Official April 8, 2024 Total Solar Eclipse Fredericksburg TX Rally

[John E Davies]

EDIT 06/05/23. FYI Update with tent camping at the park. There are still some spots left if you want to attend and rough it for a while. Four nights for $100, unload your truck, walk to your 20 feet x 20 feet spot, park truck in nearby parking lot. You have to pay for four nights but you can arrive any time. This might be a way for a local Ollie owner to attend without actually bringing the trailer. JD

Only one standard size vehicle parking permit is included with your reservation. Absolutely no vehicles, golfcarts, motorcycles, scooters, trailers, or any other type of motorized or wheeled vessel will be allowed in the camping area. No Trailers, Motorhomes, or Oversized vehicles rated larger than a 3/4 ton pickup truck and vehicles longer than ****16ft*** or wider than 6ft. Tent camping area is a pack in and pack out format a vehicle unloading area will be provided. Then vehicles must be immediately parked in the designated Tent Camping Parking areas. Tent camping parking areas are within close walking distance from the Tent Camping area. 
Tent spaces are approximately 20X20 feet and only 6 occupants permitted per space. Only traditional tents not exceeding 300 square feet that can be secured to the ground will be allowed in the camping area. No Trailer or Vehicle type tents will be allowed.
Absolutely no fires, only propane grills are permitted.

NOTE: 16 feet is a mid sized truck! My Land Cruiser 200 is 16.25’. A Suburban is about 19’… They don’t want long vehicles.

————————————————

This is a spinoff from this thread:

https://olivertraveltrailers.com/forums/topic/4138-official-ollie-eclipse-rallies-total-solar-eclipse-04082024/

Please read that for general info and for general eclipse remarks, this one is just for this Lady Bird Johnson RV Park part of it. I plan to post member names, hull numbers and campsite numbers. Scroll down to the next posts for links to the RV park and some pictures. Places are going FAST, do not delay a minute if you want to come here in 2024. You will not be able to “wing it” and hope to find a place to park the day before, no way….. having a reserved spot will take away a huge mental stress. I am listing these in order received. Let me know if you want me to add info such as your real name(s).

***List updated 06/24/23*** There are ELEVEN Ollies as of this date! Woohoo!

Ralph Mawyer, LE2 Hull 625, San Antonio Texas, site 66

John and Jac Davies, LE2 Hull 218 “Mouse”, Spokane Washington, site 11  (NOTE SOLD SITE 11, will be in the Grassy Tent Area in an old school tent.)

Art and Diane Flynn, "Max burner", 2017 LE2 Hull 226, Placitas New Mexico, Site 11

Carl Hansen, LE Hull 924 “Lil Tow”, Oregon, site 24B

Galway Girl, LE2 Hull 505 “Galway Girl”, Everett Washington, site 44

Kathy & Brad Tewart, LE2 Hull 1095, Katy Texas, site 70

Bob and Elizabeth Cox, LE2 Hull 737, Florence Alabama, site 64

Mike and Marianne Hermann, LE2 Hull ?, Scottsdale Arizona, site 13

Alan and Judy Wasik, LE2 Hull 759, Strawberry Plains, Tennessee, site 30

Donna and Paul Polk, LE2 Hull 414 “2 HOBOS”, Berryville, Virginia, site 56

Bob and Marsha Pancoast, LE2 Hull 108. Carnation, Washington, site 23

Dave & Lisa Kelly, LE2 Hull #1247, Fort Myers Beach, FL, Site # 24A

*************************

Ralph Mawyer said: “ It's a great little park, but please note, they are really strict about no extra vehicles for that weekend, so that folks don't book a space and invite everyone they know.  Be sure and read the rules.”

John Davies

Spokane WA

[John E Davies]

RESERVED FOR RALLY INFO. (Some is directly copied from the main thread.)

