THUNDER RIDGE NATURE ARENA EXPEDITION!

When I learned that the Bass Pro Shops founder, Johnny Morris, had developed a massive piece of real estate in Ridgedale, Missouri, into an outdoor performance arena, I was intrigued and wanted to see what it looked like.  Since I was more interested in the organizational concept used in the planning, than in the actual performers, I bought a $37 ticket to a performance, with the headliner being country music artist Luke Bryan.  The price seemed reasonable, considering the week before, tickets to a Rolling Stones performance in the arena were $600 and up, according to their website.  The photo below shows the underpass one would drive beneath as they enter the campus.   

Since I am very parsimonious, and I  like to walk enough to get in 10,000 steps a day on my pedometer, I chose to park in the "drop off lot" across the 86 Highway from the campus, as there was no fee for parking in that lot.  I parked under a light, so that it would be easy to spot my car when it was time for me to drive home.

 

Another reason I parked where I did, was because the least expensive parking was $40, and to me it was confusing on the website which parking lot I was supposed to go to, if I purchased the forty dollar parking option.  In addition, the comments on social media by persons who had paid the parking fee, but still had problems parking, made me reluctant to purchase parking on line.  By walking from the entrance gate past the various parking lots, I gained a better understanding, of the parking situation.  The collage below shows the signs that designate the various areas. 

 

 

There is a shuttle available near the handicap parking lot.  A friend who went to the Rolling Stones concert said the line waiting on shuttles to drive them to their vehicles after the event was over, was extremely long, so they opted to walk back to their vehicle, rather than wait on a shuttle.  

The website said tailgating in the parking lots was allowed, and I saw a few people doing this, as well as playing cornhole, as they waited for the gates to the arena to open.  It is helpful to know in advance that portapotties are available in the parking lot, even before you enter the performance venue. 

 

The website emphasizes one MUST have their ticket available on their phone, and that a screen shot of the ticket is not sufficient.  Being an elderly member of the "Baby Boomer" generation, this caused me great concern.  And sure enough, the first person to try to scan my ticket could not get it to work, nor could the second person who tried to scan my ticket get it to show up on her device.  They told me to go over to the tent especially set up for people having "ticket issues".  Thankfully, however, two supervisors saw what was happening, and did something that only a supervisor can do, and "found me" on the Ticketmaster site to show I had indeed purchased a ticket.  Although I did not need to show it, I had brought my credit card bill with me, that proved I had actually purchased a ticket.    

Once past security (where they look inside your purse) to see if you have brought in any forbidden items, I was able to look around the waiting area, to see what was going to occupy my time, until the gates to the actual performance area were opened up.  The collage below shows there were hats, and leather goods, official Luke Bryan merchandise, jewelry, etc. for sale.  Considering the times we live in, I was not surprised to see that one could also buy the type of souvenir that you wear for the rest of your life, i.e., a tattoo.  I passed on that option. 

Several types of inflatable games were available, as well as tables and chairs under a tent--for those not into axe throwing, golf, or firearms. 

Bass Pro Shop had some of their wares on display, including kayaks and metal fishing boats.  Toyota had their fancy truck on display, complete with an elevated tent attached.  A rig like that would come in handy if the parking lots allowed overnight parking!  If you want overnight lodging in something besides a tent, check their website because combination hotel/arena ticket packages are available   The Bass Pro race car was also on display, and is shown below.

There were several types of food trucks in the "holding area", and a disc jockey kept the party music going to keep everyone is good spirits.  (Drinks with "spirits" were also available)

 

The photo below is a side view of the Veterans Tower, that I took when I was still in the holding area. According to their website, the facility rises 12 stories from its limestone and dolomite base.  Four of its floors will contain VIP suites with bedrooms.  

