Cactus Ridge Resort

Cactus Ridge Resort as described in the old brochure: Eight brand new, air-cond., housekeeping cabins with beautiful view of the lake. Free freezing service. Reasonable rates. Write Carl Henke, Pontiac, Mo., for reservations.

On April 10, 1894, President Grover Cleveland granted a patent to William W. Wilbanks for the property Cactus Ridge Resort was built on. William Wilbanks then deeded the property to Eliza and Mary Wilbanks on April 17, 1926. The Wilbanks then sold the property to Carl and Leona Henke on April 30, 1958. The Henke's built the resort. The resort business must have been as stressful back then as today because in 1962 they were divorced and the resort was sold to E. D. Curlee, Alyce Marbury and Dolores Poynter. The Curlee group then sold the resort to Blanche McCarthy on May 4, 1962.

I vaguely remember the Henke's. I do remember Blanche McCarthy. I am pretty sure she put in the swimming pool. She was friends with my mom, and we got invited up to swim in the pool occasionally. Blanche sold the resort to Frank and Rose Martinek on September 10, 1968.

Pontiac Resort Association members from left to right, Joe Morgan, Alice Morgan, Bill Haege, Edna Moody, Flo Haege, Hugh Moody, Fran Gregory, Bill Gregory, Theresa Shourek, Guy Johnson and Frank Martinek.

I spent a lot of time at "The Ridge" during the time the Martineks owned the resort. They had four kids. Mike and Mark were the youngest and went to school at Gainesville. Mark was a little younger than me, but he and I became good friends. The Martineks had a great business; it was one of the busiest resorts in the area. I think mainly because they had their own restaurant, and they had the best cook in the country working for them, Argie Wilbanks. The Wilbanks family homesteaded in the Pontiac area, and some members of the family still live here today. The restaurant served family-style meals to their guests but would cook to order for hungry fishermen upon request. The Martineks sold the resort to Don (Bud) and Laura Herwaldt on June 30, 1973. The Martineks continued to live in the area after selling the resort, and I still see Mark about once every couple of years.

   Argie Wilbanks

The Herwaldts were very active in the community and very good resort operators. They continued to run the restaurant. They were one of the longer running operators of the resort. I was running the dock during the last ten years of their tenure at "The Ridge," so I did not have a lot of time to drop in on them, but I know they had a good reputation with their customers.

The Herwaldts sold the resort to Ron Bandy and Janis Allen on June 13, 1989. Once again the resort business took its toll on a partnership as Bandy and Allen dissolved their partnership in 1993. They ran the restaurant as well. Ron prided himself on his breakfasts. No offense Ron, but no one could take the place of Argie. Ron and Janis were avid golfers. She was one of the better women golfers in the area. I got to know her better after she and Ron broke up as she started dating Don Atchison. Johnna and I enjoyed many golf outings with her and Don.

I am not sure the exact date that Frances and Arlene Bahr bought the resort, but it must have been in the mid nineties. Frances and Arlene worked hard to keep the business up and stayed active in the resort association. The Bahrs' relationship could not survive the resort business either as they divorced and the resort was closed earlier this year. It was later sold by auction to local resident Charlie Dacus.

Charlie has been very busy remodeling and hopes to have it ready to open for the upcoming season.

Written by Cap'n T. Morgan

Legendary angler Tony Allbright dies at age 72

Thursday, October 31, was a sad day in Pontiac, as the news of Tony Allbright's passing spread. He was a renowned angler, beloved husband, father and friend to many. He and his wife, Marilyn, own Pontiac Lodge. Tony will be greatly missed, but the many stories about him will live on forever. Tony was 72 years old.

A memorial service will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, November 9, at Clinkingbeard Funeral Home in Gainesville, Mo. A dinner will follow at 4 p.m. at the Pontiac Fire House.

From left: Don Atchison, Steve Powell, Tony Allbright

 From left: Don Atchison, Tony Allbright

 From left: Tony Allbright, Don Atchison

From left: Tony Sr. (Tony's dad), Tony Allbright

A foggy Monday morning...