 

   On 4/8/2022 at 7:05 AM,  Ralph Mawyer said:

For those near central Texas/Hill Country, Fredericksburg LadyBird park started taking reservations for the eclipse this morning.  Will go fast.  Fri-Tue, flat rate of $500. Non-refundable, but transferable.  

https://www.fbgtx.org/343/Lady-Bird-Johnson-RV-Park

https://www.fbgtx.org/1105/2024-Total-Solar-Eclipse

THANKS! I just grabbed Site 11, there are plenty of spots as of this MINUTE (“We have made a few reservations today”) but you should act fast FAST if you want a reservation. It would be great to have a mini Ollie rally here. This is for a Friday arrival through Tuesday morning departure, four nights, the eclipse is Monday about noon. Full hookups including wifi. They have a primitive camping overflow lot, but that is not reservable.

Here are the official rules and info, you should read them all and then call with your credit card handy.

https://www.fbgtx.org/DocumentCenter/View/4736/LBJMP-Rule-Document-for-Eclipse

That is a really hard doc to print, it has way too many colors and a black background,. I made better copies, here is one in size 10 font:

2024 Total Solar Eclipse - RULES - LADY BIRD JOHNSON MUNICIPAL PARK size 10 font.rtfd.zip

And one in size 12 front for those of you with weaker eyes 😉

2024 Total Solar Eclipse - RULES - LADY BIRD JOHNSON MUNICIPAL PARK size 12 font.rtfd.zip

This shows the location with the path of totality:

From this map page:

http://xjubier.free.fr/en/site_pages/solar_eclipses/TSE_2024_GoogleMapFull.html?Lat=30.20780&Lng=-98.86356&Zoom=9&LC=1

If you click a spot, a popup appears with details about the eclipse at those coordinates. This is for Frederiicksburg. 4 minutes 23 seconds of totality! Woohoo. That is almost twice as long as my last one.

https://discover.hubpages.com/travel/Things-to-See-and-Do-in-Fredericksburg-Texas-Lady-Bird-Johnson-Municipal-Park-Campgrounds-with-RV-Hookups#gid=ci02723bc3b00224ad&pid=things-to-see-and-do-in-fredericksburg-texas-lady-bird-johnson-municipal-park-campgrounds-with-rv-hookups-MTc2MjY5MDQ1NzM2MzUwODkz

Google Earth pics, this will not be a quiet place to stay…..

This is an old image:

I actually like watching planes takeoff and land, there will be some very fancy biz-jets arriving daily for the eclipse. And I plan to set up my camera for a long time lapse video for Monday afternoon when they all line up and take off 😳… https://www.gillespiecounty.org/page/airport

The racetrack is a dirt thoroughbred race horse track, no noise …. https://www.fredericksburgescapes.com/blog/live-pari-mutuel-horse-racing-gillespie

John Davies

Spokane WA

[John E Davies]

Official park images

Pecan Orchard:

Upper Loop:

John Davies

Spokane WA

[John E Davies]

LINKS OF INTEREST:

“If you’re looking forward to 2024’s eclipse but don’t want all the logistical hassles, why not join Sky & Telescope’s tour to the heart of Texas? From our private viewing site in Fredericksburg, you’ll experience 4m 23s of totality — just 5 seconds short of the maximum duration anywhere along the path. Click here to get more information and a reservation link.” … https://skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-news/countdown-two-years-2024-american-eclipse/

Video at this interesting site, with lots of local links: …The 2024 eclipse in Fredericksburg, Texas, USA - Elclipse2024.org

John Davies

Spokane WA

[Mike and Carol]

Since Fredericksburg is in our back yard we will participate in any activities whether we camp at LBJ Park or not.  Mike

[John E Davies]

Mike, please add a list of recommended tourist activities, keeping in mind how chaotic things will get. You made a few comments in the other thread, maybe you could expand on them here? Got a particular favorite winery or brew pub? Thanks,

John Davies

Spokane WA

[Ralph Mawyer]

John>>> I actually like watching planes takeoff and land, there will be some very fancy biz-jets arriving for the eclipse. 

Yup, I was the first to call in, Marsha and one other employee were taking calls. I was their first, after bugging them about pre-registration and wait-listing two weeks prior. 😉  I booked three sites next to the runway, an Oliver, a 38' Tiffen Class A and a 25' Airstream.  A regular RV show. 

