Monday, September 29, 2008
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Our introduction to Cloud 9 Ranch
Our introduction to Cloud 9 Ranch was in the mid to late 70s. My in-laws were members and kept telling us about the place so one weekend we went down and stayed in one of the 17 foot trailers as guests of the ranch. We took the tour which back in those days was an experience in itself. We went in a four wheel blazer and really toured the ranch. Along the way our guide pointed out all the berries, wild flowers and the numerous varieties of trees growing on these 6358 acres. After the tour we enjoyed the amenities a couple more days then went back to work. We finally bought a membership in 1982 and began camping here every chance we could get. We still had two sons left at home and they enjoyed the place as much as we did. My wife, Yvonne, who I refer to as “the worlds greatest fisherwoman”, was down at her favorite fishing hole early every Saturday morning and always caught her five trout. She liked to use minnows but they had to be a certain size so she would put her minnow trap out and stand for hours making sure it was in the exact spot to lure them in. We retired in 1988 and decided we would like to full-time for a couple years. We sold our home and bought a 5th wheel and truck to pull it. We did travel the country for a couple years before settling down in Florida. The summers were always spent back at Cloud 9 Ranch. In 1989 we decided to stay at the ranch all winter. That was one of the coldest winters on record at Cloud 9 Ranch but it did not deter us from having a wonderful winter. We did have to cancel our Christmas Caroling because it was below zero---a little uncomfortable for us seniors. We would drive down to Fogey and observe the bald eagles. We would see dozens of turkeys and deer all over the ranch. There were lots of pot lucks and Holiday parties. On the spur of the moment a group of us would decide to drive to Bull Shoals, Arkansas for breakfast. Then another time someone would say we’re going to Cabool for a Mexican dinner. It was a very relaxing and enjoyable experience. Everyone was so warm and friendly. On Tuesday evenings we would load a bunch of people in cars and go down to Jerry Hoppers dance hall in Mountain Home were they had free line dance classes. That was always a really fun experience. The next 18 years were spent in Florida but we did return to the ranch almost every summer. To be continued…….
Gene & Yvonne Muenks
Gene & Yvonne Muenks
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Picture Perfect!
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Today was one of those picture perfect Cloud 9 days! We got a little work done this morning then got together with my dad (he’s been a member since the early 70’s) and one of Rogers brothers and went for a ride. The sun was shining brightly with only a few bright white clouds in the sky. The leaves are just starting to change and it appears that this year is going to be one of the best we have seen in a few years. The beginning colors are vibrant and with the wet year we have had those to come should be fantastic. I have started to take a weekly picture from what we call Stable Lookout to try and capture the changes as they come, hopefully they will turn out well.
We rode for about 2 hours, the animals can tell that fall is on the way as they were busily scurrying collecting the different nuts from the ground as the acorns, walnuts and hickory nuts are all falling to the ground. The trails near the stream are full of “paw paws” and that near banana smell is beginning to permeate the air around the trees. We didn’t see to many on the ground yet and we have heard that is when they are ripe. The other day we had paw paw bread and it was pretty good, one member used to make paw paw pie but I never got to taste it. The ripe fruit does resemble a banana in both texture and taste.
As we went by the wild bamboo we had to stop and cut a piece to take back to the fire we knew we would be having later in the evening. If you don’t know what bamboo does when you burn it I am not going to be the one to tell you, but I will suggest that you try a piece at your next fire, make sure you have a couple of knots in the bamboo and the thicker the better!
We went by Cold Cave and then up to Lonnie’s Lookout, it was a nice ride but my dad was getting tired so we took the creek from Wilder to Fogey so he could cross the water. At Foggy crossing we had to get off the bikes and see how many fish have tried to swim to safety, you can’t fish from the tubes and there haven’t been to many swimming there lately.
After our ride we got together at my dad’s trailer for a cookout with Roger’s dad, a member since early 70’s and another friend who has also been a member since the early 70’s. It was a great ending to a great day at Cloud 9 Ranch!
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Why not Cloud 9 Ranch??
I am currently flying back from a business trip in the Squaw Valley/Lake Tahoe Area. Yesterday, while all the doctors were playing golf, Dr. Block’s wife, Stephanie and I went for a drive. We left Squaw Valley and went towards Tahoe City. A couple miles south of Tahoe City there was a sign that said Snow Pass OHV Trails. Well, we were in a new 2009 Jeep Liberty which was a rental and needless to say not rented by me. Stephanie and I decided Dennis wouldn’t mind, so off we went!!!
We drove up the mountain and finally got to the off-road trails. We took off on several of the trails until they got so narrow the Jeep wouldn’t fit on the trail. Now taking a Jeep Liberty on these trails is nothing like riding an ATV, but we had to make do with what we had to work with. The mountains around Lake Tahoe are very rocky and barren. The rock formations are interesting and the land itself is dry and dusty. The Lake Tahoe area has its own natural beauty and if you ever get a chance to go out there don’t miss the opportunity. After our four wheeling adventure, we went back down to the Lake to a small Bar and Grille and set out on the deck and had a fantastic lunch of Fish and Chips.
I tell you this story, because I have been very lucky in life and I have been many places and have done many things and I have seen the beauty of what this country has to offer. Everyplace that I have been does offer its special something, as the Lake Tahoe area offers great big beautiful pines, a lake so blue that it takes your breath away and spectacular mountain top views.
But as Stephanie and I was sitting on top of this mountain or sitting on the shores of Lake Tahoe, I was telling her about Cloud 9 Ranch and comparing beauties. We have natural springs, waterfalls, caves, mountain top views. Cloud 9 Ranch can and does rival the Lake Tahoe/Squaw Valley area and I can’t wait to come down and once again get touched by the beauty of the Ozarks Country Side.
So when people talk about what America has to offer, not many people know it, not many people have seen it, but nestled on over 6000 acres in the Ozark Mountains in Southern Missouri is a jewel known as Cloud 9 Ranch!!!
We drove up the mountain and finally got to the off-road trails. We took off on several of the trails until they got so narrow the Jeep wouldn’t fit on the trail. Now taking a Jeep Liberty on these trails is nothing like riding an ATV, but we had to make do with what we had to work with. The mountains around Lake Tahoe are very rocky and barren. The rock formations are interesting and the land itself is dry and dusty. The Lake Tahoe area has its own natural beauty and if you ever get a chance to go out there don’t miss the opportunity. After our four wheeling adventure, we went back down to the Lake to a small Bar and Grille and set out on the deck and had a fantastic lunch of Fish and Chips.