Blue Top Resort

Blue Top Resort as described in the old brochure: Located on hilltop site overlooking beautiful Bull Shoals Lake. Modern cottages and Trailer park. Owned and operated by Mr. & Mrs. F.E. Fortman, Phone Gainesville, Osborn 9-2168.

The Blue Top property was patented by Joe Hall and eventually sold to Elmer and Italy Mahan (as was Kitzmiller's and Moody's Resorts property). The Mahans sold it to Frank Fortman on December 14, 1956. The Mahans owned most of "Downtown" Pontiac at one time. I remember the Fortmans. They owned the resort for nearly 20 years, during the same time my family owned our resort and through the early years that my family owned the boat dock. The Fortmans sold the resort to Benedict Dowjotas on October 11, 1974.

I don't remember much about the Dowjotas family, probably because they only owned the resort for a year. They sold it to Tom Tice on August 27, 1975. I didn't know Tom Tice, but his daughter and son-in-law ran the resort. Steve and Jenny Purcell were very active in the community. We became good friends with the Purcells. Steve, along with Guy Resch, owner of the local restaurant, and I worked a lot together in the off-season. We built a few houses in Pontiac and did a lot of roofing projects, including the funeral home in Gainesville. (Not much has changed - if you want to be in the resort business in Pontiac, you need to have another job for the off-season.) In the late 1970s, when Guy Johnson became ill and then died, his longtime store closed. Steve and his family built a new store. They worked very hard to keep what you needed in their store and provided a much needed service for the Pontiac residents.


The grocery store at Blue Top as it looks today: now the Pontiac Post Office.

Tom Tice sold the resort to Marvin and Joan Iseminger on November 20, 1979. The cabins have been sold off individually, and the grocery store was bought by Howard Hagist and converted to the Pontiac Post Office. Marvin passed away, but Joan still owns and operates the mobile home park.

Marvin Iseminger.

Joan Iseminger, center.

Moody's Resort

Moody's Resort as described in the old brochure: "Rough it-in Comfort" on Bull Shoals Lake, Pontiac, Missouri. Modern Housekeeping cabins, perfect vacation spot for the whole family. For reservations write Hugh Moody, Phone Gainesville, Osborn 9-2261.

Can you even imagine "For reservations write.........." Can people really even write anymore? Moody's property was patented by Joe Hall and passed from owner to owner and eventually to the Mahans, who sold the property to Hugh and Edna Moody on January 15, 1958. They built the resort.

Pontiac Resort Association members, left to right: Joe Morgan, Alice Morgan, Bill Haege, Edna Moody, Flo Haege, Hugh Moody, Fran Gregory, Bill Gregory, Theresa Shourek, Guy Johnson and Frank Martinek.

The Moodys were very active in the community. They conveyed a portion of the property for what is now known as the old "Pontiac Ladies Club" building, on March 8, 1967. Edna Moody was one of the charter members of the club.

The resort as it looks today.

The Moody family sold the property to Bob Hoecker and Gus Goldenstern on December 10, 1979. The Hoeckers owned Roo-B-Doo Resort at the time, and the Goldensterns were residents of Pontiac. They bought the resort with intentions to convert it to private residents and sell, which they did, thus ending Moody's Resort.

Kitzmiller's Resort, aka "Roo-B-Doo"

Kitzmiller's Resort as described in the old brochure:  Pontiac, Mo. Clif and Flo Kitzmiller-Completely furnished, modern housekeeping cabins, with beautiful view of the lake. Restful, shaded lawn and play grounds. Next to the dock. Guide service. Phone Gainesville, Osborn 9-2174.

The property the resort was built on was patented by Joseph Hall on July 26, 1899. Mr. Hall died, and the property was sold at a sheriff's sale to J.B. Rhodes on February 13, 1906. Mary and I.N. Lantz then acquired the property and conveyed it to Homer Lantz on December 12, 1916. Mr. Lantz sold the property to Elmer and Italy Mahan on May 13, 1937. The Mahans lived on the east side of Highway W just before the stateline. Their son Ron was a little older than me, but he was good friends with my brother, and I remember tagging along with them a few times and spending the night with them and staying in their "bunk house." The Mahans sold the property to Robert Greenwood in 1953, who then sold it to the Kitzmillers on April 8, 1955. I am not sure if they built the resort or if the Kitzmillers did. My only recollection is of the Kitzmillers.