 

 

The stated goal of building Thunder Ridge, was to create America's most beautiful outdoor amphitheater, and the process is on-going (as shown by photo below, that I took on the day I visited).  Although I have not visited all the outdoor arenas in America, this is certainly the most beautiful one I have seen in the Ozarks.  It is hardly fair to compare Red Rocks Amphitheater in Colorado (see my blog in the archives dated June 1, 2011, for Red Rocks info), to Thunder Ridge Nature Arena, since they are completely different biomes. Also, the seating capacity of Red Rocks Amphitheater is 9,525,, which is approximately one half the capacity of Thunder Ridge.  (My blog dated June 26, 2009, tells about Palo Duro Canyon amphitheater in Texas; blog dated August 14, 2010, tells about Little House on the Prairie amphitheater in Mansfield, Missouri; blog dated September 4, 2017, tells about Eureka Springs, Arkansas amphitheater)

 

At a certain time, the announcer told people they could start lining up to "make a run for it" whenever the gates to the concert seating area were opened up.  People could buy general admission tickets to sit on the grassy hillside, or a ticket to sit in a folding chair on the concrete in front of the stage.  As I mentioned at the beginning, I was more interested in touring the venue, than in where I sat, so I waited until the line had completely cleared out before I started for the entrance.  By the way, I did not have to go through the hassle of once again trying to find the Ticketmaster info to get to the seating area.  I was very thankful for that!  There is a long concrete entrance way leading to the multistory entrance, and the building is made of field-stone, which is typical of many Johnny Morris properties.  By sitting at the top of the hill, guests can listen to live musicians and take in the view of 1200 acres of forested hillsides, Table Rock Lake, valleys, and inlets

. 

They had announced there would be an air show that afternoon, and the photo below shows one of the parachute performers, who is flying the Stars and Stripes as they soar over the arena.  If you have a physical handicap, (and don't want to be dropped by parachute!), check the website for arrangements that can be made to accommodate your special needs.

 

 

 

The Bible talks about how crowds of people gathered on a hillside, to listen to the teachings of Jesus.  Then the crowds got hungry, but there was no food.  This is how the passage reads in Matthew 14:15-16.  {"As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, "This is a remote place, and it's already getting late.  Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food."  Jesus  replied, "They do not need to go away.  You give them something to eat."  }  Since Ridgedale, Missouri, is also a remote place, the planners of Thunder Ridge, anticipated the challenges of feeding thousands of people (and probably wanted an additional revenue stream), so they  included the Marketplace, where there is a plentiful supply of food, suitable for feeding the masses, that have gathered on the hillside.  .

The Marketplace has an assortment of food, being kept warm inside heated display areas.  The prices are shown in collage below.  There are no humans taking your money to pay for the items you choose.  Rather, you sat the item you want under the "photo robot", who tells the credit card reader what to charge you.  I had the chicken strips, and since I was very hungry, they tasted great.  I had read on the website, that one can take in an empty water bottle, so I had brought one with me, and filled it up at the special fountain designed specifically for water bottle refills (thank you Johnny Morris!  This helps cut down on plastic usage!)

 

Because of the GIGANTIC screens on both sides of the stage, you can see the faces of the performers, even if you are a long way off.  The actual performer with a microphone, is the tiny dot in the midst of all the blackness!

One can purchase seats to watch a performance in the air conditioned comfort of the Veterans Tower. Plus, according to the website, the cuisine offered in the Veterans Tower is much more upscale, than what can be purchased at the Marketplace below.  The restrooms inside the arena were clean, with flush toilets, and running water. 

 

The glass pyramid on top of the stage has the Bass Pro logo, and supports a giant USA flag.  The concrete area to the left of the stage in this photo, is by special ticketing only.  Depending on the popularity of the performer, that concrete area can have folding chairs placed on it for additional seating 

The area at the base of the grassy hill also has tents selling merchandise and food, with portapotties adjacent to them.  Notice Table Rock Lake can be seen in the distance. 

There was also a foodservice area on the far side of the venue, and they were adequately staffed for lots of customers, when I was there.  Speaking of staffing, Thunder Ridge Nature Arena is managed by ASM Global ( www.asmglobal.com).  Their website says they are the world's leading venue management company and producer of live event experiences.  

