Horseshoe Canyon Ranch
Jasper
With a menu of activities that extends far beyond the usual dude ranch fare into zip lining, rock climbing and an adventure course, Horseshoe Canyon Ranch’s recreation options focus on the type of team building that is more of a challenge than your average group problem-solving activities.
“A lot of our outdoor activities are about overcoming fears and doing things people aren’t used to doing,” said owner Barry Johnson. “It’s hard but fun. Most groups do activities and then debrief and talk about how to apply those lessons to the workplace or their specific jobs. We don’t have people come just to do meetings; we’re just too much fun.”
Johnson and his wife, Amy, met working dude ranches and brought 20 years’ prior experience in the dude ranch industry when they started Horseshoe Canyon, but they also have a keen sense of the needs of groups. Southwest Airlines, Tyson, FedEx and Wal-Mart employees are in regularly with small groups, as Johnson has found that because of the nature of the ranch’s activities, 25 is an ideal size for a group at the ranch.
Although the ranch does get some groups that come for a day trip or an off-site, most groups come for three-day visits, which the ranch organizes as all-inclusive packages that take in meeting rooms, lodging and meals for a flat rate per person. Because of a major rock-climbing competition hosted at the ranch and a proliferation of school groups, September can be a difficult time for a meeting group to find space.
www.horseshoecanyonduderanch.com
Lodge at Mount Magazine
Paris
In a state full of historic spa towns, Mount Magazine is Arkansas’ original mountain getaway destination. When the railroad started running through the Petit Jean Valley in the 1800s, people originally headed out west to settle were drawn to the beauty of the mountains, and a series of successive lodges were built in the Mount Magazine area throughout the 1800s.
The present lodge, which includes 60 guest rooms in the main building and 13 cabins, was built in 2006 and combines modern design and comforts with the historic culture of the area to create a space that offers meeting planners both an activity- and a vista-filled natural location for a retreat and top-notch lodging. Several of the cabins feature multiple bedrooms, so small groups rent some or all of the independent cabins for a more private, immersive experience.
From the lodge’s position on the state’s tallest mountain, the 2,754-foot Mount Magazine, it offers visiting meeting groups team-building opportunities from the scenic but routine — hiking and nature walks — to the extreme, with hang gliding, dramatic technical rock climbing and backpacking overnights.
Even if your meeting attendees stay inside, groups can still take advantage of the scenery from the lodge’s 35,678-square-foot conference center and 125-seat Skycrest Restaurant, named for the first lodge built on the site in 1900.
When the weather is good, groups can also take their meetings, dinners or receptions outside to the 1,250-square-foot pavilion adjacent to the Mount Magazine State Park visitor center. Heidi Ryan, director of sales and marketing for the lodge, recommends that any group looking to come in prime foliage season book well in advance to make sure others don’t beat them out for the views.
www.mountmagazinestatepark.com
Ozark Folk Center State Park
Mountain View
Although the Ozark Folk Center State Park does sit smack in the middle of the rolling crests of the Ozarks near the White River, it’s not your average nature-focused state park experience. This living-history state park focuses on preserving and passing on Ozark culture, primarily through its crafts, food and music.
Jimmie Edwards, group sales director for the state park, likes to use all the different recreation options at the park to create a full, custom package for guests. “We have a group of ladies coming for their 10th year this November. We organize workshops on stained glass, jewelry-making, knife-making and quilting during the day and every night give them an evening meal with a traditional acoustic string-band performance. And sometimes we have groups that come in and the spouse is looking for something to do, and can take them on a walk into the woods and teach them how to recognize cooking and medicinal herbs.”
The park has two theaters available for groups to use. The main stage, which seats up to 1,000, is where Edwards holds public music performances throughout the season. But even when those are scheduled, he can still organize a private concert for a group in the 150-seat theater. Edwards contracts 150 folk musicians specializing in everything from claw hammer banjo to the rib bones for performances, jams and workshops during the main April-through-October season.
Though the park focuses on preserving the past, its lodging is decidedly modern. “People maybe want to learn about the 1800s, but they don’t want to live in them,” said Edwards. The 60 duplex cabins on the site all include televisions, wireless Internet and minifridges. Wireless Internet is available throughout the entire campus, which also includes three 25-seat breakout rooms and two private dining spaces.
