Jarhett Wenger has opened Galilee Oaks RV Park and Campgrounds in Hallsville after completing the purchase of the property on June 10, following what he described as a nine-month effort to secure the land. Wenger, who operates the park with his wife, Anna, said the idea developed while he was still working his regular route.
“This is my UPS route, and I found this beautiful piece of land right here,” Wenger said. “I’d come out, have my lunch break out here. And we tried for almost nine months to get this property, and on June 10, we were able to close on it.”
The park opened earlier this summer and currently features 13 concrete RV pads. According to Wenger, each pad is designed with approximately 30 feet of space between sites, a layout he said is not typical in many RV parks.
All pads are 45 feet long and are equipped with full hookups, including electricity, water, and plumbing. Each site includes 50-amp, 30-amp, and 20-amp breakers, allowing the park to accommodate RVs of varying sizes.
“All of our pads are 45 feet,” Wenger told Marshall News Messenger. “So everybody, no matter how big their RV is, can drop their RV here and drop their stabilizers and then be set.”
Wenger said the park is intended to balance access to outdoor space with amenities that meet the needs of modern travelers. Wireless internet access is planned to support guests who work remotely, reflecting a growing segment of RV travelers who combine extended stays with remote work.
Additional development plans include a covered common area with bathrooms, showers, and a laundry mat, as well as a lounge or office-style space for guests who need a dedicated place to work.
Recreational features are also part of the long-term plan. Campers will be able to fish at a pond adjacent to the property, and Wenger said he hopes to add a pickleball court in the future. “(We’re) just trying to make it as nice as possible, scenic as possible,” he said.
Wenger said building an RV park had been a long-standing goal. “I’ve always kind of wanted an RV park,” Wenger said. “So we did our best to make it as beautiful as possible.” He added that creating a welcoming environment is central to the park’s concept. “We want people to feel at home,” he said.
For industry professionals, Galilee Oaks offers a small-scale example of how spacing, pad length, and infrastructure decisions can be used to appeal to a broad range of RV owners, including large-rig travelers and remote workers.
The project also reflects how first-time operators are entering the market by starting with limited sites and planning phased amenity additions over time, rather than building out all features at once.
Wenger said he and his wife are looking forward to becoming part of the local business community and growing the park gradually. “I want (visitors) to come out here and feel like they’ve got a space of Texas that they can call their own,” he said.
Galilee Oaks RV Park and Campgrounds is located at 2561 Galilee Road in Hallsville. More information is available through the park’s Facebook page, by email at [email protected], or by phone at (903) 240-9623.