We took my in-laws for a trip to sightsee in Eminence recently and stayed at Sleepy Bear Cabins for…read moreour visit. The location is perfect - right between Echo Bluff and Eminence-really easy to find! Doc and Susan, the owners, are beyond friendly and did everything they could to make our stay perfect. The cabins are clean, freshly remolded and really nice and prices are very reasonable. The beds are so comfortable, along with everything else in the house! The view from the back porch was beautiful and peaceful. They had everything we needed for our weekend stay - we wished we could have stayed longer! Already have our next stay booked and we cannot wait for it!

From the owner: Superior quality fully furnished cabin rentals within easy drive of Current River, Jacks Fork and…read moreEcho Bluff State Park in Eminence, MO.

Nice little campground in Eminence! My family got a campsite for their camper, and I stayed in a…read morecabin with my family. Campsites for the campers are kind of close together, but the tent lots had tons of room! The entire campground is shaded nicely with beautiful trees. It is clean and well maintained as well. The cabins are decent- clean, and stocked with everything you need. Nothing fancy, but the linens were all clean and the water was hot so no complaints here in that aspect. I didn't deal with the front office as my mother in law booked our stay and did all of that. My only complaint would be the other campers/cabin renters. Our cabin was a duplex and our neighbors were not considerate of how much noise they made. Cabins and camper spots are dog friendly, however it's basic knowledge that your dog must be leashed. Our neighbors did not leash their small poodle, and it rushed my two dogs, one of which was blind, several times. We informed them that because one of our dogs is blind, even though he is a nice dog, he could snap at something coming up on him suddenly. This did not deter them from allowing their dog to continue unleashed. I should have said something to the front office but didn't want to cause any trouble. All in all, a good stay, and not the campgrounds fault about obnoxious neighbors.

Nice all round, every cottage is different. We are entirely grateful for the services provided and…read morewill return in time! I'm looking forward to hanging out on the Front Porch.

Looking for a getaway? You have to go to Jones Quarry and stay in one of their 2 tiny houses. The…read moresetting on the Quarry will make you want to come back. Crystal clear water will invite you to float your cares away. Paradise was an HGTV tiny house built right there on the Quarry and the Oasis is even more inviting- if that was even possible! They just made the top 10 list in MO! The owners are incredible! I promise once you go you will want to go back. But book early for next summer because they sell out fast.

Looking for a beautiful, peaceful get away? This is the place. Perched on top of a steep hill…read moreoverlooking a river, trees, and valley, this is the perfect place to be engulfed in nature. Visiting in fall was a stellar idea but I would imagine it's just as pretty any other season. This log cabin is so beautiful! The smell, the decorating details,the porch, everything is the perfect cabin experience. There is a fridge, stove, microwave- everything you need for an extended stay. There is kayaking and tubing available down the hill and the cabin is hunter friendly. I stayed just for a night but my favorite was sitting on the upstairs deck under the stars, wrapped in a blanket.

Fair Winds Cabin Resort was a great choice. It was easy to get to the location . The GPS was able…read moreto direct us with no problem. The Bridge before entering the road to the cabin is finished and cause no delays. The gravel road to the cabins is easy to drive through. Checking in was a breeze since we did not have to stop or wait for someone to let us in the cabin. Your key is a code provided to you for your convenience. We stayed in the Meadows cabin (closest to the creek), which was a perfect size for the family and (pet friendly-$25 fee). (1 king size bed, 2 full size beds, 1st bathroom with Jacuzzi-hair dryer, 2nd bathroom with tub and shower head) The cabin was very clean, good mattresses, stocked with towels and extra linens. Kitchen was stocked with daily essential supplies such as cooking & baking pots, utensils, paper supplies, and the oven even works. The cabin also has board games, iron/board, and cleaning supplies. There a 42" inch t.v. with satellite dish service. The chimney works great and keeps you warm and makes the cabin feel homie. There is a fire pit area plus seating right outside the cabin, grill (charcoal, fire wood available to purchase for $5 each). The front porch is long and has eating table and plenty of seating. About a 5-7 minute walk from the Meadows cabin there is a creek that is absolutely fabulous. The water level is perfect for kids including for toddlers. There is plenty for kids to explore and enjoy the nature experience. Recommend to bring some folding chairs and beach towel especially if you have little ones. If you like astronomy it is gorgeous at night looking up at the stars.The owners have a heard of cows that are very friendly located when you enter the road to the cabins. My 9 year old absolutely loved them. For your convenience and maximize your experience there is NO internet in the cabin, but if you need to connect you can walk near the Lodge cabin/garage area and hopefully you can get some juice. When you start driving into Steelville town you will start getting reception in some areas. Definitely complete connection in Cuba town. There is a Dollar General store (9am-10pm hours) in Steelville town (15 min drive from the cabin) for your convenience and stocked with a lot of merchandise including some shelf groceries. There was a small convenient store in Cherryville main road, however I was not able to go in there since they close at 5 pm. Exploring Meramec Springs Park is a must see. GPS driving time was approximately 30 mins. Take a camera the scenery is gorgeous! If you love fishing this is the place for you. Lots of trout, but recommend to go at early hours to increase your chances of a good catch. The entrance fee was $5 per car. The fishing license was $ 20 for one day. Park personnel do go around checking for your license, therefore it is recommended to attach the fishing license on you where it can be seen visibly (ask for a safety pin when you purchase the license). The Meramec Springs Park Museum is also a good place to stop. It is very educational and kids can enjoy their exhibits (wear a mask). Restrooms in the museum have 3-4 stalls and very clean. Fair Winds Cabin Resort was an awesome experience. Would definitely go back. My 9 year old loved everything about it. The owners are very easy going and friendly.

