Lackland AFB FamCamp

I am retired Air Force and have enjoyed using Military Famcamps for many years. Until I stayed at Lackland Famcamp, I had been extremely satisfied with all of them. The manager, Greg, does absolutely nothing to ensure that the facility is maintained in a clean and orderly manner. While I was there, I saw only one person pick up the droppings when walking her dog. You can imagine what that does to a campground over the period of months/years. The "quiet time" listed on their rules is definitely not enforced. If you are seeking a place to play your loud music, run a generator, work on your car, etc. any time of the day or night, this is the place. Personally, I would not stay at the Lackland Famcamp if it was free! My next stay in San Antonio will be at Ft Sam. I sincerely hope this helps you escape the same unpleasantness that we had...

Clean, friendly, and did they mention the laundry is free? A little confusing to find, but definitely worth it. Will definitely visit again.

In Jan of 2013 we stayed one month at Lackland AFB, San Antonio, TX, several issues were brought to the attention of the Outdoor Rec Director Lisa Muse, Bldg 871. On 7 January 2013, we met with Ms. Lisa Muse to discuss the current operation and management at the Lackland AFB Fam Camp. As an experienced traveler we primarily use the Military Fam Camps. This is the first operation where I’ve felt several issues needed to be addressed. My first course of action was to direct my concerns to the manager of the Fam Camp, Greg Wooley. I inquired information regarding the mini-van on site 18. It’s common to see card board covering the windows, where apparently a homeless veteran resides. His response was “it’s paid for I don’t care what sits there”. I was shocked by his response. The occupant of the mini-van occupies the site intended for an RV. Today 21 Jan 2013, while checking on my laundry I met the homeless veteran coming out of the men’s bathroom with a 5 gallon bucket. We had seen the gentleman on several occasions with the bucket and could only speculate its content. My suspicions were confirmed this individual is using the bucket as a bathroom in his mini-van. I’ll admit paying $400 a month for rent, free electric, free cable and free wifi, and free laundry facilities is a wonderful deal. But this Fam Camp was not intended to house the homeless; nor those veterans seeking to minimize their expenses. When in fact there were several motor coaches and RV's waiting to move into full hookup sites. One of the most desired necessities of any RV traveler is a full hookup site where water and sewage can be established. On 1 January 2013, I was bitten by an aggressive dog located at site 19. I stepped out of my RV and noticed a fellow RV’r needed a bag to pick up after his dog droppings. This is another issue that has gone without strict enforcement. I did not know the occupant had 4 dogs, and 2 of those dogs were on leads extending 20 ft or more. When I approached the back of the rig to take the doggy bag to the owner, the hound came around the rig and bit me. There was no warning the dog was tied to a lead extending far more than the limited 10ft. The dog did not break the skin, nor did I make a formal report to the MP’s. The incident was not witnessed by anyone. I insisted the gentleman take the bags and get his dogs under control. That was my ‘Welcome Packet’ to Lackland Air Force Base. No Fam Camp manager to report the incident to. There are only limited office hours to receive guests, no check-in packet or rules for review. We received an adding machine receipt as proof of payment. Granted, Mr. Wooley was on vacation at the time of our check in; but that person should have presented to us a copy of the Fam Camp rules and outlined the expectations as a guest. During our visit we have seen fellow RV’s, fight over a Fam Camp sites. We have watched individuals, park on an RV site and sleep in their POV during the night. Just to get the site they desired, while their RV is parked “on the grass” in the overflow area leaving ruts in the grass. During this overnight period the wife slept in the RV, while the husband held the site desired. Or other RV’s going to a parking lot on post for the required 24 hour absent period. Unlike many other Military Fam Camps, occupants are required to leave the post for a period of one week before returning. The maximum stay cannot exceed 180 days per year, and they are assigned a site when one is open. We desire the military Fam Camps for their security and the compliance of basic rules of common courtesy. When entering the military Fam Camps we have been greeted by a camp host or the camp manager. After the initial greeting, a map with the most basic list of rules is reviewed on-site with the visitor. Most individuals will abide by the common courtesy of