Ozarks Alive

11/04/2025

I love seeing these trees. I’ve been told my late grandfather planted them at this Greene County cemetery many years ago – many years before his own stone was placed beneath their shade. So often we don’t see the full impact of our actions, but have faith: others will.

11/03/2025

Rural communities work to find unique ways to build community and support local needs. An example is in Cedarcreek, a tiny place in rural Taney County, where a local church sponsors a monthly lunch: Both as a way to bring people together, and to raise money for the local Cedarcreek Fire Protection District.

You may recall that I visited the lunch in October, and mentioned I was writing a story about the tradition -- it's now published and linked below. But I just want to comment again on this meaningful effort.

Cedarcreek is a place that I've shared about several times over the last 10 years. I was fascinated by the former school, which served kids through the early 1990s, and is now home to the fire department and the Cedarcreek Resale Shop that helps support it. That's the main community hub since the local general store closed some time ago.

The fact that they get together for lunch in this very rural area feels special -- it's one of a limited number of places folks can visit with neighbors. Even one of the county commissioners regularly attends to visit with constituents. And while the fire department faces ongoing challenges with enough fire fighters and funding (especially for big projects like a much-needed roof), this is a means of creating a way community members can become more connected with the need and opportunity.

Hopefully this concept helps spur ideas where you are. And if you're near Cedarcreek, don't forget that its annual Deer Hunters Supper is on Saturday, Nov. 15 at 5 p.m.

With limited ways to connect and build community, Cedarcreek, Missouri, turned to a monthly lunch at the One Door Community Church. Another benefit: They raise money for the local volunteer fire department.

11/02/2025

Folks in or near southwest Missouri, there's a special treat this coming weekend: The Missouri Folklore Society is having their annual conference Nov. 7 - 8 at the Elfindale Mansion in Springfield.

The event isn't free, but cost is minimal ($25 if you opt out of meals) and allows you to hear presentations on topics relevant to Missouri folklore. Examples include Julie Henigan, Judy Domeny Bowen and Dave Para sharing Max Hunter's Legacy in Song; memories of legendary Ozarks fiddler Bob Holt; and the Ozarkian Folk Chronicles' leaders on the podcast that is documenting the Ozarks.

Dr. Lisa Higgins of the Missouri Folk Arts Program is the keynote speaker on Friday evening. She'll share about the legacy of traditional arts in Missouri; MFAP's Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Program has been going for more than 40 years and helped many traditions remain vibrant.

If you'd like more info, please check out the link in the comments.

11/01/2025

Why does Kaitlyn keep talking about this new pie cookbook?

I have worried it’s on your mind – so I want to share a few thoughts about why I’ll regularly mention this book project in the coming months.

Ozarks Alive is largely a labor of love. I spend countless hours and resources traveling and documenting the Ozarks, which I consider my calling and where I find a lot of joy. Your contributions, as well as the Ozarks Alive Cooperative membership program and merchandise sales, help offset my expenses in sharing many of these stories.

This is where “The Ozarks Pie Project Diary” comes into play. As a self-published book, I am not only the book’s writer: I am also its publicist and salesperson, which means that the book isn’t “done” now that it’s in print. It’s simply shifted to a new phase as I remind folks that it’s now available.

I will strive to integrate these posts with other content (I know not everyone wants to hear about pie!) but I did want to acknowledge that there will be ongoing mentions of the book and explain why.

While I receive only a fraction of the book’s retail price due to the expenses in its production, every little bit helps. I have set a goal of selling 1,000 books before the end of the year; I’m at about 400 so far, so it’s a challenge but not an insurmountable one.

Which is where you all come in. For those of you who have purchased a copy, thank you so much. The biggest thing you can do now is help spread the word. If you enjoy the book, please tell others. Post about it on social media, tag Ozarks Alive, and share the pies you bake. If you feel inclined, I’d humbly suggest this book as a gift for those who love the region and its culture. (I've also included a list of events where I'll be signing/selling books in the coming weeks in the comments.)