I tell you this story, because I have been very lucky in life and I have been many places and have done many things and I have seen the beauty of what this country has to offer. Everyplace that I have been does offer its special something, as the Lake Tahoe area offers great big beautiful pines, a lake so blue that it takes your breath away and spectacular mountain top views.
But as Stephanie and I was sitting on top of this mountain or sitting on the shores of Lake Tahoe, I was telling her about Cloud 9 Ranch and comparing beauties. We have natural springs, waterfalls, caves, mountain top views. Cloud 9 Ranch can and does rival the Lake Tahoe/Squaw Valley area and I can’t wait to come down and once again get touched by the beauty of the Ozarks Country Side.
So when people talk about what America has to offer, not many people know it, not many people have seen it, but nestled on over 6000 acres in the Ozark Mountains in Southern Missouri is a jewel known as Cloud 9 Ranch!!!
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Winding Down
All the hustle and bustle of “the season” is over at Cloud 9 Ranch Club and in my opinion the most beautiful time of the year is just beginning. Fall and winter are such a beautiful time here at the ranch with the changing of the leaves and when we are lucky the 3 to 6 inch snows add a beauty not seen by many but when it is they always seem to come back for more.
Those of us that are LUCKY enough to stay here full time are in the process of moving to the site that they can stay on until spring, only 2 of the 5 campgrounds are open during the winter months, we don’t get most of the amenities during the winter but boy do we get the beauty of the ranch. Our gas station is only open and hour or 2 a day, restaurant only for lunch and the store, well they are looking into that this year but previously it had been closed. Everything else is closed for the winter.
One of my favorite past times is on a 45 to 50 degree day is to bundle up, riding an ATV drops the temp about 15 to 20 degrees, and take off on a trail. When we see a neat dry creek bed or whatever we park the bike and take off through the woods, since you are bundled already you don’t have to worry about sticker bushes or the multitude of summer insects (ticks), just make sure you dressed in layers, have a walking stick and of course brought a camera.
As you make your way in the woods or just down the trails be sure to look every which way you can as with the leaves off the trees it is truly amazing what you will find. We have found little brooks with beautiful waterfalls, really interesting trees, hoards of really cool rocks and arrowheads just to name a few. It is easy to lose yourself in natures beauty and I am proud to have it for my backyard. If you are on the ranch and like hikes in the woods stop by and if we have time (in the winter we usually do) stop by and we will be happy to show you some cool trails.
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Labor Day Weekend 2007
Labor Day Weekend 2007
A holiday weekend at Cloud 9 Ranch is full of members, member’s guest and lots of various activities. You have a very large selection of things to do and see. I will let somebody else expand on those activities, because every time I am on the Ranch, I am on Ranch Time and getting to most of the activities is, let’s say, difficult for Steve and I. I will explain RANCH TIME in a different post.
As the saying goes, when you are at Cloud 9 Ranch, you can make your time exactly what you want it to be!!!
On Thursday evening an identical Raptor Toyhauler pulled into the site one down from me. Now everybody knows if somebody has the same kind of taste that you have, they must become your new best friends!!! Phil and Sherri Hayes was the owner of that Raptor, they are from Lee’s Summit, Missouri and has been a member for about three years now. Steve and I have enjoyed getting to know Phil, Sherri, Peyton and Taylor; we consider them another treasure from the Ranch. Although we didn’t get to go riding together over that weekend, we did get together around a camp fire once or twice during that weekend and we did keep in touch and ended up spending a couple of weekends together at the ranch in 2008.
On any night of Holiday weekend, it is a site to see the ATV’s going up and down the paved roads from Hill Country to the valley. It was a constant stream of ATV’s and UTV’s. Now you would think that with so many ATV’s on the ranch it would be noisy, but it really is not. It is just the preferred method of transportation at the ranch!!
We brought Steve’s cousin down to spend Labor Day weekend, by the time they left the ranch they were members!!! It is fun showing the ranch and watching the expressions of guest, you know if somebody sees the ranch they are sold. I think Phil and Sherri have shown the ranch eight times and all of those guests have become members. Once you get to the ranch, you will fall in love with the ranch.
A CULTURE SHOCK…
Labor Day Monday there was a mass exit from the ranch. Everybody was packing up and going home, but I still had another week to stay. Steve left on Monday to return on Friday, the Hayes packed up to head back to Lee’s Summit, and the Duncan’s were happy to be new members, but also had to pack their trailer and head back to Rolla. Aeryn and I were settling in for another week at the Ranch.
One of the rules at the ranch is that if you stay more than 30 days on the ranch, you have to move from one campground to another. Another rule is after October 15th, you need to move to Hill Country or Powder Mills if you plan to stay the winter. Tuesday morning after Labor Day the full-timers started migrating to Hill Country. Everybody that was around me the week before moved and a whole new set of campers moved in. So those neighbors I had last week are gone and I have new neighbors this week!!
Another event that happens after Labor Day is the shutting down of facilities. The pools close, the gas station and Trading Post is on shortened hours and the stables are on weekends only. Now you may think that you would not want to stay around the ranch, but you will. The ranch becomes peaceful and quiet and this is the time when you really feel as if the ranch is your own. It is a great time to be at the ranch, every evening that week after Labor Day, there was always somebody coming by my camper and inviting me to do something!!! One night, I was invited to a fish fry at the Big Top and afterwards some of the members played music. On that evening I met, Jack (I don’t think that is his name, but I named him that) and his wife Jackie from DeSoto Missouri. I met Bubba and Judy who are originally from Florida but now split their time between Texas and the Ranch. I met Larry and Deanna Armstrong from West Plains and a slew of other people that are either part-timers or full-timers.
Another evening I played Hillbilly Golf with Jack, Jackie and some other people that were parked up in Hill Country. Another evening was a chili supper. So while many things changed, all of it was another positive aspect of the ranch.
Another aspect of the week after Labor Day was the beauty of the ranch. The morning air was cool and as Aeryn and I took our morning walks around Hill Country we would watch the fog lift from the valley towards Wilder Springs. This is one of those moments of special beauty that Cloud 9 Ranch provides its members.
