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WATERSKI MagazineLike a lot of people, the only things I really knew about Arkansas were that the President is from Little Rock and the Razorbacks usually have a pretty good basketball team. Then I found Bull Shoals Lake – 170 miles north of Little Rock – and suddenly the state became more attractive.
Tucked away in this often forgotten part of the country, the lake was originally created as a power source in the early 1950s. But skiers from all over the central part of the country will tell you that it mainly generates pure, glassy fun.
Bull Shoals takes up 86 miles of Arkansas/Missouri border. But the shoreline mileage is closer to 1,000, all of them surrounded languidly by the Ozark Mountains. The result is acre after acre of wind-protected, silvery-clear water-skiing heaven – the kind John Denver would sing about if he ever got behind a MasterCraft.
Bull Shoals' most striking feature, and the key to its charm, is its seclusion from modern society. A government-imposed flood zone around the lake prevents shoreline development. Once you're up on that new wide-body ski, the only structures within sight are miles of cedar trees, rugged bluffs and bird nests. Finger-like creeks branch off the east end of the lake where you're sure to find a full-service boat dock, some down-home cooking and a rocking chair to rest your weary legs between sets.
Towing a boat into this isolated part of the country, you feel a little bit like the French explorers who came up from Louisiana to discover the Ozarks hundreds of years ago. You'll see mountains listing out of the morning haze, have chance encounters with thirsty deer and watch trout picking flies off the surface. Of course, the best perspective is while you're cutting a graceful swath across Bull Shoals, a luxury the original visitors didn't have. – Tony Smith
Other attractions:
* The “Nashville of the Ozarks” in Branson, Missouri, is just around the bend, with Broadway-style neon lights and a host of glittery country music legends.
Where to unpack:
* Lighthouse Point Resort (501-445-4123) is about 5 miles north of the Bull Shoals Dam; $45-$70 per night.
* Evergreen Resort (501-445-4440) is as close to the lake as you can be without sleeping in wetsuits; $49-$54 per night.
Where to eat:
* Gaston's Restaurant has good Southern eats and scenery, overlooking the White River.
* The 178 Club is known for its Thursday barbecues.
Something you have to do:
* Drown a few worms. The lake is teeming with some of the largest rainbow and brown trout in the south.
In case you forgot:
* Bull Shoals Lake Boat Dock (501-445-4424) carries Connelly gear.
Boat Service:
* Bull Shoals Lake Boat Dock is a licensed MerCruiser dealer.
How to get here:
* From I-40 take highway 65 north to route 62/412, then follow 178 into Bull Shoals.
* From I-44 take highway 65 south to route 14 east around the lake until it hits route 62/412.
For more information:
* Call Evergreen Resort (501-445-4440)
