As the sun began to sink below the Ozark Mountains across an arm of Table Rock Lake, a lone bagpiper launched into a sonorous melody that signaled the end of another day at Big Cedar Lodge.
The nightly sunset ritual is offered year-round (weather permitting) at the resort’s Top of the Rock Ozark Heritage Preserve and concludes with the firing of a Civil War–era cannon at the very moment that the last sliver of light disappears below the horizon. As wilderness resorts go, it doesn’t get any better than Big Cedar, and this ceremony is just one of the many reasons why.
While Big Cedar has 3 lodges and scores of cabins and cottages, my wife and I opted to stay at the resort’s Camp Long Creek, which opened in 2019 and is continuing to grow. Located about 4 miles west of the main campus, the camp-inspired destination features small camp huts, cabins, and luxurious glamping tents. With vintage camp decor, simple shiplap walls, and exposed wood beams, our 1-room cabin exuded rustic yet stylish comfort.
Many of the camp’s accommodations overlook the lake, and you can take advantage of a marina, a zero-entry infinity pool, and a canteen located in a vintage Airstream trailer that’s open for breakfast and lunch seasonally. Cabin rates start at $231.
Getting to Big Cedar’s restaurants and attractions is easy using an app-based shuttle system. Enter your destination and the size of your party, and it alerts you to when the shuttle will arrive. You can even track the shuttle’s progress on a small map. We used it several times to visit Top of the Rock, where we enjoyed drinks on the stone patio outside the Buffalo Bar after dining on steak and scallops at the upscale Osage Restaurant—both of which offer outstanding lake views.
Set in the heart of the Ozark Mountains, Big Cedar celebrates its surroundings with several experiences. At Top of the Rock, we boarded an electric cart to follow the 2.5-mile Lost Canyon and Nature Trail through the forest, near stunning rock formations and waterfalls, and into a cave. We paused often to take in dramatic vistas. Adult tickets start at $32.50 and include admission to the Ancient Ozarks Natural History Museum on-site.
We also drove about 16 miles west of the resort to explore the 10,000-acre Dogwood Canyon Nature Park, which features tours by tram, bicycle, horseback, and foot. There’s also a restaurant, a treehouse built by Animal Planet’s Treehouse Masters, and a nature center. Adult admission starts at $15; tours are additional.