If camping along the horseshoe bend of the Guadalupe River sounds nice, but you’re more of a comfy bed kind of camper, Camp Fimfo Texas Hill Country has got you covered.
This quirky campground with air-conditioned treehouses and A-Frame glamping tents is located a quick 15-minute drive from chicken-fried everything at The Gristmill in Gruene. It opened in New Braunfels on July 1, 2021, as a shiny new alternative to its Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park cousins.
Fimfo — an acronym for “Fun Is More Fun Outside” — celebrates the nostalgia of family camping, but kicks it up a notch. The 450+ acre property near Canyon Lake has water slides, an alpine coaster, pickleball courts, mini golf, gem mining, and a swimming hole.
It’s a scenic wonderland where you can pretend you’re roughing it, as you drive your electric golf cart rental to order a Blue Bell ice cream cone to eat by the pool. Here are 10 things to love about Camp Fimfo Texas Hill Country.
Table of Contents
1. Immersive branding by Austin artist, Zoe Andersen
Fun Art. Photo: Heidi Gollub
When you arrive at Camp Fimfo, you’re greeted by a sign that says, “You’re there yet.” And your journey into the whimsical camping world of Brand Experience Designer Zoe Andersen begins.
Andersen curated the campground esthetic from the ground up, so the entire experience is immersive — from photo opportunities with a squirrel person to theatrical elements like a hammock grove of giant glowing marshmallows on sticks.
Her unique brand of wacky retro signage and kitschy design touches make exploring the campground and its accommodations delightful, like you’ve stepped back in time to a world of childhood wonder.
2. Comfortable camping, from tent spots to treehouses
Coyote Cabin. Photo: Heidi Gollub
Whether you crave the Hill Country views an elevated treetop cabin can provide or you’re more interested in a hot tub for late-night stargazing, you’ve got options. Camp Fimfo currently has 29 tent sites, 250 RV sites, and 127 cabins, with more under construction.
If air conditioning is a must-have, choose from A-frame cabins by the river with sleeping for two (shared bathhouse), treetop cabins (private bathroom a short walk away) or a variety of larger cabins with private bathrooms, some of which are pet-friendly.
For the most space, opt for a Coyote Cabin. These three-bedroom cabins sleep up to 12 people. You’ll have a full kitchen with dishes, a private bathroom, three TVs, a picnic table, a fire ring, and a charcoal grill. 25 of these cabins are pet friendly and 12 of them have a private hot tub.
3. Guadalupe River access
Guadalupe River. Photo: Heidi Gollub
It’s not unusual to see a golf cart tooling around Camp Fimfo with a precarious-looking stack of inner tubes fastened to its roof. You don’t want to be left out of the fun. Bring your own tubes to tackle the swimming hole or float a way down the chilly Guadalupe River.
If you’d like to try a longer river float, head next door to Whitewater Sports. Depending on the season and water level, you can enjoy a two-hour, four-hour, or six-hour float.
You may also want to pack fishing gear for the river or pick up supplies at the Camp Fimfo General Store.
4. Water fun for all ages
Photo: Heidi Gollub
When the sun is shining, the pools are the place to be. Camp Fimfo has a large, heated pool with a volleyball net, basketball hoops, and a swim-up bar. There are also two hot tubs with water features.
In a separate gated area, there is a sprawling splash playground for smaller children, with two water slides and two kiddie slides.
For the more adventurous, try the two drop slides and two tube water slides (one with a toilet bowl swirl). It’s worth the hike up all the stairs for the Texas Hill Country views at the top.
5. Outdoor activities from dawn to dusk
Bring your bikes to explore the campground — there are surprises around every corner. From a great playground with flying foxes to a jumping pillow, kids will be delighted to try it all.
Photo: Heidi Gollub
Complimentary activities include 18-hole mini golf, pickleball, tennis, basketball, yard games, and outdoor movies.
For a fee, you can try gem mining and scheduled arts and crafts like mosaic making. Scheduled adult activities may include Sip and Paint and a mixology class.
And all ages will love The Cliff Carver, a 1.1-mile alpine coaster that can go up to 28 mph. You control the speed, so you can also slow down and enjoy the scenery.
6. Electric golf carts for quiet exploration
Photo: Heidi Gollub
You don’t have to rent a golf cart at Camp Fimfo, but it’s a lot more fun if you do. Plug it in outside your cabin at night, then take it for a (slow) spin around the grounds in the morning.
There are some gravel paths where cars can’t go, so you might find some beautiful spots. As you creep quietly along, be on the lookout for red and gray foxes, deer, and armadillos.
7. Free 5G Wi-Fi everywhere, even the tent sites
You might not think Wi-Fi is a camping essential, but if you’re planning a workcation, having reliable internet is a big deal. Even if you only have one can’t-miss Zoom call, it’s nice to be able to take your meeting at the picnic table without worry.
If you’re staying in a cabin with TVs, the 5G Wi-Fi also works great for streaming, which can make for a fun movie night after a day of outdoor adventures.
8. Whitewater Amphitheater backs up to the property
If there’s a show coming to Whitewater Amphitheater you’re excited about, stay at Camp Fimfo to hear it for free. Bring chairs to sit by the river and listen, or reserve a riverside A-Frame cabin to enjoy the concert from your own front porch.
9. The location can’t be beat
Guadalupe River. Photo: Heidi Gollub
Camp Fimfo is an easy way to escape to the Texas Hill Country, without having to venture very far off I-35. You can stock up on supplies at the H-E-B Plus right off the highway and be at the entrance to the New Braunfels campground in 17 minutes.
While on the property, it feels like you’re miles from everything, but in actuality, you can be in the Gruene Historic District for live music and dancing at Gruene Hall in 15 minutes, or at Schlitterbahn in 21 minutes.
10. There’s more to come
While Camp Fimfo opened two years ago, and its parent company has since opened a second location in Waco, the Texas Hill Country campground is still in development.
Guests can look forward to a dog park, about two miles of hiking trails, a zip line with suspension bridges and more cabins and sports courts in the future.
The best time to visit Camp Fimfo
Photo: Heidi Gollub
Camp Fimfo Texas Hill Country is open year-round, but some attractions are not. The water playground, water slides, and alpine coaster are only open on the weekends after school starts in August, and after October 30 the water slides close until Spring Break.
If you’re interested in those attractions, the best time to visit is weekdays during the summer, when everything is open but not crowded. Weekends in the summer are busy at the water park and on the river (where tubers can be rowdy and play loud music as they float by).
If you don’t care about water slides, visiting during the off-season will be more relaxed. Winter Texans sometimes stay for long stretches in their RVs, making use of the laundry facilities, community bathhouses, and valet trash service during the day.
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