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Temperatures are warming, and spring is the perfect time in East Texas to plan a getaway in the great outdoors.

The Boulders at Lake Tyler offers a family friendly way to reconnect with nature. The terms campground or RV park don’t adequately describe The Boulders, which offers everything from primitive campsites to waterfront cabins.

The 200-acre property, which was previously known as Chapman Park, has been a local fishing spot since the 1940s. Over the years, the park fell into disrepair.

Contractor Paul Taylor arrived on the scene in 2014 to help with some tile work after a local businessman leased the property. There were only a bait shop and a fishing barge at that time, both in need of improvement. As the tiling job drew to completion, the pair found they shared a similar vision for the property. Taylor accepted a permanent position as the facility manager and remains in that role today.

Improvements began immediately to the bait shop and the fishing barge once known as Fitz and Opal’s Barge. Brush was cleared and concrete was poured.

“I started mixing concrete and pouring pads (for RV sites) four at a time,” Taylor said. “That was October 2015. We were sold out for Memorial Day weekend in 2016.”

Today, there are close to 60 RV sites, all with concrete pads, picnic tables and fire rings along with primitive sites for tent camping.

Don’t want to rough it? Try one of the four cabins. Each lake-front unit comes fully-equipped with linens, cookware and dishes and sleeps six. Enjoy cool evenings or catch a sunrise on the covered deck.

“Something we’re really excited about is glamping,” Taylor noted as he reached for the pencil behind his ear and began sketching a diagram on the side of a large cardboard box. The box contains one of the 10 safari-style canvas tents that will be installed on raised platforms. Each furnished unit will be heated and cooled and feature a front deck. Glampers can enjoy star-gazing at secluded lake-front spots amid the tall pines.

“They’ll be available this summer — maybe even earlier,” Taylor added.

The retro-themed common area features the bait shop, a bathhouse with laundry facilities, and a large event center. Guests can shoot pool, play cornhole, or enjoy the views and massive fireplace inside — provided the building hasn’t been rented for a special event. Weekends find food trucks lining the drive. Delightful hand-painted murals are scattered throughout the common area — many depict postcards from the 1940s and 1950s.

Brightly colored, vintage neon signs mark each building and add to the retro feel. All are a nod to the park’s origins in 1948.

If relaxing and enjoying the peacefulness of nature isn’t enough, there’s plenty to do. Fish from the barge or your own boat. Take a hike or rent a kayak. Try paddleboarding or a paddleboard yoga class.

Stay for the day, a weekend or longer. Swim, boat, hike, fish and picnic your way to the perfect vacay.