Lavonia Park — Attraction in Wylie

After looking around north TX for a tent-only site at different parks, decided on Lavonia because there was a site available (thru online reservations) that was perfect for what I was looking for -- waterfront looking west so I could do some time-lapses of the lake and the sunset. I was traveling through so lots of other stops and dates I planned around this. Upon arriving I was told there was a glitch in the system and that my site was taken and would be given another. I asked about being too close to the train tracks and was told this site is actually the only site where you can see the train when it comes by. Okay, sure. I drove to it and it was up the hill pretty far from the lake, right next to the train tracks as said, and was pretty much in the middle of all the other sites -- no seclusion. I went back to the entrance station and asked if anything else was available on the waterfront - I was told no even though I noticed over the next 24 hrs that several other waterfront sites up the road remained empty. The lights from the nearby restroom were on and seemingly directed more towards my campsite than on the area around the restroom - needless to say my tent was lit up all night. The nearby RVs had their AC units clicking on and off all night, too, so that was also annoying. The train doesn't sound its horn in the area, but the ground still rumbles given my site was about 100 yards away from the tracks. The whole situation was pretty awful and nearly opposite of what I signed on for.

Now for the park itself. I do a lot of camping, and have learned you need to be careful about expectations when it comes to campsites. Based on reviews, I knew this one was a bit outdated, but given the perks of the site I booked initially, I felt it was still the better option (I definitely regret not choosing another site at another campground given how things turned out). So yes, the park is extremely outdated - the firepits are not pits, mine was merely a rusty metal ring that was not only falling apart, but just laying on the ground as opposed to dug into the ground some. Pretty much the entire site was 2-3 ft tall seeding grass, with the only flat spot being the broken up slab of concrete holding up the picnic bench. Luckily I had a tarp to use in front of my tent, otherwise any time I'd leave the tent I'd be bushwhacking just to get out. I did walk by the site I initially booked, and sure enough it was groomed, spacious, secluded, and on the water. That's what I was expecting after doing my research and making my choice for that site, and that's why I chose Lavonia instead of my 2nd or 3rd choice elsewhere in north TX that evening. So no time lapses, no seclusion, no darkness, lots of man-made noises, and most insultingly of all - the park didn't seem to care to try to make things right -- why not give me a phone call to let me know my site is no longer available before I show up? What a shame. I will not be returning. Can't believe people pay $30/night to stay here. One of the worst 'avoidable' experiences I've ever had at a...

We’ve been camping for years, and our favorite parks tend to be Texas State Parks, which tend to have great amenities, updated fixtures, and quality roadways & camping pads. This park is definitely NOT a Texas State Park. Not just because it’s a Corps of Engineers park, but because the differences are definitely notable.

Although the views are masterpieces and the volume of people sparse, this park needs a LOT of TLC. We camped in site 31, which was fairly flat, however we still had to do a fair amount of leveling in our camper. The site itself was nice, including sewer and a standard 20/30 amp connection, plus water. The roadway within the park is uneven and has several broken areas, so be mindful as you make your way to your campsite.

The day use areas are questionable at best. In the area we visited, there are 2 picnic pavilions that have literally eroded into the lake. The bathroom facility near the same area is also abandoned and reminiscent of a horror film.

Amenities are light, which isn’t a major issue. There’s lots of room to bring your own activities and enjoy the park, and fishing is a must.

All-in-all, this is a park we’ll probably be back to, but mainly because of it’s proximity to the DFW area, and because of the quiet atmosphere. If not for those things, we’d definitely be looking for a Texas State Park rather...

This campground is run down. I didn’t see any evidence of showers. Public bathroom was dingy. Paint peeling. Most campsites are very rough and un-level/ on an incline. Blacktop is crumbling so much so that there are natural speed bumps sometimes a foot deep or high and three feet wide making it a challenge pulling the RV. Our site, the sewer connection was 40 feet from where we had set up. To dump we had to hook up and back as far back as we could. (We now know to get an extension). Even then it was a stretch with our 20 foot hose. If there was a dump station we would have used that, but we didn’t see one. The grass was a foot tall. They did mow (some) when we were there but there was no trimming around buildings or sidewalks. So below the quality I’m used to at a Corp of Engineers Park. Also you have to be in by 10pm because they lock the gates. (They have to raise the arm to let you in during regular “hours”). One of the camp hosts rudely informed us we would NOT get back in if we were there past 10pm. We were there (from Illinois) to visit our son who lives 30 minutes from the campground . Had to cut our visits short to get back to the campground. The other camp hosts (in the 5th wheel) were very nice and accommodating....