Eldon Hazlet State Recreation Area — Attraction in Carlyle

I always enjoyed camping at Hazlet, and have for the past 20+ years. I started going when I was young with my dad or the rest of the family, and learned the grounds at a young age biking around the sites and trails. It’s a shame that I had to experience what I did this past weekend, because it’s very unlikely that I’ll ever go back. We went this past Thursday (5/20) to book a site before the Memorial Day weekend upcoming (5/30). Knowing how busy it gets, I figured I better grab a spot on the first come sites, because the others were booked long ago. I had planned to switch sites this Sunday when a better site (one more apt for the boat to be kept close) opened up. I talked with the gentleman on the site and found out what time he was leaving. He said he would wait until 3 before he left. So, my wife and I went out there at 2:30, and met with him. He was already hooked up and mentioned he had to take his dog out before he pulled out, and told me just to bring my tent over at that time. Well, there happened to be another guy that had been sitting at the site across from ours, also wanting to get that spot. He never spoke with the gentleman on the site, and instead just parked his van right out in front of it. Now, it’s not required to speak with the camper on the site when wanting to take it over after their departure, but it’s often done, and seems to be a much more respectful approach, rather than parking by it and watching them for hours. So, when that guy waiting saw me put that tent on the site, he confronted my wife, who was still at the site we were hoping to leave. He was unpleasant with her while telling her he’s been waiting since noon for that site, to which she replied, we came out here days earlier and talked to him so we knew when he was leaving. Instead of it being resolved there, he went to the host and told them the situation. I also went to a host, but not the same one. She was unsure of how that situation plays out, so she phoned the other host (who spoke with the loiterer), and he was already on his way over to discuss it. Upon arriving, the gentleman mentioned how the guy had been waiting for hours, to which I quickly replied “we came down Thursday to try to get that site, then Saturday (guy was slated to leave then, but found out he had one more day, letting us know to come back Sunday), and we, again, waited Sunday for it”. The host was quite pretentious, likely because were a younger couple, and had the nerve to hold his hand up to silence us from pleading our case. Absolutely rude, and disrespectful if you ask me, especially because we were paying customers. He tried to inform me that because I set my tent down, not even fully constructed, on the site before the other guy had left, that our chance was voided. Obviously I was a bit upset, I had now paid for 3 nights that we didn’t even spend there, just to get a good spot, and was shelved because of a technicality? I immediately asked for a refund for the rest of my days, and removed my tent. Afterwards, I went back to the much more informed host, and sought clarification of how I would have been able to get that site. He was busy, but his wife was available. She was a kind lady and quite respectful of the situation (did not try to enflame). She seemed to understand my confusion and emotion, because I had now put money, time, and plans into this fiasco and left empty handed. She explained that as soon as he pulls off the site, then I can put my tent on. You could split hairs on it for days. I never had my tent fully erected on the site before he pulled off, and he was already packed up and very literally in the process of pulling his camper off while I put it down. I guess you have to treat it as a game show and once that tire clears the gravel you race over, throw your tent down (still unsure if it has to be erected or not to count), and then race to the host to ink it. Regardless, she helped clarify some of the situation, and was the only person to apologize for the fact that I had felt cheated out of the site. Not looking to go back...

Just 1hr. East of St. Louis is Carlyle Lake is the largest man-made lake in Illinois, located about 50 miles east of St. Louis, and was created by the damming of the Kaskaskia River. The lake, managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, it offers various recreational activities including swimming at its beaches, camping at state parks like Eldon Hazlet State Park, boating, mini fish, species, including crappie and bluegill, and the hiking trails are great!!Wildlife conservation is also a key focus, with habitats established for species like the endangered Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake. The deer here are lousy, so always be aware especially during dawn and sunset. The campsites are very well kept so please do the same. The spots are evenly spaced with plenty of room for large or small mobile trailers. There are reserve spots as well as first come first serve spots. Those areas are very well marked, so please pay attention when reserving your piece of paradise. There is a small store that will have all your camping needs. The hours very, so please pay attention to that. Next to the little store is a swimming pool, that fee is separate from camping fees. Firewood is $20 for a good size bucket...

I visited here in early June, the key thing here is that it’s all about the lake and fishing and Watersports. There are a number of trails, but I didn’t think they were well-maintained. They were muddy and there wasn’t really anything apart from trees to look at they were a few places you could scramble towards the edge of the lake, but the elevations weren’t that high, there are some nice picnic areas covered buildings with tables and bench seats and barbecues so it’s good for lunch or sitting to spend a meal. A storm had gone through shortly before and the whole network of trails was littered with smashed trees, which hadn’t been cleaned up many trees were quite dangerous and hanging, just a few splinters. They are quite a few bathroom facilities, but there is no place to wash your hands except at some of the picnic enclosures where there’s a pump type tap in early June the picnic enclosures and in the forest there were many many small spiders landing on us falling from the trees and from underneath the picnic benches, they were just annoying and didn’t bite. It’s definitely worth a trip if you want to go fishing or boating or just sit by the...