Mountain Vista Blog - Details about Beavers Bend Cabin Luxury!

23 12, 2015

The Warner’s Return To Mountain Vista

admin2015-12-23T14:33:31+00:00December 23rd, 2015|ArkLaTex Travel, Luxury Vacation Rentals, travel blogs|

The ArkLaTex’s Emmy Award winning KSLA television anchor Doug Warner and wife, Libby, returned to Mountain Vista for a little R&R recently.

The Warner’s have visited our vacation home numerous times through the years and we always enjoy having such quality people experience Mountain Vista.

Doug is very popular figure in the Shreveport viewing region and I’ve enjoyed seeing the transformation he’s brought to KSLA Channel 12. He’s taken it to an entirely new level with his leadership.

“Absolutely spoiled. I’m not sure we could ever “rough it’ camping after staying at Mountain Vista again. It’s an incredible getaway and relaxing to know that everything is taken care of…” Doug said.

Sherri and I are thrilled that Doug and Libby enjoy each trip to Mountain Vista!

You can enjoy Mountain Vista in January and February at a discounted rate! Arrive Sunday through Tuesday and receive 20% off your rate!

20 12, 2015

Merry Christmas From The Isbell’s In Beavers Bend

admin2019-07-05T17:10:46+00:00December 20th, 2015|Dallas travel blogs, Dallas weekend travel, dfw travel, travel blogs|

Thank you to everyone that has visited Mountain Vista in 2015. We’ve made many new friends and the feedback regarding our vacation home and stunning 20-mile views has been spectacular.

We knew Mountain Vista would be special when we climbed the hill and stood high-atop a truck to survey the view several years ago. The view took our breaths away but we had no idea about how big the Mountain Vista brand would become…we’re very thankful.

There are scores of cabins in Beavers Bend and many are now becoming simply “rental cabins.” Management companies are building cabins trying to capitalize on the two-million annual tourists that visit Broken Bow. Often, seclusion, luxury and views have been replaced by cabins 20 yards apart and generic amenities. We do things differently

Guests tell us they realize it’s our vacation home and not a glorified hotel immediately after arriving. 2015 has been our biggest year for repeat visitors. We have numerous guests that stayed six-seven times this year!

Our Beavers Bend app has been critical to our success and popularity. Many guests take advantage of last-minute specials and enjoy VIP packages offered only to our app fans.

We were the first to blog in Beavers Bend and have thousands reading our content monthly. Our blog has been an incredible tool to educate tourists regarding how to choose a luxury cabin in Broken Bow. We receive multiple calls and emails each week thanking us for bringing add-on fees to light.

Add-on fees are additional charges to your nightly cabin rental. Firewood, cleaning, resort fees and insurance charges are just a few of the terms many cabin companies use to gouge guests for more revenue.

We never charge add-on fees at Mountain Vista!

Contact us if we can help plan your luxury cabin getaway to the Broken Bow Lake area.

Many great things are planned for 2016. Sherri and I wish you a Merry Christmas and happy holiday season!

Jerry & Sherri Isbell

15 12, 2015

Hochatown Distilling Company

admin2020-06-25T17:15:05+00:00December 15th, 2015|Oklahoma Travel Blogs|

Update: 6-25-20. Click here for the Hochatown Distilling Company website and tour information.

The Hochatown Distilling Company will open soon near Beavers Bend State Park. This will be a hot spot for tourists to wet their whistles while vacationing near Broken Bow Lake.

Sherri and I enjoyed a nice visit with owner Kerri McDaniel recently. Their beautiful gift shop is already open. The distillery and tasting room will be unveiled soon.

We were greeted with a friendly smile and great hospitality from Kerri as we checked out this new facility. It’s located a few minutes north of the Stevens Gap/Broken Bow Lake exit on Highway 259.

Being a marketing and media guy, I immediately realized they “get it.” The facility is first-class and their gift shop is adorned with scores of high-end merchandise. There’s no doubt the Hochatown Distilling Company will be highly successful.

