My dearest beloved lady companion and I have been avid focused, discriminating, varied travelers…read morefor 25 years and I've fished East Texas and surrounding areas for about 50 years. Out of the 604 nights we've spent away from home in that time in places ranging from sketchy to highly luxurious, the three we enjoyed in Scenic View's motel were among the very, very best. Ellison Creek Reservoir aka Lone Star Lake turned out to be one of our favorites in the state. It is beautiful and uncrowded, with clear water and abundant vegetation to support bass fishing. The people in the town of Lone Star were very nice. The Scenic View facility is very clean, safe, pleasant, and operated with a most impressive devotion to quality and friendliness. The owners and operators since 1998, Jim and Kim, are super cool, dedicated to guest enjoyment, and clearly have reinvested abundantly in the property. They are starkly authentic and decent souls. Bass fishing was good even during a cold front. Tap water was tasty, no need to tote bottled. Beds were comfy. Hot water did not run out. The boat ramp was good and well-lit. Dockage with power or park boat trailer in front of cabin/motel door and charge up. Multiple grill-BBQ-smoker options. The kitchenette worked great, was very helpful, and there is good restaurant food within walking distance. Two bed double occupancy in the motel was $80.48 per night TOTAL final cost with no cleaning fee, etc. Coin-op laundry facilities are at motel rear, workshop side. That area has an almost supernatural ability to pull one fantastic sunset after another from the heavens, and the comfortable sheltered lower outdoor level of the store is a great place from which to watch them. So is the open deck atop the store. And sunset happens but once a day, but all day lasts....wait for it....all day! Watching a storm roll in at dawn from there was a treat. Relaxing and gazing out at a forested lake is simply fulfilling. The lake is very scenic with pine and hardwood forest and is much smaller than the chaos-riddled metro reservoirs many of their guests are used to. We were often the only boat on the lake. Lakeside properties are fun to look at and were well-kept. The residents were friendly, unlike what I've experienced at some places, and their docks and boathouses held fish. Lots of wildlife - bald eagles, river otter family of 5, raccoon family of 5, dozens and dozens of bird species, white pelicans, herons, cranes, and so on. Children must be supervised at all times and pets are not allowed in the motel or cabin. Yes, that's not ideal for some, but for everyone else, well, it's.....uh.....AWESOME, casting (see what I did there?) away a big chunk of things that can make leisure days go sideways. It's pleasingly close to the DFW metroplex and the drive through the middle instead of using I-30 or I-20 is very pleasant Texas backroad fun. Bortle stage 3 dark skies are just 15 minutes away to the ENE with ample gravel county roads with turnouts for stargazers. Lake O' the Pines is just a few minutes SE. Daingerfield SP. Jefferson. The most excellent Welsh Reservoir power plant cold water fishery. As part of a loop tour of the bevy of great lakes in E TX, SV is a great base camp. Amusingly, we arrived intending to spend a day or two of the four fishing Pines, a longtime favorite of ours, but were so happy with Scenic View facility and Lone Star Lake that we never left. Why go out for steak when there's already a tomahawk ribeye in your lap? The best part of this great experience was making friends with several of the soundly and roundly pleasant, considerate, and interesting staff, guests, and neighborhood residents, who often get together for events such as Thirsty Thursday and have a just plain good ol' time. I expect some of those associations will last for a long time. Hopefully, days other than Thursday get thirsty, too, for we plan to return regularly. A+ drenched in 5 star sauce.

Love this place!!! Truly a unique experience that one must enjoy!!! Thanks Kim & Jimread more

NOT FAMILY FRIENDLY!…read more SO DISAPPOINTED & DISGUSTED. When we arrived at the gate to check in, we were greeted with signs of a "GAYla". And then as soon as we entered the grounds, gay flags. We should have left, but we were ready to be settled. The park was completely full of queers, causing our children to wonder why such behaviours. And then while they were sleeping, there was a noisy (unnecessary) parade that woke them. This park markets family-friendly yet promotes the opposite. Too bad they don't stay neutral and keep their unnatural views to themselves.

Very disappointed for the price paid during first Monday…read more Dog poo and cigarette buds left in the fire pit of our friends rv spot. Other than that, resort is nice...

