3/1/09 600 and 1400 Loop Construction Update-With Photos

[Tri-circle-D]

Who wants to see current photos of the 600 and 1400 loop construction?

Let's start with the 600 loop.

As many of you know, an area adjacent to the current 600 loop has been fenced off since January, 2009, and word is that there are new campsites being added here.

By the way, if anyone is interested it was 82 degrees on 2/28/09 when these photos were taken.

Here is a shot looking into the loop from over the fence where the sidewalk from the Meadow Trading Post has been removed. The smoothed area on the right of the photo appears to be a campsite which has been carefully graded. You can't see it in this photo, but there also is a graded loop roadway surface winding through this area:

Here is a shot from the same place, with the camera turned just a bit:

These shots were taken from around the fence, down by the lake, looking into the loop. You can see the top edge of the silt fence at the bottom of the photos:

These photos were taken from atop the picnic tables located just off to the side of the construction fence, near the Meadow Trading Post:

This photo is also from atop the picnic table, but looking toward what seems to be the new loop entrance. You can see what appears to be prepared areas for campsite slabs in this photo:

Now, we are outside the fence where the new loop entrance appears to be going in. This is right across from the 15 minute Meadow Trading Post parking sites on the outside of the 900 loop. You can see the loop road has been graded. The first outside sites are just ahead on the right.:

Here we are looking into the construction area from the sidewalk that is blocked off heading toward the Meadow Trading Post. You can see that the sidewalk has been removed here, and a new road surface prepared. The blue pipe sticking up on the right must be for drainage, and will be cut to be level with the new road:

For these next few photos, we are walking along the outside of the fence, parallel with the main road, taking photos over the fence, looking out toward the lake, and the Bike Barn, across the lake. You can see that a number of sites have been graded:

This piece of equipment was located just on the other side of the fence from the sidewalk that used to lead into the loop, and the pedestrian bridge behind the 600 loop:

This is the outside of the fence at this same location:

It doesn't look like they are tearing up this sidewalk, so I think the new loop expansion will provide a walkway to the bridge.

There is no doubt that the original loop entrance is going away. Here is a shot over the fence showing that the pavement has been broken up, and pulled out. The loop road used to curve to the left from here. If you look toward the back of the photo, you can see a gate across what was the original loop road. It looks like this space is going to become a new campsite:

This is my last photo on this particular post (max of 20 photos per post). Look in the background of the last photo, above. Do you see how wide the gate is open? I am going to walk around there, and stick my camera in for some shots. These will be on my next post.

TCD

 

[Tri-circle-D]

Continuing on with our look at the 600 loop . . .

Here is the temporary entrance to the 600 loop. This used to be Site #603. You can see that barricades have been put up around the utility connections:

Here we are at the gate that we saw from the last photo in my previous post. The opening was plenty wide to put a camera through, and take this photo looking in toward the area that used to be the loop entrance:

Standing in this same spot, looking to the left (as we face the Meadow Trading Post), you can see that Site #602 is within the construction fence, and, apparently, is going to remain where it is (but undoubtedly will have a new number):

You know, that opening was wide enough for a person to walk through. I stepped inside the loop, just a little bit, to take this photo. This is the new road surface that looks like it will connect with the old 600 loop right in front of site 602:

Well, since I am already in the loop, maybe I will walk just a bit in, so I can snap a photo of the new site next to 602:

Here is the view looking along the loop road. Notice the new manhole cover there on the side of the new road surface:

A few more steps in won't hurt anyone:

This is one of the new sites that backs up to the main road. You can see a trailer from the 900 loop in the back over the fence:

Well, I am now about 1/4 of the way into the new loop, might as well keep going, right?:

Whoops, here we are all the way into the loop looking at what appear to be the first outside sites that you will come to as you enter the loop. The Meadow Trading Post is just over the fence:

Now we are looking back toward the gate that we just came through:

Better get out of here! On the way out:

That's all for the 600 loop.

There has been some suggestion that this area might be being prepared for new cabins. The work done so far looks more like campsites. We will know one way or the other soon.

And, I believe AuburnJen said that her source told her that there would be 15 new sites. I speculated that there would be more, as it looked like there was more space. Well, I counted what appeared to be the graded campsites. You know how many I counted? 15. In addition, site 601 has disappeared, and it looks like they will be putting a site near where the site road used to be, and 602 will apparently stay where it was. So, there are 17 sites within the construction fence (but only 15 new sites).

Next up . . . 1400 loop photos.

TCD

 

[clkelley]

Kewl!!!!

