FINLEY FARMS EXPEDITION!

There is a "new attraction" in Ozark, Missouri, along the Finley River, that is based on a very "old attraction" along the Finley River, that has been around since 1833!  It is called The Ozark Mill, and is surrounded by an urban farm, called Finley Farms.  There are no Las Vegas-style flashing neon lights indicating its location, just these massive vintage storage tanks, that mark its entrance.

 One of the first things you see as you drive onto the property,  is the shed called the Farmers Market, and it is scheduled to open May 5. 

The inside appearance of the farmers market  resembles numerous other structures in the Ozarks,  that have the look of weathered oak lumber.  The farmers market will operate each Thursday, May through September.  Flowers, plants and produce from the farm will be sold at the farmers market, as the growing season progresses.

Adjacent to the Farmers Market building is the Workshop.  I read this used to be a garage. 

There is a coffee bar inside the workshop that sells a variety of treats:

The tables inside the workshop with the live plants down the center, are a reminder to say that they offer classes in how to start plants from seeds and cuttings, inside this workshop space.  They carry everything you need to "plant your heart out"!  We saw tools and terracotta, starter seed kits, seed markers, and gardening books galore!

One whole side of the Workshop has overhead-garage type doors that open up to enjoy the fresh air whenever weather permits:

There is an outdoor patio adjacent to the Workshop, that also has a live plant area:

In addition, the outdoor patio also has a fire pit and stage area:

When you see the numerous rows of crops spread out across the acreage, along with the green houses, you will understand why the word "farm" is included in their name!!

Picnic tables and playground equipment are also adjacent to the workshop.

After visiting the workshop, our group strolled over to the restaurant location, so we could be there when they opened up at 11 am.  This gave us the opportunity to get an overall view of the restored mill from the front, and envision what a huge endeavor it was to move such a large structure!  Johnny Morris has owned the Ozark Mill for more than 25 years, but did not develop it because multiple floods had washed away the underside of the mill's foundation.  However, after decades of deliberation, he hired a construction company that picked up the entire 30,000 square foot building and delicately moved it to the parking lot.  The washed-out foundation was replaced with a structurally sound basement, and the building was moved back to the river, and placed on top of the new foundation. 

Once the doors opened, and we checked in with the hostess, we used the time they were getting our table ready, to check out the gift shop, and other parts of the building: I took the photo below of the main dining area, before any guests had been seated.  Since one entire wall is windows, all the diners can look out over the Finley River, and see the waterfall below the old mill pond:

The location of the Ozark Mill restaurant, is in an area near where the historic Riverside Inn used to be.  The Riverside Inn was finally torn down, after repeatedly being flooded.  Just before it was torn down, I was able to go inside and see all the wall murals painted by the original builder, Howard Garrison.    

Unlike many waterpowered mills that used a vertical waterwheel, the Ozark Mill was powered by a horizontal waterwheel.  Regarding the mill renovation project, Johnny Morris is quoted as saying,  "This is a very special project to me and my family.  We have deep family ties to this town, the rivers of this area and to the milling industry.  My grandfather Willie was a miller in Willard  Many years ago, my parents lived on the Finley River millpond in the early 1940's, and my family was proud to call Ozark home for a while."

Traditionally, mills were the place for the folks who lived in the area, to gather and visit, while their grain was milled into flour or cornmeal, back in the olden days.  The spacious retail area of the mill will allow this tradition to continue, as there are game tables, wall dart boards, and lounging chairs spread across the space. 

In today's high tech world, the visiting that goes on within the mill can be shared with your friends across the planet, as their is free Wi-Fi throughout the building.

The staff of the mill restaurant was friendly and helpful, even taking a photo of our group together on the bench in the waiting area.  Note the date on the boards reads 1833, and that relates to the fact that there has been a mill at this location since 1833!  If only these walls could talk---imagine the tall tales they would tell!

Our group wanted to get to the restaurant as soon as they opened, so we could all have a table together.  When I phoned about making a group reservation, the operator told me they do not take reservations, but if our group got there when they opened at ll am, they could get quickly get a table ready for a large group such as ours.  They seated us in a prime location, with a view of the river and millpond out the windows. 

