Bear Creak Lodge B&B, Walnut Shade
May 2021
Twenty years ago, Rebecca Tate opened Bear Creek Lodge with one suite and a cabin. Tucked into the Missouri hills between Springfield and Branson, this bed and breakfast now offers three lodge suites and six cabins situated on wooded acreage. There’s also a brewery, winery and wedding venue. Managing it all is daughter, Mandy, and her husband, Ryan, a talented brew master.
This mother-daughter duo’s flair for decorating is evident in the many thoughtful details. From shabby chic to modern farmhouse and western bunkhouse, each suite and cabin has its own personality, deck and private hot tub. Cozy two-bedroom Pinecone cabin, where my husband and I stayed, sports a vintage vibe, full kitchen and blissful covered deck overlooking the forest.
Bear Creek started aging and bottling fruit wines about ten years ago. In 2018, Ryan began brewing small batch craft beer. Two of his six labels are standbys while the rest, such as chocolate raspberry coffee IPA or smokey Bonfire, change frequently. The nightly menu features homemade pizzas and campfire chips—kettle chips topped with blue cheese horseradish white sauce, bacon crumbles and more blue cheese before it slides into the pizza oven. Besides the tasting room, garden seating and expansive deck overlooking the valley, heated and cooled plexiglass wine huts rent at $20 for two hours. Live music entertains Thursday through Sunday.
The pool opens mid-April through late-September. Booking add-ons include horseback riding, the shooting range or zip lining. A wine and spirits package begins in Bear Creek’s tasting room and ends at a local distillery. Wine and fondue can be delivered to the cabin. Across the highway, Busiek State Forest offers hiking, and Branson lies approximately ten miles south.
According to Mandy, she tailors breakfast to an outdoorsy crowd and can serve up to 42 guests. Weekdays, there’s fresh fruit, locally-made pastries, muffins, cinnamon rolls, and cereal. On weekends, she whips up biscuits smothered in from-scratch sausage gravy or her breakfast pizza.
“Many families and couples have stayed with us for years,” says Mandy. “And we’re always adding to the property. Our next project is a 4,000-square-foot dining area with an expanded brewery underneath where people can watch the brewing process.”
Gardening remains one of Rebecca’s passions. When guests started asking to get married on site, she began hosting outdoor weddings and built the original chapel. Today, a larger chapel and lovely grounds accommodate all-inclusive weddings for up to 175 people.
Visit BearCreekBedAndBreakfast.com for more information.