Creekwood Gardens is an RV park that is located in Simsboro, Louisiana, which is found on the northern side of the state. The business offers a total of twenty RV spots, 4 cabins, and eight tent sites for reservation. Every RV space has access to full hookups. Each location has a fire pit, and the cabins come with small kitchens for visitors to make their own meals. The property also has a conservatory, which is frequently used to hold celebrations as it has a venue. One of the more common events held at the conservatory is weddings. Visitors are able to bring their pets to the RV park and tent sites, but only two of the 4 cabins are pet-friendly. Gary, the owner of Creekwood Gardens, would like his guests to feel relaxed when they visit the establishment.
Creekwood Gardens offers various types of reservations, including RV spaces, cabins, and dry tent slots. The RV locations come with full hookups, including water, sewer, and electricity. According to the owner, Gary, a majority of them have privacy fences or small patio areas. Six of the RV sites are pull-throughs, while the rest of them are back-in only. Regardless of which one a guest stays at, they all come with fire pits, gravel pads, and trees. The eight tent sites are separate from the RV spaces and have a bathhouse nearby. The bathhouse also has a washer and dryer for clothes. Each tent area also comes with fire pits, and there is access to water and electricity in the general vicinity where multiple guests can gather.
Gary explains that he has two types of cabins. Two of the 4 cabins were built about 30 years ago with the intention of being for couples wanting a getaway. These cabins have a jacuzzi tub, a fireplace, a small kitchen, and a fire pit in front of the lodge. The other three cabins were made for families with children. The kitchens have a microwave, coffeepot, and a full-sized refrigerator. Finally, grills are located near the exterior of each cabin.
The business has a total of 40 acres of land, and much of it is comprised of hiking and biking trails that visitors can use at their leisure. According to the owner, about four miles of paths are available to guests. The conservatory is an outdoor venue that can host celebrations and parties. People can hold events, including weddings and family reunions. The venue can hold up to 150 people per activity.
The area around Creekwood Gardens has many trees and, as the owner describes, "rolling hills." He mentions, "When people think of Louisiana, they think of alligators and swamp, but here on the north end of the state, we have forests and hills." The property is in a rural area, and Gary states, "we're five miles from anything." The nearest city, Arcadia, has a grocery store and a few restaurants. There are also a variety of attractions that visitors can find in the vicinity. According to Gary, Driskill Mountain is about four miles away and is the highest point in Louisiana. There are also several historical landmarks nearby, including Bonnie & Clyde Death Spot, which is a marker where the famous criminal duo, Bonnie & Clyde, were killed.
The owner of Creekwood Gardens, Gary, would like his guests to feel satisfied and peaceful while visiting his property. Gary remarks, "Most of the city folks want to come here to get out of the city life for a while." In an effort to help guests have a relaxing experience, he offers walking trails, swings, and other areas where people can have time to themselves. Gary interacts with his guests on a regular basis, stating that "it's a personal thing" for him to get to know his visitors.
There are several policies that are enforced by the business. Quiet time begins every night at 10:00 p.m. and continues until the morning. Smoking is allowed on the property, though the owner asks that people dispose of their cigarettes properly when they are done. Visitors are allowed to bring pets with them if they are staying at an RV site, tent space, or in one of the two pet-friendly cabins. If a patron wants to bring a pet to one of the pet-approved cabins, they must inform the owner. Pets are to remain on a leash while they are on the premises, and the pet owners must clean up after their animals.
Many people have visited Creekwood Gardens, and a few have left reviews of their experiences at the property. Some of the aspects that past guests mention include the grounds, the gardens, and the venue. One person wrote, "We loved walking around the serene gardens and walkways after a long day's drive. Beautiful wedding/party venue with lots of shade." Another visitor that spent time at Creekwood Gardens stated, "The owner was very nice and even helped me hook up the RV. The other part of the property is a wedding venue. The gardens are pretty." The business is open year-round, and the busiest time of the year tends to be during the summer months of July and August, though Gary does mention that they receive many "snowbirds," or people who are in the area for the winter weather later in the year. The typical demographic of guests tends to be a wide range of ages. Gary explains that they have many families visit and pitch tents or reserve the cabins, but they also have many retired couples that bring their RVs to the park as well.
Gary, who currently manages Creekwood Gardens, has owned the property since 1978. He mentions that the 40 acres of land have been in his family since the 1850s, dating back to his great-grandfather. Before it had cabins and RV spaces, it was primarily used as farmland to grow crops. Gary moved to the area, created a pond, and began landscaping the acreage. Then, in 1991, one of his friends asked if he could have his wedding on Gary's land, which Gary was happy to oblige. Soon after, the owner began hosting weddings for others, and he decided to build a cabin so the bride and groom could have a place to stay after the wedding if they wanted. As time went on, he added the RV sites, more cabins, and areas for tents to be pitched.
Gary explains that he was led into the industry because he's "a people person." He mentions that he enjoys being able to spend time outside and being able to share his love for nature with others. In the future, Gary would like to build another cabin, though he is still determining when he will do so.
2146 Louisiana 147
Simsboro, Louisiana 71275
United States
Campground
Gary and Amy Cathey
