Free tacos at PPL Motor Homes on Saturday, Sept. 24

Houston, Texas, September 19, 2011 -- This coming Saturday will likely be a busy one at PPL Motor Homes. Back by popular demand, the company is hosting another Texas Association of Campground Owners (TACO) Day. Featuring door prizes, refreshments and specially priced deals on motorhomes, fifth wheels, travel trailers, RV covers and other RV parts and accessories, the company is expecting a large turnout.

Each participating RV park will have the opportunity to tell its story to the hundreds of RV fans who are expected to attend. Upon entering, customers will register to receive a stamp card, which gives them entry into the hourly door prize drawings.

“We had a TACO Day in the spring, and had such a great time that we had to organize one in the fall,” said Boyde McMakin, operations manager of PPL Motor Homes. “We will even be serving our signature PPL style tacos – nachos with cheese, meat and jalapenos.”

Participating parks will have tables throughout the building, parts store, reception area and outside the building near the customer lounge for customers to visit while they learn about used RVs for sale.

“It’s a win-win event for everyone,” said McMakin. “Parks and customers get a great environment where they can find all the information they need, and of course, who can say no to tacos?”

State park passes provide savings

The Texas State Parks Pass is an annual pass that offers many special benefits. As a passholder, you and your guests can enjoy unlimited visits to more than 90 state parks, and enter without paying the daily entrance fee (card holder and physical pass must be present). You can also receive discounts on camping (restrictions apply), park store merchandise and recreational equipment rentals and be eligible for other specials.

State parks passes can be purchased on site at any Texas State Park location, and can be used on your very first visit. Or, you can purchase your Parks Pass from the State Park Customer Service Center, by calling (512) 389-8900.

Passes are also available for seniors and disabled visitors.

Learn more here.

Possum Kingdon hit again by fires

On July 7 I reported that Possum Kingdom State Park had reopened following the devastating wildfire that decimated much of the park in April.

Now the fires have returned, burning 7,500 more acres and destroying at least 25 homes on Possum Kingdom Lake.

The April fire burned 127,000 acres causing about 150 million dollars damage. Wildfires have been burning in Texas now for close to 300 days due to severe drought, high winds, and gusting high winds. Temperatures in the area reached 106 degrees Tuesday afternoon, with winds gusting up to 28 mph. By 10 p.m., gusts were at about 15 mph and the temperature was 91.

Read more:

Bastrop State Park takes big fire hit

In what is described as a "monster wildfire," officials say at least half of Bastrop State Park in Central Texas. The 2,000 acre park is home to "The Lost Pines of Texas," better known as Loblolly Pines and also hosts the endangered species of Houston Toads.

The fire is part of a 25,000 acre wildfire complex fanned by the high winds of Tropical Storm Lee. For a time Texas Parks and Wildlife officers were making the park as a command post, but had to be evacuated when the park itself came under the flames. Officials still hope to make a stand to save some of the park's historic structures, which date back to the days of the Civilian Conservation Corps.

As to the Houston Toad, officials are quite concerned about the amphibians. The park is thought to have the largest number of breeding toads of this species in the world. With a world-wide estimated population of just three to four thousand, fears for its safety appear well founded. Information provided by wikipedia.com adds, "The largest known chorusing groups[of these toads] persist in Bastrop County, but the choruses monitored in Bastrop State Park showed a dramatic decline during the mid-1990s, with little recovery of those numbers since then. Importantly, that state park is the only public land that supports consistent chorusing from year to year of the Houston toad. However, even there, the total numbers are very low."

photos: fire--kvue.com toad--wikimedia.org