It is all good at Cloud 9 Ranch…
Mag
A holiday weekend at Cloud 9 Ranch is full of members, member’s guest and lots of various activities. You have a very large selection of things to do and see. I will let somebody else expand on those activities, because every time I am on the Ranch, I am on Ranch Time and getting to most of the activities is, let’s say, difficult for Steve and I. I will explain RANCH TIME in a different post.
As the saying goes, when you are at Cloud 9 Ranch, you can make your time exactly what you want it to be!!!
On Thursday evening an identical Raptor Toyhauler pulled into the site one down from me. Now everybody knows if somebody has the same kind of taste that you have, they must become your new best friends!!! Phil and Sherri Hayes was the owner of that Raptor, they are from Lee’s Summit, Missouri and has been a member for about three years now. Steve and I have enjoyed getting to know Phil, Sherri, Peyton and Taylor; we consider them another treasure from the Ranch. Although we didn’t get to go riding together over that weekend, we did get together around a camp fire once or twice during that weekend and we did keep in touch and ended up spending a couple of weekends together at the ranch in 2008.
On any night of Holiday weekend, it is a site to see the ATV’s going up and down the paved roads from Hill Country to the valley. It was a constant stream of ATV’s and UTV’s. Now you would think that with so many ATV’s on the ranch it would be noisy, but it really is not. It is just the preferred method of transportation at the ranch!!
We brought Steve’s cousin down to spend Labor Day weekend, by the time they left the ranch they were members!!! It is fun showing the ranch and watching the expressions of guest, you know if somebody sees the ranch they are sold. I think Phil and Sherri have shown the ranch eight times and all of those guests have become members. Once you get to the ranch, you will fall in love with the ranch.
A CULTURE SHOCK…
Labor Day Monday there was a mass exit from the ranch. Everybody was packing up and going home, but I still had another week to stay. Steve left on Monday to return on Friday, the Hayes packed up to head back to Lee’s Summit, and the Duncan’s were happy to be new members, but also had to pack their trailer and head back to Rolla. Aeryn and I were settling in for another week at the Ranch.
One of the rules at the ranch is that if you stay more than 30 days on the ranch, you have to move from one campground to another. Another rule is after October 15th, you need to move to Hill Country or Powder Mills if you plan to stay the winter. Tuesday morning after Labor Day the full-timers started migrating to Hill Country. Everybody that was around me the week before moved and a whole new set of campers moved in. So those neighbors I had last week are gone and I have new neighbors this week!!
Another event that happens after Labor Day is the shutting down of facilities. The pools close, the gas station and Trading Post is on shortened hours and the stables are on weekends only. Now you may think that you would not want to stay around the ranch, but you will. The ranch becomes peaceful and quiet and this is the time when you really feel as if the ranch is your own. It is a great time to be at the ranch, every evening that week after Labor Day, there was always somebody coming by my camper and inviting me to do something!!! One night, I was invited to a fish fry at the Big Top and afterwards some of the members played music. On that evening I met, Jack (I don’t think that is his name, but I named him that) and his wife Jackie from DeSoto Missouri. I met Bubba and Judy who are originally from Florida but now split their time between Texas and the Ranch. I met Larry and Deanna Armstrong from West Plains and a slew of other people that are either part-timers or full-timers.
Another evening I played Hillbilly Golf with Jack, Jackie and some other people that were parked up in Hill Country. Another evening was a chili supper. So while many things changed, all of it was another positive aspect of the ranch.
Another aspect of the week after Labor Day was the beauty of the ranch. The morning air was cool and as Aeryn and I took our morning walks around Hill Country we would watch the fog lift from the valley towards Wilder Springs. This is one of those moments of special beauty that Cloud 9 Ranch provides its members.
It is all good at Cloud 9 Ranch…
Mag
Two Weeks at the Ranch...
Steve and I bought a new camper in June of 2007, we traded in our Winner’s Circle toyhauler trailer for a 36 foot Raptor Toyhauler. We are really set to go camping now!!!
Because of real life, we only got down to the ranch for three days after 4th of July, until the last week of August. I decided that I needed to go to the ranch for a two week stay. Hey, we had to get to know our camper and the ranch!!! Hey Steve bought into it, so off we went!!!
So I packed up the camper and Steve pulled us down to the ranch. Steve was going to join us for long weekends. When we arrived at the ranch on the weekend before Labor Day, we parked up at Hill Country. Steve and I had an enjoyable weekend riding the trails and camping. Steve left on Sunday afternoon and it was just Aeryn and I at Cloud 9 Ranch. We would ride around all the campgrounds every day; we learned how to get down to Wilder through Powder Mills on the back roads. We were enjoying our days.
My mother came down on Tuesday to spend a few days at the ranch. My mother had retired from being a manager of a camp ground in Texas five years ago, so she was excited to be able to camp again.
A Day Trip off the ranch:
On Tuesday afternoon we made plans to take a drive around the area, we went down to Mountain Home to check out our old stomping grounds at Robinson Point on Norfork Lake, we then drove over towards the Bull Shoals Dam, we stopped at Gaston’s for lunch. If you have never been to Gaston’s Resort and Restaurant, it is worth the drive. It is located at the base of the Bull Shoals dam and the White River. The smoked trout appetizer is to die for. I recommend this side trip to everybody and then afterwards we went across the dam to the new visitor center. This is a must stop also, the views from the visitor centers is worth the stop itself. The visitor center is also filled with history of the lake and area, so stop and spend an hour or two.
Driving back to the ranch, we decided to take the west side of the lake and cross the Peel’s Ferry across the Bull Shoals Lake to Theodosia Hills. This is the last ferry that is run by the Arkansas Department of Transportation. It takes a little bit to get to, but still worth the drive. After the ferry ride which brought back many memories for both of us, we headed for Theodosia Hills on 161 and drove east to the ranch!!!
The next morning while sitting outside drinking coffee we noticed a lot of activity coming up and down the road. The pullers were busy pulling the campers out of compound for the upcoming holiday weekend. This thrilled my mother; we sat there and guessed the size of camper and how many slides the camper had. It was something to watch the pullers as they were busy that morning!!! We sat there for hours playing the guessing game.
