Over the Top of the Rock

Top of the Rock and Big Cedar Lodge are two resorts created by John Morris, founder and CEO of Bass Pro Shops. Mr. Morris is a Very Big Deal around here. We went to Top of the Rock today to walk the nature trail. Turns out you have to pay $10 just to get in, but you get a $10 voucher. You can’t walk the trail, either; you must pay $28 each to drive a golf cart on the trail. Walking is not allowed on the nature road.

The place is amazing in its attention to details. The railing overlooking the driving range included golf club shapes. The light fixtures and door handles were elaborate. There are ponds and statues and very interesting outdoor fireplaces.

We had a nice meal at Arnie’s Barn (named for Arnold Palmer) while we watched the golfers on the driving range and the digging machinery turning a sink hole into The Cathedral of Nature. The driving range is more like target practice as there are a number of greens at various distances plus water hazards and sand traps.

This place is over the top to the point where we weren't sure if the Ancient Ozarks Natural History Museum was very natural, so we didn't visit. We later learned that Mr. Morris had purchased collections from a couple of other museums to make this one, so there are some good artifacts to see.