So, kinda confusing...but Barefoot Bay (aka. Big Al's Barefoot Bay) and now Castaway's Bar & Grill…read moreis out on Lake Bob Sandlin. Wife and I stopped in (as we have never been here before and they had Line Dance lessons from 6-9. Service was good and a great view of the lake. Food was bar food and good for around here. Line dancing was a bit of a let down as they didn't have a great sound system. But, lots of people showed up and made it fun. All in all, the restaurant is young and they are experiencing some growing pains. Broken tea maker and got a an appetizer wrong...but they made it right. Had pepperoni pizza and Philly Cheesesteak...but forgot to take pictures. We will come again and grow with them!

My husband went into their office the customer service attendant Sara sold my husband an 8$ day…read morepass to use the boat ramp and After! He handed over the cash she rudely tells him since he's not a guest there he has to park very far away where the mechanics work and tell give him a ride to the boat ramp, hello maybe tell the person before taking their money, because when he gets off the water he cannot walk up the hill and all the way to get his truck because he's on a heart transplant list has heart issues and when he took his money back and said he will go elsewhere Ms Sara claps back at him rudely and shouts as he's walking out the door an obscenity of rudeness for leaving and going elsewhere with His money . I called got her name I said look Sara there are a lot of elderly people and you've got to treat nicer let me tell you I could not even talk over her all she did was talk loudly over me telling me my husband was rude and snatched his money back out of her hand! My husband would never be rude ever it snatch that's her attitude short inexperienced in life lessons no empathy forwards elderly retirees cause she did it to me didn't want to give me the owners name she also said She was the manager , I find that hard to believe as rude as she was. I never leave a review that's bad but if I could give less stars Only on customer service I would give minus five stars . This young woman need Needs! Major empathy training to the general public. To the owners in Dallas, I hope that you have a training powwow with Sara because no human being should be yelled at over the phone or in person for taking their business elsewhere which he wouldn't have had she just let him park close the ramp btw this is on a Tuesday morning it was dead no boat traffic , she was just being nasty to an old man that was nice to her he didn't deserve that. Nor did I

We are fortunate to have friends who own a very special lakehouse in Holly Lake Ranch, a gated…read morecommunity on 3000 acres in Wood County, Texas. When we visit them, we do not spend much time on the lake because we like to stare at it while sitting in their big swing sipping Prosecco. There are cranes, feral hogs, deer, unique birds and other wildlife in this part of Texas. Should I mention we heard banjos playing in the pines...? The "Ranch" development offers a golf course, restaurant, tennis courts, miniature golf and boating. Lush dogwoods were in bloom when we were there recently, along with beautiful wildflowers and tall pines. I think when I die, heaven will look like Holly Lake Ranch.

We love our vacation stays at Holly Lake Resort. The units are comfortably pleasant. This year…read more(2017) changes were made via Holiday Inn. No pool pass required, towel exchange is $8, but there is guest laundry at no cost. If you are a Silverleaf member having Presidential and up...you can request your day of check out for noon, if not it is 9am. Changing over systems leaves the new staff of no knowledge on Silverleaf Members, so you might have to enlighten them, so they can look it up and learn something new Above all, no complaints here! We enjoyed our stay!

We went last week and were pretty disappointed. Golf carts were dirty, cabin had bugs and…read morespiderwebs, bunk bed wasn't pilot secured to the wall, didn't have enough utensils, no sponge to clean the dishes, no trash bags, pots and pans shoved into the cabinets like it hadn't been checked. We talked to the front office about it and they said they would call housekeeping and nothing.. none of the issues were fixed besides the coffee maker. We also ordered from the canteen and it was the slowest service I have ever experienced. The employees seemed completely lost and not sure how to run it. For the amount of money we spent, we expected a little more. Probably won't return and will go To camp Fimfo.

