In the late 1800s, pioneer and settler J. H. Ratcliff operated a small sawmill in the East Texas forests. In 1899, the Central Coal and Coke Company (4C company) of Kansas City, Missouri began buying land in the area including the land on which was located the Ratcliff′s sawmill. Their land holdings eventually included more than 120,000 acres of timberland and Ratcliff′s sawmill was used to build the much larger 4C mill.

By June 1902, the fourteen-acre 4C mill complex was producing 350,000 board feet of lumber per day. However, by 1917, the company had cut all the larger old growth trees that they had available, after which, at least until 1920, the company began harvesting the smaller trees, but after 1920, the Four C mill could not keep the mill profitable and ceased operation.

During October 1934, CCC company 1803 set up camp in the area to begin building the Ratcliff Lake Recreation Area within the Davy Crockett National Forest. One of the first tasks was to build an earthern dam to turn the old sawmill pond into a 45 acre lake, which lake became Ratcliff Lake. Too, for use by the CCC company, a bath house was constructed. Next, a 2.2 mile road was built into and around the lake. Then in 1936, along the new campground road, four loops: Lakeshore, Dogwood, Loblolly and the Overflow, with campsites were constructed. The Overflow loop is next to the 4C mill site ruins and has the campground playgound.

Further, the CCC company planted over three million trees in order to reestablish the National Forest in the area. The area is now heavily forested with loblolly pine, oak, beach and other hardwoods. The planted forest is now maturing and can be seen throughout the campground by looking for pine trees in straight lines.

A wide variety of wildlife inhabit the area, including the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker. The lake contains largemouth bass, bream, channel catfish and blue catfish.

The campground is located less than one half mile west of Ratcliff, Texas on State Highway 7.

Forest Service Road 520 (FS 520)

accessible, amphitheater, boat ramp, camping (tent and RV), canoeing and kayaking, day use, dump station, fishing, fishing piers, hiking, hunting, picnicking, playground, log shelters, rest rooms with flush toilets, swimming, trailhead parking.

Gasoline motors are not allowed on Ratcliff Lake.

Rest rooms with flush toilets and hot showers: Loblolly and Dogwood Loops

Rest rooms with flush toilets, no showers:

160,000 acres Davy Crockett National Forest

Include: Access, Annual, Gold Star and Veterans, Military, Volunteer and Senior.

A Federal Parks Pass cover entrance fees at lands managed by: National Parks Services and US Fish & Wildlife Service. Also, a Federal Park pass will cover standard amenity fees (Day Use Fee) at lands managed by: the US Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation and US Army Corps of Engineers. (However, there are a few locations which still charge a day use fee even with the Federal Pass.)

At most of the above listed federal park locations, Federal Parks Pass holders will receive half off camping fees.

The campground has 56 campsites in several loops and is open year round. Maximum stay permitted is four weeks (28 days).

Single sites: maximum two vehicles and 8 people per site

Group sites: maximum three vehicles and 25 people per site

Additional vehicles: $5.00

Day Use: $5.00

Day Use, Federal Pass: $2.50

Day Use, Motorcycles: $1.00

Nine Water and Electric sites

Sixteen Electric Only sites

Twenty-seven Tent sites

Water and Electric sites $20.00

Water and Electric, Federal Pass $10.00

Electric only, Federal Pass: $10.00

Tent, non-electric $15.00

Tent, non-electric: Federal Pass $7.50

Group Site, non-electric: $30.00

Group Site, non-electric: (Federal Pass) $15.00

fire pit, grill-fire ring, picnic table, tent pads,

electrical and water hookups in associated sites.

both first-come and reservable sites.

Two-day advance reservation $35.00 each (no discounts)

Select campsites require two-day advance reservations

Awake, dress in my fall blues, start the jammer and drive to the d-mart to purchase a quart of fresh coconut milk, a bag of popcorn and then return to the jammer. Upon climbing back into the jammer, I start the engine, leave the d-mart parking lot and then resume my northbound migration. Leaving Lufkin, Texas, I connect to the SH Loop 287 and turn eastward and follow the loop around to the northeast corner where I take the SH 103 westward.

Along the state highways, I see that the dogwoods and the redbuds are all in full bloom,

I then drive about nineteen miles to were SH 103 joins with SH 7 and continue west on SH 7 for another twelve miles until I arrive at the entrance to Ratcliff Lake National Forest campground, drive to the shower house and enjoy a hot shower.