Elliott Lake Recreation Area

Got there on 08/06, left 08/08; Haven't been there in 18 months or so. Army gate guard told me I needed additional forms to gain entrance and was told I needed to go to the adjacent building to get it. Have never had this happen befoe. I had my dog in the car and can't have her in the heat of the car while I'm away. Opened windows for the dog, went in the building. Civilian there told me to get a new ID card without my SSN on it. I told her , "Aw come on!! I have my dog in the Jeep". Let me slide. Gave me a form to give to the guard so I could have access. I was in Texarkana on business and the next day I returned to the base. Another Army MP looked at my ID and told me I need a new ID because my picture is like 20 years old. I mean really?!!! KMA. The people at the campgrounds were great, as always though. Cabin cost $75/night. Can't beat that for lakeside views. 

I've been told that this is a partially closed Army Post, if so why civilian security guards? First you have to turn right before proceeding to the Gate and present your proof of insurance, vehicle registration and military ID to civilian personnel. Be very careful the parking area is very tight, my 39' plus tow was extremely tight. Turn right out of the parking lot and proceed to the Gate. They will then have you pull over and inspect your motorhome while you and your family stand outside. If they are happy with the way it looks you can proceed to the campground. I will not come here again. They performed a "search" not an "inspection". An inspection requires the owner's participation and to be accompanied, a "search" the owner stands by and watches.

well where to begin?? let me preface with this, ALL the NEGATIVE associated with this place/review is due to the front gate/admin personnel and not the lake personnel... upon arriving we went to the pass/id office for our passes, as soon as i pulled out my older non-barcoded id card i was told that either i would have to go next door to get a new one or i would not be able to enter? i asked the clerk why he could not manually enter my info into the temporary pass system like they do at ALL the installations we visit in the united states? he said it would not allow him to do that? i told him that i was not going to go next door and get a new card as my card is VALID at ALL military installations in the good ol us of a!! he said this was the problem, this depot is civilian run and the rules were different, then he asked me if my wife was a us citizen(because she only had her drivers license with her in the office) i asked him if the provost marshal was a military member and if he/she was that he better make a phone call asap cause i was gettin mighty mad at this point!! the pm called back and after the clerk explained what he had told me the pm said to issue us a pass and let me get on my way, so after an hour of interrogation we were finally headed to the lake.... we went to the lake office to check in and was told to go find a spot, get set up and come back when settled, so i asked what spots were open, i was told this info was not avail so i would have to just go find an open spot? so we drove to the sites back towards the gate which you first pass on the way to the office, this is the newest location which has concrete pads, the others are dirt. so we grabbed the only open spot outta 15 and got set up(rest were full timers). all spots are very close to the lake and only take about 1 min to walk to the water. we went back to the office the next day to settle up and was told the registration system was going to be down for the rest of the week so i manually filled out a ticket and was on my way, after telling my gate experience to the camp office gal she gave me the contact info to the person in charge of those civilians so i could express my concerns, she then gave me a run down on the area attractions and we grabbed the fishin poles to relax and forget about things for a bit(even though i was still very agitated at the whole ordeal) so like i said once you get past the front gate and actually arrive at the lake to begin your camp vacation all is very very nice and relaxing, there are many items to rent at mwr for the lake and plenty of space for walking/running/biking/hiking or just relaxing!!! make sure you bring enough food so that you do not have to go off post, but if you need to there is a walmart in new boston 5 miles down the road for whatever you need including fuel. if it was not for the civilian personnel at the front who immediately ruin your vacation mood i would come back, but i just don't feel like returning because next time i will not be able to hold my tongue/temper at a staff who is ignorant to the meaning of an id card with no barcode and who forgets WHO this recreation area was made for!!!

Awesome Rec Area, Teesa was wonderful, the tent sites were well laid out, the trails were nicely maintained, the water feature was an absolute joy... oh yeah My singular gripe is absence of somewhere comfy to go sit and get lost in a good book... but hey I can live with that. I will SO go back to this FamCamp, first 5.0 I've given, ever! Ummmmm yeah, ya gotta get a pass at the gate but the office staff were wonderful and delightfully knowledgeable as to where to 'go/see/do' in the area!

We stopped over for one night at Elliott Lake on a trip to Virginia. We arrived late - around 2100 - and had a little bit of difficulty finding an open spot. They don't accept reservations and even though they have around forty or so spaces, many of them are filled with long-term residents. Most of the open spaces were reserved for 14-day or more camping only. Lighting is pretty poor so be careful as you negotiate the area at night. Signage is also pretty scarce and the layout of the park is not easily navigated (there are really three separate campsite areas, two of which are connected). For our purposes, the park was not convenient - located on the far southern edge of the post, about seven miles south of the main gate. Having said all that, Elliott lake is a hidden gem in the East Texas pineywoods! It's beautiful and remote and the perfect place to take the family for very inexpensive outdoor fun. As a late-night stopover on a trip, it's not ideal, but as a vacation spot, it's perfect. We can't wait to re-visit and stay for a longer time.