By:
Submission
Ragtown is located on the Texas shore of Toledo Bend Reservoir and is maintained and operated by the Sabine River Authority of Texas. Completed in 1975, this area is nestled high on a bluff and offers spectacular views of the water. The boat ramp allows access to the lake most of the year. Trailhead sign for Mother Nature’s Trail on the Sabine National Forest. Visitors can hike along 1-mile long Mother Nature's Trail winding past magnificent oak and beech trees along the lakeshore. Forest visitors can now camp up to 28 days at selected recreation areas in the National Forests and Grasslands in Texas. Extended camping is offered at: Ragtown Recreation Area - Sites: 3-24 For more information call 409-625-1940.
Follow Highway 87 east from Center for 11 miles; turn left (east) on FM 139 for 6 miles; bear right onto FM 3184 and follow 4 miles to entrance.
A real gem. If you like privacy and a remote beautiful setting this one is for you. Site 24 is so great. It's high atop a ridge overlooking the beautiful Toledo bend reservoir. It's so private here, my camp was the only active site in ragtown for the week stay. I hated to leave it.
It's a pretty good campground. Seemed to be well maintained.
I camped here on June 14, 2022 while on another fishing adventure.
My favorite place in the world. I've been camping and swimming here all my life. I was so sad when the tornadoes damaged it and shut it down. I was super worried that they would never reopen it, but to my delight and surprise, they did. I'll be happy to see it fully repaired and the trees growing back to how they were. It's still a beautiful place dear to my heart.
Great potential if Sabine River Authority (SRA) provides proper maintenance and if there was some patrol and enforcement of the camp rules.
It's difficult to understand what agency is responsible for keeping the facility safe and enforcing the camp regulations because it is a US Forest Service (USDA National Forest) property but it is maintained by SRA.
Very little is given about this campground online so I will hopefully be able to help until the SRA and National Forest sites include more relevant information.
PROS: campground and individual campsite layouts are functional, location is remote- no highway noise and no city noises. Four restroom facilities, three have cold showers. Campground trash disposal sites are maintained-fresh garbage bags and frequent trash service. Potable water is near all campsites.
CONS:
Restrooms: 2 of 4 men's were out of order, restrooms not maintained more than trash cans- insect/spider activity is quite an impediment and the buildings basically just need a major sweeping and scrubbing of the bugs and their droppings. I'm an experienced camper and I don't expect super nice and tidy bathrooms so this was excessive. Showers are COLD only. NO HOT WATER.
Street light by large trash disposal area is not working.
The one mile hiking trail is not maintained but it would be really great if so. We had to manually create passable portions in the trail (navigating tall grass, shrubs, vines, and many spider webs), thus getting far off the actual intended pathway and a bit lost. No camp authority was seen patrolling, just a local Sheriff once (not responsible for campground rule enforcement) and a game warden.
Camp regulations are not followed by many campers. For example, generators are used outside allowed hours, including many people using them all night long (restricted use from 10pm-7am), making the experience quite polluted by the loud humming. I tried to report it but the SRA, Sabine National Forest office and the supervisor's office is not open outside of business hours and their answering machines don't leave any other contact numbers.
Amenities:
-drive in campsites
-potable water
-trash service
-restrooms with flush toilets and COLD showers and electric plugs (I didn't check if they work)
-no electrical hookups at sites (for RVs)
-standing grill and separate fire pit at most sites
-picnic table and lantern/trash post at most sites
-RV waste water dumping station
-boat ramp
-hiking trail (see above)
-day use picnic area and restrooms
-$2 per vehicle for day use, $5 per single site and $8 per double site each night
-fishing allowed
