Cactus Rose RV Park

The Great Outdoors

There's plenty to see and do when you're motorhome camping in north Texas. Directly north of Cactus Rose RV Park is Possum Kingdom State Park and the lake of the same name. The park opened in 1950 now offers a range of outdoor activities, including swimming, boating, water sports, hiking, and wildlife watching.Within Possum Kingdom State Park are three short hiking trails. The longest trail is Lakeview Trail at 1.4 miles, which follows the lake shoreline for much of the route. Along the way, the half-mile-long Longhorn Trail can be combined with the Lakeview Trail and leads to an overlook point with lovely views of the park and lake. There are plenty of geocaches to discover around the park to make your hikes even more enjoyable.Anglers will find a public boat ramp in the park, along with a fishing pier and cleaning station. There is no need for a fishing license when you fish from the shore. A range of species is present in the lake, including white bass, catfish, and crappie.When you want to relax, then the sandy public swimming beach is probably for you! There is also a store at the marina where you can buy food and drink.

Exploring the Area

The town of Mingus, just a few miles northwest, was infamous in the area as a "wet" town during prohibition in the 60s, 70s, and 80s. Country singer John Clay and the Lost Austin Band even wrote a song about, called the "Road to Mingus."A couple of miles west when camping at Cactus Rose RV Park is Thurber, now listed as a ghost town. The town boomed in the early 20th century, producing coal and bricks, with the population reaching around 10,000 at its peak in 1917. But the discovery of oil nearby sealed its fate, and by 1930 the town was deserted. The Thurber Historical Association Park contains some of the original buildings from the time, including a miner's home, the Catholic Church, and the mercantile store that is now a restaurant. It's an interesting look into the past of Texas.Not far from Cactus Rose RV Park and an easy drive in your rental RV is Dinosaur World near the town of Glen Rose. Inside, you'll find hundreds of lifesize dinosaur models made from metal, fiberglass, and concrete. The models are in natural settings amongst the trees, and visitors are free to wander around. You can even bring your dog for some dinosaur fun! The indoor museum contains fossils and information on dinosaurs, plus some animatronic displays that might take you by surprise.Nearby in Stephenville is the Tarleton Science Planetarium, featuring a forty-foot widescreen and a 5.1 surround system for a completely immersive experience. It's a fun way to learn about Earth and the solar system, and the kids will love it.Head into Fort Worth, and there are two great places to visit. The Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame is dedicated to the sport of rodeo and western lifestyle. Housed in original barns built-in 1912, it contains memorabilia for over 140 inductees to the hall of fame, plus the Sterquell Wagon Collection. With more than 60 antique wagons, one dating back to the 1750s, the collection is well worth a visit.Nearby is the Fort Worth Aviation Museum that remembers the aviation heritage of north Texas. The museum is home to over 20 military aircraft, simulators to practice your flying skills on, and a large display of aircraft artifacts. Since 2014, the museum has hosted the Hops and Props Festival every April, combining a love of craft beer and aircraft, an interesting combination!