I am thankful for your support in this mission of documenting our region’s stories! Sharing stories — whether about food, tradition or people — is so important to me, and I'm grateful you're interested in these parts of our culture, too.

More info about the book here: https://www.ozarksalive.com/store/p/the-ozarks-pie-project-diary

10/31/2025

Legends grow in the Ozarks. They entertain and explain, helping us (and our ancestors) develop theories about the world. Other times, they also grow into stories far from where they began. They're a topic I love exploring because it's really interesting to try and understand the how and why these stories came to be.

To that end, the article below shares six of these tales: The Headless Cobbler of Smallett Cave; the Crescent Hotel; the Albino Farm and Hatchet Man's Bridge; the Spook Light; the Bride of the Bridge; and the ghost of Clara Thompson Hall.

Let me know in the comments if there's another legend you're interested in learning more about. If I've written about it I'll share the story link and if not, I'll put it on the list of possible future stories.

Spooky stories have been passed down in the Ozarks for generations. Here are just a few haunted places and pieces of history that fill local hills and hollers.

10/30/2025

Fall is in full swing at Big Spring, a gushing Ozarks landmark that was once the heart of an early Missouri State Park. Today it's part of Ozark National Scenic Riverways and accessible to the public for viewing and enjoying from a path that leads to an up-close view.

The Carter County spring, located about five miles south of Van Buren, is one of the largest freshwater springs in the world, its website notes. "At an average daily flow of 286 million gallons of water, Big Spring is an awesome sight and a geologic wonder," the site continues. "Underground passages carry water from as far as 45 miles away to emerge at the spring. Studies have shown that the water is carrying a load of dissolved limestone equivalent to 70 tons a day! This dissolved rock gives the spring its color and is also carving out a huge conduit underground. Should the spring ever go dry, a huge cave will be the result."

As always, I enjoyed taking a look back through old newspapers to see what they said about the spring. It was previously known as Brown or Hadley spring, papers note, and was a destination for picnics and gatherings. When discussions around state parks evolved in the 1920s, was seen as a key opportunity for local tourism — and to tout good roads, which were a focus of the era.

"With the materializing of the State Park at Big Spring, good roads will very much be in demand by the thousands of tourists that will visit this section every year," noted the Current Local newspaper in November 1924. "The name 'Big Spring' does not signify much on the map but the name 'State Park' will carry with it a prestige that will attract thousands of people who do not at the present time know of the wonderful vacation sites to be had here."

The deal went through in January 1925. Along with Big Spring, the state purchased other land — Alley Spring and Round Springs are examples — that would ultimately become part of Ozark National Scenic Riverways nearly 40 years later.

The bottom line: Don't forget this place is an option if you'd like to see stunning scenic beauty. (More info is in the comments.) National parks are impacted by the current government shutdown, but outdoor spaces like the spring are generally still accessible. However, please check about the status of your destination before you drive over.

Second life lesson: We never know what our actions today — like the start of that state park — will set in motion down the road. In this case, it allowed me and my family to stop by more than a century later and enjoy this beautiful place…

10/29/2025

Springfield's Pythian Castle is one of those landmarks that has remained relevant because its uses have evolved with time.

The stately structure was officially unveiled in 1914 as the Pythian Home of Missouri, when it focused on housing aged members and orphans. During World War II, it was home to social activities — and Prisoners of War — as the service club for O'Reilly General Army Hospital.

It was home to OACAC for a time before transforming into its current life: As a destination for events and tours that showcase its history, including a spooky side. Read its story below.

In the 110+ years since the Pythian Castle opened, the stone structure has served children and the aged, soldiers, and community members. Today, it’s a point of fascination from another time — and, sometimes, other worlds.

10/29/2025

Tucked away in rural Cedar County, Missouri, Grandma's Place is a special place. When you visit, you enter the house-turned-restaurant, pay the cashier, and find a booth or table before heading through the serving line. It's family run, and famous for its fried chicken during its Monday lunch and Friday night buffets. Everyone eats the same thing at this landmark that has served family and friends-like family since the late '90s.

