This article is presented in partnership with Big Cedar Lodge.
Located deep within the rocky, forested terrain of the Missouri Ozark Mountains, overlooking Table Rock Lake, Big Cedar Lodge is a remote haven of natural beauty that brings conservation to life through nature-inspired accommodations, immersive wildlife attractions and unbelievable 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. Everywhere you turn, it is easy to see that Mother Nature was the inspiration behind this resort. The winding entry road takes out-of-the-way twists and turns to take you across trickling waterfalls and slows with intent in specific areas for you to take in the captivating views. Secluded cabins, built with hand-hewn timbers, are hidden into the hillside, and Adirondack-style lodges are carefully positioned for optimal lake views. The restaurants and attractions are each designed with natural elements and floor-to-ceiling windows to allow you to enjoy the outdoors even when you are inside.
What really sets Big Cedar Lodge apart is the variety of ways you can get out and enjoy the Ozarks outdoors. Table Rock Lake, one of America’s best bass fishing lakes serves as both, a beautiful backdrop and prime attraction for Big Cedar guests. Two full-service marinas offer boat rentals, fishing guides, kayaks, paddleboards and evening sunset dinner cruises. As part of the Bass Pro Shops and White River Marine family, these marinas are fully-stocked with everything you need to “catch” an unforgettable day on the water, from the best fishing lure to the latest Tracker Boat.
For the experienced and novice sportsman alike, the Bass Pro Shops Shooting Academy is an outdoorsman’s playground, offering training and experience in various shooting disciplines including ATA Trap, Wobble Trap, American Skeet, Sporting Clays and 5 Stand. You will be supplied with everything you need for a great day on the shooting range including a shotgun, ammunition, clay targets and all required safety gear.
Five world-class golf courses boast designs by some of the biggest names in golf: Jack Nicklaus, Tom Fazio, Gary Player, Coore & Crenshaw and Tiger Woods. Each of these facilities showcase the natural Ozark Mountain landscape, with exposed rock croppings, waterfalls and one course, Buffalo Ridge, is appropriately named for its free-ranging buffalo that can be viewed from the course.
The Lost Canyon Cave and Nature Trail, accompanied by the Ancient Ozarks Natural Museum is an encounter with Mother Nature unlike anything else. Take an electric cart along a two-and-a-half-mile trail and experience unbelievable views of towering bluffs, tranquil waterfalls, sprawling vistas and a drive-thru cave complete with cave bar. As you make your way to the museum, you will catch powerful views of a true natural wonder, the Cathedral of Nature. What began as a sinkhole has now been stabilized and excavated to reveal extraordinary rock formations.
At the conclusion of the tour, you will begin a new exploration through a 35,000 square foot natural history museum. This display of American history is an immersive education of the nation’s past. Starting in the prehistoric ages, displays include lifelike dioramas and real skeletal remains of startling creatures that once roamed this land. Continuing on, expansive galleries include American West treasures, Civil War relics, and one of the most extensive collections of Native American art and artifacts ever assembled.
