The Boulders Lake Tyler: Get Outside in East Texas

To live in East Texas is to live in a region blessed with abundant natural beauty. Towering pine trees, rolling hills, bluebird skies, wildflowers, and wildlife make it easy to find inspiration. If you are looking for a way to reconnect with nature in a family-friendly environment, look no further than The Boulders at Lake Tyler. Nestled on the shores of Lake Tyler, you’ll find everything needed for a perfect nature retreat.

To call The Boulders at Lake Tyler a campground would be an understatement.

Even the term RV Park doesn’t adequately describe what you’ll find. With lodging options that range from primitive campsites all the way to waterfront cabins, perhaps an outdoor resort is the best descriptor.

The 200-acre tract, previously known as Chapman Park, has been a local fishing spot since the 1940s. Over the years, the park had fallen into disrepair. Contractor, Paul Taylor, arrived on the scene in 2014 to help with some tile work after a local businessman leased the property. There were only a bait shop and a fishing barge at that time, both in need of improvement. As the tiling job drew to completion, the pair found they shared a similar vision for the property. Taylor accepted a permanent position as the Facility Manager and remains in that role today.

Improvements began immediately to the bait shop and the fishing barge once known as Fitz and Opal’s Barge. Brush was cleared, and concrete was poured. “I started mixing concrete and pouring pads (for RV sites) four at a time,” says Taylor. “That was October 2015. We were sold out for Memorial Day Weekend in 2016.” After that, the pair never looked back.

Today there are close to sixty RV sites at The Boulders at Lake Tyler, all with concrete pads, picnic tables, and fire rings along with primitive sites for tent camping.

Don’t want to rough it? Try one of the four cabins. Each lake-front unit comes fully equipped with linens, cookware, and dishes and sleeps six. Enjoy cool evenings or catch a sunrise on the covered deck.

Cabin at The Boulders Lake Tyler

“Something we’re really excited about is glamping,” Taylor notes as he reaches for the pencil behind his ear and begins sketching a diagram on the side of a large cardboard box. The box contains one of the ten safari-style canvas tents that will be installed on raised platforms. Each furnished unit will have heating and cooling and a front deck. Glampers can enjoy star-gazing at secluded lake-front spots amid the tall pines. “They’ll be available this summer – maybe even earlier,” Taylor adds.

The Boulders retro-themed common area features the bait shop, a bathhouse with laundry facilities, and a large event center.

Guests can shoot pool, play cornhole, or enjoy the views and massive fireplace inside – provided the building hasn’t been rented for a special event. Weekends find food trucks lining the drive, offering a variety of delicious treats. Delightful hand-painted murals can be seen scattered throughout the common area – many depict postcards from the 40s and 50s. Brightly colored, vintage neon signs mark each building adding to the retro feel – all are a nod to the park’s origins in 1948.

Bait Shop at The Boulders Lake Tyler

If relaxing and enjoying the peacefulness of nature isn’t enough, you’ll find plenty to do. Of course, there’s fishing. Whether you cast a line from the fishing barge or your boat, you’ll find everything you need on-site, including ethanol-free boat gas available 24 hours a day.

Take a hike or rent a kayak.

Wildlife is abundant here, and both of these activities practically guarantee you’ll see something. If you’re looking for something a little more adventurous, why not try paddleboarding? You’ll see the lake from a new perspective. You can even try a paddleboard yoga class for the ultimate relaxation—seasonal rentals and classes available onsite.

Stay for the day, a weekend, or longer —swim, boat, hike, fish, and picnic your way to the perfect vacay. Visit The Boulders at Lake Tyler for more information.