Wednesday afternoon, another road trip…this time to Hardy, Arkansas and Mammoth Springs. Hardy has the cutest historical main street right on 63 south of Mammoth Springs. It is worth the drive down there, the shops are full of antiques and other unique items. The homemade salsa, jelly, jams, and chocolate is a must. Stop for ice cream. Mammoth Springs is beautiful.
Back to the ranch: Again on Thursday morning, the pullers entertained us for hours, okay we are entertained easily. That afternoon we then got on the ATV and I took mom down to Wilder and then Foggy, up to the stables, over to the falls, and up to Lonnie’s. Mom was a good sport on the ATV, but she didn’t want to hit the trails. Even though we didn’t ride the trails, we found plenty of things to do and see around the ranch. We had a full day!!!
Next Entry: Our first holiday weekend at the Ranch!!!
Because of real life, we only got down to the ranch for three days after 4th of July, until the last week of August. I decided that I needed to go to the ranch for a two week stay. Hey, we had to get to know our camper and the ranch!!! Hey Steve bought into it, so off we went!!!
So I packed up the camper and Steve pulled us down to the ranch. Steve was going to join us for long weekends. When we arrived at the ranch on the weekend before Labor Day, we parked up at Hill Country. Steve and I had an enjoyable weekend riding the trails and camping. Steve left on Sunday afternoon and it was just Aeryn and I at Cloud 9 Ranch. We would ride around all the campgrounds every day; we learned how to get down to Wilder through Powder Mills on the back roads. We were enjoying our days.
My mother came down on Tuesday to spend a few days at the ranch. My mother had retired from being a manager of a camp ground in Texas five years ago, so she was excited to be able to camp again.
A Day Trip off the ranch:
On Tuesday afternoon we made plans to take a drive around the area, we went down to Mountain Home to check out our old stomping grounds at Robinson Point on Norfork Lake, we then drove over towards the Bull Shoals Dam, we stopped at Gaston’s for lunch. If you have never been to Gaston’s Resort and Restaurant, it is worth the drive. It is located at the base of the Bull Shoals dam and the White River. The smoked trout appetizer is to die for. I recommend this side trip to everybody and then afterwards we went across the dam to the new visitor center. This is a must stop also, the views from the visitor centers is worth the stop itself. The visitor center is also filled with history of the lake and area, so stop and spend an hour or two.
Driving back to the ranch, we decided to take the west side of the lake and cross the Peel’s Ferry across the Bull Shoals Lake to Theodosia Hills. This is the last ferry that is run by the Arkansas Department of Transportation. It takes a little bit to get to, but still worth the drive. After the ferry ride which brought back many memories for both of us, we headed for Theodosia Hills on 161 and drove east to the ranch!!!
The next morning while sitting outside drinking coffee we noticed a lot of activity coming up and down the road. The pullers were busy pulling the campers out of compound for the upcoming holiday weekend. This thrilled my mother; we sat there and guessed the size of camper and how many slides the camper had. It was something to watch the pullers as they were busy that morning!!! We sat there for hours playing the guessing game.
Wednesday afternoon, another road trip…this time to Hardy, Arkansas and Mammoth Springs. Hardy has the cutest historical main street right on 63 south of Mammoth Springs. It is worth the drive down there, the shops are full of antiques and other unique items. The homemade salsa, jelly, jams, and chocolate is a must. Stop for ice cream. Mammoth Springs is beautiful.
Back to the ranch: Again on Thursday morning, the pullers entertained us for hours, okay we are entertained easily. That afternoon we then got on the ATV and I took mom down to Wilder and then Foggy, up to the stables, over to the falls, and up to Lonnie’s. Mom was a good sport on the ATV, but she didn’t want to hit the trails. Even though we didn’t ride the trails, we found plenty of things to do and see around the ranch. We had a full day!!!
Next Entry: Our first holiday weekend at the Ranch!!!
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Hi Everyone! This really is a great idea and I'm sure I'll get the hang of it sooner or later.
I first came to Cloud 9 Ranch in the mid seventies, my parents bought in and I came with them on occasion, they gave me the choice of staying home alone (I was 16) or comming here with them, well I came sometimes but not really to often. We did have Thanksgiving here most every year though! As I got older and my life got a little more setteled I came down with my own family in 1984 and ended up buying a membership in August of 1984. At that time I was a weekender/vacationer, rented the small trailers for 10 years! We basically came only when my parents were at the ranch. In 1995 we got our first trailer and had it pulled by one of the pullers at that time.
In 2000 I got divorced and came to Cloud 9 Ranch for the summer with my daughter, well things happened and I never left! I met Roger that spring and started helping him pull trailers for members that needed them moved from the compound to the pad and back. In April of 2002 we got married in the Chapel here on the ranch. My daughter also met her husband here that summer, they got married in 2004 and have a 3 year old son.
Roger's family has also been at Cloud 9 for a very long time, since the early 70's, his dad, Dorsey Amburgy, was one of the first volunteer pullers for the ranch.
Our favorite time of year at Cloud 9 is the winter, it is truly amazing at what you can find in the woods when there are no leaves on the trees and you are already dressed for walking through the woods.
We Love Cloud 9 Ranch with all our heart and really enjoy seeing others enjoy it as we do. The best thing we can hear from someone is "that spot you got us is great!" In the off season you can usually find us out walking trails, Roger loves to arrowhead hunt and I love to picture hunt and we have the best canvas for both as our backyard!
If you are on the ranch and were not to busy stop by and we will gladly show our arrowheads or pictures.
I first came to Cloud 9 Ranch in the mid seventies, my parents bought in and I came with them on occasion, they gave me the choice of staying home alone (I was 16) or comming here with them, well I came sometimes but not really to often. We did have Thanksgiving here most every year though! As I got older and my life got a little more setteled I came down with my own family in 1984 and ended up buying a membership in August of 1984. At that time I was a weekender/vacationer, rented the small trailers for 10 years! We basically came only when my parents were at the ranch. In 1995 we got our first trailer and had it pulled by one of the pullers at that time.
In 2000 I got divorced and came to Cloud 9 Ranch for the summer with my daughter, well things happened and I never left! I met Roger that spring and started helping him pull trailers for members that needed them moved from the compound to the pad and back. In April of 2002 we got married in the Chapel here on the ranch. My daughter also met her husband here that summer, they got married in 2004 and have a 3 year old son.