Mixed Experience at Jellystone Park in Tyler, TX - Won't Be Returning…read more We visited Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park Camp-Resort in Tyler over the 4th of July weekend, renting multiple cabins to celebrate with family. The water park was definitely the highlight -- our 2- and 4-year-old had an absolute blast. The main pool was also a hit with the kids. The fireworks show on the 4th was fantastic, and the overall list of amenities is impressive on paper. However, the rest of the experience didn't live up to expectations. Cabin Conditions: * The A/C worked well in the living room, but bedrooms didn't cool properly when doors were closed. * Every cabin we rented was noticeably dirty -- floors hadn't been swept and one even had old hot dogs left in the microwave. * A power outlet in one unit was missing a cover. When we reported it, we were told it wasn't a concern since it was behind a couch, and that no replacement was available. * Shower water pressure was barely a dribble. Booking & Check-in Issues: * Reservation originally showed 2 adults and 1 child -- we corrected this twice (via email and phone), but still arrived to find the wrong number listed and missing wristbands. * After addressing it at the office, an employee from the back (who hadn't been part of our conversation) loudly accused us of lying across the lobby. Extremely unprofessional and embarrassing. Thankfully, the staff member at the front counter resolved the issue. Canteen Inconsistencies: * Friday's ice cream experience was a pleasant surprise: generous portions and great value. * Saturday was a different story -- disorganized line, over 30 minutes of waiting, and significantly smaller portions for the same order. Other Observations: * Some activities were fun, but it felt like we were being nickeled and dimed: expensive gem mining bags, having to pay for mini golf balls, and constant unexpected upcharges. In summary, while the water attractions were great for our young kids, poor customer service, cleanliness issues, and lack of consistency made this stay more stressful than relaxing. We won't be returning. Anything else I need to add?

We had a wonderful time at Open Water Lodge. The atmosphere was peaceful and beautiful. The lodge…read morewas perfect for a large family group. Perfect sized kitchen and plenty of space to feel comfortable. We loved the options to play pool and arcade games. We watched some TV and spent a lot of time outside. The pool is beautiful and a nice size for fun in the sun. The corn hole game was a hit and fishing was the icing on the vacation cake! We are already planning our next visit! This is our new spot for years to come! ~Maria H

This is for fishing. Hired a guide here Jeremy Robinson Had…read morean incredible time with Jeremy. Brought my 13-year old grandson To catch some Striper and Hybrids. Jeremey put us on em and made it a great time with his infectious enthusiasm. Can not wait to go back and stay in the cabins on property. They were booked when we went Highly recommend their guide service!

Let me start this review by saying that we were asked to leave the property. I do not want this…read morereview to be viewed as a disgruntled former tenant as i am not. We rented a beautiful spot for two years. The property was purchased and with that comes change and we expected that. What we did not expect was for our grandchildren to find needles in the plants near the restrooms or to be overwhelmed by the smell of marijuana coming from other campsites near ours. The dock was partially dismantled making it near impossible to load or unload people from a boat and allowing only two people the ability to fish off the dock at the same time. The investors when onsite, openly speak poorly of residents to new and potential renters. They portray this as a family/kid friendly resort, per my above comments, it clearly is not. One resident refused to call for medical assistance for fear that an ambulance would make a scene and they would be evicted as a result. We clearly did not abide by all the rules, but were asked to leave based on another renters actions, who is still there and did not receive so much as a warning. It is a beautiful place but just know that there is an agenda. https://www.redbearresort.com/

This place is ABSOLUTELY amazing. I absolutely recommend it to anyone looking for a peaceful…read moreretreat. We live about an hour and a half away in the Garland area, and it's the perfect little staycation to get away from the city without the hassle of a long drive. The cabins are beautifully maintained--clean, cozy, and thoughtfully stocked with everything you might need. The surroundings are just stunning: peaceful woods, fresh air, and quiet nights under the stars. Whether you're sitting on the porch with a morning coffee or winding down by the fire pit in the evening, it feels like a true escape. The property is clearly cared for with love and attention to detail, and the staff couldn't have been more welcoming and accommodating. If you're looking for a relaxing weekend to recharge, this cabin resort is exactly what you need. We're already talking about coming back again!