 

The deck beside their service bar would be a beautiful place to observe an Ozark sunset!  The Thunder Ridge website says the arena has a seating capacity of 20,000, which leads me to think that more tables and chairs could be added to this deck, if needed.  The staff told me this seating deck did not have any restrictions--anyone could sit there, regardless of the type of ticket they purchased. 

Seeing the sun sink behind the stage is a good clue that the stage is on the west end of the arena, and the Veterans Tower (which the website calls "The Nature Tower"), directly on a hill in front of the stage, is on the east side of the arena. 

The photo below shows me at the top of the hillside seating, with the stage, and thousands of concert goers, behind me.  The hillside has been landscaped, so that circular terraces provide seating, without having to fear rolling down the mountain!

If you would like to plan a trip to see this remarkable venue, visit www.thunderridgenaturearena.com .  Their address is 1901 State Highway 86, Ridgedale, Missouri  65739.
Thunder Ridge Nature Arena property's land, and all buildings/infrastructure, have been donated and permanently set aside as part of a not-for-profit foundation, committed to the cause of conservation. It is called the Johnny Morris Conservation Foundation.  Recently, at a Missouri tourism conference, someone referred to Johnny Morris, as "the Walt Disney of the Ozarks", and after seeing a documentary on Walt Disney, I can see definite similarities!  Johnny Morris, himself,  likes to call this amphitheater a  "musical postcard from Mother Nature", saying " it is a gift to the people and heritage of the Ozarks."  I say, "THANK YOU"!  Getting to see this new performance venue in the Ozarks gave me "MILES OF SMILES"! Tricia

ECLIPSE AND PHOTOHIKOGRAPHY EXPEDITION!

My son came up with the word "manzineering", which he defined as using manzinita bushes to facilitate forward/upward movement on a bushwhacking trek, so I tried to come up with a term that would combine taking lots of photos, while simultaneously exploring and hiking--the term is "Photohikography".  I do not anticipate my new word to be added to the 2024 Urban dictionary, but at least I know what it means!  My son (G) and his wife (S) came from California, to visit me, and I wanted to show them around the backwoods of Arkansas, while as unobtrusively as possible, taking lots of photos of them, since I do not often get to hike with them in my home state.  Our first stop was beside what used to be an old homestead, but the weathered oak boards it was made from, finally were blown over in a storm, leaving a heap of rubble.  However, close examination shows that one can still observe the hand held ax marks, that were used for the foundation joists. But even if all the boards and rusted corrugated tin roof were gone, a trained observer could tell this used to be a homestead location,That is because of the presence of "ghost flowers", aka, jonquils.  These bright yellow blossoms are one of the few blooming flowers that deer will not eat, and, as such, are good indicators of abandoned homesteads.

The old homestead is a short walking distance from a water source.  I learned in my Ozark history classes, that the criteria the early pioneers used for building a shelter was that it had to be close enough to a water source that the wife could carry a bucket of water in each hand,  from the creek to the shelter. I remember when my father kept a houseboat at Bull Shoals Lake, my job was always to carry a big water container to the top of the hill where the Corps of Engineer campground was located, use the pump there to fill the container with water, then carefully trudge down the steep incline and across the gang plank (just a wooden two by ten board), and onto the deck of the boathouse.  It was not an easy task, but it has always given me an appreciation, for when I hear stories about third world countries, where indigenous people have to carry water (often full of pathogens), for long distances.  At least the water I used to have to carry was from a sanitary well!  My limited knowledge of landscape archaeology leads me to theorize that at one time, there was an active spring source of water, that was even closer to the old homestead.  That is based on a small wall of fieldstone that still can be seen between the homestead and the creek.  I have a cut stone, as a door step, that had "1896" carved into it, which I like to imagine, was carved by the original pioneers that homesteaded this land.