 

[GOBA Mom Lynn]

TCD,
All the photos you have taken of the new construction (both on the loops and of the pool) are just so great! Your descriptions of everything are super, too, especially for those of us who are newbies and haven't even stayed there yet! I know I don't have a clue as to what I'm looking at, but yet feel compelled to study every photo, and can't wait for the next trip report from you! My family thinks I'm a little crazy maybe I am... You should write your own camping guide to FW. Keep up the good work!

 

[mrsbert]

I would just like to say that I don't even have a TT. We've thought about it but haven't really LOOKED at getting one yet. I've been lurking this site for a couple of years now and I'm really invested because of the "behind-the-scenes" views you all give; especially TCD. I would not have the nerve to just walk on into the construction site. I would get so nervous knowing someone was going to catch me at any moment. This is probably why I never snuck out of the house when I was a teenager. TCD you probably did that on a regular basis.

Thanks for all great pics and updates!!

 

[des1954]

Way to go TCD!!!

"Mean Moe" that replaced "Mean Gene" told me in January that there will NOT be any cabins in the expanded 600 loop, and that YES, there will be 15 sites added to the loop. "Mean Moe's" actual name is John, but he didn't think "Mean John" sounded all that menacing.

 

[Shan-man]

Well, I sure hope that is the case... those will be some killer campsites! Best view in the campground. And think of the Christmas decor potential with the lights reflecting in the pond as seen from the campfire!

 

[Mickey Mobile]

The photos are great. Being able to see all the progress is awesome.

 

[BradyBz12]

And think of the Christmas decor potential with the lights reflecting in the pond as seen from the campfire!

Oooooooh ahhhhhh!

 

[Tri-circle-D]

Way to go TCD!!!

"Mean Moe" that replaced "Mean Gene" told me in January that there will NOT be any cabins in the expanded 600 loop, and that YES, there will be 15 sites added to the loop. "Mean Moe's" actual name is John, but he didn't think "Mean John" sounded all that menacing.

Deb- Thanks for the confirmation. I haven't met Mean Moe yet, and hopefully, we will keep it that way.

On 2/27/09, a new member joined the boards here, and immediately posted this:

Here are my thoughts about this..
After seeing that Disney is preparing 18 new trailers in the back area upfront by the check in area

and

given they are expanding the 600 loop. I see it having 18 new cabins in the 600 loop.

If this trend continues I see a lot more loops converted to cabins in the future.

Think about it $75.00 a night or $350.00

That would make the campground a lot more money.
Not the right thing to do but I can see it happening.

I hope I am not right about this, but it looks possable

So far, this new member has not posted again. I have been trying to figure out what this member means when saying: "in the back area upfront by the check in area."

I looked for these "new trailers" on 2/28/09, and found nothing.

Not around the check in lanes:

And, not anywhere around the overflow lots:

So, I am not sure what this was all about.

It is possible that there are new trailers somewhere, and that these are going to be placed in the 600 loop, but I sure didn't see them anywhere.
So, BayLakeCampers, if this information that you posted is true, I sure would like to hear more about it.

TCD

 

[Tri-circle-D]

OK, 1400 loop fans, here are your photos.

The conversion of the 1400 loop from preferred to premium seems to be taking longer than some of the previous loop conversions. I believe that work on the 1400 loop began the first week of February, and as you can see from these photos, there is still quite a bit of work to do. I would say it looks like they will be at this for at least two more weeks.

Here we are looking toward the 1400 loop from the campfire area. We can see here that the two sites on the outside, closest to the campfire area, have their new concrete in place:

If you want to be as close as possible to the campfire, these are the sites you want. The one closer to the comfort station (on the right in these photos) is site 1435. The one next to it on the left is 1434.

Here we are at the back edge of 1435, looking into the site. The darker colored pavement is all new:

Here we are at the front of 1435, looking across to 1436. This site has been mentioned by folks before. You can see from these two photos that the site is almost parallel to the loop road, so you have folks walking and driving by all day long, along the length of your campsite. I expect that there will be some large bushes planted here, but it is still not a great site:

Now, we are looking back into 1435. If you parked your rig toward the back of this site, you could watch the movie from your site!:

I think this is the next site from 1436 on the inside of the outer loop going clockwise (i.e. the wrong way around the loop). I believe it is site 1433:

This is the outside site next to 1434. This site is nice and deep. If you look in the background, you can see the construction fence on the 600 loop, which is just across the canal from here:

I don't know what this piece of concrete is from. I think maybe that they relocated some of the sewer connections on these sites, which may account for the longer work time:

This is site 1432 that we have been looking at:

This next site is just around the loop, it is one of the sites that backs right up to the canal.

