AR/MO land questions

Have you been to the used book store in West Plains? It's just down hill from the square, sort of next to the coffee shop / cafe and across from the pawn shop. Lots of their books are from other stores who have failed, so they aren't really 'used' books.

They have lots of art books, which I like. Good selection of local information and history books. Good selection of audio books which we listed to while driving. Actually, a pretty good selection of just about everything.

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Alice
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"No great thing is created suddenly." ~Epictitus

Thanks Rose, my S.O. and myself will have to check out the bookstore. We are both big time readers of all sorts of things. The nice thing about Mountain Home AK was that there are two used bookstores and one new book store (Hastings). After working outdoors during the daylight it's great to kick back and read some!!

Quint, I had written a reply to your info on the ISP but it didn't show up. If all else fails for ISP connections I'll have to see what is there in the way of Satellite Broadband if I have a SW view of the sky. Need that view anyways for the Dish TV. I'm a PC/Network tech so I guess I'd be lost without a high speed connection although I'm also an outside type of person too.

BTW if needed for extra income (after retirement) is there much work that a PC/Network tech can do in the mountains. Not needed to be big bucks, just a little extra.

Thanks

Dish Network told us they don't offer internet.

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Alice
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"No great thing is created suddenly." ~Epictitus

Dish TV used to be in partners with another company that did offer Sat internet (can't remember their name right now) but they split. I had that one and Direct TV offers Sat Internet plus new players are coming into the field all the time. I think I'll keep my eyes and ears open and see what develops with all sorts of internet options. Never know what may happen next. I just read an article that reminded me that 10 years ago we were happy with 1200/2400 baud modems. Time moves on it seems.

Hey there, My husband and I purchased land in Newton Co. Ar. and have been attempting to build a place all by our lonesome, while living in an older RV.
It has been a real life learning experience. I was reared in the Ouchita Mountains of SE Oklahoma. Hubby was from farm land in Illinois. Myself being from mountain people, thought I would be pretty prepared for whatever would come our way. Well I have been fooled about that idea several times, believe you me.
Compared to the rest of the States. Cost here are rather fairly low. But they have to be, due to Newton Co. is the poorest county in all of Arkansas. The only real place to work in all of Newton Co. would be the Nursing Home in Jasper. Jasper is the County Seat. There is the Bank, the School, Bob's Market, a couple of Diners, and the Junction. Any job that becomes available goes generally to a locally born person. Can't blame them though. So many outsiders, are moving in, they have to maintain a sense of survial for themselves. There is also the Parks Department, but....So if you choose to move here, come prepared to have to drive into Boone Co. (Harrison) if you must find employment.
If you are seeking a really laid back life-style, then you would love the area. Hunting, Fishing, Canoeing, Hiking and Whittleing are the main events of the day.
If you are a Tree Hugger, Rock Lover, or WildFlower/Leaf Watcher, you can hardly find a better place to do all of the above. If you love Wild-life, we got it all. Every species of bug or spider on the planet. Bears that walk right up on porches, Deer and HUGE Bull Elk that love to stand in the middle of a curve of a winding mountain road. And most of those paved roads haven't any guardrails. So brush up on your driving skills, hahaha. We have Fox, Skunk, Weasel, Coon, Bobcat, Panther, Cooger, Coyote, and Wolf, etc, etc... Oh I can't leave out my favorite critters Rattlers as long as a man is tall and the all time sneaky snake the Copperhead. It's the Wilds. Much of it Totally Untamed Land.
The Buffalo River winding thru the mountain cliffs offers and new revelation with each and every visit. She makes a day of family fun like no other. You can swim or spend hours rock hunting. If you are good at looking hard you can actually come up with arrow heads left over when this was Indian Territory. We have found stone ax heads and a grinding stone (bowl).

