Red Bud Cove Blog

We are now in our 28^th year of operation at Red Bud Cove. And, we are so very grateful for the tremendous support we have received over the years. We can’t say thank you enough to the thousands of wonderful guests we have had the pleasure of hosting—many of whom have returned many times over.

In nearly every year since we opened, we have added some extra touches to our facilities to help make the stay of our guests more enjoyable. During the past four years we have made some significant changes, including but not limited to the following–creating a second two-bedroom family suite, adding an enlarged new second floor lakefront deck to our lodging building, remodeling the bathrooms, tiling all the floors on the ground level, remodeling the main kitchen and redecorating all the bedrooms.

With all these changes, it is only appropriate that our website be updated as well. So, today, we are pleased to introduce our new website which is found here. We wish to thank Chelsea Dygert, owner of Four Thirteen Photography, for the many wonderful new photos as well as Keri Young and the other professionals at Acorn Internet Services, Inc. who made this new site possible.

We hope you will find it easy to navigate our new website when making decisions on which suite to book and/or which package to purchase. 

We hope to see you soon!

Rick Carpenter, Ginger Vaughn and Carol Carpenter, Innkeepers

One of my goals in writing the blogs that appear on our website is highlight interesting attractions that don’t necessarily come to mind when you think of things to do while vacationing in Branson.  This month, we are featuring Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, AR.  It is a scenic one and one half hour drive from Red Bud Cove Bed and Breakfast Suites to Bentonville.  And, there is no better time to take this day trip than in the fall when the mountains are bursting with beautiful colors.

Crystal Bridges is a “Must See” for persons who appreciate art and architecture.  The driving force behind the development of the museum is Alice Walton, daughter of Sam Walton who founded Walmart.  The museum, which opened in 2011, is endowed by $800 million from the Walton Foundation.

The museum consists of a sprawling series of galleries in a facility of modern design surrounded by water and woods, and containing over 200,000 square feet of space.  The majority of the concrete and glass structure is home to a permanent collection of over 400 priceless pieces of American art.  In addition, there is a delightful restaurant which serves lunch daily and dinner on Wednesdays and Fridays, a section devoted to temporary exhibits, an auditorium and a gift shop.

The display of art, however, does not end when exiting the gallery.  The museum is situated on 120 scenic acres of trees and streams.  There you will find more than 3 miles of walking trails, beautiful landscaping and a dozen interesting sculptures.

The museum is open Monday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m., and on Wednesday and Friday from 11 a.m until 9 p.m.  General admission is free.

I can’t think of a nicer way to spend a sunny fall day before returning to Red Bud Cove B&B for a relaxing night and a delightful full breakfast in the morning.

Three years ago, Jim Blansit opened Copper Run Distillery, located in a wooded setting on a back road a few miles north of Branson.  In a short period of time this glimpse of the Ozarks of old has become a favorite place to visit for tourists and locals alike.  But unlike the stills in years past, this one is legally producing moonshine as well as whiskey, vodka and gold rum.

The distillery is located in the basement of the building pictured here.  Tours of the distillery are offered periodically throughout the day.  Above on the main floor is a bar and restaurant.  There you can sample the products, enjoy $5 cocktails and buy liquor by the bottle.  Delightful light food is also available.  And on Saturday and Sunday afternoons live music is provided.

This still, like those of old, is truly located out in the hills of Taney County.  Mapquest or Google will take you north to Hwy 176, then west to Day Road to get to the distillery.  But I recommend you go north of Branson about 6 miles to Bear Creek Rd.  Left on Bear Creek for about a mile and a half, then north on Day Road for about two miles.  You will enjoy this scenic ride to Copper Run.

The distillery is open daily from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm Monday through Saturday and 11:00 am to 7:00 pm on Sunday.

Want to travel the scenic back roads of Southwest Missouri to a wooded spot on a high bluff where you can sample some fine wines and experience breathtaking views of Table Rock Lake?  If so, then you may enjoy a trip to Lewsi Winery.

In March, Ken and Patty Lewis opened their winery in the woods about 25 miles west of Branson. To name the business, they transposed the last two letters of “Lewis”.  Once you get to the winery, its a five-minute wooded walk to Virgin Bluff, providing a stunning view of Anglers Bend on the James River arm of Table Rock Lake 600 feet below, with the town of Cape Fair beyond.

There you can sample nine different wines, all made from Missouri grapes.   The wooded area makes a great place to sip wine, picnic or relax.  And, a bocce ball court is yours to enjoy as well.  Depending on the time of the year, you might even see some eagles soaring in the sky above the lake.

From Branson, take Hwy. 76 West to Y Hwy (17 miles).  Turn left on Y Hwy to  Long Bend Rd (6 miles). Turn right on Long Bend to Lewsi Winery (.7 miles).  Hours of operation are Noon to 6:00 pm, Tuesday to Sunday.

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The Branson Area has a new and exciting attraction.  The area is now home to the National Tiger Sanctuary.  

The staff of the sanctuary is dedicated to providing an educational facility to teach about environmental conditions that are affecting the earth’s ecosystems.  The sanctuary’s focus is on big cats as examples of species of beauty and diversity that we need to preserve.

In addition to being a classroom to educate all ages, the sanctuary is also utilized by national zoos to assist with the Species Survival Program.

 
We know you will enjoy the experience of viewing these beautiful animals from as close as three feet.  The facility has also been approved by the USDA to allow the public to actually feed the Tigers.  The sanctuary is open year round and offers tours Wednesday through Sunday at 10:00, 1:00 and 3:00.

We hope to see you soon in Branson, and at Red Bud Cove Bed and Breakfast Suites where you can be assured of an outstanding lodging and hospitality experience.

Later this month, Red Bud Cove Bed and Breakfast Suites will celebrate its 21st anniversary.  But, we are just infants compared to Branson which, this year, is having its 100 Year Celebration–and what a year it will be for the millions who come to enjoy the many attractions of the area.

Diversity has become a theme in recent years and it is sure to continue into the future.  For more than fifty years, Branson has been known for its live music shows and for Silver Dollar City Theme Park.  Today, there are nearly 120 live entertainment shows to enjoy and the diversity of entertainment to be found in Branson’s theaters offers assurance that there is literally “something for everyone”.  But, not just the theaters are becoming diverse.  You will find something for everyone wherever you look in Branson or on the surrounding lakes.  If Ziplines are your thing, there are now four to choose from.  Likewise, the area now offers four venues for those who enjoy museums.  In addition to the Titanic and Veterans Memorial Museums in Branson and the Ralph Foster Museusm at the College of the Ozarks, there is now the Branson Centennial Museum which showcases Branson’s history with exhibits that rotate throughout the year.

The area is also now home to four wineries as well as the Copper Run Distillery.  And adults of all ages will enjoy our expanded night life.  This year there are no less than eight night spots that feature live music on a regular basis.  Branson has truly become a destination for people of all ages.

We hope to see you soon in Branson, and at Red Bud Cove Bed and Breakfast Suites where you can be assured of an outstanding lodging and hospitality experience.

Now is a great time to visit Branson and Table Rock Lake.  The damage from the tornado that ripped through part of Branson recently has been substantially corrected and most of the shows and attractions are open.  And, here on the lake, it is beautiful. Many of the spring flowers are now in full bloom, and the redbud trees are beginning to blossom. Soon.the dogwood trees will also show their spring beauty.  And, now is also an ideal time to visit Dogwood Canyon which is arguably the most outstanding nature park in Missouri.  You can tour the park by bike, by hiking or on a motorized tram.  The park is located about 25 minutes from the inn.