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About Jerry Isbell

Jerry Isbell, a graduate of the University of Oklahoma, has a diverse background in corporate, entrepreneurial and international sales, marketing, philanthropy and media ventures. In 2021, he co-authored the book "Explosion of Prosperity-A History of Broken Bow Lake, Beavers Bend State Park and Hochatown" with Oklahoma Hall of Fame member and famed author/attorney, Bob Burke. Isbell began his career in media and marketing at KGOU Radio, KTVY Television and Remington Park Racetrack in Oklahoma City. Isbell also worked at a network affiliate in Minneapolis, MN. He has consulted internationally on sales, marketing and media projects. Isbell was chosen as Oklahoma’s first field representative for Xerox Corporation's authorized agency program in the early 1990's. He later enjoyed success at Curtis 1000, an international print communications company, and was named “Great Plains Sales Representative of the Year” in 1994 and 1995. In the late 1990's Isbell worked in management at Commercial Financial Services. He led a department of over 50 employees and was responsible for millions of dollars in monthly revenue. Isbell returned to Xerox in 1999 and won numerous Par Club awards while simultaneously completing the Xerox Management Program and earning certifications in Lean Six Sigma. He directed new business development territories that produced multi-million dollar annual sales in public, corporate and graphic arts sectors. He is a consultant for the Xerox Agent organization covering Oklahoma. He has traveled the United States and Europe on projects involving marketing, sales, media, social media, including a project to begin an English speaking television channel in Paris, France. Isbell founded BeaversBendVacations.com, a popular luxury resort in the mountains of southeastern Oklahoma. This creation was featured in the Sooner State’s centennial celebration book, Treasures of Oklahoma. Isbell has been involved in American Kennel Club dog shows with his nationally ranked Brussels Griffon and boxers for many years. He resides in Norman, OK with his wife Sherri, Director of Printing and Mailing at the University of Oklahoma. Sherri was named the International Printing and Management Association’s National Contributor of the Year in 2013 and has served as their President.
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The Beavers Bend Wedding Preacher

The Beavers Bend State Park/Hochatown area is a popular wedding destination. My old pal Rev. Lynn Tomlinson, known for his kind heart and great personality, is fondly known as “The Beavers Bend Wedding Preacher.”

Tomlinson has been a pastor in Broken Bow since 2012 and officiated weddings sporadicly during his early years behind the pulpit. Five years ago, his name became prominent on social media and he found an additional calling that he loves. He now performs many weddings annually.

“I really enjoy it! I get calls and messages weekly, mostly from people I’ve never met. I’m an extrovert, so I love meeting new people and especially enjoy sharing such a sacred moment in their lives.’

-Rev. Lynn Tomlinson

Tomlinson does weddings throughout the Broken Bow Lake area. He’s officiated at the city park, cabins, on houseboats and riverbanks, Carter Mountain, Honobia and many more locations. Rev. Tomlinson has a few bizarre McCurtain County wedding stories he shared that gave me a chuckle…like the time a couple wanted to be married at the end of a country gravel road. Then, there was a wedding scammer that had married seven women. The bride wasn’t pleased when she found out a few weeks later!

I was fortunate to have the Tomlinson family as neighbors growing up in Broken Bow. Rev. Tomlinson and his family are wonderful people and it’s easy to see why he has become the popular Beavers Bend wedding preacher! Weddings are often a stressful event, but you’ll be at ease on your special day with Rev. Tomlinson leading you to the “I do’s!”

This note recently came across his desk and speaks volumes about the memories he helps create during beautiful wedding ceremonies in Beavers Bend State Park.

“It’s been almost two years since you married us, and I don’t know if you remember us, but I hope you are doing well. I have a gift idea for my husband for our two-year anniversary. Would you happen to have a copy of the script you used when you married us? I would love to have the words printed onto a canvas to hang up in our home, along with our vows to each other, if not, not big deal, just thought I would ask! You were a huge part of the best day of our lives, we will never forget you!”

