WINDY is the key word!!!! I haven't been to Murrell Park, but if it catches as much wind as McPhearson, it is going to be like being in the Gulf.

HD,
Ain't no Thang! There will be a lot of us camping & hanging around that can help you load and unload partner!

I will not be there this weekend please take me off your list! I'm not able to take off work!

Bah we could have this thing in a parking lot and still have fun. with a kiddie pool ! lol maybe not.

Thanks Zombie! I think it will be easier for me to just come out Saturday, I appreciate it Brother! So that being said, there is campsite 34 up for grabs, anyone is more than welcome to use it. Campsite is paid for and under the name of Rob McFarren

The Hippy Point CG is still open?

how is parking at Twin Groves? since I am not camping is that going to be an issue? Plenty of room to park unlaod my kayak and launch from there?

I'm working so it's hard to research. Can anyone confirm:

Original camp site is still open?
Is there camping closer to Twin Coves?
Anyone know if we can change reservations/location?

I just called... camping at murrell is ok. boat ramp closed. We can launch from our camp sites and paddle over... ranger Hargrove said we were good as long as we stay away from the ramp.

So, the boat ramp is the only reason we are changing locations?

Spoken like a tru Viking!

CLICK Google Maps CLICK

I understand some of y�all are going to be upset with the decision to move the Spring GTG from Murrell Park to Twin Coves Park a day before the event, but please bear with me.

Given the recent rains Lake Grapevine has been above normal pool for the past few weeks. We gambled some hoping that it would return to pool level prior to our event. It has not. The Corp has closed off the boat ramp area where we originally scheduled the GTG. I spoke to the head Ranger last night for Murrell Park and he informed that the boat ramp area will remain closed for the next few days and we were not allowed to use that area.

The campgrounds are open for those who reserved a spot. I highly encourage everyone to camp who planned on doing so as it should still be a great time. It�s actually a short paddle from Hippie Point to where the new GTG location is located.

With the expected crowd in the 70-80 range we had to consider a couple of things: 1) parking and 2) access to the water for all the kayaks. We came up with three options.

1. We keep it at Murrell Park and move it towards Hippie Point. The problems with this move are the lack of parking and access to the water. The Corp is very strict about not parking on the grass and we would have to break that in order to hold a group as large as ours. Second, access from the parking to the water is over 50yds and when you get to the water there were 3-4 plausible launch sites available which is not nearly enough for our group. Most of the shore at Murrell Park is rocky cliff that is very difficult to launch from. The ranger is also expecting around 500 guests at Murrell Park this weekend (typical) so parking would have become an even bigger issue.

2. We move it to Twin Coves Park next door. Risky, since no one who was a part of the planning group had been there. On Google Earth it looked like a viable option and came highly recommend for our group to move there by the Ranger and the man working the gate at Murrell Park. We were also informed that Twin Coves does not see the crowds as Murrell Park so parking should be less of an issue. The city of Flower Mound is in control of the park, so it should be easier to park in the grass in case we run out of parking.

3. We move it to Oak Grove Park on the other side of the lake. This was our worst case option, but we knew parking and access to the water would be plentiful.

I drove out to Twin Coves Park this morning to do a recon. From what I saw it had the parking and access to the water that is necessary for a GTG. I made the call to move the event to Twin Coves, see the map link above. The gates open at 7, but I will be there well before to make sure we get the area near the bathrooms, water and parking. I will drive out to Murrell Park tonight after work and speak to those camping to let them know of the change. I will also print custom maps to leave at the main gate of Murrell Park Saturday morning giving directions to the new location in case someone doesn�t get the message about this change.

Again I apologize for the last minute change of venue, but it�s the best decision to make given our current situation.

Josh

With whole peninsula closed off that includes the boat ramp, parking becomes a major issue at Murrell Park because the majority of the parking spots are located on that peninsula. The Corp is pretty strict about not parking on the grass, so even around the campsites parking would still be a big issue.

The decision to move was made because of the lack of parking and lack of access to the water due to the shoreline line consisting of mostly rocky cliffs. The boat ramp being closed is not the issue, the issue was the whole peninsula where the boat ramp is located and holds the most parking is closed off.

Josh, thanks for organizing this and making the tough decisions!!! Whatever we do will be an awesome event so don't sweat it!!! Those of us camping will spread the word when we people show up thru the day, as well.