Suggestions
Arkansas' weather forecast is always looking great! It can vary from chilly mornings to hot afternoons, so pack a change of clothes. The creek fluctuates frequently and just one good rain will cause the creek to flow again and the new swimming pond will be open after this summer... (if not Greers Ferry Lake and the Little Red River are 7miles / 3miles away).
Liability: since we are opening in 2012 as a park, we want to go ahead and get your liability waivers signed, they will be at the main house when you check in and basicallys say that you understand this is nature and that there are dangers both natural and by man... and that you willfully enter and participate under your own free will and risks...
Events: Many times a year, we have special events. They range from small private groups and wedding parties to larger scale festivals. Please click our events page for details and public availability.
Camping Check Ins: are between 8am and 11pm but your site might not be available til 1PM. If you are arriving late at night please come in and park and setup a temporary camp site in the main field until we can locate you to a proper camping area!
You will want to bring:
camping setups... tent, fold up chairs, sleeping gear, tarp, water sandals, bug spray, etc (if you do not have a certain piece, let us know and we will hit our reserves up). Sandals, hiking boots, and shoes (flip flops and barefeet are not recommended as we are still prepping land for the park and have found there is a lot of rocks, metal, glass and hidden debris buried in the field from past floods. Warm weather clothes (80's) and chilly clothes (50's), swimsuits and hiking gear, etc. Lawn Chairs, Tiki Torches (fuel), frisbees, gloves, cameras, floating rafts and tubes, sunscreen and bug repellant etc etc. Coolers with ice and food and drink. Anything else you think you might want to bring as long as it is not guns, drugs, or pets.
Alcohol: Drinking in moderation is only allowed for camping patrons. Excessive drinking can result in a short stay at the park. Day time patrons are not allowed to bring alcohol to the park as we prefer a safe environment in nature for kids and adults to share. We are in a dry county and alcohol is a 40 min drive away so we recommend you pack it in and save the trip , please do not drink and drive! We want you here not in jail!
Food: Wal Mart and Cash Saver will have food on your way in. We will have a grill available (but please know it is shared) so bring food, snacks and drinks (water) along with you.
More than anything, come ready to enjoy some tranquil surroundings, incredible people (some of the best we have met along this journey in life) and good jams from incredible musicians!
Also, this year we have groups coming from different circles of friends... please take the time and meet new people... We promise they are all incredible!
Paintball:We will have paintball going on and we have guns, masks, and CO2 but you will want to bring money to purchase paintballs. We do not allow outside paintballs to be brought into the park. This is for your safety and for others. Old balls or cheap balls can hurt badly and we only use the highest quality balls for our patrons.
Paintball Cothing, we recommend sturdy shoes, gloves, loose fitting clothes, and long sleeves. No bare skin unless you like war wounds to brag about...
If you like what you experience, what you eat, or what you hear, there will be a tip jar floating around... money is not mandatory but we do appreciate the musicians who come up, and our wonderful crew of helpers who make this all possible who work thru the hot and cold for the enjoyment of others.
Behavior:Very GOOD & TRUSTED friends are welcome.... we strive to run a park with the absolute best people in the world as its patrons! Drama, fights, and other disobediences are not allowed and will terminate your possibility of return.
Boundaries... You MUST stay on park property which is shown all around the park with orange and purple tree markings, going onto others properties is against the law and not recommended for your safety or for our good relations with our neighbors...
DRIVE SAFE AND LEGAL! Police (especially along Hwy 65) are notorious for pulling out of state license plates over for very small infractions (crossing lines, failure to turn signal and especially speeding... they hide in the trees and around the curves)... Greenbrier and Damascus especially! We always prefer you here, not with a ticket or in jail.
We can't wait to see you here!
Mat, Casey, Masey, and the Rock Pit Ranch Crew!
Rules and FAQ
We have compiled a list of things to know before coming to the ranch.
Do we allow guns or ATV's and Motorcylcles?