Kitzmiller's Resort as it looked in 1958.

The Kitzmillers sold the resort and property to Bob Stuenkel on September 21, 1963. They changed the name to Stuenkel's Retreat. They had two sons, Art and Bob. They were a little younger than me, but we became good friends. The Stuenkels put in the swimming pool. I think they also put in the RV park, or at least part of it. They were new owners of the resort about the same time my family got into the marina business. I always thought they were a part of the community for a long time, but I discovered that in 1968 they sold the resort to Frank and Theresa Shourek. The Shoureks owned the resort during the time I was in college and working away from Pontiac so I do not remember a lot about what the business was doing at that time, but they must have been the ones who changed the name to Roo-B-Doo.

Left to right, Theresa Shourek, Hugh Moody, Guy Johnson, Bill Gregory and Alice Morgan.
Pontiac Association members.

The Shoureks sold the resort to Jim Miles on August 20, 1976. The Miles only owned it for a year and then sold it to Bob and Rose Hoecker on July 15, 1977. The Hoeckers owned and operated the resort for eight years and sold it to Mike and Treva Paulson on June 20, 1985. Many of you might remember the Hoeckers, but if you ever stayed at Roo-B-Doo during Mike Paulson's time, you will remember him. What a character.

Mike was retired from the Navy. He had never-ending stories about his time in the military. I think I must have heard most of them as he and I worked the Kansas City and St. Louis Boat Shows together for several years. He also had a registered "clown face." Apparently you can create a clown face and register it so no one else can have the same face. I saw the picture.

Mike was from up north. He was always telling me how he knew people. One of my favorite stories about Mike was at the St. Louis boat show. There was a political rally going on at the same time in the hotel we were staying in. We were getting on the elevator, and it was pretty full, but a well-dressed man said, "we can make room," and he stepped up on an empty luggage cart. His head was just over the cross bar and Mike said, "Be careful, you might hang yourself". The man replied, "There are probably a lot of people who would like that." Mike said, "Oh, just stick around and make the b*stards miserable." When we got off, Mike said, "That man is a politician." I replied, "That was John Ashcroft, our governor." I guess Mike could read people.

Mike was a fanatic about keeping his resort neat and tidy. The only problem was he got up early so it was nothing for you to be awakened by a lawn mower running just outside your window at 6:00 in the morning. The grass always looked nice though.

The resort as it looks today.

The Paulsons sold the resort to Marjorie Silbey on July 14, 1992. Margie owned and operated the resort, pretty much by herself, for 10 years. Margie continued promoting Pontiac at the boat shows with the group. On March 1, 2002 Margie sold the resort to Susan Bergman. Susan pretty much ran the resort by herself as well. I can't imagine how difficult it must have been for these two ladies to handle all the challenges they were presented with in the resort business by themselves. They kept the resort open and played a vital role in the Pontiac community. A couple years ago a group bought the property and closed the resort. They have since sold it to Richard Roberts and Margaret Toomer who plan on reopening it as a resort next year. We welcome them to the resort business in Pontiac.

Storm Damage, Aug. 5, 2013

PCM sustained quite a lot of damage in last night's storms. It happened sometime between 8:30 and 9 p.m. This is the update I posted on facebook earlier today:

Update on storm damage: No one was hurt. The store is okay. 100, 200, 500 and 800 appear to be okay overall, but there may be minor damage to boats/lockers blown over from wind. The 300 dock appears to be okay overall, but it broke loose, and a large portion of the 400 dock roof is lying on top of the 300 dock. The 400 dock sustained the most damage - roof torn off, boards broken, electric lines down (the power is shut off except at the main office). Other damaged areas include the old dive shop building, houseboats on main dock, walkways, some structural damage to almost all docks, and lots of and lots of other miscellaneous damage. Please stay off the dock today if at all possible while we continue to assess the damage. Feel free to call the marina at 417-679-3676 if you have questions. Thanks for your cooperation, and thank you all for your concerns!

