Matilda's Lakeside Store and RV Park

The Great Outdoors

Right on your doorstep while camping at Matilda's Lakeside Store and RV Park is Lake Amon G Carter. The lake is known for its excellent largemouth bass and sunfish, but it's also great for catfish, crappie and white bass at different times of the year. The campground bait room has plenty of stock, and they also have an official weigh station, just in case you catch the next record-breaking fish!To get out on the water, there are two boat ramps, one at Big Sandy Creek next to the RV campground and the other at Selma Park. With over 700 miles of shoreline and plenty of small inlets and creeks to explore, it's a lovely lake to go boating on.At the northern end of the lake is the Selma Park recreation area, which has restrooms, picnic facilities, a boat ramp, a swimming beach, and other activities available.A few miles south of the campground is Lake Bridgeport, where fishing, recreational boating are also both popular. This large lake has several boat ramps available for easy access, and a long coastline for bank fishing. Just to the east of the lake is the Endeavor Bridgeport Adventure Park, which has several purpose-built mountain biking trails, hiking trails, and off-road vehicle tracks. The 700-acre park also has a disc golf course and a range of other outdoor sporting facilities.Hikers are spoilt for choice with plenty of well-marked routes close to the campground when motorhome camping at Matilda's Lakeside Store and RV Park. A couple of miles southeast of the campground is the Lydon B. Johnson National Grassland area, with trails ranging from 9 miles to 24 miles, all over easy to moderate ground.

Exploring the Area

While daily essentials like bread and milk are available at the RV campground grocery store, when you need something else, the town of Bowie is just a few miles to the north.While in Bowie, take a bit of time to explore the town. Not surprisingly, being called Bowie and located in Texas, it lays claim to being the home of the world's largest Bowie knife! The knife is listed in the Guinness Book of Records, measuring 20-feet long, with a 14-feet, 5-inch blade.Should you happen to visit the town on the second Monday of the month, don't miss the regular Trade Days event. This huge flea market has almost anything you can think of and plenty of arts and crafts vendors, a great place to pick up a souvenir.A short drive south to Palo Pinto, and you will find the Old Jail Museum Complex. Along with the three-story jail, there are numerous historic log cabins, a carriage house, and the rebuilt Fort Black Springs. In the jail, you'll find the sheriff's quarters on the first floor separated from the prison rooms by a heavy steel door with a serving hatch. The level above was home to the gallows, and the metal cells to hold prisoners. Fort Black Springs was moved to the complex in 2007 but was originally built in 1851 as protection for travelers and settlers. The complex is a lovely place to wander around and imagine life in the 1800s.