February 28 - Resort Adventures

February 28, 2019

Day 59 - 306 Days to go

1 Day until March 1

Base Camp Coffee of the Day: Lost up the Creek (Colombian)

Flowers at Cross Timbers Cabins today (February 28)

Today is the last day of my "90 Days Until March 1" countdown. If you haven't read about my logic regarding this, here it is. In the resort business, at least here in SW Missouri, Spring arrives technically the same as everywhere else on March 21. But here, once March 1 arrives, most people are actually thinking Spring. Where we are, the word "March" has the same effect as the word "Spring" to most people. Even thought we stay open all year, Spring is when people begin to feel safe in coming out of the Winter hiding and start making plans for their camp and cabin get-aways. Early flowers have been blooming for a while now and tree buds are straining to pop out. Robins are making everyone crazy with their early morning psycho noise and antics. The only problem I see this year is the typical Spring "Cold Snap" is going to occur this first weekend. Maybe we'll simply get that out of the way quick this year. 

The Last Resort Project:

Small Scale, Backyard Aquaponics System

After spending the morning around Rainbow Haven Resort, I got to work a little while at The Last Resort. Mostly it involved taking a few more tools up there and continuing to install the knotty pine wall panels. Not a lot of progress was made but a little. I did, however spend some time researching one of the projects we want to do there. I discussed the possibility of building a small, backyard greenhouse version of an aquaponics system with Ray a couple days ago. Don't let the photo fool you, we have not built this yet, the pic is simply an example. Aquaponics is the combination of hydroponics and fish aquaculture. So it uses a self contained aquatics system to raise both plants and fish. It's an interesting and fairly new trend and Ray is all for giving it a try.

"If you do not undertake a risk from an adventure, it is not an adventure.”

February 27 - Resort Adventures

February 27, 2019

Day 58 - 307 Days to go

2 Days until March 1

Base Camp Coffee of the Day: Lost in the Dark (Colombian Dark French Roast)

Today was another one of those "Run all over the Place" days. It began with an early morning (6am) trip to Ozark to pick up supplies from storage for The Last Resort. After unloading in Rockaway Beach, this was immediately followed by a run to Branson to pay bills, do some banking, grab some lunch and then head to the treehouses. Finally, things got interesting. We talked with Randy, our "Treehouse Master" and saw the progress on the latest treehouse construction site. It's an "Old Mill" themed cabin and the exterior construction is nearing completion. This treehouse is our tenth treehouse cabin and they are really gaining in popularity. I stopped in the office while there and found out that the Springtime is getting booked up more this year than it ever has in the past. We built our first one in 2014 and the demand continues to grow. 

Paul and Pat looking after the RV park

Along with the great news, there's also the "Other" news. In this case, I found Pat and Paul digging around the RV Park looking for a broken water line. They said that they were seeing a wet area on the lower road that wouldn't go away so figured there was a leak. It happens every couple years so it's not like they haven't had to do this before. The place is really not old enough to have problems with things breaking due to age. With the water lines, it's usually related to someone trying to drive their RV away after forgetting to disconnect their waterline from the hydrant. In any case, a fix somewhere every couple years is just part of the routine. 

The Last Resort Project:

We brought more cabins back to life yesterday. Mainly it was electrical service to some of them so we would be able to run tools and equipment to continue the various repairs necessary to get them back to respectable condition. Rain and colder weather will prevent any work to the outside areas but will free up time to get some serious work done on the inside for the next few days.

“Only you can allow yourself to explore the person in the mirror. Only you can coax yourself into a daring adventure to find your untapped potential.”
― Vironika Tugaleva

February 26 - Resort Adventures

February 26, 2019

Day 57 - 308 Days to go

3 Days until March 1

Base Camp Coffee of the Day: Highlander Grogg (butterscotch rum)

Today is another of those days where the resort adventure will take a back seat to the "House Selling Adventure". With 60's in the forecast, we are heading up to the house to make a few last minute repairs to satisfy the inspection report. But so far so good. We will miss the place. We lived there for 26 years and raised three kids there. It was our home but it felt like a resort cabin. I suppose the influence of our taste in rustic lodge décor touches everything in our lives to one degree or another. The house was no different. So a few little fixes and it should be done. 

We are finally at the place where the first order of the year can be placed for fishing tackle and bait. The fishing never stops down here but the tackle shop business certainly does slow down during November through February. Last weekend was the indicator that people are ready to get back at it seriously though as I couldn't seem to break away from the tackle shop for more than a few minutes at a time without someone needing something. That feels good to have that rolling again.

The Last Resort Project:

Ray explaining where the fish are! (He's pointing at the Lake)

I kind of hate giving up a beautiful day of working on The Last Resort project. I am really ready to get some things done there. Especially since we are in for a cold snap this weekend and potentially rain before that. But it is what it is. I let Ray (from yesterday's post) in on our plans for the property and I'm afraid I may have started something that will be difficult to slow down. He thrives on that kind of stuff and is ready to jump ahead of me at almost every level. HOWEVER. I know that crappies will be biting around the docks pretty soon and that will be the only place I'll be able to find him for a while. 

“Don’t spend your life working a job you hate just to buy more stuff you don’t need. Do something different. Maybe it’s time to try out your wings and go create a life that is good for your soul.”
― Brooke Hampton

February 25 - Resort Adventures

February 25, 2019
Day 56 - 309 Days to go
4 Days until March 1
Base Camp Coffee of the Day: Lost on the Trail (Guatemala and our "House Blend")

I completely forgot to mention that there was a new state record set for a Brown Trout caught right here on our lake this past weekend. It's official weight was 34 pounds and 10 ounces. It beat the old state record by over six pounds. The Department of Conservation says there are world record Rainbow and Brown Trout in the lake, This fish proves that they do get big out there!