Roger's family has also been at Cloud 9 for a very long time, since the early 70's, his dad, Dorsey Amburgy, was one of the first volunteer pullers for the ranch.
Our favorite time of year at Cloud 9 is the winter, it is truly amazing at what you can find in the woods when there are no leaves on the trees and you are already dressed for walking through the woods.
We Love Cloud 9 Ranch with all our heart and really enjoy seeing others enjoy it as we do. The best thing we can hear from someone is "that spot you got us is great!" In the off season you can usually find us out walking trails, Roger loves to arrowhead hunt and I love to picture hunt and we have the best canvas for both as our backyard!
If you are on the ranch and were not to busy stop by and we will gladly show our arrowheads or pictures.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Welcome to Cloud 9 Ranch - My intial visit
Welcome to the Cloud 9 Ranch Club Blog. I have been asked to participate in this new communication process and feel lucky to do so. I hope that my contribution will be a positive one for not only fellow members, but future members of Cloud 9 Ranch Club.
A little bit about me: I am in my late 40’s; I have a partner of the past six years, Steve. We have a home outside of St. James, Missouri and are the proud owners of two dogs, Aeryn a five year old German Sheppard and Cali a one year old pound dog. When you come to the ranch you could possibly see me riding around the ranch on my ATV with Aeryn as a passenger or you can for sure see me walking these two anytime day and night.
I am an Administrator/Risk Manager for Emergency Physicians in the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, Central Kansas and West Central Missouri. Steve is a transport driver for MFA Oil. We both work hard and play hard.
Our introduction to Cloud 9 Ranch happened on a Saturday Afternoon in the K-Mart parking lot in Rolla, Missouri. Byerly RV’s were showing some of their campers and who in their right mind can’t help to stop and look what new has come out in campers. We were looking at a toy hauler, not that we needed one because we bought one a year before. Anyway, Steve struck up a conversation with this couple regarding camping and riding and the Bennett’s started telling us about Cloud 9 Ranch Club. The Bennett’s had been members for several years and they had nothing but positive things to say about. After leaving the parking lot Steve and I discussed how one day we would need to go check it out.
That evening I got on line and looked at their web site and knew that we were going to be taking a road trip!!! On Sunday morning, I called Cloud 9 Ranch Club and made an appointment for the following weekend. WE WERE GOING CAMPING AND RIDING!!!
The drive down to West Plains brought back many childhood memories. I grew up on the lakes that surround the area around Cloud 9 Ranch. This drive was like coming home!!! Now of course I had Goggled the route to Cloud 9 Ranch and so there was a detour that we took on some country gravel roads, low water bridges and rather narrow roads. This drive was at night and pulling a 28 Foot Winners Circle trailer loaded. If anybody knows Winners Circle travel trailers, they sit very low, so we were dragging the bumper often. Cloud 9 is right on 160 west of Caulfield, Missouri, I don’t know where Goggle was going to be taking us!!!
After the detour, we pulled into CLOUD 9 RANCH at 10pm. We didn’t know where to park or anything, but not to worry Ranger Bill Phillips was on duty and he was there to help us get parked. The next morning we went up to the restaurant for breakfast and then we met our tour guide. The guide, I don’t remember her name, was excellent, after two hours of driving around both Steve and I were ready to hit the trails and that is what we did!!!
Starting out on our ATV’s, Steve and I realized that this was a massive piece of property and with many trail systems and we didn’t have a clue where to start. Our problem was quickly solved, Steve stopped a couple and asked them “Where can we find mud?” The Baldwin’s not only told us how to get to mud, but decided to take us. They took us to a Dave’s mud hole and spa and then took us over to the waterfall. We returned to our camper and got picnic supplies and they took us up to Lonnie’s Lookout for a picnic lunch with a view and then back to the trails. After a long day of riding, the four of us returned to Lonesome Pines and showered and we followed the Baldwin’s to Caulfield to the Three Legged Mule for pizza, beer and lots of laughter. We made our first friends at Cloud 9 Ranch Club and we were not even members yet!!!
The next morning, Steve and I were back up at the Restaurant for breakfast and then to the Trading Post for our Cloud 9 Sweatshirts and off on the trails we went. When we finally packed up the camper and left, we both knew that we would be back to Cloud 9 Ranch, we found that special place.
This was May 22, 2007 and we became official members/owners of Cloud 9 Ranch Club on May 25, 2007. Who could not? Where else can you camp, ride ATV’s and have picnics with a view?? Besides the Three Legged Mule is a must stop for eats!!! Next on the agenda, a new camper must be bought because we had big plans on visitng Cloud 9 often!!!
Steve and I are weekenders/vacationers. We will have spent more than 40 days on the ranch in 2008. We are proud members of Cloud 9 Ranch Club and we are more than happy to get this opportunity to share our experiences at “the ranch” and the people that we have met along the way.
The Baldwin’s are weekenders, as they are from West Plain and have been known to be at the ranch on any given day or whenever we call.
The Bennett’s are part-timers; they are at the ranch for four to five months out of the year.
Feel free to join in on our Blog and if you have any questions, please feel free to ask…
Mag Greig
Member #3223
A little bit about me: I am in my late 40’s; I have a partner of the past six years, Steve. We have a home outside of St. James, Missouri and are the proud owners of two dogs, Aeryn a five year old German Sheppard and Cali a one year old pound dog. When you come to the ranch you could possibly see me riding around the ranch on my ATV with Aeryn as a passenger or you can for sure see me walking these two anytime day and night.
I am an Administrator/Risk Manager for Emergency Physicians in the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, Central Kansas and West Central Missouri. Steve is a transport driver for MFA Oil. We both work hard and play hard.
Our introduction to Cloud 9 Ranch happened on a Saturday Afternoon in the K-Mart parking lot in Rolla, Missouri. Byerly RV’s were showing some of their campers and who in their right mind can’t help to stop and look what new has come out in campers. We were looking at a toy hauler, not that we needed one because we bought one a year before. Anyway, Steve struck up a conversation with this couple regarding camping and riding and the Bennett’s started telling us about Cloud 9 Ranch Club. The Bennett’s had been members for several years and they had nothing but positive things to say about. After leaving the parking lot Steve and I discussed how one day we would need to go check it out.
