Trout Times 2020

2020 Park Updates Mountain Maid Trail Map Rules and Regs

TROUT TIMES |

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| Welcome to Roaring River 2020

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Welcome Fishermen!

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| Welcome to Roaring River 2020

Written requests send to: Attn: Lisa Craft The Monett Times P.O. Box 40 Monett, MO 65708

Trout Times is published annually and distributed free in Cassville, Monett, Exeter, Washburn, Pierce City, Mt. Vernon, Aurora, Verona, Roaring River, Eagle Rock, Shell Knob, Purdy, Wheaton, Freistatt, Marionville, Seligman, Golden and other surrounding areas.

Trout Times is a publication of Connection Magazine, the Cassville Democrat, The Monett Times and Rust Communications, 2020 ©

TROUT TIMES |

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Contents

9

EVENTS AT THE NATURE CENTER

19 FIRST HOLE HATCHERY PROGRAM

All year long there are outdoor events taking place at the Ozark Chinquapin Nature Center

Over 4,000 annual participants benefit from this state-recognized program

13

UPDATES AT THE PARK

21

OPENING DAY 2019

Roaring River State Park continues to improve its grounds, including remodeled campground, new stone work and WiFi added

Catch a glimpse at the sights of Roaring River Opening Day that always leave them coming back for more

30

TAKE A HIKE!

Stretch your legs in the great outdoors of Roaring River trails. Trails of all shapes and sizes are sure to meet the mark

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6

RULES AND REGS

| Welcome to Roaring River 2020

36 MOUNTAIN MAID ORIGINAL

The story of Jeanne Wallace of Barry County devines notable account of a woman who saw beyond her time

43 CHARLIE 22 OUTDOORS

Veterans of the mid-south rally at Roaring River to restore and reconnect

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In Partnership with SeniorAge Area Agency on Aging of Southwest Missouri and Paul T. Enterprises the Shell Knob Seniors, Inc. Presents

Senior Living in Shell Knob Central Crossing Senior Center 20801 YY 15, Shell Knob 417-858-6952 www.shellknobseniorsinc.org Providing Lunch through SeniorAge Area Agency on Aging Monday through Friday along with actaivities to help seniors stay active and happy.

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| Welcome to Roaring River 2020

417-858-2426 • www.mvesk.com

https://mostateparks.com/location/56785/nature-center

Full lineup of events set at Nature Center

A

nother portion of Roaring River State Park that makes its mark on visitors is the Ozark Chinquapin Nature Center.

Kelly Koch, interpretive resource specialist II who manages the Center, said there is a full lineup of events this year to keep visitors informed and entertained at the park.

“Kids’ Fishing Day gets the best attendance, and our Earth Day event last year was really successful, with about 200 visitors coming by,” she said. “Our Mother’s Day Wild Tea Party is also growing. We had about 60 people come to that last year.”

Koch said with the number of successful events growing, there are new events coming this year.

“We plan to have an Arbor Day event on April 4 to plant two Ozark chinquapin trees,” she said.

“We’ve planted chinquapins in the past, but because our soil conditions are not ideal, they would live for a few years, then die. This time, we are getting a set of chinquapins that are suppose to do better in our rocky soil. We are excited and hope they do well because we think the Ozark Chinquapin Nature Center should have a chinquapin in front of it.”

Kids’ Fishing Day, Mother’s Day Wild Tea Party big draws Story by Kyle Troutman Photos provided courtesy

Visitors search for crawdads and small fish during an Aquatic Walk hosted by the Nature Center during the hot months of summer.

A full list of events

for the rest of the year includes: Birding Boot Camp March 28-29 All day

Arbor Day

April 4

Wildflower April 5 Workshop

Earth Day

10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

3-5 p.m.

April 25 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Wild Flower May 2 9 a.m. to noon Workshop

Mother’s Day Wild Tea Party

May 10

11 a.m.

Kids Fishing Day

May 16

6:30 a.m. to 8:15 p.m.

Free Fishing Weekend

June 6-7

6:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.

H2Olympics

July 18

10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Kids Fishing Day

Aug. 15

7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Fall Wild Edibles

Sept. 19-20 All day

Veterans Free Fishing

Sept. 19

7:30 a.m. to 7:15 p.m.

WOW

Oct. 9-11

All day

Eagle Viewing

Dec. 19

3 p.m.

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A young visitor participates in hummingbird hopscotch. This game teaches kids about humming bird lifecycle and migration.

Koch said the summer months become the busiest, with about 1,800 people per month visiting the Center.

“We also keep track of contacts, or people who participate in our programs, and that number is about 4,000, which includes field trips,” she said.

Along with the big events, Koch hosts a series of weekly programs for campers and visitors to enjoy.

“At times, we do four programs per day,” she said. “Each Saturday, we do a cave hike, in the morning. We usually do hatchery tours, but with the project at the hatchery, we have subbed in a video of divers exploring the spring that is shown at the Center. Bluegrass will be coming back to the amphitheater on Fridays, and Campers’ Church will be on Sundays.”

Kelley Koch, nature center manager, hosts a series of weekly programs campers and visitors are invited to enjoy.

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| Welcome to Roaring River 2020

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An info board from campground three shows what programs the nature center offers. Though not interested in programs, a little bat found shelter at the board and roosted there for a few nights.

Koch said people should check the bulletin boards at the park or call the Nature Center to get an up-to-date schedule of programs.

Also coming back this year are the Movies in the Park, co-hosted by the Cassville Branch Library. Four movies are planned for this year by the Park Store.

“We also want people to know we have Veterans Free Fishing Day,” Koch said. “We have had low turnout the past few years, so we want veterans to know they can come fish for free on those days.”

Veterans Free Fishing

Sept. 19 7:30 a.m. to 7:15 p.m.

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| Welcome to Roaring River 2020

For more information, people may visit

https://mostateparks.com/park/roaring-river-state-park

Roaring River makes updates throughout park

Photo by Murray Bishoff

The Civilian Conservation Corps Lodge, built in the 1930s that prior to the new concession lodge housed sales of fish tags and gear, had returned to limited use this year, as lights inside showed in the early morning light.

H

eading into a new decade, Missouri State Parks is hard at work making sure the park is ready for the Opening Day crowds and the throngs of campers throughout the year.

Joel Topham, Roaring River State Park natural resources manager, said there are many new and exciting things going on in the park this year that staff is proud to announce.

