The Ozark Trail Family Vacation

Dad & Mom organized a big family vacation for Christmas this year.  They rented from Airbnb a five bedroom lodge between Yellville and Harriet, Arkansas.  They rented a 16 passenger van and Mom and Dad, my sister, her husband and her six boys, Tricia, me and Laura Lee, Russ, and Benjamin departed the morning after Christmas.  Unfortunately, my brother and his wife were unable to make the trip.

We live in flat country in South Louisiana.  There's not a rock in sight.  We were anxious to get into the Ozark Mountains and do a little hiking and have good family fun.  That afternoon late we arrived at our destination.  The lodge was absolutely perfect!  Here's Dad & Mom in front of the fireplace.  It was cold, but we brought firewood and kept a roaring fire burning.  We also lit a fire in a fire pit out back.  The first night, my brother-in-law cooked quail that he had raised and injector marinated.  They were delicious!

It was so relaxing.  We woke up early, read the Bible and prayed while watching the sunrise.  So spectacular!  It was peaceful.

We brought two 18 count packages of eggs from home and cooked big breakfasts of bacon and eggs, grits, ham, toast and bagels and lots of coffee.  There were wild turkey and deer at the bottom of the hill that the boys spotted.

The lodge had a game room with a pool table, foosball, and other games to keep the crew occupied.  We also played a big bingo game in the family room and worked on a puzzle at night.  There was a pond below the lodge that was completely frozen over.  We aren't used to ice being that thick that you could actually walk on.  The boys were running and sliding on it.

It was still cold, but warming up a little.  While we were standing on the ice a big crack went all across the pond.  Probably not a good idea to stand on it for too long!

Once everyone was fed, we loaded up in the van and headed to Buffalo Point where Mom & Dad hiked the Buffalo River Overlook Trail.  We hiked the Indian Rockhouse trail.  The scenery was gorgeous!

There were numerous caves and rock formations to explore.

The highlight of the trail was the Indian rock house.  This was a shelter for native Americans many years ago.  Archeologists excavated the cave and found all sorts of tools, food remains, and other relics.  The Indians used this as a shelter and meeting area.

There was a perfect chimney in a part of the roof of the rock house.

Not only were they protected from the elements, but a creek ran through the cave at the end.  They could get fresh water without leaving.  

It was the most perfect day for hiking.  The sky was blue, the sun shone brightly, and we all worked up a sweat on the hike that was about a 3.5 mile round trip.

This was a tree lined trail at the very end.  You can see that it had warmed up.  Tricia had her coat tied around her waist.

We brought lots of food on the trip and stopped in parks and made sandwiches, but on this day, we drove into Yellville and found a pizza joint and ordered 7 pizzas.  There was a large kitchen in the lodge where we did some cooking, too.  We made a big chili.  We enjoyed chili dogs and frito pie!

We organized a scavenger hunt at the lodge, breaking up the kids into two teams and set them out on an adventure to find local items.  Some of the more memorable items to find were: a piece of ice from the pond, fire, two different types of wild animal poop, photos of a live animal seen around the lodge, and another odd item for them to collect.  They had a real good time.

The next day we loaded up and went to Rush, Arkansas.  It is a ghost town of sorts.  During the first World War, there was a town here of approximately 5,000 people mining.  They built the smelter below hoping for silver, but found zinc.  They used it for the war effort.  It was called the Morning Star Mine.

Old entrances to the mine dotted the hills, but they were closed off.

At the base of the trail was the Buffalo River.  The water was crystal clear and cold.  In fact ice was floating in the river.  It didn't stop Russ from rolling up his pant legs and wading out there!  The boys skipped rocks across the river.

Just a beautiful sight!  Living in Louisiana, we aren't accustomed to seeing the bottom of the river.  Our water is MUDDY!

This little tributary was flowing into the Buffalo River.  I think its called Clabber Creek.

The next morning at 7AM we loaded up the van and headed back home.  It was sad to leave.  Arkansas is a beautiful state.

It was a relaxing vacation and we all made memories to last a lifetime!  Thanks Dad & Mom!!