picking up after their dogs, but sometimes it needs to be reinforced. At that time the manager will outline the expectations of a “designated dog walking area’ where all persons are intended to take their pets and pick up after them. This site is often marked and enforced. One rule of enforcement is if at least two fellow RV’r witness and report, the same dog owner not completing his chores of picking up after his dog, after three occurrences he or she is asked to leave the Fam Camp. I offered my suggestion of placing a sign and a bucket marked as a designated area for a dog walk. Wooley remarked, ‘they walk their dogs here and over there everywhere’ I would have buckets everywhere. Rule violation A1-9 pet clean up. I am discouraged due to the lack of enforcement of the basic military rules and common courtesy; I took my concerns higher to the Outdoor Rec Director Lisa Muse, on 7 January 2013. During our meeting with Ms Muse I repeated my concerns and made suggestions to resolve incidents at the Fam Camp. Her response was ‘Greg doesn’t like confrontation ’. She noted that Wooley did report incidents to her. Believing that Ms Muse would address our concerns we left feeling that something might be accomplished by our discussion. Apparently I was very wrong, today 21 January 2013 we now have a cargo trailer parked on a ‘full service RV site’. The soldier is in violation, IAW AF1 34-10 DOD I 1015.10, the soldier is using the cargo van as temporary housing. He is using no water, no sewage hookup. He is paying the $400 a month for “free cable, free wifi, free washer/dryer, and free electric and shower”. Plus the owners of the aggressive dogs have been allowed to return to the Fam Camp and are now parked within 40 feet of our RV. I have already witnessed the violation of A1-9 ref: pet clean up. Plus the apparent homeless veteran left for his mandatory 24 hour period and returned to his same site over the weekend, and this time has brought his dog with him for company. Known violators should not be allowed back into the Fam Camp, but it is apparent that military rules and regulations have no merit here. I made the suggestion of a Fam Camp Host, at Lackland to Ms Muse. The idea was immediately dismissed. The position and duties of a Camp Host is to greet campers during weekends and after hour arrivals. During our travels it is common to be greeted by a Camp Host at military Fam Camps. The position is not a paid position but a reduction of lot and facility rent. A Fam Camp host is needed badly at Lackland. Camp operations need to comply with the rules and basic operations of other Military Fam Camps such as Fort Bliss, TX or Fort Sam Houston, Fort Rucker, AL etc. Ms Muse expressed concern over not being able to fill Lackland AFB Fam Camp during the off season. This can easily be addressed. Fort Sam Houston receives many more calls for reservation, during the year due to it being a hospital facility. Lackland AFB Fam Camp along with Fort Sam Houston as a joint facility can now redirect inquiries to Lackland Fam Camp. Such request for RV accommodation can be forward to Lackland Fam Camp, to assist our Veterans families by having a safe and affordable place to stay while their loved one are hospitalized. When we called Fort Sam Houston there was no mention of coming to, or checking at Lackland AFB for an open site. This could easily be changed to continually fill Lackland during the off season. We visited Fort Sam Houston the first item we received was a copy of the park rules, and they continued to highlight items and the parks amenities. The purpose of this letter is to encourage a review and compliance of regulation of the Lackland AFB, Fam Camp. As of today, Monday, January 21th , aside from the aggressive dogs, and apparent homeless veteran we have witness vehicles parking anywhere on the grass. RV’s and cars being washed on site, persons using the washer/dryer facilities at 0100 hours or later, and children with full run of the Fam Camp and the laundry room facilities’ without supervision. Plus a fifth wheel trailer and truck drive through the grass leaving ruts at site one, a back in site. And a violation of article A1-14, cigarette butts outside the office and laundry. Having been accustomed to military order of rules and regulations this Fam Camp does not meet the a higher standard and expectation of other Fam Camps. This Fam Camp is not in compliance to its own rules, and regulations and military standards.

Easy access. No red-tape/inspections. Very Friendly. BX/Commissary, Gateway Club, Pool facilities, etc all easy access nearby. Also close to San Antonio attractions. Camp is clean and hosts are helpful and friendly. Arrived after hours. Selected site under shade trees, hooked up and checked in next morning. Clean showers, free laundry facility. Safe, secure. Will return.