And one I posted a few minutes ago:

FYI: We are still open for business and (almost) fully operational! As I mentioned before, the store was not damaged. We are pumping gas. The 200, 500, 800 and 600 docks are all accessible. If your boat is on the 100, 300 or 400 docks you'll need to check at the office before attempting to get to your boat. Just Jackie's is open - and if you come by boat we will find a place for you to park! Thanks for all your concerns and well wishes. Unfortunately, this is not our first go-around with Mother Nature. But fortunately, we have plenty of helpers and a lot of years of experience to help us get through this. Just another day in paradise!

One room available at LHR this weekend!

We have a king suite available at Lake Harbour Resort this weekend due to a cancellation... call 417-679-3676 for details!

And it's the BLOWOUT weekend (our annual customer appreciation party), so don't miss out!

Congrats, Mary and Jeff!

Mary Schlicht and Jeff Burby were married on beautiful (and rainy) Bull Shoals Lake on Friday, July 26. It rained... all day... but that didn't stop them, their wedding party, friends and family from having a great time! A big congrats to the couple from Pontiac Cove Marina and crew. Cheers to many happy years!

JIMMY'S COURT

Jimmy's Court as described in the old brochure: Ten modern housekeeping and sleeping units overlooking beautiful Bull Shoals Lake. Close to commercial dock, post office, grocery store, and cafes. Guide service, tackle, and freezer service. Telephone Gainesville, Osborn 9-2171.


The property the resort was built on was patented by Joseph Hall on July 26, 1899. Mr. Hall died and the property was sold at a sheriff's sale to J.B. Rhodes on February 13, 1906. Mary and I.N. Lantz then acquired the property and conveyed it to Homer Lantz on December 12, 1916. Mr. Lantz sold the property to Elmer and Italy Mahan on May 13, 1937. The Mahans lived on the east side of Highway W just before the Missouri/Arkansas state line. Their son, Ron, was a little older than me but he was good friends with my brother, Dan.  I remember tagging along with them a few times and spending the night with them and staying in their "bunk house." The Mahans sold the property to Jimmy Robbins on September 9, 1955. Jimmy's brother, Sanford, owned the boat dock at the time. Jimmy was an avid fisherman and guide on the lake as were many of the resort owners in those days. I went to school with Jimmy's kids but do not remember much about their time at the resort.

Left to right, Marvin Looney, Jimmy Robbins and Leonard Ebrite.

The Robbins family sold the property to H.W. (Phil) and Mildred Phillippe on January 12, 1961. The Phillippes changed the name to Lakeshore Lodge. At about the same time they leased and operated Green Trees Cafe, now Just Jackie's, for a couple of years. I guess taking on a resort was not enough punishment for them so they ran a restaurant as well.

Phil and Mildred Phillippe.





Phil was a retired Air Force Major. The Phillippes had a son, Don. Don was a little older than me. He went into the service as did many young men in that era. Don did not go to Vietnam.  He was stationed in Germany and was killed in a car accident there.

Mildred Phillippe

The resort consisted of three separate buildings. One of their buildings burned to the ground but they rebuilt it. In 1971 the Phillippes decided to get out of the resort business so they started converting their multi-cabin buildings to private homes.  They sold their first one to Clyde Oberlin.  Clyde had stayed with them at Lakeshore Lodge when he came to the lake and actually owned the restaurant while they operated it.

The resort as it looks today.

The property now is called White's Cove. There are four individual homes which have all been remodeled and enlarged. It is difficult to tell it was ever a resort.

Cap'n T Morgan

Docktail Hour this Saturday

Dont miss it!

Live music.

FREE drinks.

FREE nibbles.

5 to 7 p.m. (or until we run out)

See you there!

10th Annual Pontiac Fireworks

Check out these shots of the Pontiac Fireworks, taken by Karen Eubank, of Pontiac.

Nice catch!

8 lb, 12 oz walleye

Caught by Tom Pardo, out of Pontiac.

Just Jackie's closing early today

Due to an intensely busy holiday week and weekend, Just Jackie's will be closing after breakfast today, so they can restock and re-open at 8:00 Monday morning. Jackie would like to thank all of her customers and friends for an incredible 4th of July week/weekend, and she apologizes for any inconvenience today. Breakfast will be served until 11 a.m. Get it while it's hot. Safe travels if you're departing the lake today. We appreciate your business! Happy Sunday, y'all!

