Texas - Fort Richardson

Fort Richardson in Jacksboro Texas.
(We stayed only one night so the is a first impression)


The first impression was great.  This is a place I to which I would gladly return (in better weather) for a longer visit.
Campsite fees plus a daily entrance fee of $:::  There are 20 primitive campsites ($5), 18 water and 30 amp electric ($20), 19 water and 50 amp electric ($22), 4 full hook up 50 amp ($25), and 11 Overflow tent sites ($10).

Fort site structures include seven of the original buildings which have been restored. Activities include historical study, picnicking, camping, hiking, biking, day-use equestrian, nature study, wading in the creek (seasonal), swimming (accessible via Lost Creek Reservoir State Trailway or by road), and fishing. For anglers, Quarry lake is stocked with catsfish, bass and trout periodically during the year.
This was stop was actually a happy accident that we spent the night at Fort Richardson.  We were traveling and had made reservation at Hidden Lake RV Ranch three weeks in advance.  We called Hidden Lake as we were getting close only to be told “We are closed for the next eight days.  But y’all might try Fort Richardson.”
It was a cold damp and blustery April 23^rd when we arrived.  We had nearly the whole campground to ourselves.  We bundled against the cold wind and took a walk to one of the buildings where we saw people working.  One of them stopped banging nails into wood and offered us a guided tour of a few of the buildings that are still standing.
The State Park at $26 was actually less money than the $35 Hidden Lake was charging.   That was only $20 plus $3.00 each use fee.  Ella actually spent more on Christmas gifts at the park's headquarters than we paid for camping.  She is very good at picking up little items here and there so it isn't a big deal at the end of the year or at the middle of the year when we do Christmas in July. 
The fort was active from 1867 to 1878  at one time it had the largest population of any for fort in the United States.  Only a few of the original buildings are still there.  We took a tour of the hospital and the morgue.  The hospital was used a lot.  The morgue was added later and never used.  (Sorry … I forgot to take pictures of the inside of the hospital.)  It was setup with beds and other furniture of the era.  There was also a pharmacy where the doctor would prepare his medications.
Also on the grounds are the buildings that stored the gun powder, one of the barracks, one of the officer’s houses.  However, it was quite a walk in the cold and wind and I was not up to taking the rest of the tour.  It might be worth it at some future date.

We were glad to get back to the trailer and the furnace.  With outside activities curtailed for the day, we snuggled into the recliners and watched some TV.  We ordered pizza from a brochure picked up at the office and in about 40 minutes they came knocking on our door.  Cool!  Pizza delivery at the park.
This is someplace I would like to come back to when it is warmer and we have more time.