You can see how close together these sites are:

This is site 1426 that we are looking at:

And, here are some shots taken in the back of the site. Look how close this site comes to the canal:

(that green scummy stuff in the background there is the water in the canal )

You will want to be real careful backing in to this site!:

Right across from here is a site that has become amazingly deep:

Take a look toward the back of the photo posted above. See the two electric panels? There is a site that backs right up to this site, so the electric panels are right next to each other. Here are some more photos of that situation. What we see here is a site from Little Bear Path (the inner loop on the 1400 loop), which will back right up to this site here on the inside of the outer loop. You can see that the sand area has been scraped up, but no forms have been put in place yet:

The outer loop site that we are looking at here is 1424:

This is another shot of the site on Little Bear Path:

Well, that is almost all that I have, but I will post just a few more photos in my next post.

TCD

 

[We4mickey]

Aw TCD I knew you wouldn't be able to pass up that gate in the 600 loop. You've done us proud once again. Great Pics!

 

[Doggmeat]

i can remember when there use to be a deer in a pen, where the new addition to 600 loop is

 

[proudmomof4]

OK, 1400 loop fans, here are your photos.

Here we are looking toward the 1400 loop from the campfire area. We can see here that the two sites on the outside, closest to the campfire area, have their new concrete in place:

If you want to be as close as possible to the campfire, these are the sites you want. The one closer to the comfort station (on the right in these photos) is site 1435. The one next to it on the left is 1434.

I think this is the next site from 1436 on the inside of the outer loop going clockwise (i.e. the wrong way around the loop). I believe it is site 1433:

TCD

TCD,

Just wanted to clarify, the site next to 1435 is 1433 (both on the outer loop backing up towards the campfire) and the one next to 1436 is 1434 (both on the inner loop and zero privacy, I have been in both of these).
here is a photo of 1434

 

[proudmomof4]

These photos were taken from under my awning while in site 1434.

In the 1st photo you can see 1431 to the right and 1432 to the left

And this one shows 1432 on the right and 1433 on the left, 1435 would be further left out of camera range

 

[Tri-circle-D]

i can remember when there use to be a deer in a pen, where the new addition to 600 loop is

Really?

I never heard about this. Where, exactly was the pen? Toward the lake or toward the road? How big was the pen? When was this? Why was the deer there? Some type of educational display, I would guess.

TCD

 

[Tri-circle-D]

Just wanted to clarify, the site next to 1435 is 1433 (both on the outer loop backing up towards the campfire) and the one next to 1436 is 1434 (both on the inner loop and zero privacy, I have been in both of these).

proudmomof4- Thanks for correcting my error. Sorry about that. The site markers are gone, so it is hard to tell what site is what. As you know, the numbering system used by the Fort is a little wacky.

So, these two photos are of the same site (1434) (I think):

BEFORE:

AFTER:

More accurately, the second photo is not a true "after" photo, as the work has not been completed. What we can expect, based on work done on the other loops, is some type of landscaping which will shield this site to some extent. So, overall, I would say this will improve this site.

TCD

 

[Tri-circle-D]

Here are the rest of my 1400 loop photos.

This one is taken from Little Bear Path (the inner loop), looking back toward the sites that we were looking at in the last post:

This is another Little Bear site. As you can see, these are still being prepped for additional concrete:

Here we are back out on Big Bear. This is the site closest to the Ladies' restroom:

Here we are back at 1435 for three last shots:

That's all I have for this update.

TCD

 

[proudmomof4]

proudmomof4- Thanks for correcting my error. Sorry about that. The site markers are gone, so it is hard to tell what site is what. As you know, the numbering system used by the Fort is a little wacky.

So, these two photos are of the same site (1434) (I think):

BEFORE:

AFTER:

More accurately, the second photo is not a true "after" photo, as the work has not been completed. What we can expect, based on work done on the other loops, is some type of landscaping which will shield this site to some extent. So, overall, I would say this will improve this site.

TCD

Yes, that is the before and almost after of 1434

 

[Doggmeat]

Really?

I never heard about this. Where, exactly was the pen? Toward the lake or toward the road? How big was the pen? When was this? Why was the deer there? Some type of educational display, I would guess.

TCD

use to be where that clump of trees between the main road and the sidewalk(at that time train tracks) was, between 600 and meadow. i think the deer's name was bambi, it looked to be maybe a yearlin when 1 first saw it. was there possibly between 74 and possibly 76-78 ish. might be able to digup a picture.