The hiking group I am in called "Women Hiking the Ozarks"  abbreviated WHO, always includes information in a hike write-up, about how many "water crossings" the hike is likely to encounter.  I knew we would probably have some on the day we set out, but the width and depth can vary from one day to the next, especially in the spring.  The photo below shows our first water crossing:

One of my favorite type of areas to explore, are the many bluff shelters that can be found in the Ozarks.  I have visited some, that would have held hundreds of native Americans seeking shelter, but this one would probably only hold one or two small families. 

If one gets as far back in the bluff shelter as possible, it can provide a natural frame for a photo:

Photo below was taken when I was under the bluff shelter, and S was standing on a boulder in the creek:

Sometimes in the winter, after a freezing rain, there will be a "wall of icicles" cascading over the top of this bluff.  That is a fun photo capture!

I am 5'2" tall, and can can barely touch the ceiling of the shelter, when standing on my tip toes. 

Judging from the amount of large rock fall here, one might thing this bluff used to be much higher, but has eroded, and fallen into the creek.

Look at the present-day explorers on the distant rock! (S is standing behind G)

Here is a closer photo of the cute couple

Of course I wanted a mother/son photo!

I like this photo of S with "God Beams" (sun beams that are captured in a photo) on each side of her!

S is a skilled knitter, and the cute cap she is earing is one she knitted herself!

Here is a photo of G and S bouldering

One can barely see a human figure in this scene.  I remember when G was rock climbing on El Cap, in Yosemite, and I was in communication with a photographer at the base of the monolith, who was photographing his ascent.  Knowing I wanted to purchase photographs of my son that he took, the photographer said he wished my son would wear a brighter colored shirt, so he would be easier to spot, as he ascended hundreds of feet up the granite wall!  (Translation:  The photographer could sell more photographs, if the climber was easier to see against the wall!)

S took this photo of my son and I, as we were climbing the bluff, to reach the top of the mountain.  I was grasping for a sapling to hang on to, to pull me forward. 

The pointed rock I am sitting on was ok for a photograph, but would not be comfortable for any extended time!

Photo below shows G and S, "putting their heads together", for a short rest, before we proceeded on our hike. 

After the trip to Australia, I learned that the Hebrew word for praise means "Hands Upward Toward God", so now I have an even better reason to make this gesture!

Photo below shows S, with her uplifted hands:

Even though this was the first week of April, the photo shows that these deciduous trees have not leafed out yet. 

I remember the first time I ever raised my arms like photo below,  for a photograph.  It was in 2001, and I was standing on the steps of the famous landmark---the gleaming white Opera House, beside the water, in Sydney, Australia.  I had just finished watching hours of Olympic gymnasts in the 2000 Olympic games in Australia.  Each athlete would complete their routine, then at the end, give the gesture of both arms lifted up.  Having made it to Australia (as a result of a generous gift from my son of a round-trip airline ticket), and climbed the many steps of the Opera House, I felt like I had just completed a "mini" Olympic feat, and raised my arms like the Olympic gymnastics athletes did!  After that turning point moment, I started doing the same gesture , whenever I completed an item on my bucket list, or completed a particularly difficult hike. 

S and I, stretched out on a flat rock in the creek, after the day got warmer. 

These two triangle-shaped rocks, when placed with their tips together, remind me of the shape of a man's bow tie!

So thankful I could get my handsome son to flash a smile for this photo!

 

Couple illustrating "Love on the rocks"!

Here I am, trying to look glamorous, while balancing on this very narrow rock, above the water!

Rock Solid Creek Explorer!

We encountered a waterfall on the second creek we explored, so I used the long exposure feature on my iphone to "fuzz out" the waterflow.  Back in the olden days, one would have to put their 35 mm camera on a tripod, set it for a long exposure, with low speed film, then hope the "fuzz out" effect turns out.  It is much easier with a smart phone to get the same effect!

Here is the couple in front of the same waterfall, but without the long exposure feature.  The newly-sprouted green tree leaves, give a bit of color to the scene. 

Our last water crossing on the hike, was a bit deeper, and there were not any stepping stones.  So G took off his shoes, and carefully walked across, with the help of a fallen limb he found. 