On off days, we love to shoot a little and drive around but not on the weekends. This is reserved for special reservations only and we ask you to leave them at home. We want this to be a tranquill and nature rich experience as well as without the worries of ricochets, loud exhaust, and the such... One weekend a month we will open up the trails to ATVs and Motocross in the morning before we open the park. Stay tuned to the calendar for details.
Do we allow drug use or people under influence at the ranch?
No! This is a kid friendly environment. If you are under the influence, this is not the time to visit Rock pit Ranch.
Do we allow dogs or other animals?
We have livestock and trained animals at the ranch. Park visitors can not bring pets due to this fact as it disturbs the balance and risks your pets safety as well as ours.
Can I go bare foot?
We ask for no bare feet. Due to us being in a seasonal flood zone, the major floods bring nails, glass, and debris to the property.
What are the poisonous things there?
OK... gonna answer this one but don't fret over it... information helps but fear does not! Of course you are coming into nature so we have some recommendations... We (like the rest of the U.S.) have our poisonous things and things that bite or sting.
Plants>
Leaves of three let it be! Poison Ivy and Poison Oak can cause reactions in a lot of people... we have ample ground that is cleared and lacking these itchy culprits but if you are going off the beaten path for some wilderness exploring you will run the risk of brushing up against this... They grow in multiple forms from bushes, to low growths trees and vines growing up trees... Whatever you do, dont burn it!
Research: Poison Ivy, Poison Oak, Poison Sumac
Critters>
We have three poisonous snakes in the area... Generally a watchful eye and staying out of remote unpopulated areas are the best way to keep away. Most people who are bitten are bitten trying to kill these snakes... Keep a watchful eye out and do not disturb their habitats and you should not be worried... just cautious... All three snakes are painful when you get bitten but are generally not lethal. Keep the bite lower than the heart and keep from panicking and getting your heart rate up. We will take you to the docs but most of the time they just monitor you and make sure nothing goes unplanned. There are very few fatalities from these snakes in a given year across the entire south...
We LOVE our non-poisonous snakes! Please do not kill our natural rat killers!
The most common are:
Water Mocassins (black in color, triangle shaped heads, a pure white mouth) they reside close to water sources, are somewhat agressive when you are between them and the water and are not lethal as long as you do not panic and over elevate your heart rate.
Copperheads (Gold, Bronze, Copper) in color with triangle bands and a triangle head. They are not aggressive and will typically lay motionless hoping you pass them, when provoked or contacted they will strike. You will find them in wood piles, rock piles and in dead leaf areas... Non-lethal as long as you do not panic and over elevate your heart rate.
Rattlesnakes are not common in this area but do exist and are diamond marked and not your normal TX variety. They are smaller (often called pygmy rattlers) and less frequent and we also have Western Diamondbacks and Timbers but they are also uncommon but possible.
We do have Brown Recluses, Black Widows, and Mosquitos but in far less numbers than OK and TX due to our heavy bat populations and natural predators...
When in doubt, Stay Safe!!!
When do I wear a mask?
Paintball areas require masks and gun plugs to keep everyone safe!
Can I go Wilderness hiking?
Bluff climbing and off path hiking are reserved for nature experienced people... These areas can be very dangerous when under the influence or when not paying attention... Kids should never go on this adventure.
Where can I Camp?
Camp sites are varied... there is creekside, there is remote, there is quiet, and then there is being in the middle of it all... try to think where and how you would like to camp and we will do our best to provide the perfect place for you... Cars and vehicles will be kept in designated parking areas, not at campsites... most places you can pull close enough to unload and unpack...
Where can I have a fire?
We will provide fire rock rings for you, but please do not build fires on our freshly cultivated land because it will scorch the earth and kill the grass we are trying to grow... We have places for your fire rings to go and if you have a question about it, just ask any of the RPR Crew... Please keep nails, glass, and non-burnables out of the fires... we hate having to pick this out with magnets, out of our tires, and with our hands...
How far can I go?
Stay on Rock Pit Ranch land... Neighbors have guns! Look for yellow signs or trees marked with purple and white for boundaries.
Ok so this was the bummer rules message.
Now back to thinking about how much fun it will all be!