“We’re completing our 50-amp upgrade project, so 14 of the RV campsites in Campground 1 have been updated,” he said. “We also repaved some sites in Campground 2 that washed out in floods, and we’ve alleviated flooding in campsites 105 and 106 by adding an irrigation trough to keep runoff from pooling up there.”

Story by Kyle Troutman

Continuing with technology upgrades, staff aims to have WiFi service throughout the park by Opening Day. The service will be provided by goBEC. The park is also done with a CCC stone project, for which staff resurfaced stone between cabins 1-3 and 4-7 and the wall behind those cabins, installed a new sidewalk from the lodge to the spring, redid the stone on Deer Leap Trail and resurfaced stone and the sidewalk in front of the lodge.

“For that project, we used what was there, or we went back to old quarry behind the stables and dug up stone and did the mason work to make them look like the original,” Topham said.

Regarding other natural areas of the park, Topham said staff has been able to remove many invasive species of plants and improve the scenery.

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| Welcome to Roaring River 2020

“We cleared invasive species and improved the views for cabins 4-9,” he said. “We also cleared a lot by the Emory Melton Inn. We had a lot of Japanese honeysuckle, mimosa trees and multiflora rose growing.”

The final project heading into Opening Day, Topham said, centered around expanding on a tradition on March 1.

“What’s new this year is that we are installing a bench by the gazebo where they fire the Opening Day gun,” he said. “It’s called, ‘The People’s Bench,’ and in cooperation with the Missouri Department of Conservation, from this year on, whomever fires the gun will have a plaque with his or her name on it for the duration of the year. At the end of the year, the plaque will be sent back to that honoree.”

Roaring River State Park hosts more than 1 million visitors a year and offers camping, fishing, hiking trails, birdwatching, swimming, picnic areas and more.

Campgrounds get upgrades, stone work redone, WiFi added

Large Pool • Kitchenettes Completely Furnished • Playground • Wi-Fi • 22 Rooms • Satellite TV • 5 Log Cabins Campground with Full RV Hookups (yearly rentals only)

Roaring River Resort • 23477 State Highway 112 • Cassville, MO 65625 (North entrance to Roaring River State Park) • www.roaringriverresort.com

Welcome

Fishermen!

Visit us in Cassville for the

Areas BEST Chinese Food!

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Drop by Sportsmans Corner for all your fishing and outdoor needs.

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Wayne Hendrix, Owner 16597 State Highway 76, Cassville, MO 65625

(417) 847-3482 TROUT TIMES |

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REGULATIONS BY ZONE

Roaring River State Park is divided into three zones, each with the following bait or lure and creel restrictions.

ZONE 1

From the hatchery to the posted sign at the mouth of Dry Hollow Creek, only artificial lures, soft plastic baits and flies are permitted. An artificial lure is defined as a manufactured lure. Soft plastic lures include synthetic eggs, worms or grubs.

Flies are lures considered on a single point hook of feathers, tinsel, chenille, yarn, fur, silk, rayon, or nylon thread of floss, with or without spinners. No putty-dough baits, other natural baits or foods may be used in this area.

ZONE 2

From the posted sign at the mouth of Dry Hollow Creek to the old dam in the lower end of Campground 3, only flies are permitted. In the area of Zone 2 designated as catch-and-release only (from the posted sign at the mouth of Dry Hollow Creek to the posted sign below the bridge on Highway F) trout may not be possessed and must be retuned to the water unharmed immediately. This portion of Zone 2 is designated as a multiple-use area with wading and swimming allowed.

ZONE 3

From the old dam to the park boundary, artificial lures, soft plastic baits, flies and natural or scented baits may be used.

Natural and scented baits include live bait or any other substance designed to attract fish by taste or smell including dough, putty or paste-type baits.

REGULATIONS

16

n

Trout fishing is permitted in accordance with the state wildlife code and posted restrictions daily from March 1 through Oct. 31, and during the winter catch-and-release season from the second Friday in November to the second Monday in February on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday only.

n

Each angler shall display a daily trout tag purchased at the area and bearing his or her signature.

n

Each angler shall have a state fishing permit, except those 15 years and younger or Missouri residents 65 years and older.

n

All anglers shall keep their trout separate at all times, identified with their names and addresses.

n

Daily limit is four. All brown trout must be equal to or greater than 15 inches. There is no length limit on rainbow trout.

Possession limit is eight trout.

n

Only a single pole or rod may be used. Gigging, snaring or snagging is not permitted.

n

No person shall continue to fish for any species in these trout waters after having four trout in possession.

n

The use of game fish or parts thereof for bait is prohibited.

Chumming is not permitted.

n

No trout may be possessed in the catch-and-release area.

| Welcome to Roaring River 2020

TROUT FISHING HOURS

March

April

May

June/July

August

September

October

BEGINNING 6:30 a.m.*/7:30 a.m.** 7 a.m.

6:30 a.m.

6:30 a.m.

7 a.m.

7:30 a.m.

7:30 a.m.

ENDING 6 p.m.*/7 p.m.** 7:30 p.m.

8:15 p.m.

8:30 p.m.

8 p.m.

7:15 p.m.

6:30 p.m.

CATCH AND RELEASE SEASON Second Friday in November through the second Monday in February

8 a.m.

4 p.m. * Central Standard Time ** Central Daylight Time

LEGEND

Map courtesy of Missouri State Parks

Roaring River is known for its premiere trout fishing. The river is stocked regularly by the park’s hatchery, which is managed by the Missouri Department of Conservation. Fishing licenses and tags are available in the park store, located at the intersection of Route F and Highway 112, which also sells fishing equipment, tackle, camping supplies and groceries.

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| Welcome to Roaring River 2020

On the Square in Downtown Cassville, MO

417-847-2195

For more information and to volunteer:

Call the hatchery at 417-847-2430 Roaring River is always looking for volunteers and people are encouraged to call the Hatchery for more information.

FIRST HOLE Hatchery program recognized by governor More than 4,000 per year benefit from innovative First Hole program

T

he Roaring River Hatchery was recognized with a Governor’s Award this year, as its First Hole program was touted as the best of the entries for quality and productivity in the innovation category.

Roaring River is the only hatchery in the state that administers this program, geared toward wounded veterans, veterans with PTSD, at-risk children, foster children, homeschooled children, school groups, disabled children and adults, and nursing home patients. It allows visitors to fish in the first hole of 33 total, which is surrounded by land on three sides and easily accessible for special use, as it includes a fishing pier and picnic area.