PONTIAC LODGE

Pontiac Lodge as described in the 1950's brochure: Seven large modern housekeeping & sleeping cabins overlooking the lake. Air-conditioned or air cooled. Restaurant, dock, and grocery store near by. Free Freezing Service. Write: Howard Hagist, Pontiac, Mo. Phone: Gainesville, Osborn 9-2169.

The Pontiac Lodge property was originally patented by Jasper N. Turnbo on April 9, 1892. Turnbo was also the original owner of the property that Home Comfort Resort, Frontier Baptist Church, and the Pontiac Cemetery now occupy. Howard Hagist bought the property from Claude Hogan, November 2, 1953. Howard built the Lodge. He was a bachelor. I don't remember much about Howard's days as the Lodge owner or if he cleaned the cabins himself or had a housekeeper, but I remember Mom telling that Howard was at the dock one day and she told him she had someone who wanted to rent a room. Howard said he had one available but hated to rent it as he had just got them all cleaned. Howard was a great asset to our community. He had a lot to do with the formation of the Pontiac-Price Place Volunteer Fire Department. He loaned them the money to build their first building. Howard also helped our Pontiac community from losing our post office. He jumped through all the federal government hoops and was able to build a new post office building as it stands today.

Howard sold the Lodge to Hugh Rukgarber on May 31, 1962. When my parents bought Pontiac Cove Marina in 1964, the Rukgarbers were kind enough to rent us two cabins for a year or so until we were able to make other arrangements. I don't remember a lot about them, but I do remember Hugh drove an old International Scout and that he would come in some evenings and we all wondered how he was able to keep from running off the steep road to the Lodge. I suspect that road must have hidden curbs to keep that from happening. One winter when I was driving an LP delivery truck for Johnna's dad, John, I delivered gas to the Lodge and was heading out. The roads were very slick and I got almost to the highway and ran out of power. I slid backwards down that hill to the bottom and the truck stopped just before running into the big ditch.

Ed and Thelma Kolaks

The Rukgarbers sold the lodge to Ed and Thelma Kolaks on June 11, 1968. The Kolaks had been in the grocery business in the St. Louis area. They added 4 new cabins to the original 7.  Ed was an avid fisherman. He knew how to get the fishermen to come to the lake. He kept records of what he caught every day he fished, what he caught them on and the lake and weather conditions. He could always give a fishing report. When the white bass would start biting in the spring he would make a few calls and fill the Lodge. Ed held the Misssouri Striped Bass record for a very short time in 1980. When he brought the fish in it was the biggest one I had ever seen so I told Ed it surely must be a record. By the time the official word got back to Ed the record was already broken again. The Kolaks' youngest son Terry went to high school here and he and I became good friends. He was a groomsman in Johnna's and my wedding. Terry had moved away by the time we returned to Pontiac. Ed and Thelma Kolaks were great assets to the resort business in Pontiac.

Ed with his record Striper

The Kolak's sold the Lodge to Don and Dalene Arthaud in November, 1979. The Arthauds continued to do a great job at the Lodge. During their time at the resort they, along with a few other resort owners in the area and the marina, started going to boat shows to promote the area. At that time 3 Missouri state record fish had been caught within a mile of Pontiac. Those fish mounts were the focus of our display that we carried to places like Wichita, Kansas City, Tulsa, Memphis, St. Louis, Chicago and Springfield. The Arthauds being from Kansas usually worked the Wichita show and all of us worked the St. Louis show.

Don Arthaud left, Doc Klayman right.

The Arthauds at a boat show. The Missouri State Record Largemouth, Smallmouth and Striper behind.

The Arthauds sold the Lodge to Tony and Marilyn Allbright on March 1, 1994. Tony was a sales representative for several sporting goods and fishing tackle lines in the St. Louis and surrounding area. He also had a radio show on KMOX radio which he continued for many years after buying the resort. Tony was one of the most well known fishing experts in the St. Louis area. The Allbrights continued working the boat shows with the group. It was obvious that Tony was the one most people wanted to talk to when we were at the St. Louis show.

Left to right, Don Atchison, Steve Powell and Tony Allbright.

