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"This chimney and structure are all that the remains of the caretaker’s cottage located at the entrance to a fantastic venue called The Wonderland Cave. The Wonderland Cave attracted dance enthusiasts from all parts of the Ozarks providing music by some of the top bands in the entire country.Considering the builders had no blueprints to follow and yet each chimney was built to perfect width and height that they still stand today as sentries of the Ozark Mountains."John CraigTweet
"It was a cold winter day when I ventured into the woods to try and locate these giants of the hills. They are nearly impossible to locate the majority of the year as they have been reclaimed by the vines and trees that have grown up around them.The craftsmen who constructed the chimneys were amazing in their abilities to blend the chimneys with the cabin and surrounding landscape.Some of the structures are pushing 20 feet in height, yet they were constructed in such manner as to make them nearly impossible to locate now that the cabins were reclaimed by time and elements.What I find fascinating is the current conditions of each structure give the appearance that they could have been constructed just recently.How the masons were able to build a foundation on the side of a hill that would hold the massive weight for generations to come was a true test of their building skills.
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"I must admit, I do have a couple of favorite chimneys. This structure looks very much like a stately gentleman standing true and tall with a fancy hat to cap the chimney."John CraigTweet
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You can see more of John's exploration of the mountain woods revealing the history of Bella Vista in a 16-image exhibition at the Bella Vista History Museum. The Museum is open Saturdays and Sundays 1-5. It is located at 1885 Bella Vista Way.
John Craig inherited his love of wild places. He was born in Wyoming and raised alongside the North Platt River near dozens of small creeks, the plains and mountains. He moved to Arkansas in 1998 and he and his wife, Mary Ann, made Bella Vista their home in 2005.John is a regular contributor to Discover Bella Vista. He joins those in the Bella Vista community in telling the story of Bella Vista, “Nature’s Gem of the Ozarks.”You can see more of John’s work on his website: jlcraigphoto.com
