Mountain Home, AR for retirement?

[tallyho8]

This is a great area to live in if you are either a hunter, fisherman, horseback rider, hiker, 4-wheeler, naturalist, sight-seer, canoeist, gardner, bird-watcher, etc. But if you want to see operas and theaters, hang out at bars, eat at fine dining establishments and shop at Macy's, then this is not the spot for you. It is my favorite vacation spot on earth and I go every Ocotber and most Aprils. Wish I didn't have so many roots here and could move up there. I have 160 acres of timberland there in the National forest and can't even sell it for $1000 an acre, so the price of land there is much lower than in most of the USA. Clean air, clean water, nice people, (well, most of them anyway) spectacular scenery, but the economy is slightly depressed as activity builds up slightly west of there by WalMartville or north to Branson. We've already lost Dogpatch, Diamond Cave, Booger Hollow, Lum's Mountain Guest Ranch and many of my other favorite places. I just hope that not too many of you move up there and destroy my little vacation paradise.

 

[gemini5362]

If I remember right, Harrison is where Dogpatch USA was where we spent a week in June '75. And many years before that, my Dad bought some lake lots on Bull Shoals with the intention of someday retiring there, but instead, sold the lots after a few years. Now I've never owned a Porsche (or had any desire to own one ), but highway 7 was a nice drive even in a Winnebago towing an Opel Cadet.

Actually you are close Dogpatch was in a little town called Jasper. It has been closed for several years now. I did notice when I was through there in the fall that there was a lot of construction going on in dogpatch but I dont know whether someone is going to try and reopen it again or not.

I have never driven a winnebago pulling an opal cadet on highway 7 or anywhere else for that matter. It is a nice highway but I dont know if i would want to do all those corners with that big a rig. Did it make it easy for you to check the taillights on the opal when you went around corners.

 

[gemini5362]

This is a great area to live in if you are either a hunter, fisherman, horseback rider, hiker, 4-wheeler, naturalist, sight-seer, canoeist, gardner, bird-watcher, etc. But if you want to see operas and theaters, hang out at bars, eat at fine dining establishments and shop at Macy's, then this is not the spot for you. It is my favorite vacation spot on earth and I go every Ocotber and most Aprils. Wish I didn't have so many roots here and could move up there. I have 160 acres of timberland there in the National forest and can't even sell it for $1000 an acre, so the price of land there is much lower than in most of the USA. Clean air, clean water, nice people, (well, most of them anyway) spectacular scenery, but the economy is slightly depressed as activity builds up slightly west of there by WalMartville or north to Branson. We've already lost Dogpatch, Diamond Cave, Booger Hollow, Lum's Mountain Guest Ranch and many of my other favorite places. I just hope that not too many of you move up there and destroy my little vacation paradise.

This is exactly what i meant about living there. Although memphis is trying to become a more cultured part of the south and it is within an easy day or weekend drive.

 

[ScottAR]

If I was retiring, I can't think of much a better place.

Unless things have built up in MH since I've visited; (which has been quite awhile) Your gonna be traveling shopping for major items. Probably to Batesville or Jonesboro if you go east anyway. Possibly to Paragould where I live.
I know the lumber yards here used to deliver over that way as the truck drivers used to fight over those trips. It took all morning.

 

[Bird]

I dont know if i would want to do all those corners with that big a rig

When we were full time RVers in the early '90s, we lived in a 40' motorhome, but 20 years earlier, we had a 1973 Winnebago Brave that was only 18' long.

 

[BTDT]

BTDT I missed where he said he was retireing but you are probably right retireing is about slowing down I think , I dont know I have not done that yet. I love that area where MH is I live south and west of there in the mountains also, One of the highways going to that part of the country is Arkansas highway 7. I have a porsche boxster and just last fall we had a nice day not too hot and the leaves had been turning color for a while. We took the day off, put the top down and went up highway 7 to branson just for the drive. If I am lucky enough not to have traffic in my way Hwy 7 is very curvy and I can just put the pedal down and have a blast taking the curves fast. If there is traffic in the way I slow down and enjoy the view either way it is a nice drive. The previous poster was right Little Rock is not too far but it is a trip you would not make every day. Branson is not too far away and actually memphis would not be out of the question for an overnight trip. The cost of houseing is very reasonable compared to some of the other places I have seen. Although Arkansas has a state income tax the property tax on real estate is very reasonable compared to some of the places I have seen. Maybe one of the best things the poster could do would be to make reservations to spend the weekend at Branson and then go from there and explore the area. That would give him a chance to find out more about MH and he might like to go to one of the performances in Branson.

The name of the thread is why I thought he was wanting retirement info.

 

[gemini5362]

BTDT you are right I just forgot what the name of the thread said. Duh, the older I get the shorter the days and my memory become

 

[MikeTipton]

I live in Mt. Home. Actually in the county and my address is Gassville. I moved here in September of 05, having bought a home in the Spring of '05. Mt. Home was completely off my radar until I saw the article in the Wall Street Journal singing it praises.
Mt Home is great is you are outdoor oriented. I am a fly fisherman and my wife is a serious gardiner. However there are a lot of rocks and not much "soil". Which is why we bought her a BX24!
The nearest airport is in Springfield, about a 3 hour drive. Branson is less than 2 hours. Memphis is about 4 hours. Mt Home has a Home Depot, a Lowes (right across the street), and the worlds largest Wall Mart. A Staples is being built. Otherwise your shopping is limited. Most of my Christmas shopping was off the 'net. Aside from fast food the only "chain" restaurant is a Chilis. The three chinese places are terrible. There are a number of Mexican places and they are good. There are very few "fine dining" establishments.

Mike T.

 

[Bird]

Mike, Mountain Home sounds like a good place to me. Firist, I hope to never have to fly on a commercial airline again, have to put up with the ridiculous imitation security at the airports, the traffic mess, and all that. Secondly, to some of us (maybe just to us old folks) "fine dining" means they charge twice what it's worth. And last, if Walmart, Home Depot, and Lowe's don't have it, I probably don't need it, so the shopping sounds OK.

I'll have to admit

The three chinese places are terrible

sounds like a problem. My wife and I are rather fond of some chinese buffet places in this area.

 

[gemini5362]

Bird you can probably get good chinese food in Branson and you can go to Lamberts Cafe " The Home of the Throwed Rolls. " That is an experience
they serve these delicious home made rolls when the rolls are ready the server for the Rolls comes out and you hold your hand up and he throws you one. The guy is really good he can throw half way across the restraunt with a professional accuracy. One word of advice if you go there go HUNGRY. The have some of the largest servings I have ever seen. That is just for the entrees. They have servers going around with big bowls of fried okra, potatoes etc and when they come by your table you just stop them and tell them you want some they fill your plate until you say stop. If you are looking for somewhere that is a slower lifestyle it is a nice area. When I moved back to Arkansas in 1988 all my friends told me I would not last a year. I had been working for a defense contractor and traveled all around the world. I laughed and told them I wanted something slower. I have not regretted moving back one day. I travel a bit during the year. I am a representative for my union and go to several conventions out of state but I like coming home and just relaxeing.