If you happen to find yourself in the charming little town of Mountain View, Arkansas, there’s a great place to visit for some tasty food, great drinks and killer views. That place is Anglers White River Resort!
Anglers
Though you might not know much about Mountain View, or perhaps have ever even heard of it, there’s actually quite a lot to see, do and especially eat here. One place in particular is that of Anglers White River Resort located on the outskirts of town. With grand views of the river, excellent service and their very own general store on site, you can do just about it all here.
With a previous canoe operation on the Southfork of the Spring River, Julie and her husband Chris moved to Mountain View when the opportunity for Anglers came available. According to Julie, her husband Chris had been working as a network engineer in California while she a bank manager. They sold their house and used the equity to purchase their first resort in Arkansas.
“We chose the location as it was the best bang for our buck and because of the beauty of the Ozarks,” she tells me.
The resort offers quite a lot for the visitor, including, lodging (with a motel, cabins and RV spots), a trout dock (which includes guide services, boats, kayaks, canoes and raft rentals), a large tackle shop with gifts and some groceries, gasoline for RVs, cars and/or boats, and a full service restaurant. The latter of which includes a private meeting area for banquets, receptions, holiday parties, corporate meetings, etc.) and indoor/outdoor dining overlooking the White River.
And while the resort itself opened in 2000, the owners made their big purchase in 2007. Going strong, the Holiday RV Park was opened in 1985, and they decided to purchase that as well 7 years after the resort, in 2014. And since opening the respective portions of the business Julie tells me that they’ve doubled in their occupancy in lodging at the RV park, and tripled their annual number of guests at the restaurant.
This last bit is really no shocker, considering the stunning views from the restaurant, the great lodge ambiance the restaurant has, and of course the delicious food that they offer.
Fun fact of Mountain View is that it’s a dry county – but not at Anglers.
“We got our private club license from the Alcohol Beverage Control board, which allows us to sell to our members and their guests,” explains Julie.
And because of this bonus up their sleeves, it has given them a more successful business than other places in town simply for this fact. And their selections are not too shabby either. With cocktails, wines, and beer on the menu you can have your pick of some very reasonably priced adult beverages to go along with your tasty dinner or lunch.
Good Eats
And the food? Well, of course we have to talk about that. Their selection is extensive, and though I didn’t eat everything off the menu, what I did have was fantastic. My top picks I walked away choosing were their Chipotle Steak, their Cajun pasta and their chocolate cake. Don’t forget to have some of their fried alligator too – if you’re bold enough as I was to venture in that direction.
Though I didn’t have any, I’m told that their most popular dish is their Prime Rib on Friday nights, which sells out weekly. Many of their guests apparently come from out of town just to try it. And, Julie mentions, their sushi has been a big crowd pleaser on Thursday evenings as well.
But, their house specialty is the Blackened Red Fish with Shrimp Florentine Sauce, which I did have the opportunity to try. Colorful, tasty and light. Just right for those who want something a little more sophisticated and not quite as heavy on the stomach.
And don’t forget to have one of their many amazing desserts!
Why Its Worth Stopping In
When asked why guests should visit Anglers, Julie tells me,
“To experience a friendly greeting, then have attentive service, to enjoy an amazing meal, while sipping a beverage of choice and taking in the view of the beautiful Ozarks overlooking the White River.” She nailed it. All of this and more are the reasons why anyone would have a wonderful time visiting her restaurant. The experience is unique, and you feel nestled in an unknown spot in the Ozarks while eating some of the yummiest southern food to boot.
So what are you waiting for? You know you want to visit Anglers to get some delicious southern grub, and pick up some tackle and a t-shirt in their gift shop. Just make sure that when you do visit, you let them know that Lisa sent you!
Need a place to sleep after all that delicious food? You might want to check out The Wildflower B&B where you can rest after a filling meal. ..
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