Approximately two-million tourists visit Beavers Bend State Park and Broken Bow Lake annually. The Oklahoma economy is horrible now with low oil prices, but tourism is booming better than ever in Broken Bow, OK.

Visit the Hochatown Distilling Company during your next trip to Beavers Bend State Park.

30 11, 2015

Winter In Beavers Bend

admin2021-09-17T10:49:27+00:00November 30th, 2015|Texas Travel, travel blogs, Travel Deals|

Winter in Beavers Bend is amazing and so are the views from Mountain Vista’s deck!

When the foliage falls in Broken Bow, our views get even better. Each season is truly special near Beavers Bend State Park. We love winter at Mountain Vista. We enjoy the fire pit and hiking the acreage surrounding Mountain Vista and the David Boren Hiking Trail.

When considering a luxury cabin rental in Beavers Bend State Park, make sure you validate a few things before booking.

Seclusion: Many cabin pictures are posted online promoting Beavers Bend and everything it has to offer. Often beautiful pics are posted without indicating there are other cabins only feet away. This is one of the two biggest complaints we hear from people visiting other cabins in the area.
Add-On Fees: Don’t pay for them. Take you business elsewhere. We received a call last week from someone telling us another cabin company wanted to charge big bucks for a little firewood. This is ridiculous. If there are guest-gouging charges from a cabin company…punt them. S’mores fees, cleaning fees, resort fees, restocking fees, firewood fees…the list goes on and on. A clever new add-on fee name pops up frequently in Beavers Bend. Some cabin companies are charging $40-$100 for s’mores and firewood. They’re always free at Mountain Vista!
Owner Involvement: If owners are highly involved in the cabin you’re renting in Beavers Bend, that’s good. Absentee owners almost always indicate a drop in cabin amenities. Most cabin companies don’t care. They want you booked, then out the door. If you’ve chosen one of 30-50 cabins on a website, you’re just a number. You’ll notice if the cabin owners are highly involved within 60 seconds after opening the cabin’s front door. There’s a difference between staying at a vacation home versus a rental cabin.
References: Our references are easy to find. We’ve enjoyed yet another successful year of great guests at Mountain Vista. Checkout our references and compare.

Contact us at 405-535-8055 or via our website to experience Mountain Vista luxury cabin in Broken Bow, OK soon!

23 11, 2015

Fall Foliage Finale

admin2019-03-30T20:43:18+00:00November 23rd, 2015|Dallas travel blogs, Dallas vacations|

We’ve reached the fall foliage finale in Beavers Bend State Park.

It’s time to say farewell to this colorful gift we enjoy annually and prepare for a great winter around the fire pit. Remember, the firewood is always free at Mountain Vista. Do a little research and see how many other cabins offer this perk.

The drought definitely impacted our fall colors, but an average foliage season in the Kiamichi Mountains beats being stuck in traffic on the Tollway in DFW. I captured this pic a few days ago at Mountain Vista as I enjoyed watching the torrential rain from our upper deck.

The Broken Bow Chamber of Commerce just released a nice Beavers Bend lodging magazine. You can pick it up across the state at travel stops. It showcases many Beavers Bend cabins at all price levels. Mountain Vista is featured on the inside cover. Contact the chamber office for specific locations where the publication is available.

It’s never too early to plan next year’s spring break in Beavers Bend. Our loyal followers don’t play around…they’ve already booked most of the Texas/Oklahoma spring break weekends for 2016. Our holiday and weekend dates are very popular and 2016 dates are already booking. Check our availability calendar and reserve ASAP.

When planning your escape to the Broken Bow Lake area, remember to check for add-on fees before reserving. I wrote these top 10 critical tips you need to know before reserving a luxury cabin in Beavers Bend earlier this year.

It’s the season of giving and I encourage you to checkout the Limbs for Life Foundation. I serve on their board of directors and we donate prosthetics to needy amputees around the world. Please consider the Limbs for Life Foundation when planning your year-end charitable donations. It’s a wonderful organization and our slogan is “We’re not asking for much…just an arm and a leg!”

