For a fun family conclave away from home, consider the Diamond Lakes region of western Arkansas, where Mountain Harbor Resort will satisfy everyone in the clan
Surrounded by Ouachita National Forest, Lake Ouachita is Arkansas’ largest lake, and the state’s largest marina resides at Mountain Harbor Resort and Spa. So, not surprisingly, this unspoiled vacation region looms large as a magnet for family gatherings in west-central Arkansas.
A U.S. Army Corps of Engineers wilderness lake built from 1949-1954, Lake Ouachita is fed by the Ouachita River. Blakely Mountain Dam is the largest earthen dam in the world. Only 3 percent of the shoreline is developed and that includes Corps of Engineers campgrounds, Lake Ouachita State Park and various resorts and private camps. Some of the 200-plus islands allow camping.
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Watersports and More at Lake Ouachita’s Premier Resort
Mountain Harbor Resort, with its abundance of lodging choices and activities, is a natural for family reunions in the Natural State. Accommodations include 26 lodge units, 19 cottages and about 20 condominiums. The marina complex has more than 1,100 slips.
Houseboat rentals are popular at Mountain Harbor Resort. (Randy Mink Photo)
For a real Lake Ouachita adventure, many family groups come to Mountain Harbor for a DreamChasers self-piloting houseboat rental. The largest boat, complete with a waterslide and hot tub, sleeps 17. Large groups have been known to rent five houseboats together. Three-day weekend and four-night weeknight plans are available, as are seven- and 14-day options.
Besides houseboats, Mountain Harbor’s marina complex rents ski boats, wake boats, party barges (pontoons), fishing boats and water toys. Paddle boat enthusiasts can take out canoes, kayaks and paddleboards. The dive shop offers rentals and air. The marina even has a Subway restaurant, billed as “the world’s only floating Subway.”
Game fish in Lake Ouachita include largemouth, spotted and smallmouth bass, striped and white bass, crappie, bluegill, walleye and a variety of catfish. Guide services are available. The full-service Lodge Restaurant is happy to cook your catches and serve them up with all the fixin’s.
Other amenities at Mountain Harbor include:
- Turtle Cove Spa
- Riding stables
- Swimming pools
- Beach
- Tennis, volleyball and basketball courts; future pickleball court
- Playground
- Horseshoe pits
- Hiking and biking trails
The 900-acre resort, family-owned and -operated for 70 years, also is home to the Montgomery County Military Museum, primarily a collection of antique vehicles dating back to World War II.
Mountain Harbor Lodging. (Photo credit: Arkansas Tourism)
Large groups can take advantage of Mountain Harbor’s meeting and banquet venues:
- East Cove Conference Center – three adjoining rooms, lake view decks and a large kitchen; almost 3,000 square feet
- East Cove Pavilion – a 2,000-square-foot, open-air pavilion with bathrooms
- Lodge Conference Building – a 1,200-square-foot venue next to the Lodge pool, with galley-style kitchen, two bathrooms and spacious lake view deck
Excursions to Mount Ida and Hot Springs, Arkansas
Mountain Harbor Resort is located 13 miles east of Mount Ida, the seat of Montgomery County, which calls itself the Crystal Mining Capital of the World. The public is welcome to hunt for sparkly treasures in the red soil at crystal mines like Wegner’s Quartz Crystal Mines and Avant Mining. Quartz information packets are offered at Mountain Harbor’s reception desk.
During the summer in Mount Ida, vacationers throng the Front Porch stage, right in front of the courthouse, for live music and food.
Hot Springs National Park, a 30-minute drive east of Mountain Harbor via scenic U.S. Highway 270, offers natural hot springs, walking and hiking trails, urban amenities and therapeutic treatments at bathhouses lining historic Bathhouse Row.
The public is welcome to fill cups or jugs with thermal mineral water at the fountain on Bathhouse Row in the town of Hot Springs, Arkansas. (Randy Mink Photo)
Central Avenue, opposite Bathhouse row, abounds with shops, galleries, restaurants and bars. The Gangster Museum provides an insightful overview of Hot Springs’ history as a hangout for infamous mobsters from Chicago and New York. Particularly in the 1930s, Al Capone and other vice lords came to partake in the town’s flourishing gambling and bootlegging scene as well as its thermal waters.
To take in the beauty of Hot Springs National Park, visitors have a choice of two scenic drives, both with plenty of overlooks and with entry points along Central Avenue. One route goes up and around Hot Springs Mountain, another up West Mountain. An elevator takes sightseers to the observation deck atop Hot Springs Mountain Tower, which offers panoramic views of the Ouachita Mountains, town of Hot Springs and Diamond Lakes area.
A Hot Springs visit is not complete without a visit to nationally acclaimed Deluca’s Pizzeria, the dream-come-true of Brooklyn native Tony Valinoti, who wanted to replicate the New York-style, thin-crust pizza he grew up with. Most famous for its brick-oven pizza, Deluca’s also turns out scrumptious pasta dishes and garlic bread, not to mention Italian desserts like cannolis and tiramisu.
Ready to book the perfect destination for your family trip? Explore our vacation rentals to find the ideal spot for your next family reunion or vacation. Don’t forget your FREE latest edition of Destination Reunions digital magazine for more inspiration!
By Randy Mink
Lead photo – Mountain Harbor Resort’s marina. (Photo credit: Arkansas Tourism)
