Photography courtesy of: Big Cedar Lodge

If you hunger to check out from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, check in to a peaceful escape—one that marries the best of modern amenities with the immediate reset of getting outdoors. Spreading over 4,600 acres of Missouri’s Ozark Mountains, Big Cedar Lodge is a veritable tribute to nature, and it could just become your favorite place to kick back.

What began as a passion project of Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris now invites worldwide guests to reconnect with the great outdoors in a breathtaking American outback. Since opening to the public in 1988, this wilderness beauty has earned a reputation as “America’s Premier Wilderness Resort.” And this title is supported by numerous accolades, including being named the number one resort in the Midwest by Travel + Leisure readers for three consecutive years.

Relax and unwind

The 262 guest rooms across ten lodges, cottages, and cabins at Big Cedar Lodge nestle visitors in comfortable rustic atmospheres, including traditional hotel rooms in the Falls, Spring View, and Valley View Lodges and private log cabins and cozy cottages tucked into the woods or situated on Table Rock Lake. Each option provides numerous amenities, which may include a fireplace, whirlpool bath, fully equipped kitchen, and lake views—so you can design your idea of a comfortable yet secluded stay.

For seamless comfort that will leave you forgetting all about the world outside these forests, enjoy a wellness session on the property. Services here range from a massage therapy hour and a relaxing hot tub plunge to fitness classes like yoga flows held on a gorgeous summit overlook.

Dining at Big Cedar Lodge is an extra indulgence, as the property offers a variety of heartland cuisine served amid historic scenery. For example, the Devil’s Pool restaurant, housed in an original 1920s landowner’s home, offers Southern home-style dishes like house-smoked ribs and trout. For a more casual meal, the Buzzard Bar provides a selection of eats like indulgent sandwiches and fresh salads with nightly live entertainment.

Challenge and explore

While residing at Big Cedar Lodge may inspire deep rest, adventure awaits thrill-seeking travelers at every turn; in fact, a wide range of land and water activities is included with your stay. For one, splash into Table Rock Lake via the Bent Hook Marina, which rents out boats, kayaks, and fishing equipment to guests. For those who prefer to keep their feet on land, the resort offers picturesque hiking trails, as well as Fun Mountain, a 50,000-square-foot indoor adventure wonderland with bowling, a ropes course, and go-karts.

The resort also hosts world-class golfing on courses designed by legendary names like Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods. Some of the property’s most famous courses, such as the breathtakingly scenic Payne’s Valley, challenge casual and competitive golfers alike with grandiose layouts peppered across the hilly landscape.

The Top of the Rock, meanwhile, is consistently mentioned as a must-see attraction. This popular setting within reach of the resort boasts panoramic views from the Lost Canyon Cave and Nature Trail, a signature par 3 golf course, tours of the Ancient Ozarks Natural History Museum, a stunning dining experience at the Osage Restaurant, and more.

Locating the retreat

While Big Cedar Lodge feels remote, it is conveniently located in Ridgedale, Missouri, which is about ten miles from Branson and an hour from Springfield-Branson National Airport. If you’d prefer to drive in, the resort is a mere three-to-four-hour trek from St. Louis and Kansas City, Missouri, and Tulsa, Oklahoma, each route offering up-close views of the rolling Ozark Mountains.

Once you arrive at Big Cedar Lodge, modern comforts and wild adventures alike await you. However you design your stay, though, remember to take time to lie back, take a breath, and savor what might just be your new paradise away from home.

For more info, visit bigcedar.com