“Roaring River will provide tackle, poles, permits and education to the groups,” said Paul Spurgeon, Roaring River Hatchery manager. “There has always been a lot of stuff like this offered at Roaring River. At the hatchery, we do so much more than just raise the fish.”

The biggest initiative taken is teaching children how to fish.

Story by Jordan Privett

“The first hole is right next to the hatchery at the start of the stream,” he said. “It is reservable, and when people make reservations, we rope off the hole and gather permits, bait and poles for the group. We usually reopen the hole back to the public at noon.”

Spurgeon said he encourages people to volunteer to help instruct the groups on how to bait the poles, cast and get the fish on a stringer.

“We have had volunteers come in and offer cooking classes to the groups before, as well,” he said. “Originally, this was focused more on school groups, and we offered education based on the introduction to fishing.”

Over the last four to five years, it has also become about therapy.

“Veteran groups come in and they already know how to fish, but they can use the time therapeutically,” Spurgeon said. “They aren’t so much looking for instruction as much as they are searching for a healing experience.”

Nursing homes also bring out their more mobile residents, who also tend to use it as therapy.

“Branching out to those other groups has proven to TROUT TIMES |

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Pick up and Delivery Availab le!

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| Welcome to Roaring River 2020

be very successful,” Spurgeon said. “The best part about receiving the Governor’s Award is the recognition that Roaring River got.”

Spurgeon said it was an amazing experience to hear so many people talking about Roaring River.

“It was a room full of leaders, representatives and the Governor talking about how impressive it is,” he said.

“Some of them had never even heard of Roaring River. Roaring River is a community park, so this award isn’t just for the employees — it belongs to everyone, including the volunteers and the community.”

Spurgeon said it wasn’t just Roaring River that got attention and good light, but Barry County as well.

“Roaring River depends on the local community, there are a lot of people involved,” he said. “We are fortunate to have what we have, and we always want to continue to make it better for the future, and hopefully, more people will take part in that.”

The fish hatchery has seven full-time employees and one seasonal worker whose essential job duty is raising over 500,000 fish annually. The First Hole program was created by park personnel on their own initiative to give individuals who might never experience the magic of fishing a chance to drop a line in the water.

In 2019, more than 4,000 children and adults, some of whom have experienced great hardship and difficulty in their lives, were given the opportunity to experience the joy of fishing. Every year, Roaring River team members invest hundreds of hours making the First Hole fishing experience happen.

They do this not because it’s their job, but because they know they are creating a special experience for others. Their efforts reflect their good character and the impact creative public servants can have on others.

Bob Mitchell, middle, fires the Opening Day gun at Roaring River State Park on March 1, 2019. With him were Paul Spurgeon, left, Roaring River Hatchery manager, and State Treasurer Scott Fitzpatrick.

Opening

Day 2019

More than 1,000 anglers hit the banks at 6:30 a.m. to take in the start of trout season March 1, 2019.

By 11 a.m., more than 1,500 had purchased tags.

Photos by Kyle Troutman

TROUT TIMES |

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Lee Reeves, of Carthage, gets some help from Zachary Leber reeling in a fish before 7 a.m. on Opening Day. (right) Dusty Craig, of Purdy, pulls in a trout during Opening Day festivities.

Mike Luttrell, of Sand Springs, Okla., goes to weigh his lunker, which checked in at 6.65 pounds.

Angel Gaines, of Mt. Vernon, unhooks a trout she caught during Opening Day festivities.

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| Welcome to Roaring River 2020

Jeff Hobson, of Monett, prepares to have his lunker weighed. The fish was 4.35 pounds. (top left) Roie Hudson smiles after netting a catch on Opening Day. (left) Steve Allgood, who has fished Opening Day every year for 46 years, reels in a fish on his 47th trip to the event on March 1, 2019.

TROUT TIMES |

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Full-line Pharmacy with registered pharmacist on duty!

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| Welcome to Roaring River 2020

Blowers beginning at $139.99

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Early fishing near the CCC Lodge on March 1, 2019, before 7 a.m.

The concession lodge at Roaring River State Park was exceptionally busy shortly after 6 a.m. on March 1, 2019. By the firing of the gunshot at 6:30 a.m., 1,197 adult fishing tags had been sold and 205 for children. An additional 133 tags were sold in the next two hours and 20 minutes.

Enjoying the coffee and the company under the Cassville Area Chamber of Commerce’s tent by the riverside prior to the gunshot on March 1, 2019, are, from left: Trisha Freemyer of Appleton City, Tammie Aiken and Terry Purdom, both of Cassville.

Photos by Murray Bishoff

TROUT TIMES |

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Using portable propane tanks, cooks for the Cassville Area Chamber of Commerce brewed gallons of coffee for the anglers bracing the cold for the opening of fishing in 2019. Pictured prior to the gunshot, from left, are: Matt Turner, Darwin Hukill, coffee maker Dan Jacobs and Duell Westphaling.

Kevin Yount of Aurora, left, was back for his 34th year on opening day, a tradition he started with his father.

The Primrose family from Branson West carefully loaded lines with lures before venturing from the car to the shore, ready for adventure in the pre-dawn dimness on March 1, 2019, at Roaring River.

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| Welcome to Roaring River 2020

Fishing along the banks near the waterfall at Roaring River was off limits this year, as much of the water was piped past the bank.

That didn’t stop the die-hards who positioned themselves as close as possible to the source of the river in hopes of landing one of the elusive lunkers.

Several places along the banks of Roaring River offered access to those less mobile, including the angler at left who took his chair on wheels right up to the water’s edge, across from the overlook where the gunshot was fired to begin fishing.

Looking downstream from the bridge by the CCC Lodge prior to 7 a.m. on March 1, 2019, at Roaring River.

TROUT TIMES |

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Anglers stood shoulder to shoulder in the early morning dimness before the lights of the hatchery extinguished, viewed from the bridge by the CCC Lodge.

Though they could see little beyond the lights of passing vehicles, anglers got right to work as fishing began, as seen looking downstream from the bridge by the CCC Lodge minutes after the gunshot to start trout fishing.

The shoreline between the CCC Lodge and the hatchery, where fish started biting immediately after the gunshot at 6:30 a.m.

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| Welcome to Roaring River 2020

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TROUT TIMES |

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Visitors may climb the fire tower that was originally built in the 1930s by the CCC workers stationed at Roaring River State Park.