Anything you wish to know I would be most willing to find the information for you if I or my husband don't know. The main thing I would say is this though, don't go to the realtors to show you land to buy. Go to the locals. Find some of the old timers and ask them. Maybe you could come up with a place where you could grow a garden if you ever wished. That is prized land around here so you may have to search for awhile. I would advise doing that though.
Hope you have happy days ahead....Mawna

Hi Mawna!! It sounds like you're doing what my S.O. and I are planning to do. We are in our 50's and hope to retire by 62. She is selling her house next spring and we want to invest that money in a nice piece of land now rather than wait till we retire but once again not in a hurry if we don't find the right piece of land. If it takes several years of looking we'll wait till it comes along. Once it does we hope to either be lucky enough to find one with a well and perked or one that we can contract with a "water clause" to be sure that we hit water when we dig the well. We hope to get 40+ acres with either stream/pond on it. I was born and raised in the country that is fast disappearing here. My S.O. has only been in the country since 1988 but she loves it and can't imagine ever being in a suburb/city again.

We hope when we move and build in the area that our work for pay days are over, we'll be working on our land then. But she is an R.N. and she had mentioned if we need her to work for health benefits, etc she would be willing to go to Harrison, etc. I would too but hopefully neither of us will need to.

And the laid back lifestyle suits us to a "T" We are that way now and enjoy being around others that are. We are both outdoor type people and love the area in Newton County. We stopped at the "Cliff House" and had a great time going through Deer, etc. We hope to spend a couple of nights at the Cliff House and do more serious traveling in the county on our next trip out. Any routes/towns/areas that we should check out?

Thanks for your offer of help on info on the area. We'll gladly take you up on it. Had not thought of talking to the locals on looking for land. Is there any place we should start at to find some locals to talk to? A local dinner, store, town offices, etc?

Thanks

Husband and I have been on our 45 acres about 10 miles north of Harrison for nearly 8 years now...I've nothing much else to add to what everyone else from this area has shared with you .... just wanted to let you know I think you also will enjoy living in the Ozarks.

I would like to invite you and your SO to our annual fall get together at Tyler Bend - on the Buffalo River just north of Marshall. The invite, of course also goes for the others who have posted on this thread ... it's a great place to meet like minded people and share homesteading ideas and such. This year it will be the weekend of September 16-18th -- Saturday being the best day to come if you can only be there for one day.

Hope to see ya'll there,
Marlene

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It is the one with persistence and determination that brings great ideas into being.

Hi back to you two!
The Cliff House attracts many folks from all across the country. Bet you loved the view!? In November 2001, (I am thinking that's the correct year) a tornado hit the Cliff House. Thankfully they had just closed for the season the day before. The entire dining room was ripped away and sent across the valley below for miles. They lost too many antique items to count. But by the next week we had an ice storm outta this world. That sort of explains the weather around these parts.

If you wish to find some of the locals to check out land that is up for sale, I would probadly be at the Ozark Cafe down in Jasper as soon as they open the doors in the morning. Then waltz across the street to the Court House. The Court House employs all locals and there is not a thing that goes on around here that they don't keep up with. Big Hint: Don't dress too "up" and above all don't look touristie. The locals are very friendly but are really careful about giving out inside info to outsiders. You move here you will find that you out for yourself though.

I wish more than anything we would have gotten a year round spring with our property. We have a seasonal creek and spring. But those kind dry up fast here once hot weather hits. I would rather have a round year spring than a small creek any day. On down the mountain to the west of us about a half mile, there is a couple that bought a place with a huge clift overhand. They closed over the front opening and have lived there for years now. They have NO utilities, using generator for electric, small propane tanks, wood heat, and a full time spring for all water needs. Their closest neighbor up from them have lived there for 19 years now, living in the same manner. Call me a whoosie but I like my Computer too much to go that far. But I know we could if we had too.

Well just alittle more info. Have a good evening! Mawna

Wow, that was some news about the Cliff House. You couldn't tell it was damaged when we were there, looked great!!!