I hardly ever give a 5 to any business but this one is an exception. Allen Acres is amazing. I have…read morestayed in the Silo twice. Both were great and relaxing experiences. First -the Silo. OMG! There is literally nothing like it. It's a 1 bdrm 1 1/2 bath IN A GRAIN SILO! But you would never know it by the inside. This home is hand crafted and designed by the owners. The way they took this vertical space and made this place is a feat in itself. Let me set the mood for you. You drive in through an electric gate on a country road in the trees of east Texas. You're 10 minutes from Canton Trade Days and 15 over to Emory, where Twigs is (look it up). Plus you're only 90 min from Dallas. The land takes your breath away. On your left is a pond. A big pond! The waterfall that changes colors is the only sound you hear besides the sounds of nature. On your right is the Silo. You have plenty of parking inside of a gate that is all for just the Silo. Beyond the main gate, up the hill, sits two cabins that the Allens also rent. That's another review for another day. Let's just say - you gotta see this place. Pulling into your private parking spot at the Silo you're greeted by Annie Oakley, the farm Great Pyrenees. She is friendly and keeps the chickens and land safe. Yes, I said ! They are the cutest things ever! And they are nowhere near the Silo. They are way on the other side of the property in their own area. But be sure to say hi to Speedy and Rulio and their harems. In front of the Silo there is a fire pit/grill with Adirondack chairs. This is all nestled among the majestic trees with a full view of the pond. There is also a swing out in the trees. So cool. Up a beautiful redwood porch you enter through this gorgeous and heavy stained wood door with a cute little peephole box you open. You're immediately greeted by the iron spiral staircase which takes you to the bedroom and full bath upstairs. As you look up you see this stunning hand cut wood ceiling. It's a work of art. I stare at it in amazement. To the right is a spacious 1/2 bath. In front of you there are a living room and kitchen. The most beautiful fireplace is on, soothing spa music is playing on the Roku tv and the place smells like a spa! The kitchen has a 3/4 fridge with freezer (ample space and holds gallon jugs ), a microwave, electric stove/oven and a beautiful stainless steel sink with a window looking out to the woods. Gorgeous! Btw, I cooked four or five meals here and you have everything you need. The owner has thought of every detail. From the S'more's and coffee stations to the satin sleep masks on your bedside table you will feel pampered. The living room has the most gorgeous fireplace (which turns different colors and has a heat option that works so well), this hand carved Edge wood mantel with a large flatscreen with Roku tv. There is also the cutest little table next to one of the windows that is perfect for meals. The couch faces this fireplace and is right under the peak of this gorgeous ceiling. This couch reclines and turns into a full-size bed. There is a faux fur rug in front of the fireplace which pops with the modern industrial design of the space. Up the spiral staircase - which is easy to climb- you have a queen size bed that is super comfortable. Much higher quality than any AirBNB or rental property at which I've stayed. The bed is right under the custom wood ceiling and faces the grand windows that look right out to the woods. And the windows have remotes to close and open the shades. There is an oscillating fan that will definitely cool you off in the summer if the AC doesn't do the trick. The room has two side tables for the bed with the cutest little industrial pipe lamps, a pipe rack for clothes with a shelf, a large basket for whatever you need and a valet stand for your suitcase. Such a nice touch. The bathroom is stunning. There is a fog-less, lighted mirror you can change the light setting on. Quartz countertop over cabinets with plenty of space for your items. And the shower- it is built on a round wall, y'all. This is insane! The owners didn't waste an inch of space. The shower is tiled with this gorgeous rock pattern that you just have to see (and it feels good on your feet). And this shower has so much space, complete with a built-in nook for your stuff. Overall, I just love being out at Allen Acres. Doesn't matter which home you rent (Lucky Buck, Krazy Kalf or the Silo) you are going to love this experience. Allen Acres is quiet, serene, enchanting and something you have to see to understand. I HIGHLY recommend Allen Acres Resort. If you're heading to Trade Days or just want a relaxing few days this is the place to stay. It's an easy weekend destination for people in the DFW metroplex. I've attached just a few pics out of the dozens I took. You can see amazing pics on the web site.

Came here after Canton Trade Days and a visit to the ER from Heat. Service was outstanding, food…read morewas great. Nice facility here to eat in right off the highway. Restrooms and all the restaurants were clean and organized. We were here on July 4th, 250. Thanks to all who worked this fantastic holiday. They came and work an important day in history. Local run and local talent.

Servers should be trained better regarding assigned tables and how to speak to customers…read more Food was ok.