News Release

Pulltite Cabin closed for urgent repairs following storm damage

Ozark National Scenic Riverways will conduct a structural assessment during the closure.

NPS Photo

News Release Date: July 21, 2023

Contact: Dena Matteson, 573-323-4814

EMINENCE, Mo:  The Pulltite Cabin area will be temporarily closed for visitor safety following major damage to the structure.  

Pulltite Cabin suffered significant damage from recent severe thunderstorms after a large tree, roughly three feet in diameter, crushed part of the metal roof and buckled the south wall of the cabin. The force of the impact also broke mortar between the logs and caused other structural damage.  

Park crews are working on a plan to remove the tree safely without causing additional harm to the structure. With no access road to the site, the opportunity to use large equipment is extremely limited and could make the project very challenging.  Following removal, the National Park Service will perform a structural assessment of the building and stabilize it to prevent further deterioration. There is no estimated timeframe for completing these steps.   

Pulltite Cabin is located along the Current River across from Pulltite Campground and can only be reached by hiking the trail from the river. Visitors should stay at least 100 feet away from the cabin but can still use the main hiking trail to view Pulltite Spring.   

The Pulltite Spring once hosted three mills. After the last of the mills shut down in 1911, the six-man “Pulltight Corporation” built the cabin that stands there today. It served as a vacation lodge for the men, who found the area beautiful and peaceful. The cabin was built in the unique French style, where vertical logs prevent the need for notching and stacking. In the center of the cabin, an impressive 38-foot log stands. Construction of the cabin was completed in 1913.  

Learn more about the history of Pulltite at: Pulltite or Pulltight? - Ozark National Scenic Riverways (nps.gov/ozar)  

Ozark National Scenic Riverways preserves the free-flowing Current and Jacks Fork rivers, the surrounding resources, and the unique cultural heritage of the Ozark people. For more information, visit www.nps.gov/ozar or call [phone]. You can also follow us on facebook.com/ozarkriverways or on Instagram @ozarkriverwaysnps. 

nps.gov/ozar  

Ozark National Scenic Riverways preserves 134 miles of the free-flowing Current and Jacks Fork rivers, the surrounding resources, and the unique cultural heritage of the Ozark people.  Learn more at www.nps.gov/ozar.  Find us on Facebook @ozarkriverways and on Instagram @ozarkriverwaysnps.

About the National Park Service. More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America's 424 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov, and on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.