Otahki Lake campground rests on the banks of the St. Francis River in Patterson, Missouri and spans a massive 1,200-acres connecting to Sam A. Baker State Park.
Once home to the Missouri Heartland Girl Scouts, the beautiful landscape of Otahki Lake, then known as Camp Cherokee Ridge, was for many years not accessible to the general public as it was used specifically for the Girl Scouts, but will now be open to those wishing to enjoy the natural landscape area.
Dwayne and Lesley Ellis, founders of Ellis Battery decided to retire from the battery business in 2019 and purchase land. “We had no clue what we were going to do with it, but we had a lot of ideas,” said Lesley. The once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to purchase the massive land tract, “kind of just dropped in our lap and we knew we would never get this opportunity again.”
The camp features a lodge that houses a stone fireplace and several tables for gathering to play cards, games or ping-pong. “We like to make this available to guests in case there is rain or weather that keeps them from being able to enjoy the outdoors,” said Lesley Ellis.
The couple managed to maintain some of the existing structures on the property, but chose to fill in the old pool as it required too much repair. Much of the work they have done to the property is not able to be seen but new water, sewer and electric lines have been run throughout the property. New bathhouses are currently also under construction.
The campground features accommodations from primitive cabins that are furnished with the bare minimum, to fully stocked cabins with clean linens, comfy robes, hot tubs and grills. There is a family cabin that has the capacity to sleep seven or possibly more comfortably on the site, as well as some handicap-friendly cabin features as well, such as railings and shower seating. The lake is visible from many of the cabin sites and features a sand beach for those seeking water sports but not wishing to venture to the river.
Covered wagons which will be equipped with AC are new additions for campers seeking a unique camping experience, as well as glamping tents that are furnished with a small table, battery-powered lanterns and a full-size bed, all perched above the ground on a wooden platform.
These large open tent spaces are a few miles from the main camping area. “It is a bit more private and remote back here,” said Lesley Ellis, “But this is how I prefer to camp myself.”
The eight glamping tents lie close to the riverbed and are not equipped with water or electricity, but porta-potties are available nearby.
Dwayne Ellis said, “We’re finding that many of our guests are not interested in having television and wifi.” The camp has a wide variety of other entertainment options, from kayak and canoe rental to hiking trails and hunting and fishing opportunities.
There are thirteen horse stalls available for guests wishing to bring horses to the grounds. Those looking to escape the hustle and bustle of the fast-paced world will find a breath of fresh air at the campground, as it is geared for family-friendly outdoor entertainment. “We will have wifi to offer for those that really need it, but I am hearing from so many that they don’t, so I think I need to listen,” he noted.
The camp intends to offer hunting opportunities to assist handicapped veterans and others with similar disadvantages so that they can enjoy the freedom to hunt again. “A piece to our puzzle is the handicapped hunting,” said Dwayne Ellis, “I wanted to reach out to veterans and wounded warriors and give them that opportunity again.”
The intention is to team up with a company called Mozark Outdoors to offer these services, which Lesley referred to as “luxurious hunting.”
Along with the endless outdoor opportunities Otahki Lake has to offer, the property also stands to generate a considerable amount of revenue for the area.
A tremendous amount of work has been done on the property to get things up and running. Improvements and additions will continue to be made, according to the couple.
Otahki Lake campgrounds and cabins are now open for those seeking to enjoy a unique camping experience.
“This property means a lot to a lot of people and the community,” said Lesley Ellis, “The opportunities are endless as to what we can do here, we have so many ideas, and we can’t wait for people to see what we’ve done.”