Gaston’s White River Resort

Take Me to the River

words Jennifer Burchett images Jonathan and Jennifer Burchett

WWith the abundance of outdoor activities in Arkansas, it can be difficult to choose the right one for your family. Lakes and parks have seen an uptick in patronage since the coronavirus pandemic made its way to our area, so finding a secluded spot can be difficult. Well, look no further than Gaston’s White

River Resort. With the plethora of amenities, it’s not difficult to see why families flock to the resort year after year.

Located downstream from the dam that separates the White River from the Bull Shoals Lake in Lakeview, Arkansas, Gaston’s sits on over four hundred acres of secluded wilderness. The resort’s seventy-nine cottages range from those that are equipped with two double beds, to those that have ten bedrooms, giving you several options to choose from. Jacob Hanson, General Manager of Gaston’s, suggests that families book their stay at least three weeks in advance. “We are booked up through the fourth of July. Usually we fill up about a week-and-a-half beforehand, but right now we are booked about three weeks out. In early May, when Governor Hutchinson lifted travel bans, we really started to get booked up. Rates are as they were before the virus,” says Jacob.

The area, a reasonable destination for families and fishermen, offers a plethora of sights and sounds that make any vacation memorable. Since the resort opened in 1958, generations of families have grown up with the experiences that Gaston’s has to offer.

“Loving Gaston’s goes back to my childhood,” shares Jonathan Burchett, frequent patron of the resort. “I went several times as a kid with my family. So, at this point it’s sort of a tradition. I try to go there once a year and share my love for the area with my family and friends.”

Every morning, men and women fish the banks of the White River alongside fabulous cranes and herons that swoop down through the fog, all doing their best to catch the day’s dinner. Since the cottages are adequately spaced apart, social distancing is easy to maintain, making this nature destination a prime spot to adhere to safety measures to decrease the spread of the Covid-19. It is rare to come within six feet of another person, especially given the lawn space that each cottage has between the bank of the river.

The bottom of Bull Shoals Lake empties out into the White River, making the water temperature fifty degrees, on average, year-round. That’s a temperature that trout, though not native to Arkansas, thrive in, making Gaston’s a top fishing destination in the state. Those opting to fish in the morning may find their spot along the shores of the river or rent a boat from the resort. Guides are available to take you down the White River from the resort for a fee.

“Trout are all about that cold water. It’s nice that you can just walk right out from your cabin and go fishing,” continues Jacob, who is not only an avid Gaston-er, but is also an avid fisherman. “A Gaston’s guide is ideal. They will take you up and down the river while you and your family fish from the boat. This way you’ll catch a lot of fish. I have memories waking up in the morning and it being cold and foggy. We would catch fish, then at lunch the guide would cook our fish for us, then we’d go fishing some more. I have very fond memories of that.”

Though the waters were once full of smallmouth bass and other warm-water fish before the Army Corps of Engineers built the dam at Bull Shoals Lake, they are now full of trout. Arkansas Game and Fish stocks the White River throughout the year, totaling on average, hundreds of thousands of fish being put into the river from fisheries. Though rainbow trout is the main fish in the river, you may also find cutthroat trout, brook trout, and brown trout. According to the Arkansas Game and Fish 2020 schedule, they estimate stocking Bull Shoals Tailwater (White River) with 771,300 rainbow trout, 58,000 brook trout, 33,000 brown trout, and 35,000 cutthroat trout. June and July will be stocked the heaviest with 110,100 rainbow trout each month.

When families have exhausted their fishing fun for the day, they may enjoy watching the resort’s birds, many of whom roam freely across the grounds. According to U.S. Fish and Wildlife, the White River is one of 550 refuges in the nation where biodiversity is preserved. Ducks, eagles, loons, blue jays, wrens, and many more frequent the resort in the same troves as the fishermen, but for a real up-close look at our feathered friends, you should check out the aviary.

Located close to the resort pool and restaurant, the aviary is adjacent to several miles of hiking trails and is full of birds such as peacocks, turkeys, and different species of pheasants. While the pheasants and turkeys remain enclosed in cages with ample space to wander, the peacocks roam freely. (It isn’t uncommon to come across an elusive albino peacock roaming the grounds freely!)

Along the hiking trails, you can enjoy fields of wildflowers, historic mills, and, of course, an occasional peacock. Because the trails wind in and out of one another, hikers can choose between a quick hike or one that lasts for several miles (and hours). The streams that run throughout the grounds make for perfect cooling-off havens or a meditative sit-down, though you should be cautious about substituting stream water for bottled water.

Among the trails, streams, and fishing paradise, it isn’t hard to see the serene beauty of the area. Early morning fog drapes the resort with an air of timelessness. Even the

cottages, which appear straight out of the 1950’s, are classic components to this resort that has been around for sixty-two years. Throughout the generations, management at Gaston’s has gone above and beyond to satisfy the needs of their guests, including housekeeping and cleanliness accommodations for even the most cautious visitor.

Jacob, who’s been with Gaston’s since January, explains the resort’s commitment to customer satisfaction. “Cleanliness has always been a central component to Gaston’s. Since the coronavirus, we maintain our excellent standards and go a step further by emphasizing the sanitizing of objects that a hand would grab. Inside doorknobs, dresser drawers, and handles are all high priority. All of our linens are professionally cleaned. We have always taken pride in our cleaning and maintain that pride under the caution of the coronavirus. Our housekeeping is an area in which we excel.”

No matter your fancy, whether it’s fishing, hiking, or enjoying a nap under a canopy of trees, you are sure to find what you’re looking for at Gaston’s White River Resort. Who knew staying in a cabin just may be the perfect solution to your cabin fever?

Gaston’s White River Resort

1777 River Road, Lakeview, Arkansas 870.431.5202 | gastons.com Gastons@Gastons.com