That evening I got on line and looked at their web site and knew that we were going to be taking a road trip!!! On Sunday morning, I called Cloud 9 Ranch Club and made an appointment for the following weekend. WE WERE GOING CAMPING AND RIDING!!!
The drive down to West Plains brought back many childhood memories. I grew up on the lakes that surround the area around Cloud 9 Ranch. This drive was like coming home!!! Now of course I had Goggled the route to Cloud 9 Ranch and so there was a detour that we took on some country gravel roads, low water bridges and rather narrow roads. This drive was at night and pulling a 28 Foot Winners Circle trailer loaded. If anybody knows Winners Circle travel trailers, they sit very low, so we were dragging the bumper often. Cloud 9 is right on 160 west of Caulfield, Missouri, I don’t know where Goggle was going to be taking us!!!
After the detour, we pulled into CLOUD 9 RANCH at 10pm. We didn’t know where to park or anything, but not to worry Ranger Bill Phillips was on duty and he was there to help us get parked. The next morning we went up to the restaurant for breakfast and then we met our tour guide. The guide, I don’t remember her name, was excellent, after two hours of driving around both Steve and I were ready to hit the trails and that is what we did!!!
Starting out on our ATV’s, Steve and I realized that this was a massive piece of property and with many trail systems and we didn’t have a clue where to start. Our problem was quickly solved, Steve stopped a couple and asked them “Where can we find mud?” The Baldwin’s not only told us how to get to mud, but decided to take us. They took us to a Dave’s mud hole and spa and then took us over to the waterfall. We returned to our camper and got picnic supplies and they took us up to Lonnie’s Lookout for a picnic lunch with a view and then back to the trails. After a long day of riding, the four of us returned to Lonesome Pines and showered and we followed the Baldwin’s to Caulfield to the Three Legged Mule for pizza, beer and lots of laughter. We made our first friends at Cloud 9 Ranch Club and we were not even members yet!!!
The next morning, Steve and I were back up at the Restaurant for breakfast and then to the Trading Post for our Cloud 9 Sweatshirts and off on the trails we went. When we finally packed up the camper and left, we both knew that we would be back to Cloud 9 Ranch, we found that special place.
This was May 22, 2007 and we became official members/owners of Cloud 9 Ranch Club on May 25, 2007. Who could not? Where else can you camp, ride ATV’s and have picnics with a view?? Besides the Three Legged Mule is a must stop for eats!!! Next on the agenda, a new camper must be bought because we had big plans on visitng Cloud 9 often!!!
Steve and I are weekenders/vacationers. We will have spent more than 40 days on the ranch in 2008. We are proud members of Cloud 9 Ranch Club and we are more than happy to get this opportunity to share our experiences at “the ranch” and the people that we have met along the way.
The Baldwin’s are weekenders, as they are from West Plain and have been known to be at the ranch on any given day or whenever we call.
The Bennett’s are part-timers; they are at the ranch for four to five months out of the year.
Feel free to join in on our Blog and if you have any questions, please feel free to ask…
Mag Greig
Member #3223
WE ARE C9R!
Well, now, isn’t blogging a great idea for our C9R official website! A place where you can read about the Ranch and ask questions, voice comments and learn all about Cloud 9 Ranch through narrative media. You are about to experience the very first blogs on our Cloud 9 Ranch Club’s official website. Our goal as “blog authors” is to give you different perspectives of Cloud 9 Ranch, the heart and soul of every aspect of what it means to be a Cloud 9 Ranch Club (the “Ranch”) owner and member. Different perspectives are given best by people with varied outlooks, dreams and expectations of ownership afforded to them as Ranch owners. The authors of the first blogs are from separate categories of membership. Let me be very quick to state here that Cloud 9 Ranch Club, Inc. does not “categorize” ownership into a specific member type. We all have the same ownership privileges; we all follow the same rules and regulations that come along with that right of ownership. But, as a Ranch owner/member, you will quickly become classified by other owner/members as one of four different categories. The membership vernacular goes something like this:
Weekenders: Members who live in close proximity to the Ranch complex; they enjoy the Ranch for day trips and bring lots of guests to ride ATV trails. After riding the ATVs, some favorites on the Ranch for this group is eating ice cream and pizza, taking a dip in the pool and spending lots of money at the Gatehouse, Gas Station, Restaurant and Trading Post right here on the Ranch. These weekend warriors spend an estimated 60 day trips or better on the Ranch every year, not to mention weekend camping trips for year round fishing, hunting during season, horseback riding, and lets not forget riding the ATV trails. If they have a camper, which many don’t, it is normally kept in a Ranch compound for use on holidays and long weekends.
Vacationers: Members who come to the Ranch for vacations and holiday weekends, spending less than thirty days a year enjoying the Ranch. They spend lots of money when here and are a vital part of the Ranch’s existence. They spend their vacations from the real world riding the ATV trails, cookouts, fishing, hunting, sitting around campfires, horseback riding, renewing friendships, and living the Ranch life any way they choose for the limited time they have. These members are notorious for donating time, money and stuff to the Ranch. Many keep their campers in a compound for use only here on the Ranch, while others haul them to and from their home. This group brings guests that turn into members more than any other group. It’s just not easy to find places like the Ranch anymore, and theVacationers are ambassadors-at-large for the rest of us.
Part-timers: Members who are usually fulltime RV-ers who come to the Ranch and spend anywhere from 3 to 8 months a year, usually during the peak season (April through October), then are off to warmer climates like Arizona, Florida, Texas or back home to family and friends they haven’t seen all spring and summer. They refer to the Ranch as their “Home Away From Home.“ These members are the major peak season volunteers who keep the spring and summer fun at its peak for the rest of the members. They bring new games and activities with them from other places they travel. This group plays a major role in seasonal committees, play lot of cards in the Clubhouse, Bingo, pool tournaments, keeping the Craft House up and running, and joining in with riding the ATV trails with the weekenders and vacationers when they have time.
