Every now and then, it’s nice to take off the mom hat for just a few hours, and enjoy a weekend with your friends. This past weekend, my friends and I left our kids and hubbys and headed to East Texas for a little fun and relaxation! We booked at cabin on Lake of the Pines called Old Camp Joy, and it truly was joyful!
Old Camp Joy was once a camp with cabins that had been neglected for decades, but was rebuilt with just 3 cabins, all with lake views back in 2015 when the camp was purchased. We stayed in one of the smaller cabins, which was perfect for the 4 of us!
The cabin came with a fire ring and grill if we chose to cook out. We sat out one night around the fire pit and had the best time just laughing, roasting marshmallows and playing a 90’s Trivia Game! I had absolutely no service all weekend, and after getting over my social media withdrawls, it felt great to just relax. (BTW, of the 4 of us, I was the only one without service, which was worse than none of us having service).
The weather forecast had predicted rain for Friday and Saturday morning, and we enjoyed a small storm and just watching the rain for on the lake for a few hours. When the sun started to come out, so did we to explore around!
The little details of the cabin were so enjoyable.
In the process of planning this trip, we came across this article in Real Simple, The 10-Step Guide to the Ultimate Girls Getaway. The article is about Mystery Getaways, where each year one of the women plan a getaway on a set budget, and their destination isn’t revealed until they depart! It sounds so fun but honestly I think the planning with my friends is half the fun! One of her tips was to make sure you have a great couch for late night talks! To read the article, click HERE!
We enjoyed the fun swings out over the lake. It was still February, but you could tell nature was just waiting to bust forth with color!
There was also a horseshoes pit. The dog is one of five belonging to the owners, Katherine and Tom, who rescued them upon moving to Texas from Washington in 2015. There are many rescued animals on the farm, and we enjoyed meeting them on our walks.
Old Camp Joy consist of quite a bit of lake frontage, and while we weren’t there to fish, you can bring in a boat. A boat ramp is just down the road at Cedar Springs Park. The fee to launch is $3.
They also have a canoe for guest.
On Girls Weekends, it’s okay to stay in your jammies all day!
I fell in love with sweet Flower, who reminded me of our dog Dublin. She took us on a tour of the entire camp.
I brought my hammock along, and it was so peaceful just to sit under the trees and sway in the breeze as the birds sang all around me! I had a brought a book and hoped to get in a little reading time, but there was just so much to do!
A view of the 3 cabins from the lake!
We had such a great time! We only left once, to drive over to Enoch’s Stomp Vineyard and Winery, about 30 minutes away!
Spring is East Texas is almost magical.
I did miss my kids, and would have loved for them to meet Miss Mouse. This is a whimsical addition built inside the owner’s old childhood Bendix front-load washing machine. When you push the button, Miss Mouse spins! It’s charming!
We were given a tour of the larger of the 3 cabins, which contains and extra bedroom.
We really enjoyed meeting the owners, who were great about helping if we needed anything! They even came and started our fire in the fire pit for us!
They are listed on VRBO, AirBNB or you can just book through their website.
Old Camp Joy
14483 Private Road 2346, Ore City
Click HERE to visit their website.
Keep Having Fun in the Texas Sun!
Michelle
Having Fun in the TEXAS Sun is on PINTEREST! Use it as a quick resource to find activities in different Texas towns! Click HERE!
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