Mike Caro selling Ozarks lake retreat (3 – area)

This property was sold in the summer of 2015.
These entries remain for historical reference.

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My Ozarks adventure  •  My property  •  Area  •  Lake  •  FAQ  •  Photos

Part 3: Area

Original 2012
agent listing:

$699,000

Now

$395,000

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31 acres*

Shore: 1,000+ ft*

House: 3,000 sf*

(3 to 5 bed, 3½ bath)

Cabin: 1,200 sf*

(1 bed, 1 bath)

Extra 2,400 sf building*

Paths: 2.5 miles*

More

*Approximate   
measurements

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What’s the catch?

None, really, except what I describe.

Prices here are still catching up to the rest of the country.

Yes, I agree that it’s a bargain, but only if this is what you’re looking for. The 31-acre retreat was agent listed for $699,000 in 2012 ($740,000 for the 41-acre package).

Please read my ramblings about my adventure, the property, the area, and the lake before you decide.

I hope to sell to someone who appreciates my retreat and will be happy here. — MC

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The retreat and its 31 secluded lakefront acres is situated in one of the most picturesque and visited areas of the central United States. But don’t let that worry you. You’re off the beaten trail, once you turn off Highway 86 and take Washington Road a little over a mile to your driveway. There, it’s as if tourism isn’t even happening.

I won’t tell you much about the lake itself in this segment. You can learn the story and statistics about Table Rock Lake by clicking the “Lake” link above. It has almost 800 miles of shoreline, is noted for its scenery, fishing, and recreational offerings.

Branson

It’s puzzling that so little is known about this area in New York and Los Angeles, because its appeal to people in the middle of the county is monumental. Many people come here because of Branson, Missouri (about 30 miles from the property). There you’ll find over 50 theaters, with the majority specializing in country music. But other shows offer everything from 1950s and 1960s music to magic shows, river dancing, and comedy.

Don’t expect anything edgy, though. Branson is family oriented, although I’d estimate the average age of the audience is around 60. In fact, when I first moved here at age 58, I was frequently among the young segment of those in attendance. Maybe my observation isn’t scientific, but there it is, for whatever it’s worth.

Even odder, several years ago, I attended as Chuck Berry performed in Branson at age 80-plus, and it was the youngest audience I’ve seen there. Yes, he could still rock!

For kids, there are water parks, miniature golf, a world-class theme park called Silver Dollar City, and a lot more. Lake Taneycomo, linking Table Rock Lake with also-massive Bull Shoals lake, runs like a wide river right through Branson.

If you’re curious about Branson, here are two links you might click to get you started:

→ Branson.com

→ ExploreBranson.com

Eureka Springs

If you wake up in the morning and crave an experience that’s completely different from Branson, just turn right, instead of left, on the highway a mile from your driveway. That will take you along a stunningly scenic drive that, 22 miles later, puts you in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. This was one of my earliest discoveries in the Ozarks. It’s clearly an unexpected change of pace.

Many of the buildings in Eureka Springs are from the late 1800s — authentic and preserved. There are quaint shops, plenty of great restaurants, and a counter-culture of artists and writers. Many people come to get married here.

There are meticulously maintained Victorian houses, “healing” springs, 125-year-old hotels (including the famous Crescent Hotel), and a lot of other offerings.

You can take horse-drawn carriage tours of the surroundings. And there’s even the gorgeous city-managed Lake Leatherwood, where you can picnic or rent a paddle boat.

The hundred-year-old city auditorium often schedules premier touring entertainment. I once watched a midnight showing of Rocky Horror Picture Show here on Halloween. Unfortunately, the local kids didn’t quite have their semi-required audience-participation routines up to Los Angeles standards. But they tried enthusiastically.

At the bottom of this page is a link to help you understand Eureka Springs.

What else?

The “what else” part of describing this area could continue for a very long time. Let me just summarize and provide some selected links at the bottom of the page.

Table Rock Lake, where the property shares over 1,000 feet of shoreline, is a major attraction in itself. Seven miles away is Dogwood Canyon, a quiet park hidden between hills, where you can walk, sit, read, bicycle, horseback ride, or fish for trout. Big Cedar lodge is only 20 minutes away, and its enormous surroundings are breathtaking enough to take special out-of-town guests to enjoy the first-class restaurants.

If you like to tour caves, they’re everywhere — in fact, some of the premier caves in America are within a few miles. Besides Table Rock Lake, there’s Beaver Lake, Lake Taneycomo, and Bull Shoals Lake, all less than an hour away.

Although I told you I would try to share my positive and negative impressions, there’s really not much negative to say about the area itself. You’ll find new things to do and explore anytime you choose. I hadn’t counted on there being so many half-day excursions nearby. I’m still discovering new ones.

Negative?

The things you might find negative, depending on your outlook, are an overwhelming emphasis on country music, guns sold everywhere, more winding two-lane highways than you’re probably used to, a tendency to close most shops and restaurants hours earlier than seems appropriate, zoning that leaves poorly maintained trailer homes near upscale dwellings in some places (but not near the property), and a sometimes annoyingly unhurried lifestyle. I probably could add to that list, but it would still be much shorter than one I could make of my big-city grievances.

You’ll find more pictures of area attractions by clicking “Photos” in the top or bottom menu.

In short, this area far surpassed what I was hoping to find. But it might not be the right one for you. I sometimes miss the convenience of big city life that used to be minutes away. But, for me, that’s a small sacrifice.

Below are the links I promised. — MC

→ EurekaSpringsChamber.com (Eureka Springs, Arkansas)

(Also see description above.)

→ MissouriCaves.com (Caves in Missouri)

(And there are many more caves nearby in Arkansas.)

→ Arkansas caves at MissouriCaves.com (Caves in Arkansas)

(Cosmic Caverns is just across the Arkansas border, only 15 minutes away.)

→ DogwoodCanyon.org (Dogwood Canyon)

(It’s only seven miles from the property.)

→ Branson at Wikipedia.com (More about Branson)

(Google “Branson, Missouri” to find many more links.)

→ Bass Pro at SpringfieldMO.org (Eureka Springs, Arkansas)

(Yes, it’s really a major tourist attraction. And once you see it, you’ll understand why.)

→ BigCedar.com (Big Cedar Lodge)

(This acclaimed resort has excellent restaurants and is less than 20 miles away.)

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My Ozarks adventure  •  My property  •  Area  •  Lake  •  FAQ  •  Photos

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