We get more snow and ice here but once I'm out the I'll be retired so if it does snow/ice we can stay home and watch it come down!!! I wouldn't miss going out in it. One year a dozen years or so ago we had ice for 17 straight weekends in a row and I made it to work each time (drove 35 miles each way, back roads). I wouldn't do that now, just call in and take a vacation day!!!

Thanks for the tips on catching up with the locals, I rarely dress up so I should be good. Had to wear a tie and jacket yesterday for a work photo, but sure hated it!!! LOL!!!

I know the value of a year round creek. We have a seasonal one here that mostly only runs when it storms and it's a pain. I have a gas powered generator here but plan to have two when I move out there and gas to run them. I too need my computer although I love being outside a lot.

MarlenS, sounds great on the Fall get together but don't think we can make it this year. Wish we could. We'll have to watch for one next year. Sounds like you have about the size property that we'll be looking for.

Morning!
Yep the contractor that came in did a really great job on the Cliff House. Got it all back together in the Winter and early Spring of that year. The owners had no other choice but to get her up and running, that is their means of surviving up here! I hear say there is a job opening in their kitchen. They have been having a time of it keeping a Cook. When were you guys up here? While at the Cliff House, as the crow flies you guys were only about a mile S.E. of our place. Up top here is called the Mockingbird Hill area.

If you looked across the valley to the East from the Cliff House you were looking at what is called Asia Point. ONLY the "wealthier" folks buy property there. One fellow bought all that land up in the 80's I think it was, and tracted it out. To buy and build up there you have to sign a contract with alot of regulations. One being no motor homes, campers, nor mobile homes allowed. The present City Cop, bought land there and had to hurry and live in a storage building he built, because he and his wife were staying in a small camper. "NO CAMPERS ALLOWED" to junk up the view! Left us out, even if we could have afforded the land price. There are some fancy places, (for around these parts) up there.

Then on down in the valley to the East is Mount Judea and Piercetown. If you find something you like around Mount Judea, Don't pronounce it the way it is suppose to be. Say Mt. Juuudy. Local Slang helps out when talking to the old timers. And another one is when speaking of more than one person to another, they say "You-un's" not ya'll nor you guys or you all. "Where are You-un's from?" They are a Hoot!

I still get the biggest kick when I over-hear a bunch of them together going at it.
They have a lingo all their own.
Have a Good One......Mawna

Good Morning Mawna,

That contracter did a great job!! We were there in mid-May. Glad to know where the expensive parts of Newton Cty are!! I'll avoid those!!! And also don't want any restrictions!!! What's the point of being there if you have all sorts of rules and regs!! I bought my land here years ago because of no regulations vs some others I had looked at that did have, doubt it would be the same here today.

Thanks for the tip on how words are pronounced there. Don't want to sound too strange to them!!! I sound strange enough at work. In the city they thought I was from down south until I told them my accent was a rural accent.

I too enjoy the accent out there

Hey I got a "Light-Bulb", just a moment ago for ya! Try looking on the inter-net for property that has been seized by the State for back taxes.

Just last fall, (and we didn't know about the auction *#^%$) but a local fellow, whom we are aquainted with bought 5 acres adjoining ours just to the south of our line for NOTHING. All because it had been sitting there for years and no one could locate the owners. Up she went on the auction block. Thank God we know him and he is friendly! Don't know what he wants with that little plot, we are the last folks on this end of the mountain and there isn't a road that runs to the land he picked up, nor utilities. Just to add to his collection I suppose, he was locally born and bred and owns plots of ground everywhere. I sure hope he lets it sit. I sure love being the only persons right here. Hummm he would be a great guy for you to contact also!!! His name is Roger Watson out of Jasper. Roger knows everyone!!!

Soooo I think you could type in "State of Arkansas" and go to Land Commissioner and request a pamplet with all the seized lands listed in it. They will mail it out to you I believe. You may find some good listings, as I told you Newton is the poorest county in Arkansas. Some folks come in and buy and then can't make it due to the economy and then just light outta here never looking back. Or folks that have moved in and then passed away and their kin doesn't want the land up here cause of no real value to it. Well hillsides with rocks and clay is not profitable to most folks.

