ABOUT
An outdoor adventure lodge
The Wanderoo Lodge is located in the heart of Eureka Springs. We’ll help you explore the natural beauty of the Ozarks and take advantage of the rivers, lakes, hiking, and bike trails nearby. Enjoy a craft beer and listen to live music at The Gravel Bar, then rent a kayak at our on-site outfitter or relax in our seasonal hybrid salt waterpool (the largest in town - Call to verify if our pool is open!). Downtown Eureka Springs is just down the hill where you can check out the amazing shops, restaurants, natural springs, live music, and nightlife.
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We are a pet friendly lodge and all of our rooms are pet friendly. Well-behaved family pets are welcome for a $20 fee unless they are prohibited by state law or ordinance (service animals are always welcome). All pets must be leashed or contained in a carrier when outside of your room. You are responsible for cleaning up after your pet and for any damages caused by your pet. Many outdoor patios in Eureka Springs are pet friendly - including our onsite bar/restaurant, the Gravel Bar! We love dogs - so be sure to tag us in any pics of yours! #wanderpooches
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history
Originally opened as a campground, in the late 1920’s, Ray and Chloe (Boatright) Freeman named the property “Camp Joy” as travelers who were touring the Ozarks were so delighted with the setting, they started asking for a public bath & a pool. The pool, the largest in the Arkansas area, was completed in 1933 along with the first permanent structure, a changing room which was followed by clusters of charming rock cabins placed throughout Camp Joy. Three of these cabins, along with the Freeman Bungalow home, still stand today & have since been renovated to full usage. Subsequently, the property changed hands and was named Mount Joy and Joy Motor Court. The property evolved to where the majority of cabins were removed & replaced by the three conjoined Motel buildings built in sequence beginning in 1954, with the third and final one completed in 1974. In 2017, Tim Freeman, great grandson of Ray and Chloe Freeman, bought and purchased the property. The name was changed to Wanderoo Lodge where many updates and renovations were made.
Ray and Chloe (Boatright) Freeman, founders of Wanderoo Lodge.
Photo taken in 1916.
In 2020, Tim sold the Wanderoo Lodge & Gravel Bar to
local Eurekans, David & Ethan Avanzino. David & Ethan continue to make improvements to the property and have transformed the culture of Wanderoo Lodge & Gravel Bar - making it the local's favorite place to hang out and tourist's favorite place to visit!
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We hope you enjoy your stay with us and we can't wait to hear about all your adventures!
David & Ethan Avanzino,
proprietors of
Wanderoo Lodge & Gravel Bar.
Photo taken in 2021.