My Blue Heaven

    Our three bedroom, two bath 2000 square foot log cabin is situated on a 125 acre private wildlife refuge with ľ mile of frontage on the Little Buffalo River, the largest tributary of the nearby Buffalo National River. Located only 3 miles from Parthenon in beautiful Newton County, Arkansas, our cabin is secluded and private yet easily accessible and within easy driving distance of Jasper, Ponca, Harrison, Branson and Eureka Springs. Spectacular 180 degree views of virtually uninhabited Reynolds Mountain combine with the quiet solitude of the river to create a special place for that romantic getaway or family reunion.

    This unique home can accommodate up to 11 guests yet is cozy enough for a couple. In addition, our nearby guest house can comfortably sleep 4 guests. My Blue Heaven is full of rustic charm but never at the expense of creature comforts including central heat and air conditioning, fully appointed modern kitchen, telephone, high speed wireless internet, satellite TV, DVD, and CD players, hot tub, and deck and even a play house for the kids hidden among the trees.

    For over 30 years, this land and that of several adjoining neighbors has been maintained as a wildlife refuge. White-tailed deer are abundant and can be observed daily in the 15 acre deer meadow just outside the great room windows or from the deck or hot tub. A short walk to the river will reveal herons, kingfishers, beaver and more, and, because this section of the river has year-round flow, the beautiful swimming hole is full of smallmouth bass, crayfish, rock bass and sunfish.

    In the meadow and along the river banks, wildflowers can be found for much of the year, along with their attendant butterflies and other insects, a habitat well suited to nature photographers, wildflower enthusiasts or anyone who appreciates being outdoors.

Sleeping includes: Master Bedroom: Queen size 4-poster bed, with private bath with claw-foot tub and shower. Wildflower Room: 2 full size beds, Cave Room: 2 "extra-long" twin beds, guest bath with tub and shower, Sun Porch: twin day bed and full size futon, Guest House: Queen bed and full futon, fully equipped kitchen and dining area, and bathroom with shower.

Our spacious kitchen includes all the modern conveniences including: Jennair range, Refrigerator with icemaker, Dishwasher, Microwave, Coffeemaker, Blender, A selection of spices, All necessary cookware and dishes, Cloths washer and dryer

The Great Room, with its vaulted ceilings and window-wall, provides a sense of spaciousness and beautiful views of the Deer Meadow, Reynolds Mountain and the Little Buffalo River valley. It is also furnished with: Unique lodge-style furniture, A beautiful soapstone wood stove with viewing window, Red oak hardwood floors, Ceiling fans, Satellite TV, DVD and CD players, Telephone (phone card needed for long distance calls)

The exterior of My Blue Heaven includes: a large wrap-around deck with picnic table, gas grill, 7-person hot tub, short, mown trail to river and swimming hole, ornamental pond, exceptional landscaping with butterfly gardens and wildlife attractants, playhouse for the kids. We have a selection of lawn games including croquet, badminton, and horseshoes, and a campfire pit in the yard for roasting marshmallows and hot dogs. There is also a picnic area at the swimming hole with a stone table, log seating and a fire pit.

My Blue Heaven is situated on a 125 acre wildlife refuge with over ľ mile of frontage on the Little Buffalo River. Unlike many sections of the river which go underground for several months of the year, this section has year-round flow, a feature which further attracts wildlife, particularly during dry periods. Over the years, we have done much to improve wildlife habitat including extensive plantings of attractant plants for deer, turkey, and birds and, in conjunction with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, construction of stone structures along the river to stop erosion and improve fish habitat. Several adjoining landowners have installed similar projects and as a result, several hundred acres along the river now enjoy improved wildlife habitat and protection from poaching.

Because of these efforts, wildlife abounds at My Blue Heaven, particularly white-tailed deer which can be observed daily from the Great Room, the deck and the hot tub, especially during morning and evening hours. Along the river, great blue herons, green herons, and belted kingfishers are common sights. With luck, you might see beavers, mink, river otters, and even badgers, particularly at night. Larger mammal sightings can include black bear, coyotes, and bobcats. Bald eagles are occasional visitors and barred owls, barn owls and screech owls are common. The river itself is home to small-mouth bass (known locally as Brownies), rock bass (Goggle-eyes), shade perch and sunfish as well as red horse (Suckers), sculpins, and several colorful darter species, including some endemic to the Little Buffalo. Snapping turtles and sliders are frequently seen and crayfish rule the shallow riffles.

Be sure and bring your mask and snorkel during the warm months and enjoy the cool, clear underwater world of the Little Buffalo.

Because My Blue Heaven is part of a long established wildlife refuge, for obvious reasons we do not allow hunting or the discharging of weapons. Only catch-and-release fishing is allowed. Proper fishing licenses are required. Thank you for your cooperation

Opportunities abound for the shutterbug. Bring your camera and tripod and you’ll never run out of subjects. We have portable and fixed ground blinds available for those looking for that great close-up shot and our food plots, attractant plants, and feeding stations assure a ready supply of cooperative subjects. (All photos on this website were taken on the property by Wes Watkins, www.weswatkinsphotography.com)

If just kicking back in the hot tub or watching the deer with your morning coffee, or taking a dip in the swimming hole isn’t enough to get your blood pumping, we can suggest some more strenuous activities without having to get in the car:

During warm weather, grab your water shoes, mask and snorkel or spinning rod and explore the river. Each hole of water has its own character and inhabitants.

