Hidden Lake RV Ranch & Safari

Harold Cade

What a delightful place! My wife and I went there for two days to do astrophotography. The skies were great, Bortle 4, and I got 15 really nice images. The animals on site were amazing. Look at their site for a full list. We stayed in Cabin 3, "The Bunkhouse", which was a fun take on the whole safari park theme. Well appointed and clean- though it could use a chair. I got lucky because the street light next to it was burned out. If it hadn't been I could have used the field next to the Covered Wagon, though I would have been sharing the site with all the animals near sunrise. The donkey pair, George and Joy were a hoot. Bring carrots! The high point of my wife's time was getting to feed them. Only one for George, he's diabetic, but Joy can have more. I recommend feeding her first so that you don't have to contend with George wondering why he gets only one. Leave that to the end and he'll think he got the same as Joy. 7 miles from Jacksboro which had all the amenities you might want if you forgot to pack something or just want to go out and eat. Very convenient to the Metroplex- we made it in 80 minutes from the mid-cities. Prices were very reasonable. We stayed at a similar cabin doing the same thing in Palo Pinto a month earlier and we paid twice as much. Secure keypad entry to the cabin so you don't have to worry about leaving valuables when you go out. Long term residents of the park have to pass a background check, so there are no suspicious characters hanging around. Laundry, showers were clean and new. There are 3 cabins, a number of RV sites and one tent site. We're definitely going back when the Covered Wagon is in service...just in case the street light is working. Oh, and great birding. There was a Painted Bunting on the fence about 20 feet from the cabin one morning. A perfect Texas ranch next door, complete with shorthorn cattle, horses and a working oil well, all visible from the cabin's back yard. The images are, respectively: The Donkey couple, George and Joy, two Jackob's Sheep grazing on Jimsonweed next to my telescope at dawn, the whole gang down by the lake and Covered Wagon cabin at sunrise, a Scissored-Tail Flycatcher, and the center of the galaxy- the open cluster Messier 24 and the Dark Comet nebula against the Sagittarius Star Cloud, taken with my 5" refractor, 20 minute exposure.

Tim Rawlings

"Some of the animals you might encounter include: Blackbuck Antelope, Scimitar Oryx, Jacob Sheep and Fallow Deer. These animals live here at the ranch and roam free." The only animals we saw were the 2 donkeys kept in a small pen at the front of the property. While the park is quiet most of the guests are full time residents. The water, electric, and sewer at the site were adequate although the electric service at our site was not secured to the pedestal. If you are looking for a quiet location to laze around the campsite and relax this might just be your place activities are few and far between, volleyball and badminton lacked nets, and horseshoe pits were overgrown and had not shoes to throw.

Mandy Cox

Highly recommend! We stayed in one of the cabins, which was perfect for couples and very nice. Everyone was friendly and it was peacefully quiet. There was lots of wonderful wildlife to see and a beautiful lake for fishing. We will definitely be back!

Joletta Gates

We stayed in cabin 1 over the weekend. The cabin was clean and well stocked! The location is quiet and peaceful! The site manager was helpful and fast to respond. We will book again. Cabin was also affordable! The wildlife was close enough to get some great photos as well! Differently recommend!

Sam Hastey

Beautiful park! I love seeing the gorgeous animals like the Oryx, Jacob Sheep and donkeys when I visit. The park is well kept and I enjoyed wandering the many acres of land this park sits on. the staff is very helpful and kind as well!