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[clancomyn]

I have not mentioned it yet, but, HOW COOL IS IT to have your picture taken with a "Darling/Dillard?" I did work across from Dockside Theater at the diving bell in the early '80s when Rodney Dillard first performed at SDC. I did have a nice conversation with him when he first was on park, and the Dugan boys sometimes informally babysat his son, who during that first season Rodney performed, would wander the park on a pretty regular basis. So I'm glad I have that Darling/Dillard experience, too. Mitch was a talented fellow and had an interesting life.

BTW, the fellow in the photo with me, Champ, has a SDC connection -- his brother worked as a toymaker in the toy shop in the early '80s.

Mitch was a heckuva a nice guy. I got to meet him twice while presenting Ozarks superstitions programs at Alley Mill and Big Spring in the Ozark National Scenic Riverways. We lost a good one.

I'll invite Champ to the forum. We just got back this afternoon on a whirlwind trip of ghost story sites in Stone and Christian Counties.

T.

[clancomyn]

I've got a booklet called "Devil's Pool: A History of Big Cedar Lodge" by Charlie Farmer. He discusses the weird rumors about the location. the spring was initially a watering spot for Osage Indians. They considered it a sacred place. Later, pioneers used it as a watering hole, too, but they called it Devil's Pool because it was a shady, mysterious spot that appeared bottomless. Later, after the Devil's Pool Resort was built, the ex-wife of the resort founder died under mysterious circumstances while in Mexico City, Mexico. Her ashes were sent back to the Ozarks, and at a funeral service, M. Graham Clark (who was a president of College of the Ozarks) spread her ashes off the back patio of her home at the resort. Since then, the house reportedly is haunted. So is another building on the property. Women who work for Big Cedar Lodge say the Worman Home is haunted. From the book, "they feel cold breezes slicing through rooms on hot, muggy days. They hear whispers, murmurs, soft voices, footsteps they wish they never heard." At the Simmons House on the property ghosts are sensed, too. Simmons House serves as Devil's Pool Restaurant now. Shadowy figures have also been seen by the marina and around Devil's Pool. Don't know how much of this stuff is rumor or truth, but it is presented in the booklet as fact.

Eagle1: I'll defer to the booklet that junior mentioned; to be quite honest, I  had never heard that one before, but elements of the story remind me of the story of the Osage and Marvel Cave. There is also another "Devil's Den" legend in Webster County, near Marshfield, and a student of mine a number of years ago claimed to have known where the den was.

Of course, I'm the fellow who spent almost an hour driving around Reed Springs yesterday looking for the fabled Dead Man's Pond...

T.

[Junior]

Just west of Reeds Spring going toward Cassville there is a Yoakum Pond Road. Probably the place you are looking for. You must be familar with Vance Randolph's Ozark Magic and Folklore book, which has the story about the pond in it, if I remember correctly.

[clancomyn]

Just west of Reeds Spring going toward Cassville there is a Yoakum Pond Road. Probably the place you are looking for. You must be familar with Vance Randolph's Ozark Magic and Folklore book, which has the story about the pond in it, if I remember correctly.

Ironically, Yocum Pond is located just west of the Hwy 13/76 intersection, and just south of Yocum/Yoakum Pond Rd, near the new high school. We found the pond after speaking to a community group in Cape Fair. Once I get some of the photos uploaded, I'll post them in another thread, if anyone is interested. 

After finding the pond, we headed towards Crane to visit the site of another story described in Randolph involving the Oak Grove School House ghost...but that's another story. 

I'm assuming that Yocum Pond and Dead's Man Pond are one in the same. Randolph is where I first "heard" the story, but back in the early 1990s, a good friend of mine named Fred Schweitzer produced a documentary on KY3 called "Fight Night", which featured "reenactments" of local ghost stories. Dead Man's Pond was featured on the first episode, along with Breadtray Mountain, which also has a Yocum connection.

