Best places to stay and eat at Roaring River

[Davekc]

My wife and I and the dog are planning a trip to the park for a three day fishing trip. We would like to hear your recommendations as to places to stay that allow the dog. Also, it has been years since I was at the park but grew up fishing it. What seems to work for flies during C&R season. I look at Tim's website but anything else? Where are the best places for a good breakfast these days. I know the old restaurant burned down years ago. Thanks for the help.

[tjm]

We've eaten supper several times at Sunrise Family Restaurant in town and they serve breakfast, maybe late at 0700. Easy to find at the stoplight.  There are other places but they seem to and go in Cassville. If I didn't eat breakfast at home I usually just do McDonald's.

Our daughter said the food was good  at the "new" Lodge in the park was good, official name is Emory Melton Inn & Conference Center

On the flies, I think caddis are in the creek year round at least as larvae, for sure all the nymphs that are there in summer are also there in winter, Little Grey Flies aka Baetis,  PMD,  PED, BWO depending on which fellow I talk to, hatch off and on all winter; fellows tell me their flies are #24 & #26 but to my eye they often look like #20s,   and I suspect there are midges too, I catch an occasional fish on something like a Griffith's Gnat. I see Chamois Worms and SJ Worms and Mop Worms catch fish there too. I just open a fly box and pick what ever  catches my eye that day. I have long thought that if trout ain't smart enough to know cedar needles  from caddis worms then they won't know that my fly is the wrong shade of pink or that it doesn't have fan wings.6 or 8 days last winter I did  well with big gaudy slip wing dry flies in size 12 or 10 that had come with a used fly box I'd bought fish jumping for them before they actually hit the water. Wish I had more of them but I'm too lazy to tie big stuff like that. Not patterns that I recognized, but reminded me of the gas station  flies you used to see back in the '50s. 

Honestly though Tim  grew  up fishing that park regularly, still fishes it I think, and has been selling flies and tackle for it for about forty years, I bet  he gets lots of feed back from customers on what worked best today, if anybody knows or can guess what's going to work there on any given day it is likely Tim. I think I'd ask him to make up a box for me, let him pick the flies for the date I was going to be there and mail them to me.

[Davekc]

Thanks so much for the info. I really appreciate the time to give me your advice. It has been many years since I was at the park. However, I grew up going to the park every summer for family vacations. I will stop by Tim's and get his advice before I hit the stream. My wife and I will be fishing so she likes to fish with a spinning rod and will use the usual stuff. I will get some flies ready and get some from Tim. The Sunrise sounds like a good place and will let you know how it was after the trip.

[Devan S.]

I cant help with the stay portion. Obviously fast food is what it is.

Cassville has BBQ station, Geraldis, Mon-Fri Whitley's serves lunch specials, EL Mariachi, Sunrise.

If your looking for fast but would rather skip the normal options Kwik T's in town has good gas station food for a really fair price, and King Cash Saver has decent deli options normally. The Rib will be open again sometime in the near future.

Its also not Cassville proper but Crose Cafe in Exeter is an option too. 

Eagle Rock/Golden has Taqueria Carlito, Pirate Bar, Office Pub and Steakhouse, The local bar and grill, Depot Dine, and state-line BBQ.

Shell Knob has Steak Inn if they are open(in season). 

Eureka Springs has lots of options with varying off season hours. 

I wont recommend anyplace over the other but all have reviews on google so it really depends on what your in the mood for. 

[Davekc]

Thanks so much for all the options. We are mainly a good price home cook'in kind of people  A good eggs and biscuit and gravy type breakfast. 

Love good BBQ!

[ness]

13 hours ago, Davekc said:

We are mainly a good price home cook'in kind of people  A good eggs and biscuit and gravy type breakfast. 

Sunrise Cafe in Cassville is reliably good for home-style cooking. It's right on Main Street near where you'll turn off on Highway 112 to go to RR.

Roaring River Resort, just outside the park, is a really good place to stay. They have motel-type rooms, some with kitchenettes, and larger cabins too. We based many family get-togethers out of there. If you've got kids with you they have a little game room, a playground and a large yard for them. 

[Davekc]

Thanks, I think we will stay at Roaring River resorts for the trip. Talked to them and they seem very nice and are pet friendly. Sunrise sounds like our king of place to eat. I know this will be a matter of strong opinion but what is the best BBQ place in Cassville.

[Foghorn]

What Ness said.

[Devan S.]

There is really only 1 BBQ joint in Cassville(BBQ station). There is a food truck that sells BBQ but I don't know the name or location.