Big Cedar Lodge

What Big Cedar Lodge does

Big Cedar Lodge is a privately-owned wilderness resort spanning 4,600 acres in the Ozark Mountains near Ridgedale, Missouri, overlooking Table Rock Lake. Acquired by Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris in 1987 and operated as a flagship of the Johnny Morris Nature Resorts portfolio, the property offers 362 private accommodations across lodge rooms, lakeside cottages, log cabins, glamping units at Camp Long Creek, and exclusive residences (including the 7,000 sq ft Villa at Integrity Hills). The resort monetizes a diversified set of revenue streams: nightly lodging, six championship golf courses (Payne's Valley/TGR Design, Ozarks National/Coore & Crenshaw, Buffalo Ridge/Tom Fazio, Top of the Rock/Jack Nicklaus, Mountain Top/Gary Player, and Cliffhangers), multiple dining venues, two full-service marinas, the Cedar Creek Spa, a 50,000-square-foot Fun Mountain activity center, retail, the Wilderness Club timeshare (with Hilton Grand Vacations), and the 20,000+ capacity Thunder Ridge Nature Arena for concerts and events including the 2026 Monster Energy SMX World Championship Final.

Name

Big Cedar Lodge

Legal name

Big Cedar Lodge

Website

https://bigcedar.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Big Cedar Lodge is a privately-owned 4,600-acre wilderness resort in Missouri's Ozark Mountains offering 362 accommodations, six championship golf courses, dining, marinas, and entertainment venues. It serves affluent families, corporate groups, golfers, and couples as part of the Johnny Morris Nature Resorts portfolio.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wilderness Resort and Hospitality

NAICS

Accommodation (721), Traveler Accommodation (7211), Golf Courses and Country Clubs (71391)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000), Hotels & Motels (7011), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Wilderness & Backcountry Lodges (Remote/Off-Grid) (THAGAIAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Ski & Mountain Full-Service Hotels (THAGAAAJ), Mountain & Wilderness Lodges (THAAAHAE)

Keywords

• Wilderness resort hospitality
• Luxury lodge accommodations
• Destination golf courses
• Spa and wellness services
• Outdoor recreation activities

Headquarters

HQ city

Ridgedale

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Lodging Accommodations: The resort offers 362 private accommodations including lodge rooms, lakeside cottages, private log cabins, glamping units at Camp Long Creek, and exclusive properties like The Villa at Integrity Hills. Revenue generated from nightly stays across multiple accommodation types.
2. Golf Operations: Six award-winning golf courses generate greens fee revenue including Payne's Valley (Tiger Woods design), Ozarks National, Buffalo Ridge, Top of the Rock (Jack Nicklaus), Mountain Top (Gary Player), and Cliffhangers. Additional revenue from golf lessons, caddie services, and club rentals.
3. Food & Beverage: Multiple dining venues including Devil's Pool Restaurant, Osage Restaurant, The Worman House Bistro, Buffalo Bar, Harry's Cocktail Lounge, Buzzard Bar, Mountain Top Grill, Truman Cafe, Uncle Buck's Fish Bowl & Grill, and in-room dining services.
4. Spa & Wellness: Cedar Creek Spa & Salon offers massage therapy, facials, body treatments, and salon services. Revenue from spa treatments and packages.
5. Marina & Water Activities: Two full-service marinas (Bent Hook Marina & Market, Long Creek Marina) offering boat rentals, fishing equipment, Lady Liberty dinner cruises, and water sports activities including water skiing, tubing, and wakeboarding.
6. Event Venue Rental: Thunder Ridge Nature Arena (20,000+ capacity) hosts concerts, rodeos, and sporting events. Additional venues available for weddings, corporate events, and meetings across the property.
7. Activity Center & Attractions: Fun Mountain activity center (50,000 sq ft) with arcade, go-carts, bowling, and recreational activities. Additional attractions include Top of the Rock, Lost Canyon Cave Trail, Ancient Ozarks Natural History Museum, and the new inflatable amusement park from InflatableIsland.co.
8. Retail & Merchandise: On-site retail shops including The Shoppe at Big Cedar, golf pro shops, and online store (shop.bigcedar.com) offering merchandise, apparel, and golf gear.
9. Outdoor Activities & Rentals: Various outdoor activities including guided fishing, campfire experiences, fitness center access, swimming pools, beach access, paddle boats, canoes, kayaks, and recreational equipment rentals.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Big Cedar Lodge is a 4,600-acre wilderness resort offering 362 private accommodations (lodge rooms, cottages, log cabins, glamping, and exclusive properties), six award-winning golf courses, multiple dining venues, two marinas, a 20,000-seat amphitheater, a 50,000-square-foot activity center, spa services, and extensive outdoor recreation. The resort sells lodging, golf, dining, events, and activities directly to consumers and corporate groups, with revenue diversified across accommodations, golf operations, food and beverage, spa, marina, events, attractions, retail, and outdoor rentals.

