Discover nature, history, and hotels in Barry

Plan nature experiences and explore local history during your trip to Barry by visiting specific places. Roaring River State Park is in Barry County; in Cassville, you’ll find the Greenway Trail and Barry County Museum, among other attractions. Their different highlights can help you plan your stay around the topics that interest you most.

Nature and fishing in Barry County

Roaring River State Park lies in a deep, narrow valley surrounded by rugged terrain. Rainbow trout are stocked there, and fishing is possible year-round. More than 20 million gallons of clear water at a temperature of 57°F flow from a spring into the Roaring River each day.

The Roaring River Hills Wild Area is also part of the natural landscape. It preserves 2,075 acres of rugged Ozark terrain, with dense hardwood forests, open dolomite glades, and deep hollows. The Fire Tower Trail provides access to the area. The landscape is shaped not only by the State Park’s narrow valley, but also by the Wild Area’s varied forests, rock formations, and terrain.

Interpretive displays at the Ozark Chinquapin Nature Center offer insights into the park’s habitats, geology, and wildlife. The exhibits also include live animals, among them two snakes. Interpretive programs take place on most weekends from March through October; check the specific dates when planning your visit.

Trails and activities in Cassville

In the host community of Cassville, the 2.9-mile Greenway Trail winds through the city park system and is designated for hiking and biking. It follows Flat Creek between Rocky Edmondson Park to the north and South Aquatic Park and Reenactment Field to the south. This gives you a clearly described urban route, while Roaring River State Park offers different nature experiences, including fishing and its valley landscape.

Harvick Farms is also in the host community of Cassville, near Roaring River State Park. The farm operates seasonally and offers gardening and self-sufficiency classes, as well as pick-your-own produce. If you want to include these activities in your travel plans, keep their seasonal availability in mind.

Museums and history

Barry County Museum is located one mile south of Cassville at Highways 112, 76, and 86. The building covers 16,500 square feet, and the grounds span 16 acres. The exhibits cover the county’s geographic, agricultural, industrial, educational, and social development. The museum’s Fields’ Photo Archives contains more than one million negatives of people, places, and events in Barry County.

The Black Schoolhouse is also part of the museum. It was relocated and renovated; it originally stood on Y Highway north of Cassville and was one of 112 rural schools in Barry County. The Bayless-Salyer House in Cassville was built in 1879. These places offer different historical perspectives, from the county’s school system to a building from the late 19th century.

The Golden Pioneer Museum offers insights into the lives of early Indigenous residents and the settlers who arrived in the 19th century. Its collection includes one of the largest collections of carnival glass in the Midwest. Notable individual items include a doubly terminated single quartz crystal weighing 1,250 pounds. The collection of Indigenous artifacts includes more than 800 pieces of Indigenous pottery, as well as baskets and simple tools.

Seasonal offerings

The Roaring River Restaurant at the Emory Melton Inn and Conference Center serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner seasonally, with table service in a rustic setting.

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