“I just want them to come and feel welcome,” Joni Ashley, the second-generation owner, says of diners. “We try to put our best effort into everything we do. I hope they leave with a little bit of enjoyment of their meal.”

Unfortunately, this restaurant is temporarily closed due to nearby bridge construction (it's expected to open back up soon, so watch their page for more info). But I wanted to go ahead and share its story now so you can keep it in mind as a future dining destination. It definitely represents a slice of rural Americana.

Grandma’s Place, a cafe in rural Cedar County, is open for Friday-night and Monday-lunch buffets. It opened in 1997 and is still owned and operated by the same family.

10/28/2025

A little-known privilege of pie baking: You’re allowed to try to first piece. Just call it quality control!

P.S. I’ll briefly be in Houston, Missouri, tomorrow if anyone needs a copy of “The Ozarks Pie Project Diary” and wants to skip the shipping. Just send me a message and we’ll see if we can work out a time to meet.

10/26/2025

Decide to live your dream.

I was reminded of that last night at the Oldfield Opry, where I settled into a seat on the chilly, rainy evening. The free Christian County music show is a remarkable volunteer effort, and I enjoy visiting every few weeks. Despite these many visits, I have to say: At no previous show have I ever seen an attendee in a floor-length blonde wig.

While I noted the style choice, I figured it wasn't my business what someone else did with their hair. Turns out, though, I soon learned more when the lady spotted me and said, "Kaitlyn, it's me — Patty, your neighbor!"

Yes, I do have a neighbor named Patty. One whom I never would have recognized as she sat at the Oldfield Opry in that wig and told me that she was there to make her stand-up comedy debut.

She, her daughter and a friend were there for the show because they knew that in the opry's second half, they allow guests to come up and perform for a few minutes. Traditionally those guests are musicians, but Patty, in her 80s, decided to take the opportunity to be a comedian.

I was so surprised — and then so inspired. She told me that she just figured if not now, when? So last night was the night.

Afterwards, she told me she was scared to death but still went forward, performing material she put together (and yes, it did involve the wig). And she did a good job.

I admire her decision to get up and do something scary, and remind us that often we defer aspirations out of fear. Let's be inspired by Patty's decision to do something about the dreams in our own lives that seem too late or too out of reach. Many times, they don't have to be if we decide otherwise.

10/25/2025

I won a gift for all of us today. In 1943, National Geographic did a feature story on the Ozarks. I’ve wanted to get a copy of that magazine for years, and today, I finally won one in a silent auction (benefiting Bonniebrook, so a win-win) at the Society of Ozarkian Hillcrofters’ annual book gathering. Soon I’ll share more about this vintage Ozarks article, so stay tuned…

10/25/2025

The Iron County Courthouse made me pause as I drove through the Missouri town a few days ago, both for its distinctive architecture but also because of the Arcadia Valley Mountain Music Festival unfolding on its grounds. Sadly, I was en-route elsewhere so couldn’t wait for the music to start, but had to stop and wander a bit as things were getting set up.

The courthouse was built in the 1850s and is still in use today. According to its National Register of Historic Places application, “the Iron County Courthouse is an important, well-preserved example of pre-Civil War courthouse architecture combining Greek Revival and Italian elements. The courthouse has significance in the military history of Iron County on account of its association with events surrounding the Battle of Pilot K**b, September 27, 1864, when it served as both barracks and hospital.”

I've since learned that efforts are underway to restore parts of the aging building, which I think is wonderful — follow the Iron County Courthouse Restoration Project for more info.

Those things and its distinctive look make it historically significant, but I appreciated its significance on a “now” level as I saw vendors setting up their booths on the lawn. This place is still a relevant part of local life today, not just for history. Those connections between our past and present are important and ground us to the importance – and significance – of who and where we are.