Where are you located?
We are located on the edge of the beautiful Missouri Ozarks Mountains two hours from downtown St. Louis, Missouri. Guests from outside the St. Louis area can fly in via St. Louis Lambert Airport (STL), a hub for American Airlines, or the smaller Columbia Regional Airport (COU).
On getting here I strongly suggest you use Google Maps and type in "Gamers Ranch". Apple maps has a habit to taking people to the wrong place :-(. In addition we suggest that you cache your google maps route and data around the ranch. This is because it is very possible you will lose cell phone service on your way here and you want to ensure your directional routing still works.
How many bedrooms do you have?
We have eight bedroom and seven bathrooms. Each bedroom has a connecting bathroom. Four bedrooms have private baths while four bedrooms have jack and jill bathrooms. In addition we have a loft area with a few beds in it as well. You are also more than welcome to bring sleeping bags, air mattresses or cots with you.
Downstairs:
Bedroom 1 - King + Full Bath
Bedroom 2 - King + Full Bath
Upstairs:
Bedroom 3 - Queen + Full Bath
Bedroom 4 - Queen + Full Bath
Bedroom 5 - (x2) Full + Jack & Jill Shared Bath
Bedroom 6 - (x2) Queen + Jack & Jill Shared Bath
Bedroom 7 - (x2) Queen + Jack & Jill Shared Bath
Bedroom 8 - (x2) Queen + Jack & Jill Shared Bath
Loft:
Sleeping Area 9- (x2) Bunk Bed (Full)
Total:
8 Bedrooms (2 King Beds, 8 Queen Beds, 6 Full Beds)
7 Full Bathrooms
How large is Gamers Ranch?
Acerage: ~167 acres
Building: ~10,000 sq ft
Parking: ~17,000 sq ft
Lake: ~11 acres
Covered Porch ~2,000 sq ft
Trails ~3 miles
Concrete Patio ~3,500 sq ft
What is the layout of the house?
Downstairs
Upstairs
What are the closest restaurants and grocery stores?
For groceries I suggest Mace's. For food you can always cook here but other than that we have Casey's which is a gas station chain that has pizza, subs, doughnuts. We also have a Subway. Other places include a Greek food place called the Country Belle Cafe and a diner called the dinner bell. These are all 15 minutes away. There is also two ice cream places in town as well, listed below.
A little further out there is a McDonald's, Chinese place and a few more diners. About 45 minutes away you can get to Rolla, Jefferson City etc to get just about anything such as Thai, sushi. There is also Kliens which is really good but a little far.
There are also a few wineries around with places to etc. I don't really drink so I'm not much help there.
* These are all about 15 minutes away unless noted. *
Is there Poison Ivy, Oak or Sumac?
Poison Ivy is the main plant to avoid in Mid Missouri and while there can be poison oak it is rare and mainly in the extreme south of Missouri. As you can see above you are looking for ‘leave of three’. They are typically found on trees or in shaded wooded areas. We suggest you stay on cleared trails and out of the general woods.
Anytime you are out in the woods where poison ivy could be we suggest the following.
Wash your cloths as soon as you get back.
Take a cold to luke-warm shower and be sure to was well everywhere with soap.
It usually takes time to react to poison ivy and if you shower well it should wash away without incident unless you have a sever allergic reaction. The reason we suggest cold water is that hot water can open your pores and exacerbate the reaction.
It only takes a few seconds to brush up against the plant to take precautions and be sure to was your cloths and shower after any outing in the woods.
Are there ticks?
Ticks are ubiquitous in the woods and tall grass area of the Midwest so they are definitely on the property. Ticks need protection from the sun and can dry out easily so they stick to tall grass, shaded wooded areas and piles of leaves. We keep the grass around the lake cut low to deter them from the manicured areas of the ranch. Having said this just a few feet off the grass into the woods and you most certainly find them.
We encourage you to read the CDC guidelines below and follow their recommendations. A few key things to remember is that you should check yourself for ticks anytime you have been outside in any area ticks could be. While you are out playing disc golf or other activates check your legs often as it’s much easier to get ticks off before they have latched on. It’s also a good idea to take a shower after you have been out to wash away any unlatched ticks you may not have caught. We suggest a cold shower, not because of the ticks but in the event you brushed up against any poison ivy etc.
In the event a tick latches on you should follow the steps outlines at the CDC below to remove them.
CDC Information on Avoiding Ticks
CDC Information on Removing Ticks
Can we see stars at night?
On a clear night you can see hundreds of stars and a few planets. Below is an map of light pollution and we are squarely in the blue area meaning we have low light pollution. Feel free to bring a telescope with you as well.
Light Pollution Map
Can I hike around the ranch?
Absolutely, we have about four miles of trails to hike at your leisure. You can also take a relaxing walk around the lake of visit the small pond on the property.
Is camping allowed?
Camping is allowed though you will need to let us know where you are going to camp. Popular spots are along the lake shore or in the large field above the building. Note that while we do allow campfires, with a fire ring, we do not allow them around the lake as we need healthy grass there to stop erosion around the edges of the lake. We do not have any water or power access unless you camp near the lake close enough to the house that we can run an extension cord. We have a secluded camp-site below the dam which doesn’t have power or water.
Are there cameras on the property?
Yes, we have a number of cameras for security. The majority are outside however there are a few inside facing the entrances. For the inside ones: the first looks over the great room, the second looks over the workout area and the third overlooks the loft. Attached is a picture of the view from all of the cameras. We are happy to show you our setup and take a look at what the cameras see.