From the owner: The perfect place to escape the busyness of life!read more

Great place for a large group float! We stayed at the Riverview cabin with a group of 19. The…read morecabin is beautiful with gorgeous wood everywhere, AC, fans, giant porch, and great tall ceilings. It has 4 bedrooms with queen beds, a loft with 2 queen beds, multiple pull outs or room for air mattresses. It's a wonderful place for a group of friends or family to stay and spend some time together. They pick you up from the cabin for the float and drop you back off at the cabin, making it very easy!!! Easy check in/check out at main lodge.

We've been going to bass river resort for about 13 years in a row for an annual friends float trip…read more It's a convenient 1.5 hrs from Stl and although the river is cram packed every year that adds to the great people watching and chaos that we've come to enjoy and look forward to every year. Last year we splurged and upgraded to the a 20 person cabin and for the little bit extra you get A LOT of value. The views amazing, the cabin beautiful and brand new and although camping is fun, the dedicated bus pickup and drop off and a cool cabin to shower and chill in after a hot float is top notch relaxation. We'll continue to go every year. The staff is great, efficient, and its well oiled machine that delivers every year. If you're going to camp, camp by the bathroom, it's totally worth being by the bathroom but it's not so close it smells or anything. Depending on the amount of rain the floats usually 4 to 6 hours on rafts. Enjoy!

A quiet and peaceful girls' getaway. We enjoyed gathering at Turkey Ridge Cabin and, since the…read moreweather didn't cooperate for a campfire, we spent the weekend playing games that were provided in the cabinets! We also shared a lot of memories. How fun it was to gather around the table and laugh, sing and share another great memory. We will be back!

We decided to go off the grid this Thanksgiving at Rock Eddy Bluff Farm. We had a great time!…read moreAlthough the cabin did not have electricity or running water, we had absolutely everything we needed at Aunt Phoebe's Perch. We spent Thanksgiving Day exploring the woods with our dogs, then we cooked a simple Thanksgiving dinner over the fire and spent the evening marveling at the full Beaver Moon rising over the bluff and listening closely to the sounds of the forest. It was perfect. We left feeling much more connected to nature and to each other. We loved it so much, we booked another cabin at Rocky Eddy Bluff farm for a few days after Christmas. 1/7/2019 UPDATE We recently returned to Rock Eddy Bluff Farm after the holidays. We just can't get enough! It's such a joy to watch our dogs run free off leash through the woods here. We can all be free at Rock Eddy! This time, we stayed down the hill at Line Camp. This cabin is tucked away in the woods but still has a nice view of the river in the winter. Line Camp is a bit smaller than Aunt Phoebe's, but it is more than enough room for two adults and two dogs. We had everything we needed, and this cabin also has a wood stove, which was fun during our late-December visit. Tom and Kathy have been incredibly thoughtful in every aspect of this business. Even the woodpile at Line Camp seems positioned thoughtfully to maximize the view of glorious night sky. If you go to Line Camp, don't forget to visit that spot at night and look up! The woods are magical, especially at dusk and dawn. The views from the rocky bluff top over the Gasconade are stunning. Thank you, Tom and Kathy, for inviting others to share in your appreciation of this place. As the cabin journals and privy books reveal, this place means so much to people. I always enjoy reading through those entries. This time, we also discovered Tom's book, A HIGH, SUNNY PLACE. We loved reading the first few chapters during our visit and hope to finish it before we return again. We'll definitely be back!

