Lindsey's Resort

[holleybob]

For those that are not aware of the situation at Lindsey's resort on the Little Red, the bank owns the property as of today.

My brother and I meet at Lindseys twice yearly on or around our birthdays to fish. We've done this for years and have always stayed at Lindsey's. While in the office Friday reminiscing it was revealed that their last day as owners would be Sunday. I had no idea they were having financial issues.

After checkout yesterday we decided to float from JFK to the resort before heading home. Once we had pulled out and loaded the kayaks and said our goodbye's I found myself lingering, not wanting to go, not wanting it to end. Uncertain if I would be able to stand in this spot again. I watched as guides emptied their dock lockers and family members loaded personal belongings from the office into their vehicles. It was truly sad.

If you pray, say a prayer for the Lindsey family as they are entering a future full of uncertainty. They seem to be a family of great faith. Surely they will endure.

Hopefully new owners will step in and keep the resort as is, but noone knows for sure.

I found a story this morning that foretold the events now happening:

http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2014/nov/16/lindseys-resort-nears-half-century-mark-uncertaint/

[Ron Burgundy]

Never been there , I read the article and this is sad.... Hopefully it works out where they get to keep it.

[TheRustyHook]

I was just up there for my bachelor party a couple of weeks ago. Awesome spot. Everyone was always super nice and inviting.

[Phil Landry]

Lobo Landing closed as well recently and is going up for auction.... I don't think these are coincidences. Fact is, the larger resort game plan isn't working well anymore for a lot of folks. The maintenance on the property and rental boats is a a strain given the market. With things like VRBO and many other web based rental properties, a lot of potential clients prefer to have their "own" space, rather than be in a compound of sorts. Just for example, only because it's mentioned in this thread, you could wind up in a unit next to a bachelor party. Resorts can not operate on rental boats, guide trips and sundry sales. I think you will continue to see dominoes fall along these lines on some of the other rivers. The guide business is also WAY different than it used to be when places like Lindseys were in their heyday. Guides do not want to be "tied" to a resort all the time anymore. The resorts are not bringing the volume to to outweigh the cuts taken from trips.

Bottom line, the game has been changing for quite sometime. As the crowds that "always went there" get older and dwindle, more will fold. What's strange to me is that the one real resort left on the LRR is the dumpiest one. I know Lobo spent ALOT of money building and upgrading, maybe too much to fast. Lindseys has a lot of family politics involved, so the water is muddy there. Either way, apples and oranges, but expect more to fall from whatever tree they are on in the near future. Also- the timing of 2 of the big 3 on the Little Red River going down works against each other. The two will be shopped against each other.

Not trying to be negative nancy about all of it, times were good at these places for many. I just think the landscape has changed. Just my two cents, which won't buy you or me ^%&%(&^.

[holleybob]

According to the family member that I spoke to their business never came back after the events of 911. It was said that their business was about 30% less this past year than it was the year before 911. That was 14 years ago! This was mentioned also by one of their guides that had been with them for many years.

That coupled with the collapse of their dock and loss of boats in the 20 inch snowfall that came on Christmas a couple years ago. Their insurance coverd about 1/3 of the loss.

It was also speculated that the place would sell for approx 1/2 the actual value and that the bank would write off the rest as a loss. This of course is just speculation.

[TheRustyHook]

I find it a touch ironic that the Little Red River Foundation opens there website the week of Lindsey's closing. Maybe there is some hidden agenda? It would be two very cool sites for some additional public access!

[TheRustyHook]

Lobo Landing closed as well recently and is going up for auction.... I don't think these are coincidences. Fact is, the larger resort game plan isn't working well anymore for a lot of folks. The maintenance on the property and rental boats is a a strain given the market. With things like VRBO and many other web based rental properties, a lot of potential clients prefer to have their "own" space, rather than be in a compound of sorts. Just for example, only because it's mentioned in this thread, you could wind up in a unit next to a bachelor party. Resorts can not operate on rental boats, guide trips and sundry sales. I think you will continue to see dominoes fall along these lines on some of the other rivers. The guide business is also WAY different than it used to be when places like Lindseys were in their heyday. Guides do not want to be "tied" to a resort all the time anymore. The resorts are not bringing the volume to to outweigh the cuts taken from trips.

Bottom line, the game has been changing for quite sometime. As the crowds that "always went there" get older and dwindle, more will fold. What's strange to me is that the one real resort left on the LRR is the dumpiest one. I know Lobo spent ALOT of money building and upgrading, maybe too much to fast. Lindseys has a lot of family politics involved, so the water is muddy there. Either way, apples and oranges, but expect more to fall from whatever tree they are on in the near future. Also- the timing of 2 of the big 3 on the Little Red River going down works against each other. The two will be shopped against each other.

Not trying to be negative nancy about all of it, times were good at these places for many. I just think the landscape has changed. Just my two cents, which won't buy you or me ^%&%(&^.

****Just wanted to clarify, I went to the Little Red for my bachelor party for the nontraditional bachelor party experience. I should have called it a "pre-wedding fishing trip" to avoid the negative connotation. No strippers, or lions, or roofies.

Your incredibly right in a lot of ways. Really the nature of the fishery doesn't lend itself to being stuck in one area. Mobility on this river can allow you hours of a hot bite instead of just a short period of time in rising water. I don't know how much it will affect traffic on the river but it will be interesting to see the dynamic change.

[Phil Landry]

no clarification needed ... I did the same thing for my "bachelor party", but went to the San Juan in NM

[Bird Watcher]

that was my favorite place to fish when i was a kid.

[jtram]

What's strange to me is that the one real resort left on the LRR is the dumpiest one. I know Lobo spent ALOT of money building and upgrading, maybe too much to fast.

Im not sure what the resort used to be called, but just up from swinging bridge a resort is changing names to red river adventure center (I believe that's the name), and is remodeling everything. Supposed to be nice when they open in April.