Full-timers: Members who have basically made Cloud 9 Ranch their home. This is a small majority of members that you might as well say live on and for the Ranch. Some work on the Ranch as employees; others are fulltime volunteers; others just enjoy the RV-life, the fishing, hunting, trail riding year round and never get the urge to leave and find greener pastures. They weather the cold, snow, storms, floods, heat and, oh, yes, the moonlit nights and glorious sunshiny days year round. Some have homes they maintain in other states and go to them occasionally, but for the most part their campers never leave the Ranch. They move their campers monthly to other campsites as required by the rules, and have to follow all the rules pertaining to pad usage. They bring in the largest percentage of usage revenues, probably more than the other three categories combined. They have made a choice in life that the Ranch is where they want to spend all the “days of their lives.” With a little tongue-in-cheek pun intended with that last phrase, the Full-timers do have a reputation for a soap opera way of life if you listen to the Weekenders, the Vacationers and the Part-timers. To some they are heroes, to others villains; but no matter how you may perceive them, just as the other three categories, each is a vital organ to the body of the Ranch as a whole.
Each category has a few sub-categories, and they are: Elected Officers of Cloud 9 Ranch Club, Inc., Management of Cloud 9 Ranch Club, Inc., and Hourly Employees of Cloud 9 Ranch Club, Inc. All four categories above have at least one of the sub-categories in them.
So, you see, the Ranch means many things to all its member/owners. To some it’s a short drive to spend a day of fun in the sun, snow or mud (depending on the season); for others it’s a place to get away for a week or two, to others it’s their livelihood and to others a seasonal refuge from the cold or heat. I now call it Home Sweet Home. All of the above have a pride of ownership in a world set apart from the hustle and bustle of everyday life outside the rock archway up on U.S. Highway 160 in Southern Missouri, nestled in the Ozarks between two small towns (West Plains to the East and Gainesville to the West).
Okay, I’ll go ahead and admit it: This blog author is a Full-timer. It happened to us back in July 2007, when my husband and I both took an early retirement and came up to spend time with my husband’s brother and his wife, who were Part-timer/Full-timers, depending on how the wind blew. We immediately could not believe what we were experiencing here on the Ranch. We purchased a membership, then a camper within a week span of time. Our camper is a vintage one, but was for sale here on the Ranch, so we paid for it and had it pulled to a pad on July 31, 2007. We still to this day do not have a truck to pull our camper, so it has to stay here on the Ranch. I cannot bear to leave it, so it has never been back in a compound since the day we bought it. We have a home in Northern Mississippi, 15 minutes from Memphis TN, and have to take an occasional 72-hour leave to check on our property. But we can’t leave this Ranch without having severe pangs of withdrawal from the Ranch way of life.
It was our dream to be fulltime RV-ers just over a year ago, not having any idea that it would come true so soon. But it did and we are as happy as we have ever been with our old used camper. We sit outside at night and listen to the frogs and crickets (and whatever other critters that are out there). We watch deer graze in our front yard, we even have skunks come up and sniff our legs (stay very still if this happens to you). Hummingbirds, finches, cardinals, and those big old black crows and acrobatic squirrels are daily visitors to our feeders. We take rides and watch sunsets from the Stable overlook or Lonnie’s Lookout, or drive down to sit and listen to the ever-flowing bubbling springs that feed the mountain stream at Springs Falls or Wilder and Fogey campgrounds. We sit outside in the morning with our coffee and smell bacon cooking across the way. We plan our days around the weather forecast. We fish and watch Blue Heron swoop down and catch them with ease. If we‘re lucky, we can catch a glimpse of a bald eagle flying overhead. We sit by campfires with friends and discuss our families and Ranch politics and, yes, we even work on the Ranch. My husband is a Ranger and I do a myriad of volunteering. (I’m sure you’ll hear more from me on some of the upcoming projects for next season).
On a personal note, I am thankful and honored for the opportunity to share from my perspectives on what Ranch ownership is all about. Be assured that it is my profound belief that each member of the Ranch is just as important as the next. I have a saying that I plagiarized from the movie, “We Are Marshall.” Mine is: WE ARE C9R!!! Together, we all make this Ranch a heaven on earth for everyone that comes down that long-winding road. I like to think of the Ranch as a place where Mother Nature was introduced to the Heavens above, right up here on Cloud 9.
Now, it’s time to hear from some of you. If you have any questions or comments you’d like to pose to a Cloud 9 Ranch Full-timer, I’ll be glad to respond, answer or find you an answer if I don’t know it.
Weekenders: Members who live in close proximity to the Ranch complex; they enjoy the Ranch for day trips and bring lots of guests to ride ATV trails. After riding the ATVs, some favorites on the Ranch for this group is eating ice cream and pizza, taking a dip in the pool and spending lots of money at the Gatehouse, Gas Station, Restaurant and Trading Post right here on the Ranch. These weekend warriors spend an estimated 60 day trips or better on the Ranch every year, not to mention weekend camping trips for year round fishing, hunting during season, horseback riding, and lets not forget riding the ATV trails. If they have a camper, which many don’t, it is normally kept in a Ranch compound for use on holidays and long weekends.
Vacationers: Members who come to the Ranch for vacations and holiday weekends, spending less than thirty days a year enjoying the Ranch. They spend lots of money when here and are a vital part of the Ranch’s existence. They spend their vacations from the real world riding the ATV trails, cookouts, fishing, hunting, sitting around campfires, horseback riding, renewing friendships, and living the Ranch life any way they choose for the limited time they have. These members are notorious for donating time, money and stuff to the Ranch. Many keep their campers in a compound for use only here on the Ranch, while others haul them to and from their home. This group brings guests that turn into members more than any other group. It’s just not easy to find places like the Ranch anymore, and theVacationers are ambassadors-at-large for the rest of us.
Part-timers: Members who are usually fulltime RV-ers who come to the Ranch and spend anywhere from 3 to 8 months a year, usually during the peak season (April through October), then are off to warmer climates like Arizona, Florida, Texas or back home to family and friends they haven’t seen all spring and summer. They refer to the Ranch as their “Home Away From Home.“ These members are the major peak season volunteers who keep the spring and summer fun at its peak for the rest of the members. They bring new games and activities with them from other places they travel. This group plays a major role in seasonal committees, play lot of cards in the Clubhouse, Bingo, pool tournaments, keeping the Craft House up and running, and joining in with riding the ATV trails with the weekenders and vacationers when they have time.
