15th Annual South Florida Gathering 2026 (12/11-12/12 TBD)

[JckDanls 07]

So we're gonna go over to Pioneer Park the weekend of May 16th... I'll report back with news/results of the recon mission...

 

[Fueling Around]

I really like the looks of this park. Diane and I liked Hardee Lakes, too.

So we're gonna go over to Pioneer Park the weekend of May 16th... I'll report back with news/results of the recon mission...

We're going to make you work on this trip.
Besides trying trying to avoid Barney, you'll need to get campsite numbers. The map I downloaded didn't have any numbers

 

[JckDanls 07]

you'll need to get campsite numbers

It shows them on the reservation page when you hover over each site...

 

[JckDanls 07]

OK... So we will be at Pioneer Park in Zolfo Springs.... May15-17 ... Sites A14,15 ... As I said above this is a recon mission and to break Jason in with thier first ever camper... Anybody wants to come your more than welcome...

Make it a spring gathering...

 

[Fueling Around]

OK... So we will be at Pioneer Park in Zolfo Springs.... May15-17 ... Sites A14,15 ... As I said above this is a recon mission and to break Jason in with thier first ever camper... Anybody wants to come your more than welcome...

Make it a spring gathering...

Sounds fun, but we will back north by then.

 

[dougmays]

Howdy all!
I just called HH and there was a young energetic ranger girl that gave me some info, quite a change from the usual employees there. She said the park is still closed for camping (open for day trips) but they are expecting to open the end of summer into early fall. She also told me about the "notify me" thing that others have mentioned previously, i'm doing that now.

So my plan is to call back in another month and continue doing so until we hear back. @JckDanls 07 we are looking forward to the recon mission of Pioneer Park :) Maybe in a month or so we make a final decision?

 

[JckDanls 07]

So we're here at. Pioneer Park and I will say early that this is not the campgrounds we want.it's set up like we're looking for but the sites are nothing but sand and leaves. The bathhouse really sucks...

 

[Fueling Around]

Thanks for the report back Keith. I hope you had a great weekend with Jason
What's your thoughts if Highland doesn't open this summer?

 

[JckDanls 07]

Pioneer Park would work... Just that the bathhouse/bathrooms are a little bit of a walk and not all that nice... Also did not have a ranger (never seen one all weekend) up our ass all weekend...

So if HH isn't open I guess it's back to Hardee Lakes...

Nobody messed with us when we got the golf cart stuck in the mud at 1:30 in the morning.. Had to walk back about a half mile to get my truck and go pull it out...

 

[dougmays]

Golf cart Shenanigans haha!

I'm calling HH tomorow (monday) again to see how the progress is on the updates. I agree with Keith, if HH doesnt have their $hit together we can go ahead and book Hardee.

 

[Fueling Around]

Read my mind Doug.
I'm hoping the 6 month mark may bring some good news.
Downside to HH is the boys cannot bring their golf cars.

 

[JckDanls 07]

It's just that I always bring to much stuff to bring golf cart to HH...

 

[JckDanls 07]

So far all sites except 13 are still open in the same area we were in last year at Hardee Lakes

Highlands Hammock still shows no sites available...

 

[Fueling Around]

So far all sites except 13 are still open in the same area we were in last year at Hardee Lakes

Highlands Hammock still shows no sites available...

So what are you thinking Keith now that we are 6 months away from the gathering?

 

[dougmays]

I called HH and the girl told me to call back in August. Should we just go with Hardee Lakes and call it a day? Or we could make like Aug 5th the decision day.

 

[Fueling Around]

So far all sites except 13 are still open in the same area we were in last year at Hardee Lakes

Highlands Hammock still shows no sites available...

Do you want to move the gathering further west to get away from the camp ranger?

I called HH and the girl told me to call back in August. Should we just go with Hardee Lakes and call it a day? Or we could make like Aug 5th the decision day.

My opinion is to book at Hardee Lakes so we can keep the group together.
While I like Highland Hammock, what happens if they don't re open this year? We're already 6 months past their completion date
I don't know when Hardee reservations start filling

 

[JckDanls 07]

OK... We'll give it until the end of the month... If nothing changes we will go back to the same sites as last year at Hardee Lakes

I'm not a fan of the waterside sites there as they are all in a straight line... I like the group feeling better...

We'll just deal with Barney the best we can...

 

[Fueling Around]

A decision! I agree for the cut off at end of month.
If HH opens in say September what is the chances of getting the group area reserved for everyone?
At Hardee Lakes, I was thinking we would move further up to sites 19-23 and 31-36 to get away from the ranger (Barney) and keep our noise segregated. But I see site 36 is a ? Not sure what that means to Hardee Lakes.
My wife and I are planning to stay Wednesday to Monday at either campground

 

[JckDanls 07]

Barney is actually up towards that end... Really right about centered ... I was just staying where we were for a shorter walk to the bath house for those that walk to it...

 

[Fueling Around]

Barney is actually up towards that end... Really right about centered ... I was just staying where we were for a shorter walk to the bath house for those that walk to it...

I thought you were basically across from Barney's driveway.
So what did he see when going out on patrol?
My wife liked the direct walk to the bath house from the lower side.