News Release

Jon boat tours and Big Spring Historic District open house

Jon boat rides were once a popular attraction near the Big Spring Lodge.

News Release Date: August 29, 2019

Contact: Dena Matteson, 573-323-4814

Van Buren, MO:   Join us for modern jon boat rides and open house in the Big Spring Historic District on Saturday, September 7, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This program is free of charge and all are invited.  

Visitors can enjoy a brief excursion on the Current River with a skilled local guide, departing from the boat dock in front of the Big Spring Dining Lodge. Several rooms of the lodge will be open for visitors to view during this event. Park staff will provide tours of this historic structure, which was constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s. An authentic wooden jon boat and commissary camp will be on display.  

Traditional Ozark float trips conducted by local guide services provided opportunities for many early visitors to experience the clear, pristine waters of the Current and Jacks Fork rivers. Wooden, handcrafted jon boats once played a major role in Ozark life and the growth of tourism along the rivers. Ozark residents used jon boats for logging, hunting, gigging, trapping, running trot lines and fish traps. Local entrepreneurs organized businesses to outfit and guide boating excursions after the establishment of the state parks. Jon boat rides were offered at Big Spring near the Big Spring Lodge into the 1980’s. These scenic river rides are a fond memory for many. Today, modern aluminum jon boats provide an opportunity for many to enjoy the rivers in much the same way.

Planning for the restoration of the Big Spring Dining Lodge and Cabins is currently underway, and work to rehabilitate these beloved buildings is expected to begin in late 2020. The architectural style of the buildings features local stone and timber construction, adding a unique rustic charm to the area. During the open house, visitors can learn about the work of Civilian Conservation Corps at Big Spring.  

Big Spring Lodge is located four miles south of Van Buren, Missouri, on State Route 103. Because the Big Spring Bridge is currently closed for construction, visitors should stay on State Route 103 to reach the Big Spring Lodge. For more information, call 573-323-4236.

Ozark National Scenic Riverways preserves the free-flowing Current and Jacks Fork Rivers, the surrounding natural resources, and the unique cultural heritage of the Ozark people.

www.nps.gov/ozar

About the National Park Service. More than 20,000 National Park Service employees who care for America’s 419 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Visit us at www.nps.gov, on Facebook www.facebook.com/nationalparkservice, Twitter www.twitter.com/natlparkservice, and YouTube www.youtube.com/nationalparkservice.