Redbeards Ranch

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Redbeard's Ranch is a peaceful, scenic, 295-acre, family-oriented campground in Missouri Ozark hill country with approximately 1 mile of Niangua River frontage. Shaded campsites line the riverfront while the wooded hills and open meadows are ideal for other activities such as horseback riding, hiking, bird-watching, and hunting (in season). Float and fish the Niangua River during the day and pick out the constellations by night. City dwellers and astrology buffs will marvel at the brilliance of the night sky at Redbeard's Ranch.

The established mission of Redbeard's Ranch is to promote family-friendly recreation on the Niangua River by creating and maintaining a tranquil, safe camping environment where families can play in the river during the day and drift off to sleep at night to the nocturnal sounds of indigenous wildlife (hoot owls, whippoorwills, tree frogs, and coyotes). To this end, advance reservations are highly recommended and all potential campers are interviewed to ensure camper compliance with our mission.

Guided Trail Rides and Kiddie Rides:
Our riding stables feature gentle horses to accommodate beginner level riding skills.

Our Pigmy Goats, Lucy (pictured) and Annabelle, are kid-friendly and love to be petted and hand-fed.

One of the largest and most beautiful of Missouri campgrounds (please review the photo gallery)

"Glamping". "Glamping" means glamorous camping, western style. Each 14x17 foot "glamping" tent-cabin in our Cowboy Tent Village has cedar flooring, is furnished with cedar log furniture and equipped with heating and air-conditioning for your 'glamping' comfort. Queen-sized bed sleeps two.

Guided Trail Rides - Horseback riding through the woods and across the meadows of RBR. Our horses are gentle and the trails are designed for riders at any skill level.

Hay Rides. Gather friends and family and climb onboard the RBR tractor-pulled hay wagon for an old-fashioned tour of our lovely, 295-acre campground.
Abundant wildlife (whitetail deer, turkey)

Convenience store with ice, firewood, river shoes, tee shirts, etc. (We do not stock alcohol or tobacco products)

Redbeards Ranch offers the ideal location for individual or group camping, family reunions, historical reenactments, scout camping, star parties and living history events.
Spend a few days camping at Redbeard's Ranch and experience the sights and sounds of nature without disruption from noisy camp neighbors. Whether you enjoy camping, canoeing, fishing, horseback riding ... or just contemplating the glint and glimmer of sunshine on the water, you will appreciate the opportunity to "get away from it all" at Redbeard's Ranch. Try your hand at fly fishing ... the rainbow trout almost leap into your frying pan. Choose a quiet campsite on the river bank, in a peaceful meadow or in the woods ... then keep your eyes peeled for white-tailed deer and wild turkeys. Smaller, noisier and more crowded area campgrounds rarely give you the opportunity to observe wildlife in a natural setting. You may even want to bring binoculars for wildlife observation or a telescope for star-gazing!
Redbeard's Ranch is named for the legend of Redbeard, a famous Ozark adventurer who left the stressful life of the big city for the peaceful, tranquil, and serene life of wilderness living in the Ozarks. If you're lucky, you might meet Redbeard as he roams the woods and meadows of his ranch. His tall tales of trout fishing, canoeing, hunting and camping adventures are alone worth the effort of the trip to this enchanting Missouri campground in the Ozark wilderness.
Redbeard's Ranch is located in Lebanon Mo., 4.8 miles North of Bennett Spring State Park and is owned and operated by Jane and Bud Meador. They'll offer you real Ozark hospitality and a quiet camping experience on the banks of the scenic Niangua River.
During the fall and winter seasons, Redbeard's Ranch is open with advance reservations only - weather conditions permitting. From April through September, Redbeard's Ranch will be open full time. Reservations are always advised.