Product overview

Big Cedar Lodge is a 4,600-acre wilderness resort in Missouri's Ozark Mountains offering a comprehensive family vacation experience. The property operates a multi-product portfolio centered around lodging (362 private accommodations including lodge rooms, cottages, log cabins, glamping at Camp Long Creek, and exclusive properties), six world-class golf courses (Payne's Valley by Tiger Woods/TGR Design, Ozarks National by Coore & Crenshaw, Buffalo Ridge by Tom Fazio, Top of the Rock by Jack Nicklaus, Mountain Top by Gary Player, and Cliffhangers by Johnny & JP Morris), multiple dining venues, marina operations (Bent Hook and Long Creek), the 20,000-seat Thunder Ridge Nature Arena for concerts and events, the 50,000-square-foot Fun Mountain activity center, Cedar Creek Spa, and various outdoor attractions. The resort positions itself as 'America's Premier Wilderness Resort' focused on conservation and family traditions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Johnny Morris Nature Resorts: The parent hospitality brand under which Big Cedar Lodge operates, alongside other resort properties including Big Cypress Lodge and Cheeca Lodge & Spa.

Products and services

• Lodge Rooms (Spring View Lodge, Falls Lodge, Valley View Lodge)

Quantifiable outcome

• #1 Resort in the Midwest - Travel + Leisure
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• SMX LeaguecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 January 2026Multi-year partnership making Bass Pro Shops the featured partner across the entire SMX racing calendar. Thunder Ridge Nature Arena at Big Cedar Lodge selected to host the 2026 Monster Energy SMX World Championship Final on September 26, 2026. The championship features elite racers from the U.S., UK, New Zealand, France, Switzerland, Australia, Germany, Japan, and Estonia competing at the 20,000+ capacity venue. Malcolm Stewart serves as ambassador for the partnership.
• TGR Design (Tiger Woods)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with TGR Design (Tiger Woods' design firm) to create Payne's Valley golf course - the first fully public-access course in the world completed by TGR Design. Course named in honor of Payne Stewart, featuring a unique 19-hole championship layout.
• Jack NicklauscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJack Nicklaus designed Top of the Rock, a 9-hole par-3 course that is the only par-3 layout ever used by the PGA Tour for a championship event. Course overlooks Table Rock Lake with dramatic holes stretching over 200 yards.
• Gary PlayercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorld Golf Hall of Famer Gary Player partnered with Johnny Morris to create Mountain Top, a 13-hole par-3 course designed to bring accessible golf experiences to families, juniors, and learners.
• Bill Coore & Ben CrenshawcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGolf course architect team of Coore & Crenshaw designed Ozarks National, sharing Johnny Morris' passion for nature and conservation. Course features dramatic views and complements the 18-hole championship course at Buffalo Ridge.
• Tom FaziocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTom Fazio designed Buffalo Ridge golf course featuring a herd of bison grazing alongside fairways. Johnny Morris and Fazio created the course layout to bring players in close contact with nature.
• Johnny Morris Nature ResortsflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerBig Cedar Lodge is part of the Johnny Morris Nature Resorts portfolio including Big Cypress Lodge (Memphis, Tennessee), Cheeca Lodge & Spa (Islamorada, Florida), and Angler's Lodge (Springfield and Hollister, Missouri).

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Pursell Farms: Alabama luxury resort with championship golf (Robert Trent Jones II), spa, and outdoor pursuits—peer luxury resort with comparable curated outdoor amenities.
• Pinehurst Resort: Historic North Carolina destination resort offering multiple championship golf courses, full lodging, F&B, spa, and event venues—directly comparable to Big Cedar's multi-course golf-resort model.
• Streamsong Resort: Florida destination resort featuring three signature courses (Coore/Crenshaw, Tom Doak, Gil Hanse) plus lodge and amenities—closely comparable as a multi-architect-design golf destination.
• The Greenbrier: Historic West Virginia luxury resort with multiple golf courses, extensive lodging, spa, and casino—comparable full-service destination resort with diverse revenue streams.
• Kiawah Island Golf Resort: South Carolina oceanfront destination resort with multiple championship golf courses, villas, dining, and event venues—peer multi-course golf destination with family leisure focus.
• Sand Valley: Wisconsin multi-course destination golf resort (Coore/Crenshaw, Doak, Strawn) with lodge and dining—comparable architect-designed multi-course golf resort property.
• Bandon Dunes Golf Resort: Oregon destination golf resort with multiple courses plus lodge accommodations—comparable purpose-built, multi-course golf destination experience.
• Salamander Resort & Spa: Luxury Virginia resort with equestrian, spa, and championship golf—comparable luxury destination property with golf-led positioning.
• Reynolds Lake Oconee: Georgia lakefront resort community with multiple golf courses, lakefront lodging, and recreational amenities—comparable multi-course destination resort with lake-based activities.
• Cheeca Lodge & Spa: Fellow Johnny Morris Nature Resorts property in the Florida Keys offering full-service lodging, dining, spa, and watersports—comparably owned and operated under the same parent portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/BigCedarLodge
• Facebookfacebook.com/BigCedarLodge

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Big Cedar Lodge