Missouri State Parks
In the southwest corner of Missouri, abutting the Arkansas border, is Roaring River State Park, one of Missouri’s three trout parks. The park sits in a narrow valley surrounded by rugged hills in the Ozarks, and its namesake, the spring-fed Roaring River, is a popular trout-fishing spot.
At the park, the Emory Melton Inn and Conference Center has 26 guest rooms and a full-service dining room with an adjoining room for private groups. On-site meeting space features three rooms, each named after a place in the park. The Fire Tower Room can hold up to 65 people, and the Deer Leap Room and the Falls Room can each accommodate 45 people, said Steph Deidrick, division information officer for Missouri State Parks.
Missouri State Parks partners with the Missouri Department of Conservation, which operates a trout hatchery at the park and releases trout into the river every day during the summer season. The catch and release season runs from mid-November through mid-February, and the catch-and-keep season runs from March through October. Groups can rent fishing gear and take private fishing lessons.
Meeting attendees also enjoy Roaring River’s trails, which range from an easy half-mile scenic walk to five-mile hikes. Park interpreters can take groups on guided hikes and are available for nature programs such as wildflower workshops and bald eagle viewing. The park is a popular winter destination for bald eagles, some of which roost there, Deidrick said.
www.mostateparks.com/park/roaring-river-state-park
