Buying our 2026 Venture Sienna 130 — who we have affectionately named Betty—was all about getting out, exploring, and having some fun. This weekend marked our second-ever official road trip with her.
Wanting a quick and easy getaway from the DFW area, we hitched up and headed east to Stillwater RV Resort near Tyler, Texas. The site setup made things incredibly smooth, the amenities were fantastic, and we had an absolute blast. Here are the highlights from our stay!
🍂 Fall Vibes at the Welcome Center!
We loved the festive touches around the property right from the start. They had this awesome vintage farm truck near check in completely decorated for autumn, complete with pumpkins and hay bales. It gave the whole place a really welcoming, seasonal feel right as we arrived.
While we aren’t traveling with kids, we couldn’t help but notice what an amazing setup they have here for children. Everything was beautifully decorated for fall, including a working pumpkin patch that actually tells kids the story of how a pumpkin grows. They also have a barrel train and tons of outdoor games to keep the little ones entertained.
Inside, their general store is incredibly well-equipped! They even have a mini Build-A-Bear workshop tucked inside. One of these days, I swear I am going to drag Andy in there to stuff a moose, a bear, a longhorn… honestly, whatever it takes to see him holding a tiny birth certificate for a plushie.
🍺 Afternoons by the Water!
We weren’t entirely sure what the pool situation would look like, but this setup turned out to be a massive highlight of our trip. It is broken up into a large main pool, a lazy river, and an adults-only pool area with a swim-up bar called The Watering Hole.
There is plenty of seating all around, but we immediately gravitated toward the underwater tables right next to the bar. Having a table right in the pool with an umbrella for shade was our absolute favorite spot to relax with a craft beer… or two!
The resort also did a great job with the music. They played a fun mix of songs from different decades that kept the whole area feeling lively and upbeat, making it an easy place to just hang out and lose track of time.
🏈 Game Days at the Clubhouse!
Just a short walk from our site is the resort’s clubhouse, and it ended up being a really fun hub for the weekend. The interior has a beautiful, rustic Texas design with a gorgeous corrugated metal wall and steer skulls.
It’s an incredible space for hanging out with big-screen TVs, pool tables, and an arcade area. We were able to see both the Cowboys and the Bears games over the weekend, relaxed, and enjoyed probably the best chili dogs we’ve ever eaten.
One of our favorite things; once you check in, the resort sends text messages throughout your stay letting you know when different games are starting, what activities are happening, and what the food and drink specials are. It made it so easy to know what was going on without having to constantly check a flyer or schedule.
Beyond the cool spaces and communications, the entire staff here was incredibly helpful and friendly from start to finish. We have to give a huge kudos to our favorite bartender, Clayton, who absolutely nailed the hospitality and kept the drinks flowing.
👋 Joining the RV Community!
One of the most unexpected highlights of this trip was how it made us feel part of a completely new community. We’re still figuring out what to call everyone—campers, RVers, or just road trippers—but the people we met were some of the nicest folks you could ever cross paths with.
That friendliness was especially true when it came to our setup. At all of 17 feet long, Betty was parked in a literal sea of massive motor coaches and luxury fifth wheels. After two trips under our belts, we can officially boast that we had the absolute tiniest RV in the park!
But little Betty gets a ton of attention. That is what makes this whole community so fun—you can be parked right next to a $500,000 grand coach, and people will still stroll by to compliment your sweet little camper built for two. Because she’s compact, it forces us to spend all our time outside, which naturally opened the door for conversations with people strolling by. We ended up chatting with a lovely couple all the way from Seattle, and a single gal traveling down from Palm Beach, Florida. No matter where anyone was from or what they were driving, everyone was incredibly welcoming to two newbies like us.
🌕 Stargazing from Site #60!
After all the fun at the pools, the clubhouse games, and the great conversations around the resort, there was nothing quite like winding down at our own campsite for the evening.
On our last night, we just kicked back under a beautiful, starry Texas sky and that big, bright moon.
We set up our lantern on the plaid tablecloth, relaxed, and just enjoyed the peace and quiet. It was the perfect, relaxing conclusion to a highly successful second road trip with Betty, and we can’t wait to see where we take her next!
Calling All Happy Campers! 🏕️
Where are you taking your RV this fall? Have you stayed at Stillwater or found another great East Texas getaway spot? Drop your favorite campgrounds in the comments below! 👇
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