Booked Treehouse #2 for a birthday trip with the husband and kids. Absolutely STUNNING views…read more Plenty of things to do - fishing, kayaking, canoeing, hiking, s'mores, swi and the peaceful sound of nature! If you don't have cellular signal, there is free wifi on site - but I doubt you'll wanna be plugged in with this beautiful scenery. The treehouse was spacious, fully equipped with all I needed for a weekend getaway, grill available, clean jacuzzi for post dinner spa experience, and a store on site (well priced) for last minute forgotten items. Ashley from the front was so kind and helped us navigate thru the farm. We did horseback riding with Jonathan and he did an AMAZING job teaching my family and I how to ride - what a wonderful experience! I cannot wait to book our next trip out here. I love that this is a family owned business. I cannot express enough my appreciation for this establishment. Thank you all for providing such a wonderful experience!

The grounds at Spring Lake Ranch are genuinely beautiful. The lake is gorgeous, peaceful, and…read moreseemed like a great spot to unplug in nature. However, my check-in experience was incredibly frustrating and ruined the trip for me. Upon pulling up to the Country Store (exactly as the check-in instructions stated), one of the property's loose farm dogs (a Great Pyrenees) began barking and jumping repeatedly on my vehicle, leaving behind scratches down to the primer. I stayed in my vehicle with my dog (who remained calm and quiet) secured in the backseat, as I didn't know if the loose dog was friendly. When the owner, Jonathan, came out, he put the dog up but loudly began blaming me for the damage, stating I should have gotten out to stop his dog or moved my vehicle elsewhere. He made multiple excuses and was very dismissive of the fact that my property was damaged by his unleashed animal. Jonathan ended up walking away and a different man asked me to go inside to check in. Flabbergasted, I proceeded with the check in process even though I didn't get an apology or any concern for what happened or how I'd been treated. The entire ordeal, including the hostility, really just ruined the stay for me and I ended up leaving early the next day. I did get an initial text from Johnathan apologizing and he offered to give me a free next stay and pay for buffing the scratches. I declined another stay, and notified him that I buffed out most of the scratches, but that some had gone through to the primer. I told him I would take care of it and I was not going to send a bill. Dragging this on further, he sent another message attempting to blame me again. This time claiming that my window being cracked a few inches is what caused his livestock dog to bark and scratch my doors. The constant blaming and complete lack of accountability for a guest's damaged property was unacceptable. It is a beautiful property, but proceed with caution, and be prepared for loose dogs and a defensive, unprofessional, owner.

This stay was the result of several hours' searching for lodging in the van buren area. my wife…read moreand i are 50 somethings, and rode our gold wing up there. we both have adrenaline filled lives in EMS and wanted a simple relaxing stay, sleep well, float on the river and RELAX. suffice it to say this was NOT the place for much of that. we stayed on a Sunday-Monday counting on most of the rowdies and drunks to be gone, and for the most part they were. Our room ended up being what they call a "studio apartment". basically, a couch, a bed and a cheesy electric cook stove. I suppose if you're an 18 YO with a weekend of sex, alcohol and crazy party in store it would have been perfect. not so much so for us. i specifically said to the lady i called to set up the cabin (and i thought i was getting a cabin...not a duplex)...that i NEEDED level parking NOT on a gravel road. our gold wing is big, heavy, and will NOT be driven on gravel mountain passes or driveways. what we got was a cabin duplex (shared with others) on a hillside...up a gravel road, on a hill. NO level solid parking at all. secondly. room stunk of mildew and mold. bed was atrocious. neither one of us slept a wink in the two night (mandatory 2 day stay) that we were there. shower was gross. my wife didn't even use it. NO WiFi. NO television. i guess you get all your stuff done at the cafe downtown before you come back into the room. once you're there, you're watching each other. there is direct tv...but it is 30 channels of INFO MERCIALS. i guess next time we will be better informed. the sad thing...it is like Lowes. they want you to understand everything from the web site and make decisions based on that. it don't work very well like that either. the phone call didn't even net the results we needed. it was not the worst time...we had a good float...but won't be staying here again. better served for groups of teenagers.

Absolutely the best place to stay in Van Buren hands down. Melissa is AWESOME! She is definitely…read morethe person you want to check you in she is the sweetest person on Earth. Apart from Melissa, Jordan and Andy are the ones you need around camp to take care of you. A wonderful campsite with a clean office and a great energetic staff. You won't regret booking your stay here. Also recommend floating down the river and hitting The Gravel Bar & Grill after, Debby's awesome!

This place is a gem!! What every family needs. Great full hookup spots, we saw there was cabins and…read moretent camping as well so we'll have to come back and stay in one of those!!! Between the piney river, pool, playground and swings for the kids and a live band playing the stage, there was fun for everyone! And let's talk about the food!! BEST. SANDWICH. EVER!!! We had awesome sandwiches for late lunch/dinner and the biscuits and gravy and a barnyard sandwich for breakfast. Can't beat the prices, taste or service!! Can't wait to come back many, many times with the family as we all loved this place!!

We have a great time and quickly became very fond of the owners. The sandwiches and desserts are…read morenice. The grounds are beautiful and the tiny community is pleasant.