Happy Thanksgiving!

17 11, 2015

Beavers Bend’s Grand Champion Show Dog!

admin2019-07-05T17:10:45+00:00November 17th, 2015|AKC Dog Shows|

We had a great weekend at the Chickasha, OK dog show and our little guy, “Kula,” won his American Kennel Club Grand Championship.

This is an extremely tough feat to conquer in the dog show world. Becoming an AKC champion requires lots of travel and patience. He was awarded Best of Opposite Sex twice during the four-day event, finishing second to the most winning female Brussels Griffon show dog in history. We were extremely proud!

Bred in California, he’s five-years-old and loves everything about being in front of crowds and competing at dog shows. He’s had a few stellar wins during his career and Sherri has handled him to all victories in the ring.

Kula is named after our favorite little town in Upcountry Maui and will continue to compete in shows for several more years.

Sherri plays a large role in our cabin operation at Mountain Vista. The “little touches” you see are all from her. The upscale Bed Bath & Beyond hand soap and wildly popular s’mores kits are all her creations. Best of all, they’re free!

Kula would like to remind you about our Mountain Vista promotion running through mid-December. Check-in Monday or Tuesday and receive a free third-night.

Download our Beavers Bend app for special offers, including our favorite spots in Broken Bow.

GCh. Ch. Hilltop’s Time For Kula To Fly invites you to visit his vacation home soon!

11 11, 2015

Cabin Management In Beavers Bend

admin2015-11-11T15:13:27+00:00November 11th, 2015|travel blogs|

Cabin management in Beavers Bend plays a vital role in the Broken Bow, OK tourism industry.

If you’re considering buying or building a luxury cabin, do your homework before choosing a company to manage your property. There are many things to consider before inking a deal with someone that will take 30-50 percent of your rental rates.

Make sure to assess how many properties the company manages. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to determine that you won’t get much individual attention being one of 40 cabins on a website.

Ask yourself, how are they going to rent my cabin with all the competition on their website?

Scrutinize the fees charged to you and renters by the Beavers Bend cabin management company. New fees pop up frequently and many have gotten creative with the fee names. Renters and owners hate add-on fees!

There are resort fees, restocking fees, cleaning fees, firewood fees, insurance fees, incidental fees and property protection fees...You get the picture, its crazy. I follow this stuff closely and its tough for me to keep up with the latest guest gouging techniques.

Many companies are also charging advertising fees to owners. There’s no need to put up with these unnecessary charges. A cabin owner recently told us they’re being charged to have cabin pictures uploaded to a cabin management company’s website.

The media and marketing background of your Beavers Bend cabin management company should be the determining factor in hiring them. Checkout their online presence and ability to draw attention to your luxury cabin. How will they be able to differentiate your cabin from scores of others on their website?

Simply owning a cabin and hoping people will visit doesn’t guarantee success in the Broken Bow luxury cabin business. Your cabin must have something unique. For us, it’s the amazing views at Mountain Vista. We’re also not penny pinchers regarding luxury amenities and are fortunate to have developed a loyal following through the years.

Many cabins fail because owners refuse to spend money on upscale amenities. Don’t expect a guest to return to your cabin if they’re paying $400/night and you’re giving them generic paper towels and hand soap. If your bath towels and linens were purchased at the Dollar General Store, your cabin is destined for failure in the luxury segment.

It’s expensive to correctly own, operate and manage a luxury property in Beavers Bend. Make sure you have the necessary funds in place for last minute emergencies. Three appliances and a flat screen television going out in a month can sting your pocketbook! Congratulations, your hot tub needs replaced…that’s about $6,000.00.

We’re asked about Beavers Bend cabin management companies on a weekly basis. There are very good and bad ones.

If you’re a current cabin owner or considering building one, contact us regarding cabin management in Beavers Bend. Our media background enables us to offer unmatched professional video services to showcase your luxury property.

Our fall promotion at Mountain Vista has been extend until mid-December. Arrive Sunday-Tuesday and your third-night is free!

