Reflections of Summer 2018

Today I realized that it has been over a year since I last posted any resort updates. I suppose it's the convenience of Facebook that is the culprit. It makes it easy to get pictures and postings out but typically lacks in depth and substance. Now that we are officially into the fall season and it's only a couple days until October, the Camp Coffee routine is upon us. This started last Fall when the Bald Eagles began making their presence known every morning as they fished for their breakfast. It was a Saturday and Sunday morning tradition through cool months while guests were still enjoying weekends at the lake.

A New Identity

Last winter seemed longer and colder than I care for but we were able to use the time to do some work around Rainbow Haven Resort. We had taken a cruise in December where I had time to think about the identity of our resort businesses. My "one man brainstorms" on the cruise brought me to a couple of conclusions. The first was that our collection of resorts needed a central identity rather than just be presented as a random collection of different experiences. That brought us to establishing the "Base Camp Resort and Cabin Co. While not an official location of it's own, it is the new face of the combined and growing number destinations and experiences we have to offer. The second conclusion was that our lodging themes should be improved to offer a more interesting guest experience, even if all they are doing is coming in foe a night or a weekend to do nothing more than relax.

The White River Fishing Expedition

Since Rainbow Haven Resort was our most recent acquisition and has had no real upgrades for years, we decided to commit to a themed upgrade which began in the winter. We took the oldest and most "tired" room of the property and gutted it in order to make way for some improvements. Those improvements included the addition of a large jetted tub for two along with improving the visual experience with a cross between "Steam Punk" and "River Expedition" furnishings. The whole thing was then "antiqued" back to a 30's - 40's look. The room has been modernized with little details such as convenient outlets for phone and ipad chargers and individual light switches on both sides of the bed. The exterior will begin it's transformation this fall to bring a more private setting to the deck and the nostalgic "throw-back" fishing resort look to the outside of the unit.

More Boats

Another of the changes we have made this year was to increase the number and styles of boats we offer at the marina. Joining the fleet of Pontoon Boats and Utility Bass Boats are four brand new Jon Boats. We purchased two 12' Jon's with 2.5hp tiller steer motors and two 14' Jon's with 5hp tiller steer motors. These are economy options for getting on the lake to those hot spots beyond the reach of shore. You can see the pricing of the Boat Rental Page at our website. This addition gives our customers a full range of boating options for Lake Taneycomo including a variety of Kayaks.

Other Fun Stuff

Last year's addition of the Tackle Shop has expanded as well. What started as a typical resort based "Bait and Tackle" is growing into something bigger. Our frustration with the selection of trout related tackle available to us resulted in the formation of a "Tackle Distribution" business. We are now wholesale suppliers of tackle to other shops and resorts in the area. This is something we are just getting started so it has a lot of room for growth, but as of now, we can offer a larger selection of trout fishing products than has been available.

Another addition this year has been the Base Camp gifts and apparel. (also available at Rainbow Haven Gifts)
Like the wholesale tackle business, the gifts and apparel is in the very early stages of development. We currently have a half dozen T-shirt and Hoodie designs, (not all loaded on the websites yet) with more designs in the works. The gift items include a variety of mugs, hats, keychains, magnets and other items to take home with you as a souvenir of your stay with us. The selection of gifts also includes an assortment of Rockaway Beach items for all those who are looking for something specific to the town itself.

Finally...…...COFFEE! A couple years ago, we stumble upon a custom coffee roaster that had some amazing roast and blends of coffee. We wanted to add this last year but was just too busy to get it done. This year we finally made time to get it all set up, and in the Spring, we introduced our Base Camp "Lost" coffee. To be exact, we have "Lost on the Lake" a smooth blend that I like in the evenings. "Lost up the Creek" which is a medium roast Colombian coffee, "Lost in the Woods" which is our morning, wake up coffee, perfect for drinking out on the deck when the sun is coming up. The final option, and what seems to be everyone's favorite is "Lost on the Trail" which is a Guatemala coffee that is rich and flavorful. However, if you are one of those who enjoy being "Lost in the Fog", we have our Guatemala coffee in a decaf version.

On the surface, it doesn't look much different than before, but an astounding amount of things have happened this summer. While I'm not ready for the seasonal slow-down that is coming, I am looking forward to having time to tie up loose ends, and continue the expansion and improvements prior to the beginning of next year's busy season.

As I close this, I would like to leave you with the gift of an amazing photo that one of our guests captured this summer early in the morning out on the lake.

I would also like to extend an invitation for you to come and be a part of our "Base Camp Family". We offer just about anything you might be interested in for your stay. Basic Fishing cabins are still the Rainbow Haven Resort experience. We have some beautifully renovated cabins at Cross Timbers Cabins for a bit more of a polished, yet rustic experience. Our Fisherman's Hide Out is going to be undergoing a transformation of sorts over the coming year but is not currently available for guests.  For the "Adventuresome Spirits" we also offer Treehouse Cabins at our Branson Treehouse Adventures location.

Call 417-234-4394 for information or to schedule your reservation with us. We would love to...…...

See You at the Dock!