Day Trip

story by Vicki Wood Cole Camp: Close to home

The downtown area of Cole Camp has lots of quaint stores and restaurants to explore.

RiOak Western Design on Facebook.

Cole Camp is not too far from the Lake area, and it’s a treasure that holds enough to do for a day. The charming German heritage town warmly welcomes visitors with its reputation of being a miniature version of Hermann, another charming community to the east. There are some similarities with their larger counterpart, but Cole Camp has some history that Hermann does not.

Granted, both towns are regions ripe for wine production; Cole Camp is down to one winery now, but still has downtown stores carrying bottles of small-batch local winery vintages.

Wine, Antiques, and More not only sells local wines and beer, but they have an extensive gift shop and sponsor regular events. Bunco, trivia nights, Sip and Paint, and dinner with wine pairings. The shop offers local-to- Missouri snacks as well such as Hemme Bros. Creamery cheese, Spice Guys pretzels, and Burger’s Smokehouse sausage sticks. Located at 301 E. Main.

GERMAN FOOD

After visiting both towns, The German Table Restaurant has authentic German food, and has been a long- standing tradition for the fare in Cole Camp since 2012. Located downtown, it’s only open on the weekends at night, and reservations are recommended. Spaetzle and Schnitzel of many varieties are served alongside famous German sweet and spicy cabbage.

The German Table is in downtown Cole Camp at 107 E. Main Street. Open Thursday- Saturday 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.

CLASSIC GRILL

Another long-time business that offers a more homestyle café menu is The Classic Grill. Recently acquired by master food trailer chef Mac Heimsoth, The Classic Grill is run by him and his group of partners who bring their well- known fried pork tenderloin to the restaurant. Mac has a few changes in store for The Classic’s loyal customer base. Heimsoth is known for his following at the Missouri State Fair for his tenderloins and cheesy ribbon fries. He plans a surprise unique dessert every year at the fair, selling out his last concoction, deep fried pumpkin pie balls.

The menu remains classic, but Heimsoth will pepper the menu with a few hints at fair food and some gourmet items from his catering business.

Cole Camp is a food-centric little town, with a barbeque and scone business anchoring the front entrance to down- town. But the stores are a true treasure, with a variety of goods not to be found anywhere else. So get your credit cards ready because this will be a Day Trippin’ full of shopping.

RiOak Western Design is a huge showroom downtown in Cole Camp. Cute boutique clothing with a western vibe. The ultra-popular trend is found aplenty at RiOak.

They host First Fridays in

Cole Camp, a shop local business event the first

Friday of every month. One can shop for farmhouse décor and inspirational signs. An old-fash- ioned candy inventory is in- house right alongside the cow print purses and metal farm signs.

RiOak is located down- town at 116 N. Maple St.

SOCK IT TO ME

Happy Feet is a sock store at Cole Camp. How might a sock store thrive in such a small town?

Well, first, it functions as a specialty size store, which can be hard to find at traditional stores. Happy Feet carries five different lengths of socks, but that part is boring. What is exciting at Happy Feet are the multiple colors and designs that catche one’s eye from the storefront downtown. Located at 104 E. Main.

NATIONAL REGISTRY

The entire downtown is on the National Register of Historic Places boasting pre-Civil War buildings where the prairies met the historic Butterfield Stage Coach Trail. There is a lot of German heritage still evident in Cole Camp, with the many festivals celebrated throughout the year. A full day of shopping can be had here with coffee to begin at Handel Haus downtown while enjoying the massive store full of antiques. Other than RiOak and Happy Feet, there are many boutiques downtown Cole Camp to fill a day. Lunch or breakfast any time of day can be found at The Classic Diner. Enjoy wine in the afternoon at Wine, Antiques, and More, or take a short country drive outside of Cole Camp to Wildlife Ridge Winery, a serene and remote country winery sitting lakeside.

FLEA MARKET

OVER 6,000 SQ.FT. OF INDOOR CONSIGNMENT!

FLEA MARKET

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Wednesday thru Saturday 10am-5pm Sunday Noon-5pm

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Tater’s Junk & Disorderly Flea Market

Tater’s Sweet Spot Ice Cream 3050 Highway 52, Eldon, MO 573-691-0223