1. Big Cedar Lodge
City: Ridgedale, MO
Category: Accommodations
Telephone: (417) 335-2777
Address: 612 Devil’s Pool Rd.
Description: The Bass Pro Shops of resorts is the 305-acre Big Cedar Lodge, located just 10 miles south of Branson on MO 86. With its Adirondack-style architecture and its wilderness-themed landscaping, Big Cedar is an attraction all its own. Developed by Bass Pro Shops owner Johnny L. Morris, Big Cedar has been attracting the attention of the rich and famous since its initial creation more than 70 years ago by two wealthy Missourians, Jude Simmons and Harry Worman, who incidentally now have buildings named after them. The two men built resort homes in what was then known as Big Cedar Hollow. In 1947 a real estate executive bought the property and added the Devil’s Pool Ranch guest resort. Since that time, the White River was dammed to form Table Rock Lake. Morris later bought the property, and the rest is history.With a list of amenities a mile long, a five-season rate card, and upwards of thirty different types of rooms, it is impossible for us to mention everything. We will tell you that the price for a basic room in peak season is around $189. That includes two beds, a phone, and cable TV. You can get the same room for around $80 in January. On the other end of the spectrum is the 2,500-square-foot Governor’s Suite. It goes for approximately $1,500 a night in peak season and includes four bedrooms, four baths, private balconies, remote-controlled fireplaces, TVs, VCRs, a kitchen, bar, and boardroom.The list of amenities includes riding stables, tennis courts, a swimming pool, Jacuzzis, private log cabin suites, a playground for children 4 through 12, three restaurants, and all the fish you can catch from their private marina on Table Rock Lake (you’ll have to abide by Missouri fishing regulations, however). You can rent fully equipped Tracker bass boats, ski boats, pontoon boats, or canoes by the hour or by the day. If it’s a guide you need, they’ll supply that, too.Their Top of the Rock executive nine-hole, par 3 golf course (now being expanded to an 18-hole course) was designed by Jack Nicklaus himself and is a member of the Audubon Signature Cooperative Sanctuary program for natural habitat conservation.Just down the road 20 minutes is Dogwood Canyon, a 10,000-acre private wilderness refuge owned by the same folks. You can walk, rent a bicycle, or take the guided tram tour. Along the way you may spot Texas longhorns, American bison, white-tailed deer, and wild turkeys. For trout anglers who don’t like much of a challenge, they even have well-stocked trout streams.The restaurants at Big Cedar run the full gamut. You can get prime rib at the Devil’s Pool Restaurant, a local favorite, and the Worman House Restaurant serves gourmet cuisine. (See the Restaurants chapter.)If you’re serious about visiting Big Cedar, call (800) 227-7776, and for $10 they’ll send you a VHS videotape of the entire complex.
2. Buzzard Bar (Big Cedar Lodge)
City: Ridgedale, MO
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (417) 335-2777
Address: 612 Devil’s Pool Rd.
Description: This is the kind of place where you might have found Teddy Roosevelt after one of his hunting trips, if it had been around back then. In keeping with true Big Cedar Lodge style, the Buzzard Bar is a dark and cozy place where you can enjoy Irish coffee and other imported alcoholic beverages. Head on upstairs to the Devil’s Pool Restaurant (see the Restaurants chapter) for a dinner feast, or skip dinner altogether and get to know the bartender on a first-name basis. Be sure to check out the view of Table Rock Lake out the west side of the building.
3. Oakmont Hills Resort And Golf Course
City: Ridgedale, MO
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (417) 334-8424
Address: 769 MO 86
Description: This course is located on MO 86 right across from the turnoff to Big Cedar Lodge. Established in 1987, this course of 2,939 yards is par 36 for nine holes and can provide a memorable short round. The fairways are Bermuda grass and mixed grass, with bent-grass greens. Local golfers rate holes 2 and 4 as the most difficult. Hole 4 is a 395-yard, par 5 challenge that has a dogleg left requiring a 190-yard drive from the tee down a narrow fairway. Greens fees are $20 for nine holes, plus $15 for cart rental.
4. Creekside Marina At Long Creek
City: Ridgedale, MO
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (417) 334-4860
Address: 1368 Long Creek Rd.
Description: Gage’s offers groceries, fishing guides, ski boats, Wave Runners, and boat slips by the day or year. Call in advance for reservations, especially in the summer. Rental prices are on their Web site.
5. Oakmont Community
City: Ridgedale, MO
Category: Relocation
Telephone: (417) 334-2106
Address: 2308 MO 86
Description: One of the first really big developments around Table Rock Lake, Oakmont is south of Hollister near the Arkansas line. It is between US 65 and the Long Creek Arm of Table Rock Lake. It consists of a variety of pocket developments and communities, from mobile home clusters to large exclusive lake-view and lakefront lots with homes as expensive as you’ll find anywhere in the area. Amenities include the Executive Timbers Resort and Golf Club (see the Recreation and the Outdoors chapter) and a community recreation center. The development is near the Big Cedar Lodge and Top of the Rock restaurant and golf course (see the Restaurants and Accommodations chapters). Most of the streets and roads are paved. Water is by individual or community wells. Sewage is by individual septic systems. Prices of homes depend on restrictions, lot sizes, and lake access and views.