About the Locations
Wayside Campground
Wayside Campground started in the mid-thirties under another name, Natatorial Park, and was established as Wayside Campground when John and Dorthy Davis developed the property.
Trestle Park
Elk River Floats, Campground & Cabins were not always one as Trestle Park. Elk River Campground was established by the family that occupied what is now the Old Ozark House, one of our Vacation Rentals. The property sold to Larry and Doris Lambeth and they established it as a floating outfitter forming Elk River Floats & Campground. The Elk River Cabins were added to complete the property in 2021.
Ginger Blue Resort
Tucked away in the Elk River Hills of the Ozark Highlands, Ginger Blue Resort was occupied by Osage Native Americans, believe to be hunting land, for over a century. Shortly after the turn of the twentieth century, railroads expanded through the area, transforming this everyday world into a vacation paradise.
By 1912, Charles O. Williams, a Railroad Tycoon, had acquired the bluff top forest and built the first lodge and cabins, and opened for business in 1915.
Kozy Kamp
Kozy Kamp was established in 1962, and owes its success to the Highway 71 move of the early 1960s, this made Highway 71 Kozy Kamp's eastern neighbor. The very move that triggered the Noel Chamber of Commerce to push McDonald County to try and succeed from the union, join the state of Arkansas, or form an entire new state with Benton County Arkansas and Delaware County Oklahoma. This was due to the fact that Highway 71 would no longer go through Ginger Blue and Noel, where most of the Outfitters, Campgrounds, and Resorts were located.
Eagles Nest Camp & Canoe
Eagles Nest Camp & Canoe was established in the 1970s. It quickly became the choice family campground of the Elk River, with its secluded and private feel, calm atmosphere and beautiful views of Mt. Shira and Elk River.
About Us
Our story begins the summer of 1998. Our family bought Elk River Floats, at the time the business only had Wayside Campground and Elk River Campground (Trestle Park). After 12 years of persistent inquiry our family finally had the opportunity to take on our dream project, Ginger Blue Resort, the crown jewel and original Resort of the Elk River. By 2017 after being reimagined, redesigned, and rebuilt, on the Resort’s 102nd birthday, the Ginger Blue Cabins were once again open for the summer. We plan to reopen the lodge as soon as we can, with the well, water treatment facility, and foundation all ready for the new beginning of the Ginger Blue Lodge. Our small floating operation now spans over 38 miles of floatable streams, 2.5 miles of river footage, four campgrounds, 25 cabins & vacation rentals, and 860 acres of the Elk River Watershed.
Our Legacy
Not only are we dedicated to our areas rich history, we are dedicated to the preservation of our forest and watershed. Since 2017 we have planted over 1,850 trees native to the Elk River Hills ecoregion of the Ozarks. Of those trees, 1,250 were planted as part of a river bank stabilization project our staff had the opportunity to work on with the Nature Conservancy, Natural State Streams, DNR and the statewide Soil and Water Conservation Program. We dedicate a portion of our revenue, time, and effort to Clean Air, Clean Water, and Healthy Forest every year. Who knew partying on the Elk River could have a helpful impact on nature?