Unfortunately this fire tower is not tall enough to get visitors above the canopy of Oak Hickory Forest that dominates the ridge tops.

TAKE A HIKE! A comprehensive guide to Roaring River’s trails

W

hile many people come to Roaring River State Park for the fishing and camping, many others enjoy nature in another

way — with their feet.

Roaring River offers visitors 10 miles of trails on its property, and Joel Topham, Roaring River State Park natural resources manager, said he and his staff are proud to be able to offer safe, clean, accessible trails to anyone who wants to take a hike.

“Devil’s Kitchen and Fire Tower are the most popular trails,” he said. “We work to make sure the trails are cleared, and we watch for washouts and repair stars and steps when needed after heavy rains. We like to use natural materials, like cedar wood and rocks, to utilize those trail areas best and keep people on the paths.”

Topham said people may not realize the damage that could be done if they stray from the marked trail paths.

“We encourage people to stay on the paths because we want the flora and fauna surrounding the trails to stay natural,” he said. “We don’t want people making their own paths and killing off grass or ferns, because that can lead to runoff and erosion issues.”

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| Welcome to Roaring River 2020

Fire Tower Trail The longest of the trails at Roaring River is Fire Tower Trail, which gets its name from the old lookout tower about 1.5 miles from the nature center.

Most of Fire Tower Trail is located inside the 2,075acre Roaring River Hills Wild Area and passes next to the Roaring River Cove Hardwoods Natural Area.

This area offers rugged Ozark terrain, dense hardwood woodlands, open dolomite glades and deep hollows. The views from its wildflower-filled natural meadows remain pure wilderness.

The steep hillsides have extensive woodland belts that hide numerous stony bluffs, sheltered forest coves, springs and clear-water streams. The old lookout tower, about 1.5 miles from the nature center, was constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s. This trail is excellent for birders and photographers.

“Fire Tower also has a rock formation I like to call home plate,” Topham said. “It’s right past the highway as you go up the trail toward the tower.”

A loop trail, Fire Tower Trail is 4.2 miles long and takes about four hours and 9 minutes to hike. Trailheads are across Higwhay F from the Nature Center, near the Story by Kyle Troutman

View more Roaring River trails at AllTrails.com

https://www.alltrails.com/parks/us/missouri/roaring-river-state-park

Roaring River Trails Map

The yellow connector trail leads visitors on a steep hike from Deer Leap Trail to the Fire Tower Trail. This connector trail is the steepest most challenging bit of trail in the park.

TRAILS Fire Tower Trail Eagles Nest Trail Pibern Trail Devil’s Kitchen Trail River Trail Connecting Trail Deer Leap Trail

N

LEGEND Highway

Park Entrance

Trail Head

Roaring River Cove Hardwoods

Roaring River Hills Wild Area

Editor’s Note: Much of the descriptions of the trails are courtesy of Missouri State Parks and were obtained at www.mostateparks.com.

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old stables and near Camp Smokey. White connector 1 also connects Fire Tower Trail to Deer Leap Trail.

Hikers may experience mud, gravel, shifting rock or slippery surfaces; rocks, roots or downed vegetation on the trail; wood or stone steps; steep grades and inclines more than 10 percent; bluffs or drop-offs next to the trail; water or stream crossings with no bridges; occasional water over the trail; and a roadway crossing.

Eagle’s Nest Trail The second-longest trail at the park, Eagle’s Nest Trail, follows the river before climbing to one of the highest points in the park. An old homestead was located where the lilac bushes and yucca are growing along the ridge. If accessing the trail from Campground 3, people may cross the bridge at the service road.

Eagle’s Nest Trail is a 2.6-mile loop trail, taking about 2 hours and 34 minutes to complete. The main trailhead is in Campground 2.

Hikers may experience mud, gravel, shifting rock or slippery surfaces; rocks, roots or downed vegetation on the trail; wood or stone steps; steep grades and inclines more than 10 percent; bluffs or drop-offs next to the trail; and occasional water over the trail.

NOTE: Eagle’s Nest Trail has been closed for about two years, but staff have been working on repairs and hope to reopen it this year.

Visitors work together to build a replica of an Eagle’s Nest during the Eagle Viewing Event.

Devil’s Kitchen Trail Getting into the shorter, more manageable hikes, Devil’s Kitchen Trail starts in the heart of the park. It’s name is derived from an odd rock outcrop that formed a roomlike enclosure. According to legend, this room was used as a hideout by Civil War guerrillas but has since collapsed. A self-guided interpretive brochure for this trail is available at the nature center and the park office. In addition to Devil’s Kitchen, the interpretive trail provides information on other geologic features, such as caves and different landscapes and plants visitors will find along the trail.

Devil’s Kitchen is also a loop trail. It is 1.4 miles, which takes about 1 hour and 23 minutes to hike. The trailhead is across from the CCC Lodge.

Hikers may experience mud, gravel, shifting rock or slippery surfaces; rocks, roots or downed vegetation on the trail; wood or stone steps; steep grades and inclines more than 10 percent; bluffs or drop-offs next to the trail; bridges or structural crossings; water or stream crossings with no bridges; and occasional water over the trail.

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| Welcome to Roaring River 2020

Visitors could once walk through the geologic feature for the Devil’s Kitchen Trail’s namesake (see below).

After rock slabs collapsed, the Devil’s Kitchen became enclosed, visitors still climb over the giant boulders for a closer look of what once served as a shelter for Ozark travelers.

Pibern Trail

Piburn Trail is a hidden gem that takes visitors along the bench bluff. These stone steps are a steeper section of this shady trail.

The longest linear trail at Roaring River, Pibern Trail was constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s while they were harvesting material for the construction of park features. A variety of habitats, including both dry and moist limestone woodlands, tall bluffs, north- and south-facing slopes and a small Ozark stream are features on this trail. The trail also passes by the old moonshine cave.

Piburn Trail is 1.1 miles long and takes about 49 minutes to complete. The trailhead is located at Campground 1.

Hikers may experience mud, gravel, shifting rock or slippery surfaces; rocks, roots or downed vegetation on the trail; wood or stone steps; steep grades and inclines more than 10 percent; bridges or structural crossings; water or stream crossings with no bridges; and occasional water over the trail.

River Trail

Lindsey Crawford shows her daughter Ember a Luna Moth while hiking Devil’s Kitchen Trail.