Outdoor seating options are also available for dining:

 

 

About an hour after the restaurant opened, every single table on this outdoor deck was filled with diners enjoying a sunny day in the Ozarks!

The photo below shows the newly-restored basement level of the mill property.  It is being made into a "speakeasy".  The speakeasy will be called the Garrison, named for Howard Garrison, of the old Riverside Inn.  This relates to the legends that say, during Prohibition, Garrison had several run-ins with the law, for offering bootleg liquor and illegal gambling. 

Once we finished lunch, we strolled across this historic bridge, which used to be adjacent to the Riverside Inn.  Locals called it the Riverside Bridge. 

The bridge was originally a railroad bridge built in 1909.  It carried the Frisco Railroad's Chadwick Flyer passenger/freight train across the Finley River. 

When the bridge was severely damaged in the flood of 2015, it was scheduled for demolition.  Instead, Morris bought the old bridge and had it moved to Finley Farms next to the mill. 

Some tourists who were also visiting the property for the first time, agreed to take a group photo of us:

The bridge is open for visitors to use, unless there it has been rented for a private event.  The bridge leads to a spacious outdoor venue across the river from the Ozark Mill Restaurant.
That area has an open air chapel, which is available for weddings and other festive celebrations, and has a great view of the river:

The rafters, trusses, and lofty ceiling, have the aged look of an old barn made from oak, that one might see in the Ozarks.  Even though our group arrived at the chapel via walking the bridge across the river, there is also access to the chapel via automobile, using the adjacent street.

There is a gothic-style metal archway, that provides the perfect frame, for a view of the millpond waterfall and Finley River.  I can only imagine how this view would be enhanced, when that arch is covered in colorful, fresh flowers, for a wedding celebration!

I am using this visit to Finley Farms as the visual aid to help me learn one of my First Place 4 Health (www.FirstPlace4Health.com) memory verses, because the verse starts with three words that seem to be the mantra of conservationist, Johnny Morris---the words are "Let us fix...".  For example, Let us fix  a small fishing lures area of a Brown Derby store,  into the nation's largest outdoor supplier, called Brass Pro Shop; Let us fix an old stone house, into Big Cedar Lodge; Let us fix a rugged undeveloped hillside, into Dogwood Canyon;  Let us fix a burned down golf course restaurant, into Top of the Rock five-star dining destination;  Let us fix a vacant glass pyramid on the Mississippi River, into a Bass Pro Shop with a hotel and bowling alley; Let us fix an old Ozark grain mill and historic bridge, into a restaurant,  and educational farm on the Finley River; Let us fix an unexpected sinkhole developing on a golf course, into a major tourist attraction; Let us fix an abandoned wildlife museum in Springfield, Missouri (which was vacant from 2007-2017) to the nation's top new attraction for the year it opened, (called "Wonders of Wildlife"), and his current project---Let us fix an  abandoned amusement park in Newton County, Arkansas, (Dogpatch, USA),  into a major rural tourist destination, for travelers wanting to experience the beauty of the Ozarks.  LET US FIX, indeed!

The Bible verse I speak of, is from Hebrews 12:2 and says, "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."  

I want to extend a big THANK YOU to Johnny Morris and team, for the conservation and preservation work, they have done, and are doing, in the Ozark Mountains of Missouri and Arkansas.  Your efforts and your "Let us fix" attitude, are appreciated!

If you would like to plan your trip to the lovely Finley Farms destination, you can visit their website at www.FinleyFarmsMO.com  The expedition I had to Finley Farms,  with a great group of friends, gave me "MILES OF SMILES"!!  Tricia

OZARK NATIONAL SCENIC RIVERWAYS EXPEDITION!

This photo, that shows our group on the first day of a three-day kayaking extravaganza, was taken by a kind and thoughtful stranger at the launch site, so that all the gals could be in the picture.  We were kayaking the lovely Current River, that is part of the Ozark National Scenic Riverways, in Shannon County, Missouri.

On the first day, we put in at Cedar Grove, which enabled us to float past the old Welch Hospital, which I wrote about in an article published on July 14, 2017,  called "Current Events Expedition".  (You can see that article by looking in the archives section of this blog).  I learned when researching the 2017 article, that the Welch hospital was built over a cave entrance.  Also, there is a placard at the site that gives the history of the hospital, along with photos and sketches of what it looked like when originally built. 