Really nice campground, not far from BX and Commissary. There is a very nice family pool close by ($2). The staff is great. Wi-Fi throughout the park. My only complaint is not enough trees! The shaded sites are great, just not enough! Wish they'd plant more trees. Otherwise, a great RV park!

Just spent a week here in May 2012. It is just what I wanted, close to SA attractions,inexpensive and convenient. We did not use the showers or laundry, spoke to the manager once and he is polite and nice enough. No problems with other guest. Clean and very quiet after the sightseeing. Spaces not as large as Sam Houston but no train noise. I will stay here again in the future.

We stayed here 3 days in early April 2012. The camp hosts were very nice and helpful. It was quiet. Found out one can come and enter from other gates rather than Growden. If your rig will make it through the maze the guards have no problem with you using the other gates.

When we arrived there was one full hook-up spot left. It is wide, level and a clear site to the south for our satellite dish. Park is nicely located in a quiet area, BX and Commissary are just down the road but a bit hidden behind other buildings. BX is big but nothing special. Roads on base and in San Antonio leave a great deal to be desired. Rough, uneven, poorly maintained and a lot of traffic. We are visiting our daughter and her family and will be here for a couple of weeks, if not for her, we wouldn't spend any time here. Just too congested. Camp host helpful, laundry clean with newer machines. No ice machine, that would be nice.

Office hours are limited on the weekend. Office is located on the exit side of the campground. They trimmed and mowed the grass while we were there. The mower and trimmer threw grass clippings on to both sides of our camper and truck. Just not very considerate. We stayed a week and noticed several trailers and motor homes in the full hook up section that had been parked there a while and no one around them for the entire week. It's an "OK" campground - not the worst in the military but definitely not one of the best.

We stayed here about five days in late January. Very accommodating. Sites were large. We arrived after hours and were able to pull right into a pull thru site. Didn't need a full hookup site since we were only staying a few days but probably could have gotten one had we stayed longer. Showers were small and quite warm but clean. Laundry was free. Had a great area next to sites that you could walk your dog or run them without bothering anyone. Very pet friendly. All in all a very nice FamCamp.

We love this FamCamp. The manager is such a nice guy and so very helpful. The rates might be a little higher compared to some other FamCamps, BUT, it includes wi-fi, cable and laundry. The spaces are nice and roomy. A very pleasant place and I definitely recommend it! Very pet-friendly. There are even doggie bag posts throughout.

Great FAMCamp. Sites are well spaced. Staff rotates partial hookups to full hookups efficiently. Glad the 30-day limit keeps snowbirds from occupying all the spaces in the winter unlike other southern FAMCamps. Views of Kelly AFB and downtown San Antonio are spectacular at night. Laundry is free with new machines. Proximity to San Antonio is great. Base facilities are wonderful. Will stay here again when we visit San Antonio or pass through Texas.

We were snowbirds wanting to stay till March and we had 50amp slot when after 30 days we were kicked out of our slot and told we must leave for 24 hours. This was when there were like 6 slots open in the 30 amp area with no sewage where we could have spent the night or even stayed. I was not picky. When there are so many empty slots open, why are the people kicked out of the park or to the no service slot for a night? Other than that, we like the park, but don't plan on staying over 30 days unless you want to pack up and leave for at least a day even if spaces are available. Also the 30amp slots with no sewers were the same price as the full service slots which does not make sense to me. I have been to other parks with no sewage and were only charged $13 a night. This park is pet friendly and most of the people are friendly, especially the little Mexican man that works there. Again, short stays are great here, but not over 30 days. One thing different and nice is that the washing machines and dryers are free to use and in a clean warm area. Using the back gate is an inconvenience as the gate on Military drive is only about 1 mile away. They could take the barriers down long enough to let an RV in.

