Ozark Living

By Randy Rice Ozark Living Magazine Bear Mountain Log Cabins was founded 20 years ago in Eureka Springs by George and Pat Coffey. e idea was to offer luxury cabins to folks who wanted to unplug and get away for a peaceful secluded experience. ey also had a stable of riding horses. Chris and Melissa Clion purchased the cabins in 2019 when Pat decided it was time to retire. "Originally, we purchased just the business called Bear Mountain Log Cabins," explained Chris. "Before we came along, it had been all one business with both the log cabins and the stables that housed about eleven horses. ey did trail rides and had a couple of apartments by the stables. Since my background was in hotels I was only interested in the rental cabins, not the horses." Over the next year, aer the Clions purchased the log cabin side of the business, the previous owner continued to live in the apartment by the stables where she kept her horses. "As I got to know her and became familiar with the stable, I realized that it was really a beautiful building with lots of possibilities. Pat had tried to do weddings there but when you have eleven horses on three acres it's kind of rough turning it into a nice wedding venue," Chris said. "e only people willing to do a wedding surrounded by horse manure were really serious horse people." Recognizing its potential to be a uniquely charming wedding venue, Chris and Melissa decided to purchase the rest of the business with the stable. And at the end of the summer last year they started doing small weddings. "e stable already had a banquet hall and a pavilion outside," Chris said. "So, we thought we could clean this up and start doing small weddings. One of the apartments is attached to the banquet room and we call that the bridal suite. It's a two-room apartment and one of the rooms has LED lighted mirrors where the bride and bridesmaids can get ready." is newest addition to the Bear Mountain Log Cabins operation is a beautiful wedding venue that offers a unique setting for your special day at a very affordable price. e area that surrounds the stable area is known as Inspiration Point in the Ozarks. And the stable is at the highest level of Inspiration Point offering a magnificent mountaintop view. e space includes a beautiful banquet room with cedar walls and ceiling that can accommodate up to 75 people. ere is also an outdoor pavilion that seats up to 50 all nestled in the breathtaking Ozarks. In addition to the bridal suite, the venue also has what they call their presidential suite that people can also rent out for their honeymoon. Last year the Clions hosted six wedding events. ree of them were complete weddings, Bear Mountain Log Cabins: Unique Eureka Springs wedding venue 10 • February 2023 • OZarK LIVING

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