Only valuable to goof balls like my hubby and I. OH OH OH! AND/OR if you had the money to come in and build a rental cabin or two. Whew boy would you have your living made in the shade. Rentals stay rented up in these parts from early early Spring all the way thru Christmas.

Just some thoughts sent along to you guys.

Mmmm very interesting! I checked out the web site. Could be something to check out. Maybe pop out some week when the sale is going on in the county(s) that we're interested in so we can see and walk the land first. They don't mail the catalogs outside of Arkansas any more but do have them online.

Also thanks for the contact in Roger. Might have to call him sometime when we make our next plans to come out again. It's always good to be able to deal with real people that know what's going on in the area

I guess we're goof balls too LOL!! Since it's valauble to us as well
Don't know if we would want to go the route of cabin rentals, we don't want the hassles that go with running a business. But it is a thought if we need to do something to make money when we're out there.

We are new to the Ozarks and LOVING it. We bought our place a bit over a year ago. We are from Ok. but had lived for several years in western PA. It was lovely, but never felt like HOME. SO... having vacationed in the Ozarks often, we decided to begin land hunting in 2004. We ended up buying (sight unseen!) a homestead I found online, instead of raw land, we bought a bit over 20 acres, 2 bedroom house, 30x40 barn, storage building, storm cellar. Nice mixture of open meadows and woods (with a decent pond) fenced & cross fenced for 50.000. Our taxes are right at 100 dollars a year. We are north of Thayer (between there and Alton) On a paved road, but with very very light traffic. The area is beautiful. The locals have been nothing but wonderful and welcoming. The veiw from my front porch (west facing) feeds my soul each evening. I knew the moment I stepped out onto this land for the first time, that I was really, really HOME. We've had such a great time that my best friend has bought herself a house in Thayer and is leaving Dallas (for a second childhood in the Ozarks the end of Aug). I'm so enjoying country life. I have 4 jerseys, a small herd of goats, chickens, turkeys, a pet pig!!! (all the poultry free ranges and knock on wood, so far I've not lost so much as a single chick) I keep a few goats in the chicken yard at night, think that's what has kept the critters away. I see coyotes just about every evening, but rabbits seem to be more to their taste. We usually drive into West Plains about once a week, just to eat someone else's cooking/shop a bit. Rumor says that there is a WalMart super center going in at Mammoth Springs (the little town that bumps up to Thayer on the south side) Not sure what all else will also move in if that is true, but time will tell. West Plains is certainly growing. I'm glad we didn't buy any closer then we did (but happy to know that it's just a short drive LOL) OH, they just broke ground on what looks like it's going to be a pretty nicely equipped medical center in Alton. Close medical help was one thing I was sorry, not to find when we moved here. Yes, it does get hot and dry-but not any hotter or stickier then OK. (it's really, really dry this year, but so far my well has held up. the nearest neighbors have a deep, deep well and a faucet at one of their barns (which sits close to our joint propery line) they say if the drought goes on and I start worrying about running out, to feel free to water all the livestock from their water. Just a typical example of the types of folks we've had the pleasure of meeting.
susie

Yarrow, they are having a contest to name the road to the new medical center at Alton. You can enter your suggestion at Alton Bank.

If you want a good doctor in the area and don't mind the drive to West Plains, I recommend Dr. James Thompson. His office is over there near Meeks Lumber, in the same strip mall with the pet supply store. He's very thorough, understand nutrition, and will explain things. He's very high energy, too.

Just closed the paperwork today on the 98 acres over on 142, near the bridge over the Eleven Point River. I'm somewhere between excited and panicked!