S crossed the creek with no problems whatsoever!

Did you know that the next time G and S come to visit, this waterfall will be farther away from where they are wading, than it is at present?  That is because waterfalls "walk" backwards, as the water erodes the rock surface they tumble over, moving it back slightly with each drop.  (But don't plan on seeing a difference in this lifetime---the process takes eons!)

This photo shows a California couple, who are exploring in the Ozarks,  "outstanding in their field"!

I made a photo prop for the eclipse, after seeing some ideas on line, and this photo shows the "Umbraphiles", wearing their special eclipse glasses, holding the prop. 

And here are the Umbraphiles, just wearing regular sun glasses.  (The root of this phrase means "shadow lover" and "umbra" is also the root word for umbrella!)

 

We put the camera on "automatic", so all three of us could be together for the eclipse photo below.  I guess you could call us the framed "ecliptomaniacs"!  On April 8, 2024, in Mountain Home, Arkansas, these three people, joined millions of other Americans, and gazed at the sky to behold the Creator's majesty!  It was a total solar eclipse and a very memorable point in time!  (But just in case my memory starts to fade into nothingness, these photos, and this blog post, will preserve the celebratory occasion!)

After we returned from hiking, we relaxed a bit on the back porch .  The green bench where you see six feet propped up, was

made by my grandfather Grover.  The white wicker couch G and S are sitting on, is one I purchased when I was in Graduate school at the University of Arkansas in 1971.  It was used, and purchased at a second hand shop, so I am totally amazed that it is still able to be of service, considering it is well over fifty years old!

In photo below, I am standing in front of "Marriage Rock", where Fred and I had our Lakota Sioux marriage ceremony, performed by a "certified" member of the tribe, who brought along a Lakota Sioux peace pipe, to make it complete.  I told the native American before we started, that I was not going to smoke from that thing, as I have avoided smoking all my life.  He assured me that the pipe was used to "tap" each of our shoulders during parts of the ceremony, and we would not be actually smoking from it.  Afterwards, we made a pyramid of field-stones, on top of "Marriage Rock" as "Stones of Remembrance".  By the way, we were not wearing traditional wedding attire; rather, we had on our black leather chaps, jackets, and boots, as we sat on our Harley-Davidson motorcycle, during the ceremony!

My son has a type of soda named in his honor!

The green, vintage metal lawn chairs G and S are sitting in, are the same ones G's grandparents, Grover and Effie, sat in, almost 100 years earlier!  The footstool is one made by my father for his boathouse. 

For viewing the eclipse, we hung out in the front yard, partially in shade, and partially in the sunlight.  Although it was not especially troubling to me, whenever the sun was totally covered by the shadow of the moon, the darkness automatically triggered the bright security light in the front yard to come on, as well as the solar lights.  So future eclipse viewers may want to seek a location away from "automatic lights"!

I wanted to make a stone souvenir of G and S visiting here for the eclipse, so I tried mixing concrete, for the first time ever.  The results are shown below.  If these cement souvenirs last as long as the wooden chairs behind me (made by my grandparents, Grover and Effie) I will be amazed!  (The vintage, push lawnmower behind me also belonged to them, and the brown bench beside them was the wash stand in use, with the old wringer washer they used.  I put my hand between the roller ringers, when I was a little girl, which may account for my weird shaped fingers today!)

 

The idea of "Stones of Remembrance" has been around for thousands of years.   I first read about them in my First Place 4 Health (www.FirstPlace4Health.com) class.  The Bible verse in Joshua 4:21-22  talks about Joshua making  "Stones of Remembrance" and states, "In the future your children will ask, 'what do these stones mean?' ".   The commentary on this phrase says, that a stone monument was commonly useIf that happens regarding these concrete "stones" I made, I want it to be known I am praising God for having the eclipse come over the place where I live, and making it possible for my son and his wife to view it with me!  This gave me "MILES OF SMILES"!  Tricia