[eagle1]

I've got a booklet called "Devil's Pool: A History of Big Cedar Lodge" by Charlie Farmer. He discusses the weird rumors about the location. the spring was initially a watering spot for Osage Indians. They considered it a sacred place. Later, pioneers used it as a watering hole, too, but they called it Devil's Pool because it was a shady, mysterious spot that appeared bottomless. Later, after the Devil's Pool Resort was built, the ex-wife of the resort founder died under mysterious circumstances while in Mexico City, Mexico. Her ashes were sent back to the Ozarks, and at a funeral service, M. Graham Clark (who was a president of College of the Ozarks) spread her ashes off the back patio of her home at the resort. Since then, the house reportedly is haunted. So is another building on the property. Women who work for Big Cedar Lodge say the Worman Home is haunted. From the book, "they feel cold breezes slicing through rooms on hot, muggy days. They hear whispers, murmurs, soft voices, footsteps they wish they never heard." At the Simmons House on the property ghosts are sensed, too. Simmons House serves as Devil's Pool Restaurant now. Shadowy figures have also been seen by the marina and around Devil's Pool. Don't know how much of this stuff is rumor or truth, but it is presented in the booklet as fact.

Eagle1: I'll defer to the booklet that junior mentioned; to be quite honest, I  had never heard that one before, but elements of the story remind me of the story of the Osage and Marvel Cave. There is also another "Devil's Den" legend in Webster County, near Marshfield, and a student of mine a number of years ago claimed to have known where the den was.

Of course, I'm the fellow who spent almost an hour driving around Reed Springs yesterday looking for the fabled Dead Man's Pond...

T.

In a chance to read what Junior brought up and same you're doing....I need to get time to confirm if that's what my G'pa (born raised in Cassville) and as a young boy played in the Marvel Cave along with around Devil's Pool. The stories I remember are close yet a few details are hazy. I'll reply again once I review with Mom and G'pa family. Something about a marriage (to a hillbilly) that was not accepted by the Indian tribe and an Indian girl losing her life...? That's what started the legend? Don't you just love how stories/legends go.....takes time to figure out eh?

[clancomyn]

That also sounds like the story of Virgin Bluff near Cape Fair, and even a variant of the legend of the Spooklight at Hornet, MO, just SW of Joplin.

T.

[Junior]

Some on this thread may not have seen the link I put on another thread to the magazine I write for...my October submissions were a couple of stories...one about moving graves before Table Rock was filled up, and another with some SW Missouri ghost stories. So if you like ghost stories and Ozark legends check them out:     www.lifeintheozarks.com            Stories under the features tab on the Website.

[BransonLassie]

Just want to say hi, and I love this site!! 

[sanddunerider]

wlcome branson lassie!   you can get all sorts of usefull info on this site,,,  AND sometimes some not so useful info

enjoy yourself.

[Avalanche04]

welcome branson lassie I'm sure you will enjoy the best site on the web for sdc info and other branson info. we have some great member's here. we have some citizens here and ex citizens

[MissinTheGreenTrams]

helllo branson lassie! welcome aboard! glad to have ya!

[rubedugans]

Howdy Lassie!

[Ozarks Gal]

Hello fellow SDC fans! I've been following this forum since the HFEC episode of Undercover Boss, and I finally took the plunge to join. I don't exactly remember how I found the site. Probably Google-ing during the show. I just got back from an Old Time Christmas visit, I'll post a review tomorrow I hope.

My grandparents and Dad have been going to SDC since around the beginning (Dad remembers the Stagecoach, makes it early, right?). My grandparents have probably gone every year.  Both my parents had their Senior trips at SDC. They also have some cool stories about their honeymoon there.

My first SDC "visit" would be my parents' trip just a month before I was born in '88. One of the Homestead Pickers joked that my mom was stealing a watermelon. (I swear this is the reason why I don't like them. ) I've gone every year from pre-kindergarten until early High School (Early-to-mid 2000s. I think the last year was before GE-area went in?).  Family got busy, tickets went up, my parents got a bit burnt out and my grandfather had some bad health.

My husband and I now live in Springfield. Neither of us had been in years (best I can figure, it had been about 7 for me) and I was feeling the urge. We bought Season Passes and went this summer for our first anniversary. We picked a good time too, passholder's Appreciation Days.   

I have so many happy memories tied to the park. (Two weeks every summer with all my cousins = a ton of fun!) I'm happy to find some people that love it as much as I do! I love reading the stories about how the parked once was.

[How-doFolks]

Welcome Ozarks Gal! Great first post!

[Injun Joe]

Welcome from a fellow newb.  I'm anxious to hear your thoughts about SDC after your extended hiatus.