Eventhough my wife Bennie is 85 % bedridden and is in pain 24/7, you mentinon Bennett Spring to her and she is ready. Bennie will fish in the disabled area and tolerates her pain and fishes for about 1/2 hr and usually gets her limit. To see this its like a miracle and she always says, with being in constant pain, I might as well do what I love to do best and that is trout fishing at Bennett Springs. Her loving husband, Jerry

My name is Cherrilaine Hostetler I have been going to Bennett Spring State Park ever since I moved down here, and I have been living 9 miles away from it since I was 2 and a half. This is most beautiful and peaceful place I have been to every time you turn around someone with a helping hand or just a smile is always around the corner. When it comes right down to it, Bennett Springs is the home to most of us but I have worked there and spent most of my time there and in time dreams have came true there,and so many memories have been made there by so many families. If I had a say in it to me and im sure for most people its a true meaning when one says that its a magical place. All your stress is just gone when you get there you can relax, and enjoy the nature and all of its beauty. Now that i have a child of my own I now understand the importance of it and my son will be took there for family memories to be made. To me Bennett Springs is not just a place for family and friends to come together, but it gives people a way to reconnect with nature and its beauty, and it reminds us why we have to take care and preserve it for the future generations and many more generations to come. Its a like a church but its natures medication and its natures way of teaching us what its all about,well at least it was that way for me.

My grandparents first brought my brother and my sister down to Bennet Springs when were about 10 years old. That took us every year until they passed. I have been trying to go more recently and I truely do enjoy the peacefulness of the park the people that work there. I look forward to going as much as possible.

We've been bringing our grandkids here for years to camp and float and enjoy nature! My grandmother lived in Lebanon, and we would visit her then sometimes come to the park. I found a picture of us all at BS in 1954. Grandma had her dress on, as most women wore back then! We've seen eagles here, and enjoyed swimming in the beautiful swimming pool, and also Moon Valley. What a great place to make memories! Going down again in a few weeks! Trying to have one more float trip!

I first went to Bennett Springs in 1976 and each year after that for many years. It has now been about 20 years since I have been there, but going this weekend with my son and future son in law. My son has now shown interest in fishing and there is no better place for his first guy fishing trip than Bennnet Springs the park and area is great.

We used to have family reunions in bennett springs and every year I would tend to family cemetery with grandma and mom and eat at the lodge. Both of them are deceased and now it is just myself, but I still come every year and do it on my own and make sure I have a catfish dinner in memory of them both! This year I'm coming from Montana.

I have been going there for over 40 years. It's still our favorite state park to go to. While we still don't tent any more it has all the charm and relaxation it always has had. I was a football ball coach then a high school principal. I have found no place and I can relax more and take the pressure of the day off.

A family friend and my best friend's Mom, Judy, took me trout fishing for the first time when I was young right after a funeral. Her spot was next to the spillway on what used to be the concrete slope. I caught my first on a green jig that she tied. I was "hooked" on trout fishing and Bennett Springs in the instant. Years past we had many trips with our families, I even adopted and took home a stray cat found by the dumpster at the lower campground and aptly named him Bennett. My friend and I became Jr. Naturalists with our patch collection and time spent with Dana, the staff naturalist at the time. Judy is no longer with us given that cancer is a heartless bastard, but her ashes live forever at Bennett and my memories of our time there will always be among my most treasured. I'm 42 now and though I live in Texas, I recently was able to introduce my wife and 5 yr old son to Bennett while taking a trip to visit family in Illinois and escape Harvey. My son now professes his love for all things Bennett Springs and never misses an opportunity to sport his Bennett t-shirt when we are fishing here in Texas. Go to Bennett, make memories, fall in love.

I began fishing Bennett Springs almost 20 years ago. After I joined the Military my ability to fish at Bennett Springs was diminished by the constant traveling. However I do all I can to make a trip home once a year and fish this wonderful river. I can say after 20 years the fishing is as incredible as it was when I began. I have fished that river and had deer walk less than 5 feet behind me, so it is more than just the fishing that this park has to offer. I started fishing there when I was 12 years old, and now I take my daughters so they can experience the same wonder I found when I was younger. The store clerks are very kind and always seem to have a smile on their faces. The cabins are dated, but in a way that made me feel like I was at my grandparents house. Of all my travels I feel confident in saying the most beautiful place I have found is Bennett Springs.

Last Labor Day weekend we held the rehersal dinner for my sons wedding at the Dining Lodge. It was the nicest place around the area to have such an event. Though I was a bit lerry of having to be served from the buffet but it not only worked out well the food was good. The selection had something for everone. The Lodge Manager and her staff were perfect hosts and no one lacked for fast service which was served up with a genuinely friendly smile. The couple got married on the river bank at a locally owned private resort and I was afraid we would have to drive a long was to find a nic, clean place with a great atmosphere and desent food. After seeing the Lodge and talking to the staff the decision to have the dinner here was a no brainer. I would recommend it to anyone wanting a classy place to hold such an event near the river to come here. Thanks Gals, Randy Presley

I have been going to Bennet Spring since I was 3 yrs old . My grand parrents were the first to take me . They also have been going forever . It's a family tradition to go every year atleast once . Every time we go down , its like coming home . I look forward to going every time , and hope to keep the tradition alive !

I have been going to Bennet Spring since I was 3 yrs old . My grand parrents were the first to take me . They also have been going forever . It's is a family tradition to go every year atleast once . Every time we go down , its like coming home . I look forward to going every year , and hope to keep the tradition alive !

My dad took me to opening day 1964 and ever since then I have been in love with this park. I learned to fly fish there. Thanks to the many people that over the years that have shared their time on the stream. Some have become life long friends and I cherish them as well as I do the many trout that have fallen for my flies and the ones that refused them. I have over the past several years been able to travel and fish other places in the U.S., New Zealand, and west Australia. Still my favorite waters are in the Ozarks with Bennett at the top of the list. I look forward to starting my fifth decade of fishing at Bennett Spring.

I grew up visiting the park and the river outside the park. The Suzy hole was named after my mom's great aunt because before it was a stat park she would do her washing in that part of the river that comes out of an underground water hole. My grand father on my fathers side worked at building up the park and helped build some of the cabins under FDR'S jobs plan. It is a beautiful park and I have a deep family connection to it.

My wife and I found out about Bennett Springs trout fishing last summer 2011, We went for the first time Sept, 7. We had so much fun, so relaxing, what a blessing. We went on the last day of trout season. This year we went the third day of fishing season. We are now planing to go again this May. We moved to MO, and we have never regreted it, what a wonderful state. The fishing is great and eating the catch is a great reward for hours of fishing fun. We are now looking into camping, and buying things to camp in the park. Missouri is such a great state, what a wonderful place to retire.

Bennett Spring Park is definitely one of my happy places. I have been coming here for years....love to fish off of the bridge and just enjoy the beauty of this park. I've probably stayed in every cabin/room at one time or another and have always enjoyed every minute. Looking forward to many, many more years of happiness at this amazing place.