Full-timers: Members who have basically made Cloud 9 Ranch their home. This is a small majority of members that you might as well say live on and for the Ranch. Some work on the Ranch as employees; others are fulltime volunteers; others just enjoy the RV-life, the fishing, hunting, trail riding year round and never get the urge to leave and find greener pastures. They weather the cold, snow, storms, floods, heat and, oh, yes, the moonlit nights and glorious sunshiny days year round. Some have homes they maintain in other states and go to them occasionally, but for the most part their campers never leave the Ranch. They move their campers monthly to other campsites as required by the rules, and have to follow all the rules pertaining to pad usage. They bring in the largest percentage of usage revenues, probably more than the other three categories combined. They have made a choice in life that the Ranch is where they want to spend all the “days of their lives.” With a little tongue-in-cheek pun intended with that last phrase, the Full-timers do have a reputation for a soap opera way of life if you listen to the Weekenders, the Vacationers and the Part-timers. To some they are heroes, to others villains; but no matter how you may perceive them, just as the other three categories, each is a vital organ to the body of the Ranch as a whole.
Each category has a few sub-categories, and they are: Elected Officers of Cloud 9 Ranch Club, Inc., Management of Cloud 9 Ranch Club, Inc., and Hourly Employees of Cloud 9 Ranch Club, Inc. All four categories above have at least one of the sub-categories in them.
So, you see, the Ranch means many things to all its member/owners. To some it’s a short drive to spend a day of fun in the sun, snow or mud (depending on the season); for others it’s a place to get away for a week or two, to others it’s their livelihood and to others a seasonal refuge from the cold or heat. I now call it Home Sweet Home. All of the above have a pride of ownership in a world set apart from the hustle and bustle of everyday life outside the rock archway up on U.S. Highway 160 in Southern Missouri, nestled in the Ozarks between two small towns (West Plains to the East and Gainesville to the West).
Okay, I’ll go ahead and admit it: This blog author is a Full-timer. It happened to us back in July 2007, when my husband and I both took an early retirement and came up to spend time with my husband’s brother and his wife, who were Part-timer/Full-timers, depending on how the wind blew. We immediately could not believe what we were experiencing here on the Ranch. We purchased a membership, then a camper within a week span of time. Our camper is a vintage one, but was for sale here on the Ranch, so we paid for it and had it pulled to a pad on July 31, 2007. We still to this day do not have a truck to pull our camper, so it has to stay here on the Ranch. I cannot bear to leave it, so it has never been back in a compound since the day we bought it. We have a home in Northern Mississippi, 15 minutes from Memphis TN, and have to take an occasional 72-hour leave to check on our property. But we can’t leave this Ranch without having severe pangs of withdrawal from the Ranch way of life.
It was our dream to be fulltime RV-ers just over a year ago, not having any idea that it would come true so soon. But it did and we are as happy as we have ever been with our old used camper. We sit outside at night and listen to the frogs and crickets (and whatever other critters that are out there). We watch deer graze in our front yard, we even have skunks come up and sniff our legs (stay very still if this happens to you). Hummingbirds, finches, cardinals, and those big old black crows and acrobatic squirrels are daily visitors to our feeders. We take rides and watch sunsets from the Stable overlook or Lonnie’s Lookout, or drive down to sit and listen to the ever-flowing bubbling springs that feed the mountain stream at Springs Falls or Wilder and Fogey campgrounds. We sit outside in the morning with our coffee and smell bacon cooking across the way. We plan our days around the weather forecast. We fish and watch Blue Heron swoop down and catch them with ease. If we‘re lucky, we can catch a glimpse of a bald eagle flying overhead. We sit by campfires with friends and discuss our families and Ranch politics and, yes, we even work on the Ranch. My husband is a Ranger and I do a myriad of volunteering. (I’m sure you’ll hear more from me on some of the upcoming projects for next season).
On a personal note, I am thankful and honored for the opportunity to share from my perspectives on what Ranch ownership is all about. Be assured that it is my profound belief that each member of the Ranch is just as important as the next. I have a saying that I plagiarized from the movie, “We Are Marshall.” Mine is: WE ARE C9R!!! Together, we all make this Ranch a heaven on earth for everyone that comes down that long-winding road. I like to think of the Ranch as a place where Mother Nature was introduced to the Heavens above, right up here on Cloud 9.
Now, it’s time to hear from some of you. If you have any questions or comments you’d like to pose to a Cloud 9 Ranch Full-timer, I’ll be glad to respond, answer or find you an answer if I don’t know it.
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Welcome
Welcome to the Cloud 9 Ranch Club's Blog. This blog was started from the desire of those who wish to read, learn and enjoy the latest news and events from Cloud 9 Ranch.
What purpose does it serve to have a blog for Cloud 9 Ranch? Well, this blogs intended use is to enhance the communication and culture of Cloud 9 Ranch. And to share the many wonderful things "The Ranch" has to offer both members and future members alike.
This information will not only be from a member's point of view, but from everyone's. From this blog, you will be able to contribute and share your comments as well. And I encourage all to participate once you register.
So, what exactly is a blog? Well, a blog is an "web-log" or Internet-based journal... a high tech and futuristic way to share things. Things like commentary, news, photos, descriptions of events, or other material related to Cloud 9 Ranch. To "blog" is to participate by adding or your thoughts or news into a blog.
We currently have in place four "blog authors" who will start the blog off on the right foot. From there, we will be branching out.
So...get to it. Kick back, relax and enjoy the show.
Cheers to all.
What purpose does it serve to have a blog for Cloud 9 Ranch? Well, this blogs intended use is to enhance the communication and culture of Cloud 9 Ranch. And to share the many wonderful things "The Ranch" has to offer both members and future members alike.
This information will not only be from a member's point of view, but from everyone's. From this blog, you will be able to contribute and share your comments as well. And I encourage all to participate once you register.
So, what exactly is a blog? Well, a blog is an "web-log" or Internet-based journal... a high tech and futuristic way to share things. Things like commentary, news, photos, descriptions of events, or other material related to Cloud 9 Ranch. To "blog" is to participate by adding or your thoughts or news into a blog.
We currently have in place four "blog authors" who will start the blog off on the right foot. From there, we will be branching out.
So...get to it. Kick back, relax and enjoy the show.
Cheers to all.
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