Off The Beaten Path
Posted in
Off The Beaten Path on March 8th, 2011
Nestled among the ancient hills called the “Ozarks”, and hidden away in the most picturesque of riverside settings, the surviving old grist mills of the Ozarks seem lost in a time warp. For over a century, these old mills have embraced the pace of olden times. A day trip visit will immerse you into an atmosphere “betwixt and between”, as Ozarkians might describe it. An atmosphere stuck in a time between the past and the present. As you travel the back roads, through rural hard cleared fields, past worn and weathered homes, crossing streams and forests, you’ll feel that you’ve stepped back into a different era. You’re likely to see deer, and maybe a wild turkey or two. 
You will catch the glint of the sun off of a sparkling stream, and watch the buzzards soaring in the blue skies seemingly gliding effortlessly. You will find great sightseeing and picnicking spots, secluded campgrounds soothed by river sounds, and swimming holes in clear, pollution free, spring water, canoeing, inner tubing, and fantastic fishing.
These mills were once the centers of community life for Ozarkians, sometimes referred to as “hillbillies”. People came from miles to have their corn, wheat, or other grain ground into flour or meal, exchange news, socialize, and even vote. These sites once included blacksmith shops, general stores, and often sawmills or cotton gins run by the water power turning the water wheel.
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For a great day “off the beaten path”, take a day trip to Ozark county and visit four century old gristmills, Dawt Mill, Hodgsons Mill, Zanoni Mill, and Rockbridge Mill. DiscoverBranson.com will be happy to provide route maps, lunch stop recommendations, and will be happy to help you plan for any activities that you might want to include on your trip
The map below shows the best route to the mills from Brnson. Label B is Dawt Mill, Label C is Hodgson’s Mill, and Label D is Rockbridge. Zanoni Mill is in the same vicinity.
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Posted in
Off The Beaten Path on March 8th, 2011
On your next visit to Branson, be sure to schedule a stop at the Dewey Short Visitors Center at Table Rock Dam, named after a former U.S. congressman and Assistant Secretary of the Army who was born and is buried in nearby Galena.
Visitors of all ages will enjoy the free natural history exhibits and films that provide great background and materials for vacation memories and scrapbooks. There’s also a well-maintained, gentle 2 1/2 mile paved hiking trail that meanders through dense woods along the lake’s shoreline. It extends from the Center past the Branson Showboat landing and ends at the State Park Marina. Along with squirrels, waterfowl and other wildlife, you’ll see plenty of boats and people enjoying fishing and other water sports. The Table Rock Trail also takes hikers close to the put-in site for the Ducks, amphibian boats that make dramatic, splashing entrances into Table Rock Lake. ( For more on this trail and other hiking trails, click here.)
The popular site, which has ample parking for cars and buses and a courtesy dock for boaters, is a great location for “bank” fishing, sunbathing, having a picnic or just relaxing for awhile on one of the many park benches. Don’t be surprised if you notice scuba divers taking advantage of the deep, clear waters. It’s an ideal site for the divers, as the lake here reaches a depth of 180 feet and is home to huge catfish as well as many other varieties of fish!
To reach the Dewey Short Visitors Center, take State Highway 165 for about six miles from Branson’s 76 Highway. The Center is at the south end of Table Rock Dam on the right. Construction of a new, 15,000 square foot center that will allow for more exhibit space is underway and is projected to be completed by late summer.
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| Phone: 1-800-768-3892 · Address: 1294 State Hwy 248 Branson, MO. 65616 |