:haha:

__________________
Alice
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"No great thing is created suddenly." ~Epictitus

I thought of something you might want to know. The area from West Plains to branson and south is a drier area than some. We often talked of moveing to the west of Branson to get more rain thier is a belt along I-44 that gets a lot more rain than anywhere else. Had thought of moveing out there a few times or into the NW corner of AR for that reason.
You should beware thier are people who take advantage of newcommers. thier used to be an old running joke around West Plains that the town would have died 50 years ago if it werent for all the newcomers moveing in spending thier money and moveing back to the city. Not entirely true and most werent taken advantage of just poor planners who had no clue what they were in for. One piece of advice even if you have money live like your poor and dont waste it all, its a lot harder to come by out in the boonies.
I heard some other advice once that sounded about right. If you want to live like you did in the city it will cost a lot more to do it out in the woods. For example if you wanna go see the opera a few times a year plan on trips to St. Louis. Same goes for fancy meals. Though thier is a decent selection in West Plains now thier still isnt in a lot of other smaller towns and nothing to write home about.
If you want to know anything specific about West Plains, Ava or Branson I might be able to give you an answer since I grew up in West Plains, have lived and worked a bit in Branson and live near Ava now.

Rose wrote:
If you want a good doctor in the area and don't mind the drive to West Plains, I recommend Dr. James Thompson. His office is over there near Meeks Lumber, in the same strip mall with the pet supply store. He's very thorough, understand nutrition, and will explain things. He's very high energy, too.
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oh, thank you. Yes, we still need to find a Doctor. I've been to a dentist (right across the street from the strip mall that your Dr. is in) I liked him and will go back. Hubby is an over the road trucker, so I'm here alone for weeks at a time (yet another reason I'm so happy to have my best friend moving to thayer) I do all the farm chores & critter care on my own. I'm just happy to know there's going to be somewhere to go next time one of the cows steps on me. We live on E, so the new clinic will be pretty much a straight shot for me to head to. Have you heard any detail? as in how big? what services they will offer? is it just a clinic or will it have some hospital/ER type care?
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Just closed the paperwork today on the 98 acres over on 142, near the bridge over the Eleven Point River. I'm somewhere between excited and panicked!
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you should be excited, heck I'm excited for you LOL. That's a beautiful area and enough land to get lost in. Do you have river access?
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susie

Great information about what parts of the area are a little more dryer (I mean water dryer LOL) than others. Want to make sure we have a good well that will produce without the need to drill another one at any future time. Also want to make sure any streams on the property are full time streams not just seasonal.

No problems being outside of town LittleJohn. Right now myself and my S.O. both live in an area where you do have to drive quite a bit to get to the cities (although the dang cities are moving closer to us all of the time). And we're not the type that like to go to the cities any more than neccesary. That's one of the main reasons for moving out to the AR/MO area, to get away from the approaching cities. We don't need the things that a city provide and all of the troubles they bring with them. Right now I have a small 5 acre Farmette. It helps to shield us from some of the city folks around but not as much as we would like. One good thing about the cities approaching us is that the value of my house has skyrocketed and should give us a nice nestegg for retirement out in the Ozarks. Also we have a great barn/pasture setup (electric and water ran to the barn) and horses on three sides of us. So the city people (that think they are buying in the country) will like our place for a use as a hobby horse farm. Once we get out to our land there we'll be happy if we don't have to go to town any more often than once a week if even that often.

It's been great hearing from all the people out there (and other places) on what to look for, look out for, etc. We always welcome even more info and discussions, it's all been a great help!!! BTW great to know that we can always find out where the better doctors, etc are at by talking with our friends on here.

RAIN RAIN RAAAINNNN! yIPpeeee. Woke up abruptly early this morning about 0250. Thunder belching and Lightening was going off just to the North of us. Like a never ending light show. Woke ol' Tom up and told him I think we could have a real booger heading for us.

The wind started whipping the trees like ropes. We ran outta the RV and into the "house basement" area we built. Even one of our dogs ran in with us looking all nervous. The storm picked up and bellowed and blew one huge front thru. Finally heading back to the RV about an hour later, when things calmed down some. Woke up this AM to temps in the 60's. hahaha had to grab a sweater, love it! It's still raining pretty good. THANK YOU GOD! This will wash away all the dust and crud.