I do like watching the planes. 😉 66-67-68 in the Horseshoe.  It's a great little park, but please note, they are really strict about no extra vehicles for that weekend, so that folks don't book a space and invite everyone they know.  Be sure and read the rules.

 

[John E Davies]

4 minutes ago, Ralph Mawyer said:

John>>> I actually like watching planes takeoff and land, there will be some very fancy biz-jets arriving for the eclipse. 

Yup, I was the first to call in, Marsha and one other employee were taking calls. I was their first, after bugging them about pre-registration and wait-listing two weeks prior. 😉  I booked three sites next to the runway, an Oliver, a 38' Tiffen Class A and a 25' Airstream.  A regular RV show. 

I do like watching the planes. 😉 66-67-68 in the Horseshoe.  It's a great little park, but please note, they are really strict about no extra vehicles for that weekend, so that folks don't book a space and invite everyone they know.  Be sure and read the rules.

 

Ralph,, what is your site number?

John Davies

Spokane WA

[Ralph Mawyer]

1 minute ago, John E Davies said:

Ralph,, what is your site number?

John Davies

Spokane WA

#66

[Nancy K.]

This is an excellent museum in Fredericksburg.  https://www.pacificwarmuseum.org/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwgMqSBhDCARIsAIIVN1U2OHwKzPgM2smWghf4ilznptdpjG0APazFL5cKZZZFfRK4ed9YM6IaAulqEALw_wcB

[Galway Girl]

Just down the road east 14 Miles From Johnson City is the LBJ Ranch...which is a National Historic Park and a great attraction to visit.
To tour it you first check in at the LBJ State Park Office and pickup a drive through pass.  
Then you continue onward onto the actual LBJ Ranch compound.

 

In Johnson City you will find
• The National Park Visitor Center where park rangers are happy to
help you plan your visit 
• The Boyhood Home in which President Johnson spent his childhood
• The Johnson Settlement where the President’s grandparents first
settled in the 1860s

The LBJ Ranch is located 14 miles west of Johnson City near Stonewall, Texas. A second visitor center, operated by LBJ State Park and Historic Site, is located near the Ranch. In order to see the LBJ Ranch, visitors obtain a free driving permit at the LBJ State Park and Historic Site Visitor Center.

CS

[John E Davies]

On 4/10/2022 at 9:27 AM, Mike and Carol said:

Since Fredericksburg is in our back yard we will participate in any activities whether we camp at LBJ Park or not.  Mike

Have you thought about how you will park? That is going to be a huge issue, since there will not be any free guest parking anywhere close by. I am not sure how strict the RV Park is going to be about individual walk-ins. They sure seem to want to keep this from becoming a Monday eclipse party place. The days before probably will not be such a big problem.

John Davies

Spokane WA

[Carl Hansen]

On 4/10/2022 at 10:15 AM, Nancy K. said:

This is an excellent museum in Fredericksburg.  https://www.pacificwarmuseum.org/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwgMqSBhDCARIsAIIVN1U2OHwKzPgM2smWghf4ilznptdpjG0APazFL5cKZZZFfRK4ed9YM6IaAulqEALw_wcB

I’d love to check that out! Thanks!

[Mike and Carol]

7 hours ago, John E Davies said:

Have you thought about how you will park? That is going to be a huge issue, since there will not be any free guest parking anywhere close by. I am not sure how strict the RV Park is going to be about individual walk-ins. They sure seem to want to keep this from becoming a Monday eclipse party place. The days before probably will not be such a big problem.

I wasn’t thinking about being there for the actual eclipse.  I can sit on my back porch for that considering all the people from out of the area that will be on the road and gathering at public spots.  If there are any Oliver gatherings apart from the eclipse, we would try to attend.  I’m just not prepared to commit that far in advance for a campsite.

As far as things to see and do in the area a lot has already been mentioned.  As mentioned above, the Pacific War Museum has a lot to see.  It used to be called the Nimitz Museum, Admiral Nimitz was from Fredericksburg.  