During high water, experienced canoeists find paddling the Little Buffalo a challenging and exhilarating experience without the crowds that are often present on the Buffalo National River. Put in at our ford, paddle to Jasper and arrange for a shuttle back.

My Blue Heaven is located near the center of Newton County, which encompasses some of the most ruggedly beautiful terrain in the Ozark Mountains, with 6 of the 10 highest peaks in the bioregion. Over half of the county is public land, managed by either the National Park Service (Buffalo National River), the USDA Forest Service (Ozark National Forest) or Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (various Wildlife Management Areas).. Opportunities abound for the outdoor enthusiast including:

The Buffalo National River: experience great canoeing, fishing and exploring. We’re accessible to the early spring floating on the upper river and the summer floating on the middle river. Local shuttle service and canoe rental available. And it’s just 60 miles to Cotter for world-class trout fishing on the White River.

Hiking Trails: We're near some of the best hiking trails on the Buffalo National River and there are additional trails nearby in the National Forest. See the most photographed rock in Arkansas, Hawksbill Crag; the awesome Pedestal Rocks, rock climber’s favorite Sam's Throne; beautiful Lost Valley and more, Nearby hikes include Alum Cove, just a 15 minute drive, the Buffalo River Trail and parts of the Ozark Highlands Trail.

Rock Climbing: Sam’s Throne, Horseshoe Canyon and Cave Creek Canyon, are all within a 30-40 minute drive.

Historic Eureka Springs: looking for crafts, shows, and unique gift shops? A day trip to Eureka Springs, a Victorian spa city, can include attractions like The Great Passion Play and the narrow gauge railroad. It's just a pleasant hour's drive, tour the famous Crescent Hotel, and the church entered through the dome, enjoy fine dining, and see the turn of the century homes and buildings.

We're only a 15 minute drive from Jasper for dining and craft shopping and 45 minutes from Harrison.

Branson, Missouri: has great music shows and is an easy drive, you can choose from country music, gospel, and comedy shows by some of the biggest names in the business.

Springfield, Missouri: is another good day trip to to see the famous Bass Pro Shop with its wildlife exhibits.

Mountain Biking: miles of old roads and Forest Service trails and roads are open to bike riders.

Scenic Drives: Reader's Digest calls Arkansas Highway 7 one of the top ten scenic drives in America. Be sure to take your camera for some breathtaking mountaintop views.

Wilderness Adventures: We have three wilderness areas nearby; the upper Buffalo, Ponca, Richland.

Craft and Antique shopping: local shops offer a variety of crafts and antiques at very reasonable prices.

Caving: explore on your own at recreation areas like Lost Valley or call Mystic Caverns, 870-743-1739, or Hurricane River Cave, 1-800-245-2282.

Blanchard Springs Caverns: were described as "the cave find of the century" when the huge, upper level was discovered in 1963. The multi-million dollar complex was 10 years under development. Visitor tours are offered daily with the exception of selected national holidays and some weekdays in the winter. Reservations are recommended during heavy-use periods of summer and fall. For current information and reservations call: 870-757-2211. Arrangements can be made for guided tours of nearby wild caves. Please inquire.

Arrangements can be made for guided tours of nearby wild caves. Please inquire.

Golfing: there are golf courses at Harrison, Diamond City, Bull Shoals and Huntsville.

Crafts: You’ll find them here in the Ozarks, the same functional, beautiful furniture, quilts, baskets, toys, and other treasures our ancestors made when they came here in the early 1800s. Or, try a day trip to , Silver Dollar City for shows, crafts, and family fun. Call 1-800-952-6626 for information.

Watchable Wildlife: We’re the Elk Capitol of Arkansas by proclamation of the governor, and you can enjoy seeing our elk herd at many locations along the Buffalo River. We’ll help you select a spot for elk watching. We also have a wonderful variety of wildlife ranging from whitetail deer and black bear to gray and red squirrels and from bald eagles and great blue herons to finches. Exploring Newton County is an adventure.

Lakes: We are close enough to Bull Shoals Lake for an easy day trip to enjoy boating and fishing there.

We can also help with arrangements for horseback riding, mountain biking and guided fishing trips. Please inquire.

My Blue Heaven provides a wide selection of guidebooks for these and other activities.

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Cash, personal check, travelers check, or money orders preferred.

21 day cancellation policy (less $15 service fee) If less than 21 days, deposits will be refunded only if we can schedule other guests.

Please understand that this is a dry county and it’s a long way to the line so, if you drink, bring your own.

No hunting or discharging of weapons, No fireworks, No ATVs.

Pet Policy:
We allow outdoor pets only. We provide a 5' x 15' x 6' tall shaded kennel. During periods of extreme weather we may make exceptions and allow clean, well-behaved pets indoors, with prior payment of a security deposit. Contact us for more information. Please note that pets, leashed or otherwise, are not allowed on trails within the Buffalo National River boundaries.

My Blue Heaven

Owners: Gordon & Susan Watkins

HCR 72 Box 34

Parthenon, Arkansas 72666

Our Calendar

Phone: 870-446-5783

Email: info@myblueheavencabin.com

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