 

Rev. Lynn Tomlinson…the Beavers Bend wedding preacher that found his nuptial niche in the Kiamichi Mountains. He vows to make your wedding spectacular! You can reach him at 580-236-0279.

By |2025-02-04T21:32:28+00:00February 3rd, 2025|Beavers Bend Preacher, Beavers Bend Weddings|

Best Internet Provider For Beavers Bend Cabin Owners

I’ve seen numerous posts from Beavers Bend cabin owners wanting suggestions about internet service. I reached out to my lifelong friend and Broken Bow resident John Callaham to help me better understand one of his companies. He’s an attorney and owner of Pine Internet, Cell and Cable Television.

John also owns McCurtain County National Banks, is an accomplished fisherman, great pilot and his family has been great leaders in the area for decades. Our internet service works great in Southern Hills. I’ve only used my “Pull” with him two or three times since 2006. Our uptime has been fantastic.

Interesting Tidbits From Pine Internet

  • 24/7 support is available with a specialized number for approximately $15/month. Oddly, few cabin owners utilize this service. There is a service charge if you don’t have this feature and a technician visit is necessary.
  • Developers often don’t notify Pine Internet when lines are cut and new cabins are built.
  • Pine Internet has fiber lines to almost every cabin development in Hochatown/Beavers Bend. 

Local Advantage

I don’t believe a national company can offer better service and uptime than Pine Internet. We’ve been Pine customers at Mountain Vista Cabin since 2006 and my late family go back to the 1950’s with the Callaham’s. We’ve always felt more comfortable having local technicians nearby in case an issue arises. We’d rather deal with people in Broken Bow, OK than an overseas customer service call center.

If you have a cabin in the Hochatown, Broken Bow or Beavers Bend State Park area, I recommend choosing my friends…the legendary Callaham family and Pine Internet.

By |2023-08-17T19:12:27+00:00August 17th, 2023|Beavers Bend Cabin Internet Options|

OKC’s News9 Features Beavers Bend’s Mountain Vista Cabin in Summer Adventures Special

David Payne News9 with "Explosion of Prosperity, A History of Broken Bow Lake, Beavers Bend State Park and Hochatown." Written by Jerry Isbell and Bob Burke

David Payne at Hochatime Hideaway next to the Forest Heritage Center in Beavers Bend State Park.

News 9 Chief Meteorologist David Payne showcased Beavers Bend State Park on their Summer Adventures special. The Beavers Bend and Mountain Vista Cabin feature begins at 31:00.

David Payne & News9 crew enjoyed dinner at Mountain Vista from Chefs Tabb Singleton, Bailey McCullough & Tim Gardner

 Enjoy In-Cabin Chefs at Mountain Vista

The forecast at Mountain Vista this summer is beautiful sunshine and amazing 50-mile views! Contact us prior to your stay at BeaversBendVacations.com and we’ll get your fine dining experience started.

By |2022-07-06T12:09:23+00:00June 27th, 2022|News9 Beavers Bend|

Tulsa’s Mat Maxwell’s Rise To Fame As Luke Combs’ Bass Player

Mat Maxwell, bass player for Luke Combs, is a fan of Beavers Bend State Park and Broken Bow Lake. He’s played the area several times and stayed at Mountain Vista Cabin. Mat was featured in my book with Bob Burke, “Explosion of Prosperity, A History of Broken Bow Lake, Beavers Bend State Park and Hochatown.”

The Tulsa resident has toured with Corey Kent, The Swon Brothers, Lauren Alaina and others. He joined Luke Combs in 2021 and shared the journey that led him from Tishomingo, OK to sold-out arenas around the world.