There are a lot of wineries (a dozen or more) along highway 290 going east towards Austin.  Our favorite is Becker Vineyards in Stonewall, just outside of Fredericksburg.  It’s owned by Dr. Becker, an endocrinologist in San Antonio.  I’ve been taking my mother to see him about every other month recently for her thyroid.  There are other wineries on both sides of the highway, some with very nice tasting rooms.  

The LBJ Ranch is a National Parks site.  We found it very interesting to visit.  Also, just north of Fredericksburg about 15 miles, is Enchanted Rock State Nature Area/Park.  There is also camping there.  It’s a huge pink granite rock (biggest in the US I think) that is a state historic site.  Good hiking, lots of folks like to make the trek to the top of the rock, it’s pretty big.  

Downtown there are a lot of shops, brew pubs, wine tasting rooms and restaurants.  Something for everyone.  Mike

[Ralph Mawyer]

I'm tempted to keep it a secret, since it will be a zoo trying to find a place to eat those days, but the cafe at the airport has great breakfast and lunch...when open

https://www.hangarhotel.com/diner

And I'll drive up for lunch just to go here for apple strudel, turnovers, etc....

https://www.visitfredericksburgtx.com/listing/pritzer-sweet-shop/972/

 

[Kathy Tewart]

I'm so glad I checked the forum last night!  I booked site #70 for Kathy & Brad Tewart Hull 1095-which we will take delivery of on April 29!  So excited. Thanks

We are from Katy TX

 

[Bob and Elizabeth]

Site #64

Bob and Elizabeth Cox

Florence Alabama

LE2 Hull #737

 

 

[Trainman]

Living in Ft. Worth and going to Fredericksburg 2-3 times per year I can tell you it can be a ZOO just in normal times. The main highway runs right through the center of town and traffic can be bumper to bumper much of the time. All I can say is you best have all you duck in a row, as I feel it's going to be interesting at best. One good thing is you are in the Texas Hill Country and there is much to do within a 50 mile radius of Fredericksburg, Kerrville, Bandera, Boerne, are just a few that are all good places to go. 

trainman

[MnM]

Mike and Marianne Hermann

Site 13

Scottsdale AZ

LE2 - Number not assigned, pick up FEB 2023

Thanks for the idea and finding this location!

[John E Davies]

MikeH and Bob, welcome to the forum! Do either of you know how many spots are left - did the reservation person say? Seven Ollies is quite a rally, even if Fredericksburg is completely jam packed with visitors, we can at least wander around the campground and check out everybody’s trailers. And watch the business jets land and gather.

John Davies

Spokane WA

[Bob and Elizabeth]

Reservation personnel didn’t say. Looking forward to meeting all of you.

[rangered]

John Davies, you can add another Oliver camper to your list. We made our reservation on May 24, so we don't know how many vacancies are still available.

Alan and Judy Wasik

Strawberry Plains, Tennessee

Campsite 30

Hull # 759

Looking forward to meeting everyone! 

[MnM]

Thanks for the welcome to the forum!

I talked to the Manager Tuesday the 28th.   She told me there were several sites still left except in the Horseshoe Loop but I didn't ask about an exact number.  

 

Mike Hermann

[hobo]

John,

 

We just booked site #56.  Donna and Paul Polk, Hull #414 (2 HOBOS). Berryville, VA

Thanks for all the leg work.

Not too many sites left for smaller trailers such as ours so anyone thinking about it, should move out sooner rather than later.

[jdmmtx]

We just stayed at this park over 4th of July weekend. If you book in the Pecan Orchard section, know that it's pretty crowded. Some sites in that section back directly up to an adjoining site and the backs of trailers were ridiculously close to each other. Wouldn't be as bad if you happened to be backed up to another Oliver but not the best situation if a big boy is behind you. I would recommend sites 1, 10 and 57-60 in that section. The Horseshoe Loop and Upper Loop provide less shade but a bit more breathing room; I wouldn't recommend sites 71-73 in the Upper Loop unless you have a group and need all of them...again, they are on top of each other. This sounds like fun with multiple Olivers and we would consider attending except that we live in the path of totality. Enjoy Fredericksburg!