The Pontiac Lodge has been the cornerstone of the resort business in Pontiac for many years. It continues to play a vital role in our community. And, when you stay at the Lodge you can still rub elbows with a true fishing legend.

Cap'n T Morgan

A visitor

A potential buyer for one of the houseboats?

Nice catch!

Check out this 19-pound catfish caught by Jeff Doerr and his grandsons!

Pontiac Spearfishing Tourney, June 15

Annual Pontiac Spearfishing Tourney is next Saturday, June 15. All divers welcome. Sign up that morning at the marina. Take-off is at 8 a.m. Cash prizes for the winners, and all participants are eligible to win door prizes, which will be handed out on the deck at Just Jackie's. Live music will follow! Call 417-679-3676 for more details.

"Dock"tail Hour

Hey, friends of PCM! Join us this Saturday from 5 to 7 p.m. at the marina for "Dock"tail Hour. We'll have a little music, a few cold drinks and some appetizers to nibble on from Just Jackie's. Why? Just because we love you. See you there!

Cubbage Tourney Results

Twenty-three boats fished the Verne Cubbage Memorial Bass Tournament last weekend. Nearly $1,000 was raised for the Gainesville High School FFA and FBLA clubs. Here are the results: 

1st Place

Matt Wade and Gabe Blackburn; total weight: 16.1 lbs

2nd Place

Steven Heinlein and Reggie Stanifer; total weight: 15.15 lbs; Big Bass Winner: 4.15 lbs

3rd Place

Jason Davidson and Darren Tilley; total weight: 15.12 lbs

4th Place

Clarence Snell and Chance Snell; total weight: 15.12 lbs

5th Place

Buck Comstock; total weight: 14.8 lbs

Young Fisherman Award

Trey Schroeder; total weight: 3.1 lbs

Blessing of the Fleet + LHR Open House April 27

Get ready for the Eighth Annual Blessing of the Fleet on April 27! If you're new to this, it's a chance to have your boat blessed for the season. Father Paul, of Ava, will offer a blessing on all the boats at Pontiac Cove, and everyone is welcome to attend. The Blessing ceremony will take place right outside the breakwater around 2 p.m. Afterward join us in the park for live music and a fish fry to raise money for the Pontiac Fireworks.

We'd also like to invite everyone to join the PCM family at an open house celebrating the one-year anniversary of Lake Harbour Resort. Stop by the resort from 10 a.m. to noon for a tour of the property and suites.

We hope to see you on April 27 for a fun-filled day for the whole family! Cheers!

Call 417-679-3676 or email info@pontiaccove.com for details.

Cubbage Fishing Tourney April 13

Pontiac Cove Marina and the Cubbage family will host the Seventh Annual Verne D. Cubbage Memorial Buddy Bass Tournament on April 13. Any two-person team is welcome to enter. Cost to enter is $110 and includes $10 for the Big Bass prize. Cash prizes will be awarded to tournament winners. Lots of door prizes will be handed out. Youth are welcome (and encouraged!) to participate. A portion of the proceeds will also be donated to Gainesville High School extracurricular clubs. Contact PCM for more details: 417-679-3676. If you'd like an entry form emailed to you, send an email to info@pontiaccove.com. Or you can pick up an entry form at the marina. We hope to see you there!

Here is an excerpt from a letter written by Jerry Cubbage, son of the late Verne Cubbage:

I want to tell you a little bit about my father, the reason we started the tournament. My Dad and Mom moved to the Missouri Ozarks (Bull Shoals Lake) in 1973. For 14 years they owned and operated a fishing resort and raised me and my sister. They worked hard to promote Bull Shoals Lake and the Ozarks during that time. After selling the resort Dad started his own printing/promotion business. He served Bull Shoals, Norfork, Table Rock and Taneycomo Lakes areas. He designed brochures, attended sport shows, helped with advertising and raised money to promote these Ozark organizations: Missouri Bull Shoals Lake Assoc., The Norfork Lake Assoc., Bull Shoals White River Assoc., Bull Shoals Lake Chamber of Commerce, The Ozark Mountain Region, Vacation Outfitters/National Brochure Exchange of Branson.