Those looking for a shorter but scenic hike can take on River Trail. Also linear, it runs parallel to Roaring River between the CCC Lodge and Campground 3. This trail was constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s and is a good example of the trail work they completed. Wildflower displays are outstanding along this trail in the spring.

River Trail is 0.6 miles long, which take about 28 minutes to hike. The trailhead is at the CCC Lodge.

Hikers may experience mud, gravel, shifting rock or slippery surfaces; rocks, roots or downed vegetation on the trail; and bluffs or drops next to the trail.

Springhouse Trail Springhouse Trail passes through a dry-mesic wooded area with a variety of trees and wildflowers.

It passes by an old homestead with a springhouse that was used to keep food cold by using the naturally cool temperature of the spring water that passed through the rock layer structure.

Springhouse Trail is 0.4 miles long, which takes about 15 minutes to complete. The trailhead is at the Emory Melton Inn parking lot.

Hikers may experience mud, gravel, shifting rock or slippery surfaces; rocks, roots or downed vegetation on the trail; wood or stone steps; steep grades and inclines more than 10 percent; bluffs or drops next to the trail; and occasional water over the trail.

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Deer Leap Trail Finally, the shortest of all trails at Roaring River, Deer Leap Trail leads to an overlook and boardwalk above the fish hatchery and the spring. From the overlook, it is easy to see the axle shaft from an undershot waterwheel that powered a gristmill in the mid19th century. The trail was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s and the rocks used for steps on the trail were harvested in the park.

White connector 1 provides access to Fire Tower Trail.

Deer Leap Trail is 0.2 miles long, taking about 12 minutes to hike. The trailhead is at the fish hatchery.

Hikers may experience mud, gravel, shifting rock or slippery surfaces; rocks, roots or downed vegetation on the trail; wood or stone steps; steep grades and inclines more than 10 percent; bluffs or drops next to the trail; and bridges or structural crossings.

NOTE: Portions of Deer Leap Trail may be inaccessible because of a rock refinishing project park staff is completing.

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80 YEARS LATER

O

An interior photo of Jeanne Wallace’s cabin just two weeks before her death when it burned down.

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| Welcome to Roaring River 2020

n Feb. 26, 1940, Barry County lost arguably one of its most interesting residents in a tragic fire — Jeanne Wallace, also known as the “Mountain Maid.”

Wallace became famous locally for her ability to seemingly predict other people’s futures and locate lost objects and livestock.

According to an article in The Monett Times, Wallace met her end at age 88 following a fire that destroyed her cabin in the timber one mile south of Roaring River.

A neighbor discovered the charred ruins of her home at about 9 a.m. and called county officials, who recovered a few pieces of Wallace’s remains in the house, including a hip joint and portion of her skull.

Officials believed she was starting a fire in a stove and upset a kerosene can nearby, causing an explosion.

Story by Kyle Troutman Photos provided courtesy of the Barry County Museum

Jeanne Wallace with long-time friend Frank Hefley, Roaring River Hatchery employee who frequently took her groceries and wood.

“Mountain Maid” Jeanne Wallace quoted by The Monett Times

“My great-grandfather, a Wallace, was the greatest seer in Scotland.

He could describe exactly how a man was dressed, even if he was as far off as India.”

Mountain Maid remembered as local seer Called a seer of visions, friend and counselor to hundreds, she made her home at Roaring River in 1892. The timber paths around her cabin were worn by footsteps as her reputation as a possessor of second sight grew. She lived alone and walked wherever she wanted to go.

Wallace was under five feet tall and had pale blue eyes with thick, gray bobbed hair parted in the middle.

Wallace once told a reporter she belonged to a race of people that can see.

“My great-grandfather, a Wallace, was the greatest seer in Scotland,” she was quoted as saying in The Monett Times article. “He could describe exactly how a man was dressed, even if he was as far off as India.

All my family was dark, but he was fair. And when I was born, they said it was as if I was him born all over again. It is a sixth sense; this power is inherited, it can not be cultivated.”

Wallace was born on a pier at the foot of Canal Street in New York City, and she was educated in

New York and became a nurse. She came to Roaring River on account of her health, as her spine was curved and doctors suggested she live in the mountains and climb up and down hills.

The longest time she was away from her 160-acre homestead was in the world war period when she spent five years at Camp Upton on Long Island, acting as a “mother” of a soldiers’ cottage.

When she returned, she found her four-room house and peach orchard burned, prompting her to build the cabin in which she ultimately perished. She is buried in the Seligman Cemetery.

According to the book “Roaring River Heritage”

by Irene Horner, Wallace resented being called a “fortune teller,” but no one ever seemed to doubt her abilities to find lost animals and lost articles, also looking into people’s past and futures.

As described by old-timers, the process was usually instantaneous and without effort. There was no crystal-gazing or hocus pocus, perhaps because she never accepted any compensation for her services.

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Photo courtesy of Norma Brixey via the Barry County Museum

Ed Bannister visits with Jeanne Wallace in front of her cabin in the 1930s.

She did often shut her eyes for a moment, described by many as the bluest blue in the Ozarks. She died an old maid, and she always vowed she knew she would. Who would want a wife you not only knew everything her husband had done, but also everything he was going to do or was thinking of doing?

According to her account, she was born with the “sixth sense” and was seven years old when she realized everyone else did not have it. As a child, it seemed silly to her for people to lose things and go hunting in the wrong places. Her father finally explained to her that she had a “special God-given power” and must be patient with those who lacked it. He also told her she must only use it for purposes that would do good and never accept payment.

Evidently of sturdy stock, Wallace would walk 3.5 miles to get her mail and 5.5 miles to Eagle Rock for supplies, carrying them in a 25-pound flour sack.

It was a favorite outing for young folks to go see Wallace, riding on horseback or in buggies and walking up the winding trail to her home. Visitors literally beat a path to her door. A sign painted in gold letters on a black background directed people to her tworoom log cabin in a small clearing.

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| Welcome to Roaring River 2020

Mrs. Grant Aldridge, who was the daughter of Wesley Reed, whose family lived near Wallace’s cabin, recalled spending a night with Wallace and asking for her fortune to be told. Wallace told her Grant Aldridge was working in the west and they would be married in the future.

As she had not heard from the man who was suppose to be her future husband for some time, she expressed her concern. Wallace said she would hear from him in a few days, as he could only post a letter every 30 days. She also indicated she saw white things moving about him slowly and something laying on his lap.

