Lost Alaskan RV Park Is A Texas Treasure

Just outside of the rural West Texas community of Alpine, 4,500 feet above sea level and where the sprawling Texas landscape meets the Chisos mountain range is Lost Alaskan RV Park, where there’s always something to do, whether you leave the park or not.

By day, the Lost Alaskan and surrounding region offers plenty of activity for all ages—and by night, admire the clear Texas sky that’s blanketed with stars as bright as you’ve ever seen.

“Word of mouth among RVers due to our customer service is what brings people here,” explained owners of Lost Alaskan RV Park Todd and Shazlyn Tays. Photo credit: Rene Agredano

Owners of Lost Alaskan, Todd and Shazlyn Tays. Photo credit: Rene Agredano

Catering to snowbirds under the family-ownership of Todd and Shazlyn Tays, Lost Alaskan Park constantly experiences new and repeat visitors since the couple purchased the 17-acre RV park three-and-a-half-years-ago. After all, with 98 large sites, competitive rates for full hook-ups, and an assortment of park amenities, Lost Alaskan is the perfect vacation destination or the ideal rest stop after a long day on the road.

Having a repeat clientele and solid reputation among RVers says a lot, considering the park is approximately 65 miles from the nearest Interstate with other camping options in the region.

“Word of mouth among RVers due to our customer service is what brings people here,” explained Todd Tays. “We are always here on site and we escort every customer to their site upon arrival. We show them the hook-ups, make sure their rig is centered, and ensure their slides are cleared. We also do a walk-around before we leave them.”

With a staff of eight workampers, the amenities and grounds are well-maintained. In fact, its the only RV park in the immediate area with a swimming pool, plus there’s a splash pad for kids, a playground, a dog park, a recreation room for social activities, and large, accommodating bathhouses, which are cleaned to perfection daily.

What’s more, all the essential campsite features and hookups are available–including excellent WiFi. If there’s anything you need, just ask.

Amenities at a glance

• Pool, rec room, gift shop
• Playground, horseshoes, pet run
• Laundry, showers, RV wash
• 70 pull-through Sites
• 23 back-in Sites
• Several covered tent campsites in quiet, grassy areas
• Water, electrical, 50-amp, cable, sewer, big rig access

There are 98-large sites with competitive rates. Photo credit: Rene Agredano

A former mechanic for a Chevrolet dealership, Tays explained that while they are not licensed or do not offer mechanical services, he is very capable of diagnosing a range of RV problems or electrical issues should they arise.

“If a camper needs anything at all, we will either help them figure out what the problem is, what they need, and offer a ride into Alpine if they need parts,” said Tays.

Breakdowns aside, the park is a gateway to many attractions. Nearby is Big Bend National Park (which is home to the largest protected area of Chihuahuan Desert topography and ecology in the United States,) that offers several activities such as hiking, biking, birding (as more than 450 species of birds recorded in the park), and river tours on the majestic Rio Grande River.

“About 60 percent of visitors hit Big Bend when they visit,” says Tays. “But down by Big Bend is the state park and a road (the El Camino del Rio) along the Rio Grande River, which is one of the top ten scenic drives in America,” said Tays.

Pets of all kinds are also welcome in the park. Photo credit: Rene Agredano

Twenty miles north of Lost Alaskan is Fort Davis, a National Historic Site that is considered one of the best examples of an Indian Wars’ frontier military post in the Southwest, as well as the McDonald Observatory, one of the largest public observatories in North America.

There’s also Balmorhea State Park, where visitors can scuba dive or fish. RVers can also take in the unique experience of admiring Marfa Lights, which are a series of mysterious lights in the night’s sky. You have to see it to believe it. Both are located no more than 15 miles from the park.

With the busy seasons for Lost Alaskan being winter, spring, and fall, it’s always wise to book ahead. But no matter when you visit, expect pleasant weather with little or no humidity, and lower overall temperatures than other parts of the region.

“People don’t realize there is high terrain in Texas,” said Tays. “We are trying to get the word out that we don’t have a blistering hot Texas climate. We are in the mountains and there’s no humidity or hot temperatures compared to other parts of the State. I have seen 110-degrees in Big Bend, while it was 95 here, as the elevation is much higher. Last year, we never hit 100 degrees.”

While it’s always business as usual for the Tays, owning and operating an RV park is a business they truly enjoy.

“This is a great experience,” added Tays. “We like it so much because people are on vacation or they are retired and are traveling. Our customers are great people. We wouldn’t trade that for anything.”

Find out all the details and what people are saying about Lost Alaskan RV Park on RV LIFE Campgrounds.

Photo gallery of The Lost Alaskan and surrounding region:

Steve Fennell