this is as fancy as it gets...

The chapel may be booked...but to put your mind at ease...we haven't forgotten about the party that is to follow (and as it turns out...that precedes also!). Nothing would make us more happy than to just be able to comfortably hang out with each other and the people that mean the most to us as we celebrate the initiation of this happy partnership. That's why we've decided that the most fitting (and let's not forget, fun) means would be nothing more than bbq and beer. Eureka Springs is a lovely place once you are removed from the hellish touristy parts...near the White River and Beaver Lake are some of the most beautiful landscapes that could be found in this bowl between the Appalachians and the Rockies. It's like a little central PA. And once you are away from the cheezy Swiss motels and "antique" stores, you can find some really enchanting places...places, in fact, that are perfect for an outdoor party! Over the weekend, Mom, Pepper and I took a little trip over to Eureka and checked out a few...of course there were more than enough offers of hillbilly fancy (stuffed fish on the wall and knobby pine over-sized rockers covered with fake bear rugs) but the places that really grabbed were two little campsites that had no pretensions of being some Aspen-esque resort. They were cabins in the Ozarks...that's all...places to pitch a tent, put the keg on ice, smoke some pork (or portobello mushrooms, dear veggie friends) and build an enormous bonfire. Below are two such places that we are considering...As the plan goes right now...we have the place for Thursday and Friday nights. We can all arrive there on Thursday, hang out, decorate however we see fit, party, get up Friday, get the food together, get ready, get hitched, get back and chill. Yeah? It would be a dream for us and we can't wait to share it with everyone.

Spider Creek


This place sits right on the White River, at a little spur known as Spider Creek. The water was up while we were there, but the cabins are on both sides of the water connected by a little foot bridge that we couldn't cross. There are places to fish, canoe, and just hang out. There are a couple of open areas for our tent and even a little pavilion (that includes a big screen tv??) and bbq smokers. There's enough cabin space to fit everyone:
3 large cabins that sleep between 8-10 people
4 smaller cabins along the water that sleep 6
RV pads that overlook the water for Ralph, Ingrid, and little Lucy
and of course, a sweet little honeymoon cabin for us!

The people there were crazy accommodating and helpful...and actually seemed excited to have a big throwdown there...hmmm...wonder if they'd still think that after we were finished??

the screened-in pavilion...already stocked with firewood

the honeymoon cabin that overlooks the river

one of the large cabins for a big group...a little party unto itself

the upper cabins...arranged into a little community

the footbridge that connects the upper cabins to the waterfront cabins and one of the larger cabins

one of the waterfront cabins...notice the fog over the river...it was morning...oh so pretty...little ozark streams...

another view of the waterfront cabins

a possible tent site near the water

the other possibility just across the way

Ozark Cabins...

a little place tucked into the woods near the dam and just above the river. It's not really on the water, but it is secluded...might not be a bad idea considering the days of shin-dig that we are planning...

Here, we would have the run of the whole place, which includes:
1 big cabin that could sleep about 12
4 small cabins that sleep about 4
RV pads for Ralph, Ingrid, and Lucy
A "hut" that is basically a screened in pad where we could put an air mattress and/or sleeping bags
A common kitchen, tent area, bbq smokers
1 honeymoon cabin for US!

It is everything we need probably...only the sleeping arrangements might be a little tight...of course, after the margaritas...anything (including the picnic tables) would probably be just fine!

Ozark Cabins campsite...completely open in the middle; the economy cabins are to the right and the honeymoon cabin is to the left, the big cabin is just up this road and the RV pad is just behind where I took the pic

The sweet honeymoon cabin complete with a jacuzzi...it seems to be the popular amenity for "honeymoon cabins" in Eureka...

A small cabin that we think sleeps 4...the lady wasn't really clear about it...hmmm

The back of the economy cabins. The common kitchen is in the middle with the white door.

The front of the economy cabins with a common porch that overlooks the open middle space

The back of the tent area from the economy cabins...not too far away

The BBQ smoker and grill near the tent

The tent area with picnic tables and lots of fridge space...