All Things Bennett Springs

First, let me back up from the title and make sure that we all understand that there is only one spring…but the title didn’t work as well in the singular? Second, I have written many times about Bennett Springs and Bennett Spring State Park, but decided to do a column about all the amenities that is held within the park and keep the fishing talk to a minimum…which might be very hard to do!

I was fortunate this past March to find and then secure some interview time with Jim Rogers. Jim is “The Man” at Bennett Spring and has been for the past 40 years. Not only does Jim run the operations within the park but he also has his own fly fishing school and estimates that he has taught well over 1,000 youngsters the art of fly casting…oh, and by the way…they teach any kid 16 or under for free, now how can you get a better deal than that.

I asked Jim a series of question to which he had plenty of answers and our interview can be heard here. The interview is a bit over 11 minutes and I feel confident that our discussion of the park, its fishing, the rearing of trout, the fly fishing school and other topics will be a very interesting listen. What you won’t get to hear is the remaining talk that Jim and I had…which lasted almost another hour. I must say that Jim is a rare combination of knowledge and one very likeable fellow. I learned so very much from him about how the park is ran, the numbers of fish stocked each day as well as some funny stories about events that have happened throughout the past 40 years.

First, getting to Bennett Spring State Park is straightforward and easy; west on I-70 to St. Louis where you want to take I-55 south across the river and then immediately get on I-44 west where you will remain until exit #130, the first Lebanon exit; remain on Business 44 until you run into Missouri 64 and turn right (west) for 11 miles…take a left on 64A and in about one minute you will drop steeply down into the incredible beauty of the park.

If you are looking to stay at the park…you will have several options but let me kindly inform you that things book well in advance. My favorite and most family friendly is camping and the park has 5 campgrounds. Campground #1 sits below near the stream and is the most modern with full water, sewer and electric hook-up. Campgrounds 2-5 are up on the hill (and it is quite a hill) and are more rural so to speak with sites amongst the trees. There are also several duplexes that sit less than 100 yards from the head of the spring. We stay in these during catch and release; they can sleep up to 6 comfortably and have a kitchen, dining area and living room…pound for pound they are a real bargain. There are also a number of cabins along the way as well as a few hotel rooms to be had. If you visit the park, take the time to spend a night or two and get the real flavor of all there is to take in.

While you might be 11 miles from Lebanon…the park has all you might need or might have forgotten at its camp store. This is in my opinion the nicest and most friendly camp store anywhere, anyplace. They have at least one of everything you could ever want; their merchandise is in great taste and reasonably priced. Vickie and I bought our two granddaughters their first fly fishing vests; it is hot pink and has the parks logo along with all the pockets and sundries that they might need later when Poppy (me) teaches them how to fly fish…and all for $20!

You can also watch this video review of the park that I posted a few days ago.

The park also has a Nature Center that sits a short walk from the camp store and has all kinds of interesting info on the park, its history and the many critters that use both the park and the stream as their interstate from place to place. This past trip I was fishing away and heard some crunching; long story short…I watched a big male otter come down the steep hillside facing the stream in zone 1…amble up to the stream, take a look around and then dive in like a kid at the Holiday Inn pool.

Lastly, whether you are a fisherman or not you can spend hours just watching the many types of fisherman that move up and along the stream in one of its three zones; from the head of the spring all the way down to where Bennett Spring pours into the Niangua River you will find folks dipping a line in search of a tasty meal. I challenge you to spend a sunny afternoon just watching the casting and catching of the beautiful trout…and not have a great time.

As Jim says in our interview…the number one reason people visit the park is to get away. No question that Bennett Spring State Park, its amenities, the friendly workers and the staggering beauty will allow you to do just that-get away…and do so as we all Enjoy the Great Outdoors.