Mrs. Aldridge later discovered Mr. Aldridge was herding sheep, was only able to get to the post office once a month and always kept a gun laying across his lap to protect the sheep. The fortune was told in the fall, and the Aldridges were married in February.

While the CCC Camp was at Roaring River, some irreverently called Wallace “the old witch” and did not believe her. One boy in despair who had lost his wallet went to Wallace as a last resort, as the wallet contained papers which would get him a good job.

Wallace knew he had been a doubter and was not

Photo courtesy of Johnnie Payton via the Barry County Museum

Jeanne Wallace is pictured with members of the CCC camp, of whom she was fond of because of how kind they were to her.

Pictured is the site of Jeanne Wallace’s cabin after it burned to the ground, a fire that killed Wallace on Feb. 26, 1940.

cordial at first, but she relented, assuring the boy his wallet was in plain view on the trail where he had lost it. The boy responded that he went over the trail three times and did not see it.

“That is what you think,” she told him. “You should have covered the trail the way you went the first time, but you back-tracked. Don’t you remember a fallen tree, with branches you had to squeeze through? Well, it is still there and that is where you will find your wallet. You will get your job, too.”

The boy found the wallet, and he also got the job.

Several people told stories of Wallace remembered that she didn’t waste time with non-believers. One man, MFA insurance agent James Woods, went to visit Wallace with several friends, and she asked him, “You don’t believe in me, do you?”

He honestly replied he had never believed in powers such as hers, and she stated emphatically that he would get no information. However, as he turned to leave, she said, “But one thing I will tell you, you will have an automobile accident when you are about 50 years old.” He said although he thought of the prediction many times through the years, he never confided it to anyone, and the accident, a bad one, was true.

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| Welcome to Roaring River 2020

Jeanne Wallace on Feb. 10, 1940, only 16 days before a fire burned down her cabin.

Another time, a young CCC boy who had lost an item was told to go see her.

“That old fool can’t tell me anything,” he replied. Finally, he was prevailed upon to go to her, but he returned quickly, out of breath and so upset he had trouble speaking.

“It was awful,” he said. “I approached the hut, thinking up a nice speech to please the old girl, and a whole mob of cats came out of a hole near the front. I didn’t get a chance to ask her anything.

The minute I knocked on the door, she threw it open and snapped at me, ‘This old fool can but will not tell you anything.’ Then, she slammed the door in my face and all those cats jumped me, spitting, howling and biting my legs. I didn’t know you could sic cats on a man like that, so I ran away as fast as I could.”

The story spread until one of Wallace’s neighbors asked if it was true. She said it was, except the part about the cats wasn’t quite right. She said startled at having his mind read and the door slammed, the boy stepped back onto a cat’s tail, and when the cat “sort of exploded” it made him jump back and step on another.

Wallace considered gambling an evil, so she would not use her powers to help people with greed. However, one time,

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| Welcome to Roaring River 2020

she did help a woman win on a horse.

Instead of putting the question frankly to Wallace, she asked which name of the various horses was the prettiest. A strange smile appeared on Wallace’s face, and she replied, “Butterfly — that’s the prettiest. And, Butterfly is the fastest, too.”

When the story got around, an incredulous friend asked, “Did you know that woman won $1,250 on your tip?”

“Yes,” Wallace replied. “And if you knew what the woman was going to use the money for you would understand why I let her think she fooled me.”

Wallace described her power as a feeling just like memory, but it applied to anyone and in their future or past.

“It’s like walking a long road,” she explained. “You can see quite a distance behind you and quite a distance ahead, but far away things get dim in either direction.”

Wallace also predicted almost to the day when Hitler would invade Poland, and she also said his plots would come to naught and he would be assassinated.

Asked why she never guided government, Wallace said there were two reasons.

“In the first place, nobody would listen to an old witch,” she said. “But, if by any chance they did start to follow guidance, I am sure my powers would be taken from me because otherwise they would be almost certain to interfere with the course of destiny.

“It is all very well for me to tell people where to find lost pocketbooks and strayed cows, even to warn a businessman against a bad investment or tell a woman how to escape a love entanglement. Such little things in no way affect the great predestined tide of human events, but if the world knew the big events to come and tried to forestall disasters, such as the rise of Hitler and Stalin, it would confuse destiny, and that, of course, will never be permitted.”

Accomplishing missions

E

very day, 22 veterans commit suicide, and Charlie 22 Outdoors is an area non-profit that aims to lower that number by providing outdoor activities to veterans with the goal of showing them there is hope, love and a personal meaning in God’s grace.

Scotty Hettinger, founder of the 501c3 organization, said he has been doing events with veterans since 2011, and in 2017, he was called to form his own organization to help “serve those who have already served.”

“I was an Army brat,” he said. “My dad died when I was 15, and I’ve always had a passion for the military.”

Hettinger, who was paralyzed in a car accident in his college years, said the formation of Charlie 22 Outdoors came after months of reflection, then a calling from God.

Charlie 22 Outdoors bringing spark back into veterans’ lives Story by Kyle Troutman

Donald “Doc” Ballard, right, Vietnam War veteran and oldest living Medal of Honor recipient in Missouri, offered an embrace to Scott Hettinger, founder of Charlie 22 Outdoors, during an event on May 21, 2019, for Operation Roaring River, which allowed veterans and their families to spend four days at the state park.

Don Scott, of Joplin, Charlie 22 Outdoors volunteer, is a taxidermist and mounted a few of the largest fish caught by the veterans last week at Roaring River State Park, for free.

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George Curfman, left, of Owasso, Okla., and Russell Smith, of Bartlesville, Okla, were two of the many veterans attending Charlie 22 Outdoors’ Operation Roaring River.

On the evening of May 21, 2019, the pair received a gift from Missouri State Parks, a Roaring River State Park pin.

Those attending Charlie 22 Outdoors’ Operation Roaring River held up their memorabilia after the opening ceremony on May 20, 2019.

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Hettinger said he was having sweating spells in March 2017, and by June, he had some tests run and learned it was due to a massive infection. After treatment and a surgery, during which he lost a kidney and his gall bladder, among other complications, Hettinger felt like he should be doing more for veterans.

“On Oct. 8, 2017, I went to church and the pastor started his sermon by reciting Joshua 1:9,” he said. “It goes, ‘Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.’

“It hit me then, and I knew it was time to do volunteer work with military members again.”