The only remaining edifice of the Welch Hospital, are the stone walls shown in this photograph.  The roof has long since disappeared.  At the top of the steps, there is an unofficial path that leads the explorer up the hill, and on to the top of the bluff, that overlooks the spring and river. 

The Welch Spring gushes out with such force that it assures the Current River is floatable year round!  Welch Spring contributes an average of 121 cubic feet of water per second to the flow of the Current River.  To put that number in perspective, remember that a basketball is approximately one cubic foot.  So imagine 121 basketballs coming towards you PER SECOND!!  I have trouble catching just one basketball when it is thrust at me, so to think of 121 basketballs thrown at me at one time is a little overwhelming!

Maybe that is why I was a little apprehensive about kayaking past these rapids where the Welch Spring flows into the Current River.  However, I steered far to the right of the "intersection" (along with the other row of single-file kayakers in my group), and navigated through the challenge without a rollover!  (The tongue-in-cheek phrase among kayakers, for a rollover, is "to become a swimmer".) So, I could re-write that sentence to say there were "no swimmers" at the Welch Spring---which is a good thing, because the sign from the park service clearly indicated NO SWIMMING, and NO FISHING, at this environmentally sensitive area.

Since this is an NPS riverway that is popular year round, it is not surprising that we encountered other groups along our voyage.  I took this photo of one such tourist, and if you saw the movie "Deliverance" you may know what this tee shirt message is referencing!

I took the picture of the back of this man's shirt, as he was photographing his friend jumping off the bluff into a deep swimming hole of the river:

 

I live in Arkansas that boasts being the home of the first national river---which is now called Buffalo National River.  So I was a bit confused when reading that the Ozark National Scenic Riverways also claims to be a "first".  (However, the NPS property for this area is an IUCN Category V, meaning protected landscape/seascape).  The below photo shows the sign you will see along the highway, as you enter property that has been designated for public use by the NPS.  The Ozark National Scenic Riverways was created by an act of Congress in 1964, to protect both the Current and Jacks Fork Riverways.  The park was dedicated in 1971.  It is promoted as the Midwest's best float streams, in part due to contributions of some of the nations largest springs.   The list includes Welch Spring, Cave Spring, Big Spring, Blue Spring, and Gravel Spring.  It has the U.S.'s largest concentration of First Magnitude Springs, which are defined as having an average flow of more than 100 cubic feet per second, in dolomite rock.

After an enjoyable day on the river, our group came back to the Timber Lodge, where we were staying.  You can find out more about this property, by going to the Shannondale page on Facebook.

Although some would call Timber Lodge "rustic", it has the main things I was interested in---electricity, indoor plumbing, and WiFi!  Most people in the group were using their cell phones for photography and Internet access, as there was very limited---to non-existent---use of of them for talking to anyone!

After our potluck supper on Tuesday night, several in the group used the three 25 cent pieces (aka, quarters) we had been told in advance to bring, to play the game called "Left, Right, Center". 

Using U.S. quarters for this game is totally appropriate since there was a SPECIAL quarter issued in 2017, highlighting the Ozark Riverways!

On the second night of our trip, we had the unique opportunity to hear from a local storyteller and author---Rick Mansfield. 

You have heard the phrase "telling ghost stories around the campfire", and that is literally what happened!  Rick portrayed the ghost of the deceased "Caretaker of the Current River", a Mr. Luther Rowlett. (The white hat signifies when the "ghost" is talking vs. when Mr. Mansfield is talking).

By weaving many Ozark sayings, doings, and traditions into his "ghost story", we got a hint of the culture of these Ozark mountains in days gone by.  As you can imagine, we gave him a big round of applause for his endeavors at the end:

Those who wanted to, could purchase some of the books he has published that tell even more stories !!  Rick's wife, Judy, assisted in showcasing some of the books he had available for sale.  You can find out more about his work and volunteer activities , on the Rick Mansfield Facebook page.

 

When kayaking on the last stretch of our trip, it was a unique experience to get to paddle into a cave.  All twenty of us would not fit in at one time, so we lined up and took turns going into the cave. This first photo shows me paddling into the cave, and was taken by my friend, Christine.

 

This photo below that  DQ took of me with uplifted hands, shows my jubilation and gratitude, for getting to have this awesome "kave-kayaking" experience! !

