5 Night Stay at Big Cedar Lodge
In the midst of hectic lifestyles, with our faces pointed toward our smartphones, it is easy to lose sight of the robust beauty that comes from Mother Nature herself. Located deep within the Ozark Mountains is a world-class resort that offers an escape into the immersive relaxation of the great outdoors, with all the comforts of home. Big Cedar Lodge is a remote haven of natural beauty that truly brings conservation to life through nature-inspired accommodations, immersive wildlife attractions and breathtaking views. Inspired by a commitment to conservation, Johnny Morris, the founder of Bass Pro Shops, created Big Cedar Lodge to encourage visitors and their families to connect with the great outdoors.
Tucked away in the heart of the Ozark Mountains, Big Cedar Lodge was occupied by Native Americans for over a century. Shortly after the turn of the twentieth century, railroads expanded through the area, transforming this everyday world into a vacation paradise.
In the 1920s, two Missouri natives, business entrepreneur Jude Simmons and Frisco Railroad executive Harry Worman, acquired 300 acres of forest and built lavish country resort homes on the land known as Big Cedar Hollow along the White River.
Simmons created a log mansion, while Worman constructed a Tudor-style retreat made of stone and stucco. Both homes were built with native materials, which are still on display at Devil’s Pool Restaurant and The Worman House.
Travel became more difficult during the Great Depression, and the Simmons and Worman families spent less time in their wilderness retreats, eventually selling the property to a logging firm. In 1947, Dan Norris, a real estate executive and hotel operator purchased the property. Norris added a lodge, swimming pool and stable, creating Devil’s Pool Guest Ranch. In 1958, the White River was dammed to form Table Rock Lake, setting the stage for the premier wilderness resort in the Ozarks, Big Cedar Lodge.
Bass Pro Shops’ founder, Johnny Morris, purchased the property in 1987, restored the Simmons and Worman buildings to their original prominence and began to build a larger wilderness resort.
Today, Big Cedar Lodge is spread over 4,600 acres in its own wooded hollow. It overlooks the 43,000-acre Table Rock Lake, and has quickly matured into the “#1 Resort in the Midwest” according to Travel and Leisure.
Experience the past and present grand beauty as you settle into Big Cedar Lodge today.