Issue #155
July 15, 2004

Enjoying The Erbie Area

I had the opportunity to spend a couple days at the Buffalo River Basin Cabin this past week. It is located in the Erbie Area, very near the Buffalo River and is one of my favorite areas of the river to have fun in. I had never been to this cabin before and was excited about the opportunity. I arrived on Thursday evening and after getting all my stuff into the cabin, just sat on the covered deck and delighted in the extraordinary view.
Basin Cabin has a large front sitting room with an entrance onto the covered deck. The hardwood interior and cozy furnishings makes you feel at home. There is a TV with both DVD and VCR capabilities and a radio/cd player for music. A gas fireplace will certainly keep you toasty in the cooler months and the air conditioning works great in the summer, plus the two ceiling fans keeps the cool air moving around in the cabin.

My friend Terri Matthews arrived from Harrsion. We were planning on doing a road trip, swimming hole kinda thing. Take the day and drive around seeing the sights and stopping by for swimming at several of the local swimming holes. I had already moved into the master bedroom so Terri moved into the loft bedroom. There were two double beds up there and along with mine meant the cabin could comfortably sleep six people.
Just after we got all settled in it started to rain. Terri and I decided to sit on the covered deck and watch the thunderstorm. We were nice and dry when the hard rain and lightening arrived and we had quite the light show. Once the thunderstorm moved along, I managed to capture a rainbow (below) as it briefly made an appearance out over the Erbie Valley.

After the storm we went inside for a bit to make some supper. The kitchen has everything you might need to cook up just about any dish. Terri microwaved some veggies and I cooked some brats in beer, and that together with some potato salad was our late supper. As we ate on the deck the sky got a light misty quality and when the sun set, it produced a brilliant, pinkish red sunset.
We awoke Friday morning to grayish skies and a forecast of a 50% chance of rain. We decided to drive into Jasper, AR for breakfast at the Ozark Café and then stop in at the Newton County Chamber of Commerce where there is a nice selection of local crafts available. After visiting the Chamber we went across the street and into one of my favorite shops in Jasper, Emma's Museum of Fine Junk. A great place to just wander around in, you never know what you might find there. Once we were finished in Jasper we began our dirt road trip through the Erbie Area. We had packed up a cooler with food and drink, and brought along swimming attire and extra clothes just in case we had the chance to stop and go swimming.
We entered the Buffalo National River Park at the Erbie entrance on Highway 7 and made our way down to a very nice picnic area where we had a brief snack and drink before proceeding down to the Erbie Campground. Once we got to the campground, it was starting to drizzle so we didn't swim there, but decided to head down to the historic Parker-Hickman homestead.

The Parker-Hickman homestead is a historic farm, preserved by the National Park Service, which was at one time the center of a thriving community in the late 1800's and early 1900's. The old home is still standing and the barn and other out buildings are still in good shape. You can get a sense of how these families survived and prospered in the days before electricity and modern technology. Anyone passing through this area should stop and take a look. The Park Service was working there when we arrived, just before noon and we stopped to chat a bit before they broke for lunch.
Our trip around the Erbie area finished up around 4:30 in the afternoon. Terri was headed to several auctions and estate sales and we got her packed up and on her way on time. I had a nice relaxing evening at the cabin. On Saturday I had the opportunity to swim at one of the area swimming spots (Pruitt access), and also went over to the Daisy Diner (an old time hamburger stand) for a late lunch. I used the afternoon to visit some friends I have in the Erbie area and then went back to the Basin Cabin for supper and relaxing on the deck. It was a cloudless night and there were stars out on the horizon. I awoke Sunday to some very nice skies and beautiful weather, unfortunately my time at the Basin Cabin was over. It was back to Harrison and mowing the lawn.

My trip to Buffalo River Basin Cabin was sure a lot of fun. The cabin was great and had everything we needed for our stay. I think the location of this cabin is perfect for those who want to get off the beaten path and drive down the dirt roads that meander through the park. You can find swimming holes, historic sites, hiking trails and just plain cool stuff. Keller Canoes is just down the road if you want to float the Buffalo River and have them shuttle you. Jasper is a great small town to visit and shop in. You can find lots of arts and crafts items there and several very good restaurants for dining. If your looking for a spot to have a family vacation then I think you should give Larry & Kathleen a call and book the Basin Cabin. You will have memories you won't soon forget.
Buffalo River Basin Cabin
Owner Larry & Kathleen Stanley
Halfway Between Harrison, Ar. and Jasper, Ar.
Email Buffalo River Basin Cabin
Phone:870-743-3081