Finley Farms opens its long-awaited Ozark Mill restaurant. Take a look inside.
Finley Farms opens its long-awaited Ozark Mill restaurant. Take a look inside.
The Ozark Mill restaurant is finally here. The restaurant concocted by Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris at the historic mill on the Finley River in Ozark opened to the public on Friday.
The Ozark Mill offers hand-crafted cocktails, a pizza bar and a gift shop with local brands. The restaurant is the latest development in the Finley Farms project near the historic Riverside Bridge.
“We are so honored to be reopening the historic Ozark Mill,” said Megan Stack, Morris’ daughter. “Countless hours have been spent restoring the mill to create a place for the community to gather and celebrate. We’re grateful for the hard work and passion our team, mill experts, historians and community members have contributed to preserving this special space, and we look forward to sharing it with locals and visitors alike.”
Previously: Bass Pro development Finley Farms touts raising of historic Riverside Bridge in Ozark
The Ozark Mill has many rooms inside, but one that stands out is the Hawkins Room, which is named after the family that owned the mill before the Morris family purchased it. The Hawkins Room is a private event space and will be used for overflow dining with a private patio outside as well a private bar inside.
The Ozark Mill also houses a general store, which gives guests a chance to shop while they wait for their table to be ready.
Dayle Duggins, marketing manager for Finley Farms, said the Morris family has tried to honor the history of the Ozark Mill throughout this project. The mill was originally built in 1833, and it served as a gathering place for the community throughout the 19th century.
The Ozark Mill restaurant offers outside dining overlooking the Finley River. There are flood gates downstairs to help prevent future flooding.
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Executive Chef Kevin Korman, a veteran of the restaurant industry, is responsible for the menu, which uses produce from an on-site farm.
The opening of the Ozark Mill restaurant is not the last part of the project. Finley Farms also plans to add more features.
Hours of operation for the restaurant are Wednesday through Friday from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, visit the Finley Farms’ website. Reservations are recommended.
Ralph Green is a business reporter with the Springfield News-Leader. Contact him at RAGreen@gannett.com, by phone: (417-536-4061) or on Twitter at RalphGreenNL