Christine also took this photo below of me in yellow kayak and red hat, paddling out of the cave.  Notice how clear the water is, as evidenced by the visibility of the very long submerged log!

 

I like the way the opening of the cave provides a "frame" for this photograph, that shows two kayakers crossing their paddles to form an "X"!

In addition to the paddling, there is another experience in the area that I would recommend you try if you have the opportunity.  The Current River State Park is a public recreation area occupying 1200 acres of land along the Current River, also in Shannon County, Missouri.  It consists of land and buildings originally developed as the

Alton Club, a corporate retreat (used in the 1930's and 1940's) of the Alton Box Board Company, of Alton, Illinois.  It's been included in the National Register of Historic Places, since 2005.  The site includes the main lodge, classroom/pool hall, lower dorm, gym, BBQ house, lake house, manager's residence, and entrance columns.  It also has 9 miles of hiking trails, two small fishing lakes, picnicking facilities, and a location where the public can launch their kayaks. 

Its gymnasium (built in 1940) is unique because of its Lamella Wooden Truss roof. 

The roof consists of intersecting arches, hinged together at their midpoints to form an interlocking network, in a diamond pattern.  Although the Lamella Roof was patented in 1910, it did not become popular until the period between the World Wars, when metal for construction was in short supply .

A different photo of the gymnasium interior shows some of our group listening to NPS volunteer, Barbara Gibbs Ostmann, tell stories about the history of the park over the years.  (I am thankful that I first had the opportunity to meet Barbara Gibbs Ostmann, way back in the 1960's, when we both were involved in the Noark Girl Scout Council.  The area represented by Noark Girl Scouts back then, included her hometown of Springdale, and my hometown of Harrison.) Although the outdoor facilities of the Current River State Park are open year round, guided tours are only available on weekends, during warm weather.  If you want to tour the interiors, it would be best to phone ahead before your visit, to find out if tours are available. 

Even if the interiors cannot be accessed, the scenic views throughout the property would make your visit worthwhile and enjoyable!

Another interesting place to visit in this area is an NPS site called "Devil's Well".  The word "well" describes a deep hole in the ground, and as you can see from the photo below, this is definitely a deep hole in the ground.  Although the steps at the entrance to the location start out as wooden, when they go below ground level, their construction changes to stainless steel.  Although I have been to many places across the USA that include the ominous word of "devil" in their name (e.g., Devil's Tower in Wyoming, Devil's Lake in Wisconsin, Devil's Postpile in California, and Devil's Den in Arkansas), I am always keenly aware of what the headlines would say if I died while at one of these places!  So please make note of the following, if that happens:  "She died at Devil's What-cha-ma-callit", but she now rests peacefully in the arms of Jesus."

Once you reach the bottom, you enter a small opening in the ground, that lets you peer down at the underground lake:

 

Another landmark along the Current River one needs to keep an eye out for is the Medlock Waterfall:

 

The second day of our float trip, we put in at Akers Ferry, Upper Landing.

There is also an Akers Ferry, Lower Landing, and that is the site of the car ferry.  I have yet to see this ferry in operation because when I kayaked past it a few years ago, it was undergoing repairs because of damage done from flooding.  This year, it was the opposite problem.  It was not working because the water level was not high enough.  A local resident we talked to said the NPS was going to have to dredge the river bed at the ferry crossing, so that there would be enough water to float the ferry, with a car on it, across the river to the county road, on the opposite shore.  I hope I get to take my car across on that ferry, when---and, if---it ever starts to operate again.

I took this photo of our group on the third and final day of our Current River paddling expedition.  I have given a lot of thought as to why I SO MUCH enjoy spending time with this group of ladies, and I have concluded it is because we are "LIKE-minded", that is, we all LIKE kayaking!  This serves as a visual aid for one of my First Place 4 Health (www.FirstPlace4Health.com) memory verses that says, "Then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one purpose." Philippians 2:2   The Zondervan NIV study Bible expounds on this, saying that unity can exist within a group, without meaning uniformity in thought---rather, in the common disposition to work together and serve one another.  Working and playing together with this group of LIKE-minded friends  gives me "MILES OF (kayaking!) SMILES!!"   Tricia