This Arkansas Lodge Lets You Live Like A Caveman For A Night
If you've ever dreamt of living in the Stone Age, à la Fred and Wilma Flintstone, then this extraordinary lodge might just bring your fantasy into reality. Or, if you're just curious and want to see what all the fuss is about, head on over to Northwest Arkansas to check out the Beckham Creek Cave Lodge. Set in a secluded property in the Ozarks, this vacation rental home promises to provide a one-of-a-kind experience to adventure-thirsty guests.
Your escapade begins when you land at the nearest airport (Northwest AR International Airport, Springfield-Branson National Airport, or Little Rock AR) or arrive in the state. With no public transportation or shuttle service en route, manager Rayne Davidson recommends renting a four-wheel-drive or SUV so you can drive your way to the property. The last hurdle before your arrival to the caveman lodge is the Little Buffalo River. The bridge crossing here is low and can be flooded, so check the weather forecast and keep in constant communication with the lodge staff, who'll shuttle you across the river, if necessary.
Arkansas caveman lodge rooms and unique features
Once at the Beckham Creek Cave Lodge, you won't see any antiquated spaces or items. Instead, you'll find renovated cave rooms outfitted in an Urban Revival-style interior. There are four bedrooms that can accommodate eight up to 12 people, including children, laid out within 5,800 square feet. On the main floor, three bedrooms with their own bathrooms are set against the cave wall. They all have queen beds, while the Honeymoon Suite on the upper floor is outfitted with a king bed. The suite also features a sitting area, a custom round queen-sized bed amid stalactites, a private bath, and a loft that overlooks the living and dining spaces below. All bedrooms possess radiant heaters, so you won't feel cold in the cave's constant 65-degree temperature.
But, what's really special about the lodge is its cavernous walls and the Spanish Piano Waterfall, which is a highlight in the living room and provides the ever-present sound of water in the cave home. The living room also features a 75-inch smart TV, and there's Wi-Fi, satellite TV, and laundry too. Plus, the kitchen is a chef's dream, complete with double convection ovens, premium gas appliances, a wooden bar top, and custom dining table and wet bar with ice machine.
"It's more grand and epic than you could ever even imagine. Pictures just do not do it justice," Davidson, then the property's listing agent, told The Washington Post. "You just can't capture the energy of it — the vastness of it," she told The New York Times in a separate interview.
Other amenities and activities
Just outside the caveman lodge, you'll find a firepit and patio that's great for a barbecue or campfire. But, that's not all, as this 256 acres of private land has so much to offer visitors. Your stay comes with a free guided tour on a Yamaha Viking six-seater UTV, which will take you to the Indian Encampment where you'll find evidence of Native American settlement. The Beckham Creek Cave Lodge also features a picnic area called Hammock Heaven, the Eye of the Needle overlook, a helipad, its own pond, and on-site hiking trails. In addition to hiking, you can also do some fishing, canoeing, horseback riding, or playing horseshoe pit, cornhole, and the seasonal frisbee golf.
Furthermore, you can explore the neighboring Ozark National Forest and Buffalo National River Park for more trails and kayaking, while you can head to White River to catch some trout.
For $2,200 a night (2023 rate), you can reserve the whole lodge for at least two nights. (You can't rent specific rooms only and strictly no pets are allowed.) Live your caveman dream and have a "Yabba-Dabba-Doo!" time.