The Last Resort Project:

Ray: "Put the camera away or I'll use my hammer on you"

Today was a BUSY day at The Last Resort. we connected water service up to more of the cabins and made sure everything was going to work properly. Everything did not work properly but between my old friend Ray and I, we managed to get it all fixed. Actually, there were only two water leaks, presumably from frozen pipes, and they were in almost the exact same place. Ray decided that he wanted to patch some broken cement on one of the cabin steps and I couldn't talk him out of it. 

And as promised, here's more on the future of the property. I've been rather fascinated by the thought of financially sustainable, off grid, homestead life for years. Never enough to actually try it, and never enough to necessarily try to go "off grid" in the sense of disconnecting from all modern utilities and conveniences. (I like them way too much) I've mainly been interested in trying to create a financially self sufficient environment where the entire project produces resources rather than consuming them. I can see it in my head but have a hard time explaining it. 

We've talked about it on a larger scale somewhere in a more rural setting. However, "larger and rural" doesn't seem to fit many budgets. The thought hit me the other day when I saw something on "Urban Homesteading" that the Last Resort has an almost ideal set up for just that. As we talked about it, it has a living quarters home, several additional cabins that can be used as residential rentals, nightly guest rentals, or even shop/studio/retail spaces. Plus there is a nice big pool for private or guests use, giving the whole property that much more appeal. I've been playing with numbers on it and think we want to develop it as a private home with income producing elements plus features that promote a self sufficient lifestyle. Our goal is to generate approximately $1,600 per month in residential income from four of the cabins, Potentially turn one of them into our wholesale distribution business, convert one to a workshop and one into a nightly luxury rental near the pool. In addition, we like the idea of constructing a greenhouse/aquaponics structure for produce and fish production. 

Sound ambitious?????? 

Sounds like a new adventure to me! Tighten Your Seatbelts!

By The Way. The property will be for sale soon when the house upgrades are done. HOWEVER, as we continue to improve it, the price will steadily go up! 

“When there is time, there is no money... And when there is money, there is no time... So, if you don't want to have regrets in this life, do it when you have either of them, don't wait for both!”
― Yulia Lipovka

February 24 - Resort Adventures - Week 8 In The Books

February 24, 2019

Day 55 - 310 Days to go

5 Days until March 1

Base Camp Coffee of the Day: Lost in the Woods (Costa Rica/Colombia blend)

Week 8 is in the books at the resorts and I believe it was the turning point into the Spring Season. We had most of our rooms full of people ready to get at the business of fishing, boating and simply being outside again in their shirt sleeves. We also made headway on the cabins at The Last Resort. Including coming up with a "Master Plan" of sorts to serve as a goal for us. I'll begin to unfold the vision for that starting today. After checking my records for the year so far, the resorts are running about 25% ahead of where they were a year ago at this time. Of course January and February are the slowest months, but so far this year is encouraging. 

Oh, and I've noticed a specific upswing in summer reservations for boats, so..... If you're planning that, may want to it one locked in early! 

By the way, The pic to the left was part of the big group here this weekend, Notice that it's late February and they are all in short sleeve shirts!

The Last Resort Project: 

As resort properties and adventures go, the "Adventure" takes on the characteristic of the property and it's unique functions. At Branson Treehouse Adventures, for example, the "Adventure" is pretty well self describing. It's a camp, has treehouses, the Pirate Ship might be a surprise, but mostly you know what to expect and the adventure fulfils itself as expected. Rainbow Haven Resort is similar in that the "Adventure" revolves around it's identity as a Lake Resort on a world class Rainbow Trout lake. It has a dominant fishing clientele who ply the waters for fish and then enjoy the pool, boating, campfires and company of friends while here. Cross Timbers Cabins has a customer base who enjoy the "Cabin" feel and seem to use their stay as a Base Camp to explore the entertainment and attractions of the Branson Area. 

So what about our "Last Resort"? That has been the question we have been asking since late November. It started life as a nightly vacation resort. Several times in the past couple of decades it has been used as monthly residential housing. We have used it as a combination of the two. Still, it has no obvious "identity" that would lend itself to anything specific other than cabins with a pool. And, in all honesty, that would probably be enough, but to me there just needs to be a more defined purpose. 

SO...… Ready or not, we have an interesting plan for it and you'll want to stay connected to see the interesting vision!

“How do some people spend their beings having no adventures? It feels to me they’re wasting their lives.”
― Sahara Sanders

February 23 - Resort Adventures

February 23, 2019

Day 54 - 311 Days to go

6 Days until March 1

Base Camp Coffee of the Day: Lost on the Lake (Sumatra/Colombia blend)

Wow, It's been a busy day today. I think today I'm going to declare Spring is here. We have almost a full house at Rainbow Haven Resort. There are boats rented and out on the lake from our marina. The tackle shop has been busy. It's sunny and getting into the mid 60's. AND...…… Our annual February Pool Jump happened today. The King Family is here and, as always, they challenge each other's manliness with a February jump into the pool. (The women don't take part which confirms who the intelligent ones are.....They claim) This is our version of the polar bear plunge. I usually wait until March or April myself and not afraid to admit it. 

The Last Resort Project: I actually started out the morning at The Last Resort installing some pine wall paneling in the house. While it was raining, it was no problem, Once the weather started to clear, I got a barrage of phone calls to return to the office and marina to rent boats, sell fishing tackle and take new reservations, (Don't you hate when that happens?)

Tomorrow I'll begin to unfold the vision for The Last Resort. Some of you are going to REALLY like it!


“A good adventure is like a good literature. They both descend to the depths of our souls and they become unforgettable all our lives!”
― Mehmet Murat ildan