Table Rock

Table Rock Branson, MO

Branson, MO After traveling a small winding country road, we arrive at the gate of the Top of the Rock. We are here to go on The Lost Canyon Cave and Nature Trail, a self guided golf car adventure, through a nearby cave that takes you down a path snaking around the woods, into caves, over wooden bridges, and by beautiful water falls. The whole trip takes less then an hour. Before getting into our golf car, I asked the attendants if they were satisfied with these golf cars, and if they have given them any trouble. They replied, no problems, they were great! So down the hill we went with my Go Pro attached to my head… yep, going to experiment taking some live, action-packed video.. OK, I’m just going to see if I can figure it out.. As we drove down the well manicured hill, there are many waterfalls that attract our attention. At one point, the trail takes you inside a cave, with stalagmites, and stalactites, water falls, and a bar… what? this is great, let me have two.. oh only one. OK. cool none the less. After the strenuous nature trek on a golf car..we proceed to Ann Marie’s favorite attraction, the museum. This place was rich in Ozark Mountain history, focusing on the Indians and their many treasures.
What an amazing Museum! I have never seen so many Indian artifacts under one roof simply one of the best I’ve seen. Ann was bored after an hour and sat down, while I found the one arrow head that made me laugh, it was inscribed, “Hoe”….never mind.
Now for a little history. I know I just can’t help myself… Table Rock Golf Course. In May 2015 after days of heavy rain, four sinkholes opened up, the largest 40 feet deep and 60 feet wide by water seeping through the ponds clay liners, along the large Tom Watson-designed putting green. Some officials thought the hole should be filled in, but owner Johnny Morris, who is a huge conservationist and Bass Pro Shops founder, hired a team of excavators and geologists, to dig out the sinkhole.
After digging for than year, the sinkhole is now over 200 feet deep, and they will continue digging deeper until they hit bedrock. He is hoping it will open an entrance to the subterranean structure that channeled the sinkhole water to the cave that Johnny discovered over 25 years ago, Whew! Water from the sinkhole is filtering into the cave he discovered, and there may be a new cave system unearthed down there. This would provide an opportunity to learn about the cave systems that are so prevalent in the Ozarks. It could be just one more geologic feature for people to see at Top of the Rock. From the looks of the sinkhole now, I think Johnny is right on, it will be something to behold when finished. No GoPro video for this blog, got some work to do yet…. At the edge of this beautiful golf course is stone chapel overlooking the lake. When you make you way down to it, and open the large wooden doors, you are greeted by a large wooden cross in front of a wall of windows overlooking the lake and mountains. Very simple, very peaceful, and very cool. Next stop was to get some dinner at the restaurant. They have three stories in this restaurant and it was ” fancy”….. We had heard that every evening at sunset, (weather permitting) there is a bagpiper dressed in traditional Scottish Highland Dress, playing many patriotic songs. So we sat on the second level outside on a huge patio with a couple of fireplaces and relaxed overlooking the lake, listening to a piano player, and chatting.. wow, this is great….
We had a few drinks, ate a great dinner, shared a dessert while listening to music and then the orange colors started dancing in the sky, and on que, the bagpiper started, and when he finished a team of men dressed in Civil War uniforms fired a cannon to signify the end of an absolutely terrific day!
Thank you Jim for describing this place to us. You nailed it !!!
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