Dutch Posted January 25, 2011 Posted January 25, 2011 You may want to try stone water cove, which is up the James. Looks very impressive from the lake, never been there, or give Bill Babler a call and stay at his bed and breakfast. My wife and I had a yearly trip to big cedar, which we stop going, not friendly, rooms were getting worse each year, and on and on. z22 My wife looked into stone water cove but we could only afford one night. It was outrageously expensive. I'd call Babler.
techo Posted January 25, 2011 Posted January 25, 2011 White River Lodge is beautiful with a personal touch good choice! I always thought about taking the Mrs to Big Cedar for a weekend. It doesn't compare to White River Lodge though. Tim Carpenter
fly2fish Posted January 25, 2011 Posted January 25, 2011 For those particular dates I could get you a studio condo at Bluegreen at Big Cedar for $75 a night Feb 21-24.
Bill Babler Posted January 25, 2011 Posted January 25, 2011 Guys, thanks alot for all the referals. I don't promote my own stuff here. Not the place, kind of defeats the purpose of a non-bias opinion. I will tell you, there are other places on the lake that are just as nice as Big Cedar, and for sure much more private. I'm not talking about Time Shares or condos. If thats what you want, there are plenty to chose from. Also, at Big Cedar remember this, Wilderness Club is not Big Cedar. It is Wilderness Club-AT-Big Cedar. Frankly Big Cedar could care less if you come or not. They for the most part could care less if you have a good time or not. They could care less if what they told you is not right or not. The reason is their occupancy is in the 90 percent range on a yearly basis and is 100% during prime time. They have 50 people waiting in line to replace you when you don't come back. This has not always been their philosophy, but with the demand on their property it has become a fact. It became a fact when they put in the timeshares. It really was a blessing for us as we got their longtime clients that wanted privacy and not to be hounded by a sales force. It also changed the lanscape and the type of clients they now have verse what was there in the 90's and up to 2005. Folks that have no problem spending $300 to $700 per night, just don't do well in a situation where other guest on the very same property are staying for $39.00 a night ie the "timeshares." They just simply run in a different crowd. Not better or worse, just different. Our property caters to those persons, that are abit more disconcerning. The type that used to stay at Big Cedar. Our property was build and our business plan was constructed like this to have a minimal impact. We don't want 100% occupancy, we want 45 or 50 percent on a yearly basis, and we have that. We want you to return and return. We have couples that come 10 times a year and have for years. Most all were going to BC and they now stay with us. We love and appreciate them and know them by name.interact and become close friends with lots of our guests. We care. We are coming up on our 6th. year, and we set a record for occupancy last season. The majority of our new and repeat guests were Big Cedar clients that will never go back. Our 10,000 sq. ft. Engleman Spruce log Lodge is very similar except it is very quiet and private. Most everything in the Lodge is hand made and has a story. Our views from every room in the lodge are breathtaking. Eveyday I wake up and say Wow! Becky serves fantastic Breakfasts, to start you on your day, and is always here to help you with meal and fun plans throughout your day. It is an extremely comfortable atmosphere and invites you just to lounge around the fireplace or take advantage of any of the lodge amminities. Enough on my junk, I have just seen it for years at BC and have loads of friends that work there and all will tell you it "Ain't Like It Was and it Ain't for the Better." Now, another couple of nice Log Resorts. Number 1 on the list is Indian Hills Resort out of Shell Knob. This is the old Navjo Hills. It had a 5 million dollar renovation and is by far one of the nicest log resorts on the lake. It sets at Big Indian creek at Baxter and has a fantastic boat dock, trememdious views and is a very special property. BC has nothing on Indian Hills, except the restaurant. 41-858-6243 Fishing in the Baxter area is far better than on our end, and you are situated in the middle of the lake and can go either way. Fantastic place. The Timbers Resort Shell Knob Log Cabins quite secluded in a wood/lakeside setting, very private. 417-858-2723. Guys did not mean this to be a total bash on BC, but they really had something special over there and let it getaway. Money got in the way. We still recommend their restaurants and our guests love to walk and ride horses at Dogwood Canyon. It is just that it got extremely over crowded and noisy and their guests stopped being guests and became clients. http://whiteriveroutfitters.com http://whiteriverlodgebb.com
ness Posted January 25, 2011 Posted January 25, 2011 Bill -- thanks for that insight. I found it interesting. We haven't been to Big Cedar in a number of years, and wasn't aware they had done the condo/timeshare thing. John
Sam Posted January 25, 2011 Posted January 25, 2011 Bill, thanks for posting all that good information. I had no idea. Living in Ozark, we seldom go to Branson-area attractions. I guess it's that way with locals - my wife's brother and his family live in Las Vegas and they never go to casinos (except when we visit). We stayed in cabins at B.C. twice and liked it a lot, but that was in the '90s. I enjoyed following the link and looking at your lodge's website just now (and no, you were very careful not to engage in "shameless commerce", and you included referrals to competitors in your post. That's a good way to be.) I can see you've got a great place there, and I bet my wife and I would enjoy getting away from home for a night or two. We'll be seeing you before long.
dtrs5kprs Posted January 25, 2011 Posted January 25, 2011 I've decided to stay at White River Lodge. Thanks everybody. Just make sure you ask Bill for his smallmouth shore lunch package...from a few miles away.
Bill Babler Posted January 25, 2011 Posted January 25, 2011 Just make sure you ask Bill for his smallmouth shore lunch package...from a few miles away. 5Keeps, you all know me to well. My wife just fell on the floor laughing. In the immortal words of Larry the Cable Guy,"I don't care who you are, Thats Funny." Love you guys, Thanks Bill and Becky http://whiteriveroutfitters.com http://whiteriverlodgebb.com
Thom Posted January 25, 2011 Posted January 25, 2011 5Keeps, you all know me to well. My wife just fell on the floor laughing. In the immortal words of Larry the Cable Guy,"I don't care who you are, Thats Funny." Love you guys, Thanks Bill and Becky Was going to post about my experience at BC but Bill covered it pretty well. As with all of Bill's info posted here and in the words of Friday on Dragnet: "just the facts mamn ... just the facts". Thom Harvengt
Crappie5 Posted January 25, 2011 Posted January 25, 2011 I will say, White River Lodge is the best. Dont let bill get away with the fish cooking totally.......Becky can cook the best trout you ever eat.
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