Ozark Secrets: Lavish Retreats
Art Direction by Thomas Sullivan.
Hollywood is not usually kind to the Ozarks. Jennifer Lawrence tracking down her meth-making father? Check. Patrick Swayze cleaning up a violent roadside bar? Check. Jason Bateman setting up a money laundering scheme? Check.
Tourists, on the other hand, have long been seduced by the Ozarks, part midwestern and part southern, thanks to hundreds of acres of thick forest, picturesque views, ample hiking trails, and the expansive lakes.
As Missourians know and the the rest of the world is slowly finding out, the Ozarks are a wonderland for outdoor adventure fans of every stripe. Not everyone’s up for roughing it, though. Over the past decades, there’s been a marked effort to evolve public perception of the Ozarks from backwards backwoods to luxe natural playground.
“We enable visitors to feel like they are a part of the natural setting and the natural beauty of the area—but still [enjoy] those luxury accommodations,” says Kay Samuelson, director of sales at The Lodge of Four Seasons in Lake Ozark, Missouri.
The Lodge of Four Seasons is one of the more established Ozarks spots, featuring a large marina, three golf courses, and a spa that was recently recognized by Spas of America as the top spa in Missouri. St. Louis-based travel agent Robert Merlin considers it the luxury option at Lake Ozark, but often sends clients to more secluded spots.
“People do need to be educated, and that’s part of what my team does,” Robert says. “The trick is to both educate people that there are true luxury destinations within driving distance that are in Missouri.”
One of Robert’s favorites is Stonewater Cove Resort and Spa in Shell Knob, an all-
inclusive resort that sits on five hundred acres overlooking Table Rock Lake.
“Nobody knows about it, and that’s really a shame,” he says. The family-run hotel has only a few dozen rooms. Robert suggests that Stonewater Cove is a vacation experience all by itself. “Stonewater Cove is phenomenal because they just do whatever you need done, which if you’re looking for a luxury destination, that’s kind of the definition.”
Just north in Springfield, luxury seekers can find a mix of Midwest manners, southern charm, and some of the most unique spots in Missouri, such as the Hotel Vandivort.
Opened downtown by brothers and Springfield natives John and Billy McQueary, Hotel Vandivort was originally built in 1906 as the local Masonic Temple. The boutique hotel underwent an extensive renovation and now features one of the city’s most beloved restaurants, The Order, plus a massive suite that boasts sweeping views of Springfield.
“Springfield has that mix of country and city,” says Hotel Vandivort General Manager Zack Oxley. “The Ozarks are so picturesque, and it makes sense to have that luxury component.” Zack says he’s seen interest in unique experiences grow over the past few years.
Thanks to that best-of-both-worlds mentality, Springfield has attracted world-class talent like Daniel Ernce, the chef behind Progress. After training at 108 in Copenhagen, a sister restaurant to Noma, also located there, Ernce returned to the Ozarks with a series of pop-ups before opening Progress, where the tasting menu is the highlight. With an emphasis on local ingredients, diners love the cosmopolitan feel paired with Missouri flair.