The Early Days

“I came to music late compared to most. I started around 17 in my buddy’s garage band in Tishomingo. No idea what I was doing and musically very ignorant. I graduated high school and then went to junior college, studying commercial music and audio technology. Music theory, ear training and other music-related courses helped a lot. I worked pretty hard during that phase of my life, trying to make up for lost time. From there, moved to Tulsa and played in many different bands. Casinos, dance bands, weddings, churches, jazz gigs and local theatre. I also took private lessons on bass and piano. Piano helped immensely and I’d recommend it to everyone. I kept gigging and doing just about everything imaginable, saying yes and learning new skills and genres along the way. Larger artists continued to hire me over the years, and I eventually landed the gig I have now. I’m 35 and have been playing professionally for about 14 years.”
Picture of Mat Maxwell, bassist for Luke Combs

Courtesy: Mat Maxwell

Landing The Gig with Luke Combs-Life On The Road

“I didn’t have a history with Luke prior to about eight months ago. I met his bandleader about 14 years ago and was in his band then. He remembered me, believed in me, and recommended me. I went in, did my best, and the rest is history. Always do your best and leave a good impression on people. You never know when it’ll pay off. The travel is fun. New people, places, food, planes, buses, hotel rooms and Uber. Keeps you on your toes. I usually try to get some practicing in before the show and stretch. If I can, I’ll go for a run earlier in the day. We visited Fenway while in Boston and getting to do fun things like that is great while on tour. You don’t always get a chance to take in the cities, but it’s nice when you can.

Some days are busier than others. A lot of the time you don’t get a chance to fully enjoy where you are. The main reason you’re there is to work and that has to come first. It’s incredible. Absolutely incredible. The boss, band, and crew are all awesome and hilarious, so that makes touring really enjoyable. Super talented and professional folks bringing a great show. It’s a beautiful thing. It’s different than what a much younger me would’ve expected, but I’ve been doing it long enough that I knew some of the “ropes” of touring beforehand. It’s definitely a fun job, but a job nonetheless and it does take you away from home and family. Wouldn’t trade it for nothin’ but everything in life has trade-offs. I’m very, very thankful.”

Advice for Aspiring Musicians

“Contacts are essential. Strong ones. Ones where the person not only knows you but believes in you. It takes time and you don’t always make a lot of money. Especially in the beginning. Stay humble, be kind, show up on time, say yes, do what you say you’ll do, and always hit home runs (musically speaking). They’ll remember you. It’s typically a marathon, not a sprint, from what I’ve seen and personally experienced.”

Onstage Past and Present

“Early on in my career we were paid to quit playing because a high school reunion came in the bar and wanted to hear Bon Jovi all night. We were an original Americana band! Once…the drummer in our cover band fell asleep during a slow song. He had drank too much and leaned on his snare. People sometimes throw hats or their phones on stage at Luke’s shows. I’ll put the hat on and throw it back a few songs later. That’s fun. During the show I can’t do anything besides hand a phone back between songs.”
Maxwell says he spent a lot of time learning Combs’ setlist and much of his catalogue prior to joining the band.

Maxwell Loves Beavers Bend State Park/Broken Bow Lake

Picture of Broken Bow Lake

Broken Bow Lake
Courtesy: Matt Cameron
CameronPhotographyOK.com 

“Any musician that has done a fair bit of touring can tell you fun and interesting stories about places they’ve been. Some of those are more memorable than others, and Broken Bow is one of those for me. It’s obviously a place known for aestheticism, but the local artisans and overall art and music culture is part of what makes it so special. It was my dad’s favorite place on earth, and it definitely makes that same list for me.”
Maxwell’s rise to the top has catapulted him from playing shows in Broken Bow, OK to sold out concerts at Madison Square Garden with Luke Combs.
Mat Maxwell is another great Oklahoma musician we should treasure as he follows the beat of his dreams.
For business inquiries, contact Mat Maxwell at [email protected].
By |2022-09-24T14:14:21+00:00February 14th, 2022|Luke Combs Band Members|

Beavers Bend Cabin Chef Bailey McCullough Delighting Tourists

 

Tourists love being pampered and hiring a personal chef is one of the hottest trends in Beavers Bend. Chef Bailey McCullough, the right-hand man for Food Network Champion Chef Tabb Singleton, is a big hit in Broken Bow. He’ll titillate your tastebuds and teach you how to become a better cuisine expert.

