October 19, 2018. Top of the Rock.

October 19, 2018.  Top of the Rock.  The McCullicks recommended that we tour the Top of the Rock, south of Branson, off Highway 65.  So we did.  We made reservations earlier in the week and drove to TOTR yesterday afternoon.  

Top of the Rock is another Johnny Morris development.  Morris is the founder of Bass Pro, which owns Cabelas.  He also owns Big Cedar Lodge.  TOTR features a nationally recognized par 3 golf course, designed by Jack Nicklaus.  There is a driving range designed by Arnold Palmer.  Arnie's Barn is the pro shop and a restaurant.  It was originally constructed shortly after the Civil War near Arnold Palmer's home in Pennsylvania.  It was disassembled beam by beam, board by board and moved to the golf course as a tribute to Arnie.  The facility is accented by numerous bronze sculptures including Crazy Horse and End of the Trail.  

There is also a nature trail which winds through the Lost Canyon Cave and alongside water falls.  There is an Ozarks Natural History Museum.  And, there is an excellent restaurant, the Osage Restaurant, which highlights excellent food and a sunset bagpipe player followed by the discharge of a Civil War cannon.  Finally, there is a chapel which was built by Morris for his own daughter's wedding.  It is now rented to others for the same purpose.  

Annie and I had a wonderful time  We thoroughly enjoyed the nature trail.  I took nearly 100 pictures, many of which are displayed above.  I may show you others in another blog.  The colors, the lake and the geological formations all contributed to a visual banquet.  

We ran out of time and weren't able to visit the museum.  We may go back tomorrow for that.  It is reputed to be the best repository of native American and Civil War relics in the area.  

But, for now, goodnight.