Hettinger said he made some calls and within a week, Charlie 22 Outdoors was born. The name comes from multiple places, including how 22 veterans a day commit suicide, which the group aims to change. Hettinger’s father was also a drill instructor for the Charlie Company, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Brigade (Charlie 22) at Fort Leonard Wood.

“While our application for 501c3 status was being reviewed in November 2017, we were setting up a turkey hunt for the following April,” he said. “Then, we were invited to do a waterfowl hunt in January.

Sacrifice for others Donald “Doc” Ballard was the guest speaker on May 21, 2019, at Charlie 22 Outdoors’ Operation Roaring River. Ballard is a retired colonel with the Kansas National Guard who served as a hospital corpsman in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War. He is the oldest living Medal of Honor recipient in Missouri.

According to his Medal of Honor citation, Ballard was returning to his platoon from the evacuation landing zone when the company was ambushed by a North Vietnamese Army unit employing automatic weapons and mortars, and sustained numerous casualties.

Observing a wounded marine, Ballard unhesitatingly moved across the fire-swept terrain to the injured man and

We went from five months to prepare to only two.

On Dec. 6, 2017, the Tri-State Truck Center donated $7,000 to us, so we had the money for the January event, we just needed the veterans.

“On Dec. 28, one of the board members called me and said he was nervous because we didn’t have any applicants. I said don’t worry, because if we don’t, we will just move on to the event in April. The next day, we had 15 applications. Then, he got nervous because he had to choose only four to take on the trip.”

Hettinger said from there, Charlie 22 Outdoors began to grow. It has served 100-150 veterans total, sending them on all-expense-paid trips for hunting, fishing, golfing, NASCAR and more.

“Our application pool is over 400 now, and we have an established group of volunteers and monthly donations,” Hettinger said. “We are all volunteer-based, and every penny goes to the veterans’ expenses. We have been able to sit back and watch people come to us [with event locations], and that’s pretty incredible.”

Hettinger said Roaring River’s involvement began in August 2018 following a banquet he was attending.

swiftly rendered medical assistance to his comrade.

Ballard then directed four marines to carry the casualty to a position of relative safety. As the men prepared to move the wounded marine, an enemy soldier suddenly left his concealed position and, after hurling a hand grenade which landed near the casualty, commenced firing upon the small group of men. Instantly shouting a warning to the marines, Ballard fearlessly threw himself upon the lethal explosive device to protect his comrades from the deadly blast. When the grenade failed to detonate, he calmly arose from his dangerous position and resolutely continued his determined efforts in treating other marine casualties.

One of the men there he knew previously went to church with Joel Topham, Roaring River State Park natural resources manager, and he thought with Topham being a U.S. Air Force veteran, he would want to get involved.

“Joel invited me down in November 2018 to set up the May 2019 event,” Hettinger said. “It developed into a 40-veteran event with up to 40 volunteers onsite. We stayed at Camp Smokey and veterans from across the midwest and southeast, and even one veteran from Hawaii, stayed. We had speakers each night, and all the meals were donated.”

Jerry Brownfield, of Oklahoma, was an attendee at the event and said he heard about it through a TV advertisement.

“I saw it on a TV ad in Joplin and applied,” he said.

“With me, PTSD is an issue, so that camaraderie with other veterans makes us feel safe, whereas we don’t always feel safe normally. It’s about getting all our brothers in arms together who have been there and done that and know what one another have been through.

“We communicate back and forth well, and those

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Starting May 20, 2019, and through May 23, 2019, veterans were brought together

by Charlie 22 Outdoors to spend time in Roaring River State Park. On the left, Jerry Brownfield, a Vietnam veteran from 1969-1970, met Larry Cloud, Vietnam veteran from 1968-1969. The two men served in the same areas around the same time and first met at the Operation Roaring River event last week. Able to tell each other stories and memories that only they would understand, the two spent a significant amount of time becoming friends.

who have mental health issues or PTSD, we pick up on it better and can get those guys the help they need, even if that’s just a shoulder to lean on or advice from personal experience.”

Brownfield is a U.S. Army veteran who served in Vietnam and Cambodia. He said much of his experience in war was as a weapons specialist and recon scout on the front lines, putting him in the worst position possible during a firefight. He ultimately ended up working as a radio operator in Cambodia.

This year, the event, called “Operation Roaring River,” is set for May 17-20.

“We are expanding to 50 veterans this year and we already have meals being donated,” he said. “We are getting speakers together, and we hope to have some state representatives there.”

Charlie 22 Outdoors’ missions are accomplishing their goals, and that is proven by what the event attendees tell Hettinger.

“We find that the outdoors is a great way for veterans to find a release from their PTSD or other issues they are facing,” Hettinger said. “I had one veteran at Roaring River last year pull me aside as we were leaving and, with tears in his eyes, told me he came to the event with no purpose because of his PTSD and suicidal thoughts. But now, he was leaving Roaring River with a regained vision of what he wanted to do in life.

“Another veteran on a different trip told me he was going to call and cancel three weeks before and was

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Clifford C. Nelson, in the red shirt, of Lamar, is a Vietnam veteran from 1968-1970. He spent a combined total of 13 years between the Army, Navy and National Guard. Operation Roaring River is the second event he has attended with Charlie 22 Outdoors. He spoke with Charlie 22 Outdoors guide Kevin Selby, of Neosho, on the bank of Roaring River on Wednesday, as his two grandsons, Kurtis White, left, 14, of Stockton and Skylar Hunt, right, 14, of Jericho Springs, fished and spent time with their grandfather.

going to commit suicide. His military friend committed suicide a year earlier, and it was taking a toll on him. He saw our event as his last chance, and he said he went home with a new sense of purpose and hope.”

Brownfield said the work Hettinger does is much needed for veterans.

Born to be brothers There is a bond in being a war veteran, as well as fishing on a nice spring day. Charlie 22 Outdoors and Roaring River State Park hosted Operation Roaring River for 40 veterans and their families. Randall McDaniel, left, of Carthage, joined the Army in 1972.

He served in Thailand, Korea and Germany. “This is my first event with Charlie 22 Outdoors, and it is a blessing,” he said. “For me, it was divine intervention.” Dave Ross, middle, of Webb City, served in Texas and Missouri with the Air Force for five years.

“It is nice to relax and have the cama-

raderie with other veterans,” he said.

Ryan Rogers, of Seneca, is a Marine veteran who served at 29 Palms from 1995-1996.

