Rockbridge Mill

Rockbridge

Rockbridge offers peace and solitude. 

Nestled in the Ozark Mountains lies the small village of Rockbridge. Alongside the village runs a beautiful, sparkling stream called Spring Creek where rainbow trout swim lazily along the rocky bottom.

Long ago, the village was the bustling hub of Ozark County, where people from miles around brought their grain to be milled, did their banking, shopped the general store and went to church. Now visitors from all over the world come to Rockbridge to enjoy the serene solitude and fish the crystal-clear stream at the Rainbow Trout and Game Ranch.

It all started back in 1868 when B.V. Morris, an Ozarks pioneer, built a dam and a mill on Spring Creek. The milling business was good enough in those days that Morris soon found it necessary to enlarge the mill, which he did in 1894. Morris built one of the finest buildings in the area.

Operated in subsequent years by Morris’ son-in-law, Lyle Ellis; the Bushong brothers, Herb and Melvin; and, finally, Morris’ son, Frank, the store sold everything from food to hardware (even coffins) and was the political hub and original county seat of Ozark County. It closed in 1933 when the patterns of traffic changed in the region, but was rescued from inglorious deterioration by the Amyx family. Lile and Edith purchased the town site in 1954 and launched Rainbow Trout Ranch, one of the Ozarks’ most successful resorts.

For 32 years, the Amyxes, along with their son, Ray, worked hard remodeling the old general store into a restaurant and resort lodge. The extensive refurbishing and expansion included the county’s best commercial kitchen, a dining area, a gift shop and a lodge. The stream that once powered the grist mill was stocked with rainbow trout grown in the ranch’s own hatchery, attracting more and more fishermen, making the resort one of the most popular in the Ozarks.

Tragedy struck, however, on Friday, Jan. 24, 1986, when flames consumed the Ozark County historical landmark, destroying the old Rockbridge General Store, which had been remodeled to house the restaurant and reception area. With the spring opening of the resort barely a month away, the Amyx family found they were seriously hampered by the loss of their reservation book, in addition to their dining room and restaurant facilities. Also, lost in the fire was an extensive collection of antiques, memorabilia and art, including an original Audubon painting. The fire was not enough to destroy the Amyx family dream though.

The Amyx family’s special attention to detail and dedication to customer satisfaction has been bringing customers back year after year to enjoy the quiet solitude at the resort.

The resort sits on 1,500 acres of the scenic Ozarks, sporting two nature trails for hiking and one mile of sparkling, spring-fed creek stocked with rainbow trout. Guest will find a bait and tackle shop, gift shop and a beautiful sitting lounge with a fireplace. What guests seeking peace and solitude won’t find are telephones or TV’s. Rockbridge is an oasis away from the phone and the blare of the television.

Rainbow Trout Restaurant is of the finest, specializing in a variety of menu choices: fresh caught trout from the stream, old-fashioned hash browns, hand cut chops and steaks, skillet-fried chicken or tender chicken-fried steak and gravy.

The Grist Mill, which serves drinks and appetizers, is located in the refurbished original mill. It now has an antique pub-like atmosphere where customers can enjoy the evening overlooking the waterfall while enjoying the coolness of the old mill.

In addition to the wonderful trout fishing, the resort also operates the Rockbridge Gun Club, known as one of the best-designed courses in the United States as far as accurately reproducing situations that occur in the fields and woods under actual hunting conditions.

Featuring safe and challenging fun to both enthusiasts and novices, the gun club offers trap, wobble trap and a 10-station sporting clay course which winds along a beautifully maintained trail. Everything a shooter needs can be purchased or rented at the club house, located just past the entrance to the Trout Ranch. The gun club is open during the winter, but it’s necessary to call ahead.

Rockbridge
417-679-3619
Rockbridge offers peace and solitude. 

Nestled in the Ozark Mountains lies the small village of Rockbridge. Alongside the village runs a beautiful, sparkling stream called Spring Creek where rainbow trout swim lazily along the rocky bottom.

Long ago, the village was the bustling hub of Ozark County, where people from miles around brought their grain to be milled, did their banking, shopped the general store and went to church. Now visitors from all over the world come to Rockbridge to enjoy the serene solitude and fish the crystal-clear stream at the Rainbow Trout and Game Ranch.

It all started back in 1868 when B.V. Morris, an Ozarks pioneer, built a dam and a mill on Spring Creek. The milling business was good enough in those days that Morris soon found it necessary to enlarge the mill, which he did in 1894. Morris built one of the finest buildings in the area.
Operated in subsequent years by Morris’ son-in-law, Lyle Ellis; the Bushong brothers, Herb and Melvin; and, finally, Morris’ son, Frank, the store sold everything from food to hardware (even coffins) and was the political hub and original county seat of Ozark County. It closed in 1933 when the patterns of traffic changed in the region, but was rescued from inglorious deterioration by the Amyx family. Lile and Edith purchased the town site in 1954 and launched Rainbow Trout Ranch, one of the Ozarks’ most successful resorts.

For 32 years, the Amyxes, along with their son, Ray, worked hard remodeling the old general store into a restaurant and resort lodge. The extensive refurbishing and expansion included the county’s best commercial kitchen, a dining area, a gift shop and a lodge. The stream that once powered the grist mill was stocked with rainbow trout grown in the ranch’s own hatchery, attracting more and more fishermen, making the resort one of the most popular in the Ozarks.

Tragedy struck, however, on Friday, Jan. 24, 1986, when flames consumed the Ozark County historical landmark, destroying the old Rockbridge General Store, which had been remodeled to house the restaurant and reception area. With the spring opening of the resort barely a month away, the Amyx family found they were seriously hampered by the loss of their reservation book, in addition to their dining room and restaurant facilities. Also, lost in the fire was an extensive collection of antiques, memorabilia and art, including an original Audubon painting. The fire was not enough to destroy the Amyx family dream though.

The Amyx family’s special attention to detail and dedication to customer satisfaction has been bringing customers back year after year to enjoy the quiet solitude at the resort.

The resort sits on 1,500 acres of the scenic Ozarks, sporting two nature trails for hiking and one mile of sparkling, spring-fed creek stocked with rainbow trout. Guest will find a bait and tackle shop, gift shop and a beautiful sitting lounge with a fireplace. What guests seeking peace and solitude won’t find are telephones or TV’s. Rockbridge is an oasis away from the phone and the blare of the television.

Rainbow Trout Restaurant is of the finest, specializing in a variety of menu choices: fresh caught trout from the stream, old-fashioned hash browns, hand cut chops and steaks, skillet-fried chicken or tender chicken-fried steak and gravy.

The Grist Mill, which serves drinks and appetizers, is located in the refurbished original mill. It now has an antique pub-like atmosphere where customers can enjoy the evening overlooking the waterfall while enjoying the coolness of the old mill.

In addition to the wonderful trout fishing, the resort also operates the Rockbridge Gun Club, known as one of the best-designed courses in the United States as far as accurately reproducing situations that occur in the fields and woods under actual hunting conditions.

Featuring safe and challenging fun to both enthusiasts and novices, the gun club offers trap, wobble trap and a 10-station sporting clay course which winds along a beautifully maintained trail. Everything a shooter needs can be purchased or rented at the club house, located just past the entrance to the Trout Ranch. The gun club is open during the winter, but it’s necessary to call ahead.

Rockbridge
417-679-3619
Share by: