Vacation at Big Spring Park, Missouri

The Big Spring area, a section of the Ozark Scenic Riverways rates as the most beautiful place to vacation in Missouri . . . and that is far from an exaggeration. Renting a rustic cabin at Big Spring Park rates as an A+ place to anchor your visit, and grabbing a meal or two at the Big Springs Dining Lodge is a tasty and inexpensive way to fuel up for hiking, bird watching, swimming, fishing, canoeing or rafting the Current River.

The park comes by the name Big Spring honestly. Big Spring, the largest spring in Missouri (see Pic #4) gushes out enough rich blue green water to fill Busch Stadium in 33 hours; that's over 286 million gallons. From its beginning point at the rocky cliff to the Current River the chilled water is home to watercress, crayfish, all kinds of fish, and groups of wood ducks that float along it enjoying the rich food source. It is also a primary watering area for deer, squirrel, birds and other woodland mammals. It became Missouri's first State Park in 1924 and with the arrival of the first Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) crew in the 1930s it was on its way to being a premier outdoor destination for generations of families. In 1964 Big Spring became part of the Ozark Scenic Riverways. All of this info came from the various information signs, talks with the staff, and the Ozark National Scenic Riverways brochure.

There's lots of camping facilities but we chose to stay at one of the 14 cabins available. The cabins were built in late 1930s by the CCC and the Work Progress Administration (WPA) and while rustic have some more modern amenities. We stayed at one of the smallest cabins, #407 because it had air conditioning. The interior (see Pic #2) is paneled in pine, decorated with appropriately heavy pine furniture and a massive stone fireplace. There are limited kitchen appliances (the most important item, a coffee maker is on the shelf) and a small but clean and serviceable bathroom. Not only was the bathroom clean but so was the entire cabin and the linens that were included. Admittedly the cabin is not spacious but it is convenient to the surrounding area, clean and comfortable. There was a roomy screened in back porch that looked out over a wooded hillside (see Pic #1) and there was an outdoor grill and picnic table provided. For $65 a night for two and an extra $10 per night for the dog (yeah, pets are welcomed) this was a great bargain. There are larger cabins available for similarly reasonable rates.

Let's talk good food at reasonable prices and great service from friendly people. The Big Spring Dining Lodge overlooks the Big Spring stream and is a fabulous spot for bird watching. For dinner the first night we had a meal for two (see the Pic #3) for around $20 and that included an appetizer, fried onion strings and they were delicious. We were entertained by a red-headed woodpecker, hummingbirds, wood ducks and a pair of king fishers while we dined. From the Dining Lodge there is a hiking trail that leads to the spring or, in the other direction a beautiful hike following the stream to the Current River (see Pic #5).

Just a couple of miles away is the river town of Van Buren, Missouri. There an outdoor enthusiast can find canoe, raft and inner-tube to rent for floating the cold current of the Current River. Try the Jolly Cone for an ice cream treat or burger meal.

Less than a three hour drive from St. Louis, Missouri and nestled in the wooded hills, Big Spring Park is a great vacation destination when you're ready to fish, hike, engage in fun water activities or just kick back on a screened in porch and relax. Pick a cabin. Pick a meal at the Big Spring Dining Lodge. Pick Big Spring Park and the surrounding Ozark Scenic Waterways for a fun get-a-way for not a lot of money.