Unique Stay in a TeePee in Rusk KOA

If you’ve dreamed of camping in a Tipi or TeePee, then visit Rusk KOA. It was by far the most unique paces I’ve ever camped.

Where is the Rusk KOA?

Ok, so you might be thinking, where is Rusk, Texas? The Rusk Kampgrounds of America is located in Rusk, a small town that has roots in the railroads. Much of its success banked on the town’s ability to transport goods through the city.

Rusk was Built on the Railroad

Rusk is about 160 miles north of Houston, 125 miles southeast of Dallas, and 186 miles east of Austin. It is perfectly situated to make a visit to either of these large Texas cities in just a short day trip.

Today you can step back in time at the Texas State Railroad, where you can ride in vintage coaches. The trains take you through the Piney Woods from Rusk to Palestine, TX. Here’s a video from Texas Highways magazine about the area.

What is a KOA Teepee?

For those campers looking for more of a glamping experience, look no further than a teepee in Rusk KOA. While rustic in appearance, this teepee is anything but plain and simple.

From the outside the teepee is designed with the canvas around the wooden poles , and an opening for entry. This one had also came with a fire pit for the outside and a table with four chairs. See a quick tour in this video.

Stepping inside was like walking into a different world, you are in for a treat here. The floor was wooden planks and the room was of course circular in shape.

Two queen futons were to your left and right, but in the middle of the tipi or teepee was an indoor propane tabletop fire feature.

Also included were a fridge, a trash can, small rolling cart for items, and a box fan. Simply decorated but had all the items needed for a comfortable stay.

It was cozy inside and as the temperature dropped , I appreciated the fire feature. I left it on throughout the night at its lowest setting and stayed warm through the night.

There were lights inside that plugged in to the multiple outlets available that were also Bluetooth speaker equipped. There were two speakers that gave our music a surround sound appeal.

The teepee in Rusk KOA itself was tucked into the piney woods and provided a great view of the East Texas sky. Coupled with a filling campfire meal and a great campfire, it was a perfect fall evening.

What amenities are at the Rusk KOA?

Nestled underneath pine trees and within steps of the main office , the teepee was convenient and close to nearby amenities.

Rusk KOA Amenities

50 Max Amp Propane
100′ Max Length Kamping Kitchen
Wi-Fi Bike/ Pedal Kart Rentals
Cable TV Dog Park
Pool (5/1 – 10/1) Pavilion

Even the dog park was nestled under the piney woods for your pup to relax in. The pool, although closed on my visit looked very spacious and kept in great condition. The WIFI was strong, the kids got to stream a film on Netflix with no problem. It was a cold fall day in East Texas so we decided to save the Pedal Karts for another time but they looked awesome!

Unique Amenities at Rusk KOA

24 Hour Laundry and Showers Tetherball
Basketball for the Kids Salt Water Pool
Clubhouse Rally Space
Hiking Trails Playground
Horseshoe Pit Picnic Tables and Fire Pits
K-9 Pet Area Kamp Store
Teepee sites

At night, I took a stroll on the hiking trails and marveled at the piney woods that have been well preserved and taken care of at the campsite.

The Kamp Store had everything I needed which happened to be batteries for my flash light this trip. It was stocked with a great assortment of goods and also had a lot of RV items that you may have forgotten / need replaced.

Upon arrival I found the office personnel were very helpful , giving me a brief rundown of the available amenities and giving me a map of the campsite.

After a quick check in process the hospitality continued, showing me to my teepee in Rusk KOA and also helping me with the indoor fire feature. When I got settled and before they left for the evening, they checked on me to make sure there was nothing I needed.

Showers and Bathrooms at Rusk KOA

The showers were immaculate with many available and very hot and perfect pressure to boot.

They had a stool to set things on, a hat rack on the inside door to hang clothes, a towel rack, and a mat on the floor. They were separated right across from the bathrooms , near the office.

This trip was somewhere I had looked forward to for a long time. Visiting the teepee was on my KOA bucket list and my love for the tall pines was satisfies here. A quiet campground coupled with a peaceful setting made for a great trip that I look forward to revisiting soon!