Dad’s favorite pastimes were fishing (tournament and non-tournament) and driving a school bus for Gainesville School District for special events.

Last year the tournament raised $700 to support the Gainesville High School’s FFA and FBLA organizations. Since the tournament’s inception six years ago, the tournament has raised $8700 for these charities: The Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation and the Future Farmers of America and Future Business Leaders of America Clubs of Gainesville High School. We will be donating the proceeds from this year’s tournament to the Clubs of Gainesville High School.

The Cubbage family wants to THANK YOU for fishing and donating in past years. Let’s make this tournament the biggest and best. Come out and fish. I hope to see you on Saturday, April 13^th!!!

Sincerely,

Jerry Cubbage and Family

Spotted in Pontiac Park

 These classy new visitors were perched just across from Jackie's on Friday (there were five total).

 Maybe all that work we did in the park is paying off!

Second day of spring...

Spring? Really?

Global warming? I don't think so.

It is good for something!

New RV sites planned at Lost Cove Resort

Paul and Carol Sturgeon, owners of Lost Cove Resort, are planning to build individual RV sites that they will lease out on a yearly basis. The RV park will be located at Lost Cove Resort, and the Sturgeons say they hope to have it complete later this year. Call 417-679-2424 for more information.

Raging Bull

The bedsheets were flying last Tuesday.

Looks like Waimea Bay!

Getting ready to explode...

BOOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Photos taken at the Pontiac Bluffs... by Cap'n T. Morgan

Shady Oak Cafe

Shady Oak Cafe as described in the brochure: Wayne & Necie Clark, Pontiac, Missouri, Ph. Osborn 9-2172. Open early 'till late, Breakfast & Lunch, Steak, Chops, Chicken & Shrimp dinners, Lunches to go, fried pies. Complete line of tackle. Your business appreciated.

The Shady Oak Cafe was built by Loren and Reva Taylor - the same folks who built Shady Oak Resort (now known as "The Oaks"). Jimmie Robbins ran it originally. Wayne and Necie Clark ran it later on. I don't really remember much about the operation of the cafe back in those days. However, the side of the building pictured above is the side Rick Taylor and I used for a backstop when we played baseball. It has been a backstop for a couple automobiles as well. The first time was back in the late 70's. My brother and I rounded the 90-degree corner where Guy Johnson's store stood and cruised by the cafe. My brother turned to me and said, "Did you see that car stuck in the side of the building?" I somehow missed it, but sure enough there was a car embedded in the block wall. Believe it or not the headlights were not broken. (Cars were made differently back then.) The second car was only a few years ago. Both times the drivers had taken the curve a little too fast, lost control and slid into the building.

In addition to housing a cafe, the building was also the post office for a while. Then it became a residence for Tom and Mary Cline when they first moved to Pontiac. Tom's dad, Bill, also lived there. It is now the summer home of Kevin and Cheryl Mattingly, who painted the phrase "Life Begins at the Lake" above the front door. Indeed it does.

Cap'n T. Morgan

New Breakwater, New Entrance

Our new breakwater system is finished and in place. It consists of an eight-slip breakwater dock and a rearranged tire breakwater. The entrance to the marina cove is a little different than before - you can see in the photo below that the dock and the larger section of tires is situated on the north end and stretches further south than it used to, so boats will now come and go through an opening on the south end of the cove instead of through the middle. The lights on the tires have been raised for better visibility. The red light is on the right and the green light on the left as you enter (remember: red right return). The access ramp to the new dock is connected to the courtesy ramp next to the launch ramp.

Please remember NO WAKE inside the buoys - that means you should be at idle speed before you enter the breakwater. You are responsible for you boat's wake. The Missouri Water Patrol does monitor the no wake zone and will write tickets to violators.

Another day in paradise

This is what the winter storm looked like in Pontiac yesterday:

It started with freezing rain and ended with about a half-inch of sleet.

Thankfully, it wasn't enough to break tree limbs and cause power outages,

and it's melting like crazy today.

We really thought about taking the day off,

but when we cruised by to check on the cove,

we discovered our breakwater had broken loose from shore

and was sticking out toward the state line,

and we had a broken cable, so...

Just another day in paradise!