He spent a total of four years in the military from 1994-1998 and said Operation Roaring River has been a great time to meet other veterans. “I was supposed to come with my brother but he had a family emergency,” he said. “Actually, he is my newfound brother, but we were friends for more than 20 years. I was adopted, and I looked up my birth parents and realized we were actually brothers the whole time.”

“Some of the guys who go on these trips live in their 4-by-4 safe zone, so getting them out of the house is the main thing,” he said. “And we all have our own issues. I am still not able to clean my own fish.

For some of us, the smell of blood or the visual of the innards can give us flashbacks.”

For more information For more information about Charlie 22 Outdoors, people may visit charlie22outdoors.com or email charlie22outdoors@gmail. com. The website’s “contact us” section also has numbers for Hettinger, its brass and its board members, as well as links to social media on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Brownfield said because of the joy the Charlie 22 Outdoors trips give, he’s been on a few.

“I was one of four guys who got to go on a NASCAR truck race trip, and a sailing event in Illinois,” he said.

“Also, my PTSD group in Jay, Okla., about eight or nine of us, went to an event on Little Flat Creek.”

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Law Office Of John A. Lewright 903 Main St. Cassville

417-847-2177 Monday and Tuesday Closed, Wednesday-Saturday 11am-8pm, Sunday 11am-3pm

18947 MO-37 Cassville, MO

417-671-0313

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JENKINS QUARRY LLC 4 Locations To Serve You Cassville: 417-847-3200 eagle RoCk: 417-271-3200 shell knob: 417-858-3200 Jenkins: 417-574-6530

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Breakfast & lunch served daily!

2980 Rains Rd., Jane, Mo. • 417-226-1234 Tues. - Fri. 6 a.m. - 3 p.m. | Sat. 6 a.m. - 1 p.m.

48

| Welcome to Roaring River 2020

Hettinger said Roaring River is a perfect location for serving the Charlie 22 Outdoors mission.

“The outdoors is a really great way to find a sense of peace, and Roaring River is perfect with how peaceful it is,” he said. “Location is important because we want to be still. Roaring River is a great place for this because of the seclusion, the water and the scenery. Everything is perfect.”

The park is so perfect, Hettinger said his group is hoping to offer more Roaring River events.

“We are looking at adding a winter catch and release event next year,” he said. “We have 15 total events this year, [all labeled as Operation XYZ], and that’s a good quantity, but we want to make sure we also have the quality to meet our mission. We try to select the veterans who are in the most need.”

Brownfield said Roaring River is an ideal place for veterans to go.

“The park itself is fabulous,” he said.

“The way it’s set up, it kind of reminds me of being in the barracks again with all the guys [at Camp Smokey]. The food was excellent, and we all really had a good time and enjoyed ourselves.

“What Scotty has done is amazing.

He’s really helping save the lives of veterans.”

Hettinger said Charlie 22 Outdoors is always in need of volunteers, monetary contributions, new locations or events, and last but not least, prayer.

“We have a lot of applicants, and we need places to take them,” he said. “All donations to us are tax-deductible, and all funds go to the events.”

For more information about Charlie 22 Outdoors, people may visit charlie22outdoors.com or email charlie22outdoors@gmail.com. The website’s “contact us” section also has numbers for Hettinger, its brass and its board members, as well as links to social media on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

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A-List Properties................................. 12 At The River Consignment.............. 40 Ball and Prier Tires...............................3 Barry County Coop............................35 Barry County Ready Mix.................. 48 BBQ Station.........................................41 Big Creek Resort................................ 34 Bill Vance Marine................................10 Bruner Pharmacy............................... 29 Cappy Harris Realtors........................18 Cassville Chamber of Commerce ............................................................... 11 Cassville Golf Club.............................14 Cassville MFA Agri Services............. 40 Central Crossing Senior Center........8 Coast to Coast....................................24 Diet Center......................................... 49 Edgewood Creamery....................... 50 First State Bank of Purdy.....................8 Flat Creek Realty...................................2 Flat Creek X-Press............................. 42 Four Seasons Real Estate................. 34 Freedom Bank of Southern Missouri .............................................................. 49 Geraldi’s............................................... 42 Jimmy Michel Motors.......................35 John Lewight Law Office................ 48 Les Jacobs.......................................... 49 Mc Donald’s.........................................24 Michael’s Hardware.............................4 Mill Street Laundry............................. 11 Missouri Farm Bureau........................10 Missouri Parks.....................................52 Oriental House.................................... 15 Ozark Mountain Trading...................41 Plymouth Junction............................18 Quick Draw Gun................................ 20 Race Brothers...................................... 51 Riehn, J. Michael; attorney...............14 Roaring River Resort.......................... 15 Rusty Gate Flea Market..................... 12 Security Bank of Southwest Missouri. .............................................................. 29 Shell Knob Small Engine.................. 20 Shelter Insurance.................................4 Sportsman’s Corner........................... 15 Sunrise Family.......................................5 TH Rogers Lumber Co...................... 11 The Coffee Café.................................35 The Jane Store................................... 48 The Farmer’s Daughter.................... 48 The ‘Ole Home Place........................41 Tim’s Fly Shop.................................... 29 Tomblin’s Jewelry...............................18 Whitley Pharmacy..............................24

Authorized Service Dealer

Family owned and operated since 1971

417-235-7739 210 Hwy 37, Monett 417-862-4378 2310 W. Kearney, Springfield 417-358-3592 2309 Fairlawn Dr., Carthage

Offering a one-stop for all your agriculture supplies, clothes and equipment

Race Brothers carries a complete line of farm and home supplies including clothing, lawn and garden, outdoor power equipment, pet supplies and much more! You will find our service outstanding whether your needs are for home or acreage in the country.

YOUR COMPLETE FARM SUPPLY STORE TROUT TIMES |

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Come And ShAre our relAxing ozArkS PArAdiSe! lodge i reSTAurAnT i ConFerenCe CenTer i PArk STore

Enjoy the quiet beauty of deep hollows, tall narrow ridges and a clear, sparkling stream while basking in the peace and tranquility of the Emory Melton Inn and Conference Center. Perched atop a hill in the heart of the Missouri Ozarks, the Inn and Conference Center offers a complete package of recreation, hospitality and family-friendly, homestyle dining!

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Creating memories for a new generation

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417-847-2330 417-847-4971 417-847-2430 417-847-2539 417-847-3742