Buffalo Outdoor Center
Call Us! 870.861.5514
Buffalo Outdoor Center
Call Us! 870.861.5514
Click here to learn how to get to Ponca and Buffalo Outdoor Center, plus, a handy Google map! Please be aware that current vehicle-equipped GPS systems do not contain databases adequate for helping you reach Ponca. MapQuest is also insufficient in helping you reach Ponca.
Check-in is 3:00 PM / Check-out is by 11:00 AM
For guests arriving after our store has closed for the evening, we place your cabin key and a cabin map inside an envelope, write your last name on it and then attach the envelope to a bulletin board outside the front of our office.
Your cabin is fully furnished with all linens, as well as a microwave, full-size refrigerator, standard kitchen utensils / pots and pans / dinnerware / coffee pot, beautiful fireplace (RiverWind Lodge the fireplace exception) and TV with DVD player (please note there is no reception or cable here).
Thank you for reviewing important know-before-you-come lodging policies and guidelines related to a reservation.
Since we don't have cable or TV reception in Ponca, we offer a nice selection of complimentary DVDs for you to check out during your stay.
If your cabin features a hot tub, please note that for your maximum enjoyment, we service it DAILY somewhere between 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM. So, that's an FYI should you be a skinny dipper type of hot tubber!
On your cabin's coffeetable is a guidebook full of useful information about enjoying your cabin stay, as well as finding adventure in Buffalo River country. Please be sure to look for it immediately upon arrival!
Before you arrive, visit our TODAY IN PONCA page for the current scoop on all things upper Buffalo River and BOC, including a handy weather forecast! It's a short summary of things not to miss and where to find them, such as wildflowers here or elk over there. Plus, it features our latest photography which will make you want to be here all the more!
If your cabin features WiFi, be sure to reference the TODAY IN PONCA page daily during your visit! (Not sure your cabin has WiFi? Click here to learn!)
The new BOC store carries a selection of pantry staples, including butter, milk, soda, popular canned good items, ice and ice cream. However, Ponca does not have a full-scale grocery store, so you will want to bring fresh meat like steaks and hamburger, as well as fresh produce with you. Or, plan to shop in nearby Jasper (14 miles) or Harrison (25 miles) for them. If you are floating, be sure to purchase items like mustard and mayonnaise in plastic containers as glass is prohibited on the Buffalo National River. For your convenience, we carry a nice selection of river-friendly condiments in our store.
Call us at least 24 hours before you arrive and we'll take an order for grocery items from our store and have them waiting for you at the cabin! Please note there is a $25 charge for this service in addition to the grocery items purchased, which will be charged to the credit card holding your reservation.
Your cabin is equipped with a charcoal grill (Cabin X, Compton Mountain and RiverWind Lodge have propane). We offer charcoal and lighter fluid for sale in our store or you may bring it with you.
The BOC store now features a deli crafting hearty, wholesome sandwiches, plus serving up ice-cold fountain drinks, coffee, frozen yogurt and more! If you're in the mood for a barista-made mocha latte', visit the Muddy Water Coffee Co. on the square in Jasper (14 miles from Ponca) for a wonderful java concoction like the Mudslide Mocha. Jasper also has several hometown restaurants that serve up a good square meal. About 4 miles from Ponca is the Low Gap Wi-Fi Cafe where for dinner you'll find some pretty sophisticated entrees for these parts! In Harrison (25 miles), you'll find a Western Sizzlin', Colton's, Nopalito's Mexican, and a selection of fast food offerings. For a special meal, we highly recommend DeVito's (just a little north of Harrison on Hwy 65) for authentic Italian food, but also for rainbow trout served a number of delicious ways.
Newton County is dry with the nearest beer and wine available in Harrison, about 25 minutes from Ponca. Park regulation reminder: glass containers are prohibited on the Buffalo National River, so be sure to purchase cans or boxed beverages for river floating and camping.
If you are staying with us during the weekend, be sure you have made advance reservations for canoes / kayaks / rafts, as well as the zip line canopy tour. These are not automatically added to your reservation, so please give us a call at 1-800-221-5514. If you don't recall discussing this or book your reservations now online.
Ponca is home to Arkansas' most beautiful hiking trails and our staff is ready to help you discover where to find every one of them. Late spring through early fall, you'll find the swimming holes at Ponca and nearby Steel Creek to be among the prettiest in the state or just a great place to sit and enjoy a picnic lunch. Love to trail ride? Our friends at nearby Rimrock Cove Ranch have a beautiful place and love to introduce new riders to the thrill of being on horseback. For cave lovers, we recommend a visit to Mystic Caverns, where you can tour two different beautiful caverns that also have a Prohibition story. Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge (50 minutes form Ponca) is also a worthwhile visit, as it is a rescue sanctuary for lions, tigers and, yes, even bears!
You'll enjoy your stay to the fullest if you are armed with some bug repellent and sunscreen, especially during late spring through early fall. Applying some of both before a hike or float trip will help guard against the discomfort that comes from chigger bites or sunburn. We carry these items in our store should you have left yours at home.
Coming this summer are gas pumps to BOC! However, until then, we advise filling your tank before coming to town. Before you leave, gas is usually available down the street at Lost Valley General Store or in Jasper (14 miles) or Kingston (16 miles) or Harrison (25 miles).
Ponca itself does not receive cell service, due to the steep terrain surrounding it. However, cell service tends to be available at our mountain-top cabins located on Firetower Road about 3 miles above Ponca, especially if you subscribe to a major service provider such as AT&T or Verizon.
If you have someone at home who needs to contact you, please give them our 1-800-221-5514 number for use during business hours: 8 AM - 6 PM, Mar - Nov / 8 AM - 5 PM, Dec - Feb. Please note that it is a guest's responsibility to check for messages. Also, our 800 number is not answered in the evening; make sure loved ones or caregivers at home have this information (see EMERGENCIES BACK AT HOME below for more help with preparing sitters and caregivers for your absence).
Because Ponca is located in a wilderness area, emergency responders and facilities are not just down the street. However, by having the right phone numbers at hand, emergency help can arrive much sooner than later. Click here to visit our page of Upper Buffalo National River Emergency Numbers. We recommend printing this page off and carrying a copy with you in your vehicle while visiting the area. Plus, you should also leave a copy for a sitter or caregiver to reference back at home. After-hours emergencies should be reported to 911 or to the Newton County Sherriff's office at 870-446-5124.
Make sure whomever is at home knows the name of the cabin you are in and its approximate location (Ponca / Firetower Road / Compton Mtn Cabin on Hwy 43). Printing off our cabin map and circling your cabin with a pen will enable a loved one or sitter to help authorities find you more quickly. If our store is open, please have them call us at 1-800-221-5514 and we will post a message at your cabin. If an after-hours emergency, they should call the Newton County Sherriff's Office at 870-446-5124 for assistance.
