Two Texas families sought refuge from last summer's oppressive heat-David and Ceil Jekielek and sons Alex and Eric of Houston and Suzanne and Hazem Nasser with Samantha and Adam from Grapevine. They don't have to hassle with the kids over what to eat, argue about where they're going, or keep them entertained. Laura Parker, however, obviously had been horseback before she and son Michael of East Ridge, Tenn., visited the Arkansas ranch. Ranch entertainment includes a large recreation room, which does have a television, video and book libraries, arcade and board games, and ping-pong and pool tables. Youngsters enjoy the petting zoo and playground, and most everyone enjoys the swimming pool, badminton, shuffleboard, and volleyball.
Plans call for a putting green, but for now there's the crolf course.
Crolf, a croquet-golf combination, resulted when the Cooper family buried coffee cans in the ground and then challenged one another to see who could get a ball in the coffee can with the fewest strokes. Guests can also enjoy area attractions, such as Blanchard Springs Caverns and the Ozark Folk Center. For those who enjoy water sports, jet skiing, sailing, and scuba diving are available minutes away at Lake Norfork, which has 550 miles of shoreline. The nearby White River offers world-class trout fishing and canoeing. The guides know these waters.