7 11, 2015

Old Friend Becomes President!

admin2017-09-21T16:46:55+00:00November 7th, 2015|college presidents|

Sherri and I enjoyed a great weekend celebrating my 30-year friend, Dr. Benjamin Akande’s Westminster College presidential inauguration in Fulton, Mo. “Kula,” our amazing champion show dog, was the “only” invited four-legged creature for a private visit inside the presidential office!

The fall foliage as we entered the Ozarks was beautiful. Although the weather was rainy and miserable, it didn’t put a damper on this festive occasion.

Ben has been a great friend and mentor during my career. He was raised in Nigeria and upon his arrival to the United States, he was destined for global acclaim. He was most recently the Dean of Business and Technology at Webster University.

He’s an internationally renowned economist and has achieved a tremendous media following during his years in St. Louis. Prior to this, he was a popular figure on campus at the University of Oklahoma where he earned his doctorate degree.

It was great spending time with him and rehashing old stories. He delivered a fabulous speech and it was emotional witnessing him accept this new challenge in a beautiful ceremony.

We were pleasantly surprised at the lovely Westminster College campus. Strolling hills, lush lawns, historic sights and great people make it an amazing place to visit. I’m not a “museum guy,” but the National Churchill Museum offered a great educational experience.

Congratulations Ben…Westminster will benefit greatly from your vision and leadership!

24 10, 2015

Beavers Bend Cabin Fall Foliage Special

admin2020-02-10T18:07:11+00:00October 24th, 2015|Beavers Bend Deals, Beavers Bend Specials|

Take advantage of our Beavers Bend cabin fall foliage special through November 19th.

Stay two-nights and receive the third free during Sunday-Thursday stays at Mountain Vista luxury cabin.

The fall foliage season is underway in Beavers Bend State Park and the next few weeks will be spectacular. We received much needed rainfall during the past few days and that will enhance the vibrant leaf colors.

Mountain Vista’s Deck View

The foliage surrounding Mountain Vista changes dramatically each day during this time of year. It’s truly breathtaking to view the changes occurring overnight. This shot was taken on October 22nd from our deck.

I enjoyed visiting with the staff at Adam & Eve’s Coffee House earlier this week. They have great java and food along with a fantastic gift shop. They are offering catering to luxury cabins and will make a formal announcement soon. I saw a few pictures of their food for a recent catering project and it looked fantastic!

We only have one weekend available at Mountain Vista until January. It’s December 10-13. 2016 dates are already beginning to fill. If you want a peak date for holidays or spring break, make your reservations now. Many people are amazed at how quickly the top luxury cabins in Broken Bow get booked for peak dates.

If you’re unfamiliar with the Broken Bow Lake area, two million tourists visit our Southeastern Oklahoma gem each year. We’re a highly popular getaway destination for OKC and DFW residents.

Download our Beavers Bend app for area information and promotional offers. The app gives you access to our blog that is read by thousands each month. We also have the ability to send occasional texts for last-minute offers and important local news.

The burn ban has been lifted in Beavers Bend and our guests are enjoying free firewood on our acres of secluded property. Browse other websites and research how many offer free firewood. Do your homework and study other websites regarding whether they charge for insurance, cleaning, resort fees or any frivolous add-on fees. We also feature our highly popular free S’mores Kits!

Get to Mountain Vista during the next few weeks and enjoy the views. We hope you can stay at Mountain Vista during our Beavers Bend cabin fall foliage special!

23 10, 2015

Burn Ban Lifted In Beavers Bend

admin2015-10-23T17:19:23+00:00October 23rd, 2015|weather|

BURN BAN LIFTED IN BEAVERS BEND:

The United States Forestry Service has lifted the burn ban for McCurtain County Oklahoma, including the Beavers Bend State Park and Broken Bow Lake area. Enjoy your charcoaling and fire pits this weekend if you’re in the area.

We enjoyed much needed rainfall overnight and this should help our foliage season.

Enjoy the tune and Keep the Fire Burnin’!