RV-Dreams Journal: Travel To A New RV Park

Last night, we were trying to decide where to go today. With it being Easter weekend coming up, many of our state park campground choices were booked. As was the Red Shoes RV Park at Coushatta Casino Resort just north of Kinder, Louisiana.

So, I had to do a little extra digging. Plus, we were trying to meet up with our friends Esther & Steve who we hadn't seen since January 2010.

I found a small, brand new RV park on the Calcasieu River near Kinder. It's called River Bend RV Park and it opened a little earlier this year. In fact, they just put up signs last week.

After a phone call with owner, Kent Fontenot, we found they were wide open for the weekend. So, we decided to give it a shot. Steve & Esther would meet us there.

Since it was going to be about a 225-mile drive, we were hoping to get a good night's sleep and leave by 9:00 a.m. However, a storm came through in the middle of the night with high winds and heavy rains. Linda got up and started checking the radar.

Eventually, the worst of the storm passed and we were able to get back to sleep. But the rains kept coming and by morning it was clear that we weren't getting out of New Orleans by 9:00.

I threw on a rain jacket and started getting the outside ready to go. It was miserable and the rain continued while we were at the dump station, but we did manage to get on the road by 10:15.

Ordinarily, we wouldn't travel on a day like this, but we already made plans to meet Esther & Steve.

We took I-10 west most of the way and then took U.S. 165 north at Exit 44. A couple more turns in Kinder and we were there.

River Bend is a 19-site RV park back a short gravel road off a paved country road. With the continuous rain for the last few days, there was some standing water and quite a bit of mud. Fortunately, the RV pads are 16 X 36 concrete.

Steve & Esther had already arrived in their Elite Suites, and we parked next to them.

Most of the sites back up to the Calcasieu River.

And they all have full hook-ups with 50/30 amps ... for $19 a night. There is a bathhouse, but that's it as far as buildings go. There are no pools, clubhouses, or other amenities - just a quiet little place in the country along the river. :)

The RV park will need some time to mature, and it would look a lot better if they hadn't had so much rain recently. But for the price and the quiet, a little mud didn't hurt.

However, we did have to be selective about our sites to make sure we didn't get stuck. There is a little gap between the gravel road and the actual concrete pads, and that gap was just too soft in some cases.

We're backed right up to the river ....

and at the other end of the park is a path leading to the river where we can launch our inflatable. Or it would work fine as a take-out if we find a place to launch upriver.

Once we got settled, we went over and had snacks and drinks with Esther & Steve. We sat outside and some bug spray was required. But it was nice and peaceful and we chatted about their recent trip to Australia/New Zealand and our South Africa trip last October.

Later, the owners of the RV Park, Kent & Betty, came by.

They are cattle ranchers that happened to own this property on the Calcasieu (Calc-a-shoo) River. Kent said this little RV park has been seven years in the making as he's done it by himself in stages. He was nervous about opening it. :)

They are such a nice couple and we were glad to be one of their first patrons. We talked for awhile and passed on a little advice. Currently, there is no office or anyone on-site collecting, so we walked them through how it might work with a couple of workampers.

But for now, you just have to give them a call and they'll come over and welcome you and collect. We just handed them cash - there was no paperwork at all. :)

After our hosts left, we continued our conversation until dark when the mosquito population increased a little. Then we called it a night.

It should be a nice, relaxing holiday weekend here at the newly opened River Bend RV Park. :)