Reservations not accepted did not seem to be a problem, even during the Thanksgiving holiday week. All of the premium sites were taken, but the newer standard sites were adequate for our needs. WiFi was available even at the far ends of the FamCamp. We could pick up the local San Antonio television stations using our over the air antenna, and setting up satellite TV was also easy. The bathing facilities were clean and in good order. A picnic area and dog walk are adjacent to the FamCamp. The facility does seem to be pet friendly, unlike some places we have stayed previously. The office is staffed during the majority of duty hours, the staff was friendly and helpful. Checking out the BX and Commissary found both with a wide selection of items that the FamCamp user might need, including an extensive selection of camping supplies in the BXtra. The food court has a wide variety of dining selections. A new barbecue restaurant is between the FamCamp and the BX and Commissary. The AAFES fuel station does not sell diesel, but we found a Citgo station that sold diesel at a good price on U.S. 90 directly across from the VIA stop and Wilford Hall Medical Center. If you have relatives in west San Antonio, are visiting Lackland AFB for BMT graduation, or just passing through, the Lackland FamCamp is a pleasant place to stay.

Was able to get a full hookup. Easy to back in, level site, good location of hookups and plenty of room to park the coach and toad. The laundry facilities and bathroom were clean. Free cable and laundry was a plus. I would return again. Note; I asked the manager to put some maps at the Gowen Gate so that it would be easy to find the FamCamp. The gate guard did his best to give us directions but there are lots of turns and no signage. The manager didn't seem excited to do that.

T.C. left this review using the Directory software: Sites are clean and level, wifi, washers and dryers are free. However, wifi is much better if closer to the office. On base bus service is excellent. You have to go outside the base to catch a city bus into town. I would recommend that anyone wanting to tour the local area, should tow a vehicle.

We were visiting relatives that were scattered all over the San Antonio area. Lackland was a handy location since it was the closest FAMCAMP to our 2 year old Grandaughter. We did not have reservations, but it seems there were at least 6 empty full hookup sites available the whole week, plus all the W&E and overflow sites were available. The washroom was clean and had free front loading washers and dryers. It was also air conditioned, had a TV to watch, and books to read while waiting for your wash. The bathrooms were kept clean, and the showers were similar to what you would have in a house, two handles and good flow. They were always clean so they stay on top of the cleaning. This is a major base, so you have a large BX and Commissary a block away from your route to the FAMCAMP, across from the main chapel. There is an outdoor aircraft display within a few blocks walk, and the clubs are handy for eating, although there are plenty of restaurants just outside the gate. You can catch a city bus a few blocks away that will take you downtown so you don't need to use your own car if you don't want the hassle of driving in the downtown area. This was a great place to stop over for a few days.

We stayed at Fam Camp for our son's BMT graduation. It is a nice RV park, very clean. It has free cable and the wifi worked at the end of the park. The restrooms/showers were clean. The laundry room was very nice, air conditioned and a nice looking place overall. I was traveling with my 2 year old granddaughter and liked the cleanliness of the park. The grass was well kept and I felt very comfortable taking her anywhere in the park. We enjoyed our stay and would definitely stay again.

I am a civilian who attended the BMT graduation of a family member and was sponsored by him. Greg the Fam Camp Manager was very helpful and great to work with. I called ahead to see if there were big rig spaces available with full hook-ups and Greg told me that they do not take reservations but he had availability. Since I did not have a current military id I had to go through the commercial inspection process adjacent to the Growden Gate. This did not take long. The back-in spaces at the park all had 50 amp full hookups with level concrete pads, picnic table, grill and full hook-ups. Everyone at the base was very helpful with directions and nice. The battery on my tow vehicle went dead near the fire station parking lot at Godfathers Pizza. The firefighters and officers came out and tried to jump the battery to no avail. The base Firestone store personnel came out and replaced my battery in the parking lot at a reasonable cost. The AFB and RV Park was very convenient, clean and great. We were extremely impressed with everything including the graduation ceremony. I am a US Navy veteran that did not retire from the military. This was an outstanding experience for entire family! Dave Raffa, Granbury, Texas

Great Campsite for military. Took advantage for my brothers BMT Graduation. Good level spots didn't take much to level the camper. Spots included a picnic table and a grill. There was a thunderstorm that knocked out power at campsite and the was no one to call for any help, but power was restored fairly quickly. Close to TLF and The Parade grounds, so very easy to get to BMT graduation ceremony. WiFi worked great was very quick was able to watch shows on the internet with no problems. There are good facilities for clothes washing, there where 4 washers and 4 dryers (FREE) so made it easy. Have soap available in main office. Other facilities include two showers for each male and female. Nearby dumpster for ease of disposing of trash. Overall a good stay.