Union Grove

Summary

Union Grove Park is a scenic campground located on the southwestern shore of Stillhouse Hollow Lake in central Texas. Visitors can enjoy a variety of activities such as water sports, hiking, biking, horseback riding, hunting and fishing. The 58-mile shoreline provides many amenities such as RV and tent sites, screen shelters, boat ramp, swimming beach, fishing dock, playground and restrooms with hot showers. The lake is home to many species of birds, fish and wildlife and is also close to Salado Village, Chalk Ridge Falls Environmental Learning Center and Fort Hood Army Base.

Overview

Union Grove Park is located on the southwestern shore of Stillhouse Hollow Lake in central Texas. The lake offers a wide variety of recreation opportunities, including water sports, hiking, biking, horseback riding, picnicking, large group pavilions, hunting, fishing and simply enjoying the scenery.

This facility has RV and tent camping sites with water and electric hookups available, as well as three screen shelters available for guests without camping equipment. The facility is one of only two reservable campgrounds on the lake.

Stillhouse Hollow Lake was created by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers with the construction of Stillhouse Hollow Dam in 1968. The 6,430-acre lake is located 16 miles upstream of the confluence of the Lampasas and Leon Rivers, which flow into the Little River.

Recreation

With 58 miles of shoreline, Stillhouse Hollow Lake is an often uncrowded haven for boaters and fishermen. The campground has a four-lane boat ramp, and visitors who do not have motor boats, canoes or kayaks can rent them nearby.

Families can enjoy soaking up the sun and swimming at the beach within the facility, or hanging out at the playground.

Birding is also a favorite pastime, with hawks, Great Blue herons, ducks, geese, many species of songbirds, bobwhite quail, Rio Grande turkey and even an occasional bald eagle, yielding year-round opportunities for bird sightings.

Facilities

The campground has more than 30 campsites, including RV and tent sites with electric hookups, double sites and screened shelters. The park offers restrooms with flush toilets and hot showers, a swimming beach, fishing dock, playground and boat ramp.

Natural Features

Aside from two campgrounds and a nearby day-use park, very little of the lakeshore is developed. The edges consist of rocky beaches and sandy bluffs. Although much of the lake area is forested, the campground has rolling hills that are mostly open with little to no shade.

Most campsites have a view of the water, with some right along the shoreline and others within a short walking distance.

The lake has noticeably clear and deep water that is inhabited by largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, channel catfish and many birds. A man-made wetland was constructed on the south shore of the lake to provide an additional 10 acres of wildlife habitat in the lake area.

Nearby Attractions

Within a short drive, the Village of Salado offers golf, art galleries and shopping, among other pastimes.

Chalk Ridge Falls Environmental Learning Center is below the Stillhouse Hollow Lake Dam. The center has about five miles of hiking trails, including a one-mile nature trail along the Lampasas River, a spring-fed creek, a waterfall, bridges and several wildlife viewing points.

Stillhouse Hollow Lake is located near the Fort Hood Army Base, which has several points of interest for the military buff.