Martin Dies Jr State Park

The park itself is huge with an array of interactive things to do, trails, star-​viewings, alligators to dodge, snakes to avoid, and bathrooms with water from the showers so hot, scalding is an understatement… BTW, bring your soap, there isn’t any to wash the paws after utilizing said bathrooms…
Upon arrival, with a campsite already reserved with our outdoors group, I mentioned I was interested in a State Park Pass. Coming from Colorado, where the passes are stickers to be applied to the inside window for the year, was highlighted how much better these passes (physical cards) were cuz I could be in any vehicle to enter a park… yes, a definite bonus… however, not being handed a pass/rec’t to apply to my window (nor not knowing that’s how things were done in this state) for my weekend stay, the next morning, found a ticket upon my window… grrrr…
I walked to the office with my pup as all others of our campers were out on the water or were enjoying the trails (where I and my pup would have preferred to have been as well) and upon trying to enter the office to resolve my ticket, was confronted with a rude statement, «no dogs allowed in this building, state law, not allowed in any state building»…I quickly retreated with another camper walking up to ask if they could help to hold my pup outside whilst I finished inside, and kindly declined stating I needed to defuse for a bit with that abruptness…
I returned to the office a few hours later… when entering the office, stating what I am to do with my ticket as I’d just purchased a Park Pass the day before… the gentleman offered to take care of it as the woman that sold me the pass comes around the counter to tell me I need to put the rec’t she gave me the day before in the window… I show the only rec’t that was handed me from the day before, the yearly pass rec’t…where I’d literally asked the day before, do I need to show this each time I come in? and she answered, no they swipe your card and you’re all set… as I was not sure how that worked, the day before, I just left the office… ok, my bad for not getting clarification, but now here I am, with ticket in hand, the very next day… she growls, «there should have been a piece of tape on that rec’t» I look, no tape, she hands me a piece of tape, dismayed, and not until I enter a State Park a week later, do I realize there was to be an additional rec’t for the duration of the stay, too, that I believe was forgone as she was caught up in her colleague showing me pics of the types of snakes on property and to show caution when out hiking with my pup…
hhhhmmmm, my fellow campers, hailing from La, Tyler, Hemphill (??) all were surprised that in the middle of Nov, where temps at night hit 36*, wood offered at the campsite was $ 5 for 7 tiny pieces… I’m originally from Vegas, so I’m not familiar with how limiting this is until I realize the wood that grows in these parts burns instantly and those small logs are gone in under ½ an hour… SOOOOO bring your own wood… unless spending $ 60/​night for a campfire is your delight…
overall, there is AMPLE acreage to roam, kayak/​canoe, bike, hike… PLEEEEAASSE bring up the understanding to the Rangers, as they also came by several times the first evening to state only 2 tents/​site when we’d been informed our particular site was fine for many more; AND when ones mention they are from other states, that how things run here in Texas are different, to ensure there won’t be mishaps (ie, I didn’t receive a rec’t to apply to the window for that weekend, nor was informed I needed to APPLY a rec’t to a window)…
Enjoy the stars, they are beautiful as the ones that do the interactive sharings will enlighten about nuances not beheld by the common eye nor known before listening to what they will love to share…
Please don’t review this business if you received a freebie for writing this review, or if you’re connected in any way to the owner or employees. t

So my fiancé grew up in Fred, which is not too far from Martin Dies and he would often go here as a kid with his family. We decided to plan a camping trip out here and make a long weekend out of the trip and invite some of his family and friends out to the park to hang out while we were there.
We reserved the Hen House Ridge cabin (cabin #41) for 4 nights. The cabins are in the back of the park and right by the lake. Our particular cabin was the largest kind that they offer. It had 2 sets of bunk beds and one set had a full size bed at the bottom. There was an air conditioner/​heater unit as well. There was a small table and desk with shelving. When you first go in the main door from outside the first door is to a screened in porch where we kept all of our coolers, folding table, fishing poles and other random camping stuff. Then there is a door to get inside the main part of the cabin. The cabin is not huge by any means but absolutely comfortable. Cabin 41 is also a small walking distance to the restrooms and showers. Each campsite has a wooden picnic table out side and a fire pit/​grill.
The bathrooms were actually pretty clean and nice for camping I thought. They were also heated. One issue I ran into with the woman’s bathroom was that the heater was getting stuck on. The lights are automatic and will pop on when you walk in and a minute later the heater would come on. When you left if no motion was going on I guess it would cut off. About the second day the heater started not cutting off. I let the park ranger know and she reset it, but the issue persisted. It was not a huge issue it was just unnecessarily hot in the woman’s restroom when you walked in.
The park itself was beautiful. There are forest and nature trails all throughout. There was a swimming spot, but it was too cold for that in February. There was a fishing pier where one of us actually caught a fish! We got there on a Wednesday and it wasn’t until Friday afternoon when we started seeing other people at the park really. It was cool to have it all to ourselves the first few days. It was quiet even with the other people on there on the weekend. The park also offers firewood for a suggested donation that goes back into the park. It was actually worth it and easy we thought. We were able to have a camp fire most of the time we were there. It was awesome! They have RV hook ups and tent spots throughout the park too.
I know Steve H and I will absolutely be back here in our lifetime. This is a great place to spend time with family and friends, experience the forest, nature and camping.

Fabulous family-​oriented campsites. Shelters are great in the fall and spring! Cabin and temperature controlled shelters are available at both Hen House Ridge and Walnut Ridge!
Swimming hole is great in warm weather and there is also a playground. Bring shower shoes for the public showers and bathrooms.
Short drive to Jasper if you forgot anything! Fishing is fun, canoe rentals available, bike rentals available, hiking trails, and geocaching!

This is a great State park with canoeing, fishing, hiking and overall great fun!
We stayed in the walnut ridge area at site 117 on the water in a travel trailer.