The pictures (at present) do not even begin to tell the story of this place. One thing you should not expect is 100% seclusion, though it is mostly private. It is nonetheless remarkable and anyone with the right goals and gear will love it. If you plan to hike, bring sunblock, repellent, boots, some manner of water shoes, and durable, fast-drying clothing if you plan to get in the water.
There are noxious weeds on the trails/roads around the property and you will not want to expose your legs or feet to this or you will be picking off sand burs and other sticky, painful or poisonous flora. Nothing on the ground in Texas is guaranteed the absence of grizzly plant life. Protecting your ankles with boots and some sort of insect repellent is essential here (but if you know Texas, this should be no surprise). There are leech-like critters in the creek, as well. We were not sure what exactly these were, but they were small and easy to brush off. Rosemary oil is a favorite - especially for the ankles and legs (just be careful not to apply it to any area of the body with sensitive membranes, to babies or pregnant campers).
You will also need someplace to sleep - perhaps a hammock (only one good spot available for this and you will need lots of para cord or some good cinching straps), air mattress, cot, a good pad surface, or a vehicle where you can sleep with sufficient comfort. This place will have electricity soon, but until then, bring a way to charge your electronics. The cellular coverage is patchy. Verizon worked some of the time, but the bandwidth was consistently poor for data.
And, lastly: snakes. There are copperhead snakes and most surely other poisonous snakes present, as you would expect in this environment. Be aware of where you place your hands and your feet, at all times. Do not walk in the dark without knowing what you are stepping toward or on. This is a common-sense outdoors caution. You will have a good chance of running into snakes here, especially if you explore. We saw two small snakes while there.
Phone coverage is often nonexistent, and you cannot depend on this, at all. So don't even try.
Spots like this take some planning to maximize enjoyment because they can vary and are often unique. This spot has some amenities for sure, but be prepared to deal with some rough edges. Overall, this spot is an 8.5 out of 10. We can't wait to go again.