[wind]
- J.D. MILLER: It's a very, very beautiful park.
Very small, quaint.
Unknown to a point.
We most definitely are a hidden gem.
Not many people know about this park
because they hear about the bigger parks.
Once they find out about this park,
we see them coming back again and again.
[bird call]
[gentle music]
- TOMMY NEYLAND: There's woods, there's open space.
Every bit of it just real picturesque
and something that you won't forget.
[upbeat music]
[calm music]
- I'm J.D. Miller,
I'm the superintendent of Fort Boggy State Park.
We consider ourselves East Texas.
We're about 45 minutes north of Huntsville,
about two hours north of Houston.
[woodpecker pecking]
Tree-lined terrain.
We have the oak trees,
we have the bois d'arcs,
we have hickory, uh,
just about every imaginable tree, really.
I consider it more of a true forest area.
A hilly country as well.
[birds calling]
Back in the 1800s, there was an actual fort here named
Fort Boggy after Boggy Creek.
Our little 12-acre lake is pretty much what everybody
comes out to enjoy.
It is spring fed, so it's actually cooler
than the actual creek itself.
It is a no-wake lake.
They can get out and swim and fish.
[fly casting whooshes]
We do have a one-mile hiking and biking trail
that goes around our lake.
We do have the two-mile hiking trail and biking trail
that encompass our primitive campsites.
They are spaced out.
No electricity, no running water,
it's true roughing it.
It's a hike in and enjoy actual nature.
We do have an actual pavilion for the rental.
It will hold up to 40 to 50 guests at one time.
Pretty much used every weekend.
Our cabins seem to be our main attraction.
It is glamping.
The cabins are very, very beautiful.
You have your queen-sized bed,
bunk bed with an actual trundle.
It is heated and air-conditioned.
A little bit more home comforts.
[gentle music]
[fire crackles]
- We could not do a short trip if we had to bring it all.
It's just not worth it.
- We like the amenities that the cabin brings
as far as a nice cushy bed.
- If you're not into bugs and things as much,
you can escape that.
[laughs]
Having a bed and not having to worry about the shelter aspect
is good, and it's good for any kind of weather.
- At the same time, you know, a little bit of rustic with
the environment and the fire that we can still have,
so it's just right.
- JENNIFER: Just a little escape.
[upbeat music]
- We hear it all the time, "We never knew y'all were here,"
"We never heard of Fort Boggy,"
"Man, y'all have a beautiful park."
If you don't want the big park experience,
most definitely come to Fort Boggy,
the small park experience that you will never forget.
[gentle music]