Chef McCullough is a native of Southeastern Oklahoma and honed his skills at restaurants in New Orleans. He works with the legendary Tabb Singleton at Phatt Tabb’s BBQ in Idabel, OK and his cabin catering business is flourishing.

A scrumptious lobster tom yum course for my friends Scott and Kandyce Mitchell at Mountain Vista Cabin led Scott to text me, “He’s a genius!” Chef McCullough can create a plethora of menu items while staying at a luxury cabin in Broken Bow.

“The beautiful setting and Bailey’s artisan cuisine made the pics,” Kandyce said.

Chef McCullough enjoys engaging with tourists when cooking at cabins.

“I feel it’s one of the most important parts of the experience. The interaction, all the questions…it really makes a fun experience for the guest and me. I send guests a brief description of what I’ll be cooking and I love the shock and awe on their faces when it’s presented to them!”

Chefs McCullough and Singleton Featured on Trey’s Chow Down

Contact Chef Bailey McCullough at 337-244-1084 for a world-class meal in Beavers Bend.

By |2022-01-07T19:51:21+00:00January 2nd, 2022|Beavers Bend Cabin Chefs|

Beavers Bend Breakfast Tip

 

Jerry Isbell at Pamela Kay's diner along with owner, Pam Jackson.

Get the breakfast burrito at Pamela Kay’s when visiting Broken Bow Lake. Pam has a variety of great wraps, salads, sandwiches, homemade cookies and cinnamon rolls. It’s located on Highway 259 North across from the Stevens Gap Exit.

Picture of cinnamon rolls Picture of salad Picture of shrimp

 

Beavers Bend Coffee

If you want a wonderful cup of Joe, cappuccino, americano, macchiato or frappes,  Pamela Kay’s has wonderful food and coffee.

Picture of coffee

Pam has been a great friend and tremendous Beavers Bend entrepreneur for years. You can dine outside if the weather is nice. Grab it and go if you’re headed for a fishing trip or hiking the trails. If you’re new to the area, ask Pam for Broken Bow Lake tips. She’s an expert!

Beavers Bend To Go Menu

Menu

Mountain Vista Cabin

 BeaversBendVacations.com

By |2022-01-02T14:24:54+00:00September 14th, 2021|Beavers Bend Breakfast|

New Beavers Bend-Broken Bow Lake Book Unveiled At Hochatime

Jerry Isbell, co-author of "Explosion of Prosperity, A History of Broken Bow Lake, Beavers Bend State Park and Hochatown." Pictured with Hochatime co-owner, Kim Kennedy.

“Explosion of Prosperity, A History of Broken Bow Lake, Beavers Bend State Park and Hochatown” is available at Hochatime with free shipping.

Thanks to Jessica Alkirwi, Kim Kennedy and the wonderful staff at Hochatime for the warm welcome. I’ve had a blast signing lots of books and talking to many tourists recently. It’s been a pleasure seeing scores of cabin owners and people like me that grew up near Broken Bow Lake.

My co-author, Bob Burke and I had a wonderful time writing the book. We take you on a journey that has a few laughs, great photography and in-depth analysis of the tourism boom.

Picture of Bob Burke and Jerry Isbell

“Explosion of Prosperity…” Displayed at the Oklahoma Hall of Fame

Picture of Explosion of Prosperity, A History of Broken Bow Lake, Beavers Bend State Park and Hochatown" at the Oklahoma Hall of Fame

Download the Beavers Bend App For Mountain Vista Cabin VIP Specials

Jerry Isbell and Teddy Lehman

My friend Teddy Lehman, Oklahoma Sooners legend and former NFL linebacker

 

Jerry Isbell and Hal Smith

Iconic restaurant creator, Hal Smith

 

Jerry Isbell and Chris Plank

My pal Chris Plank. National sports radio host and Voice of Oklahoma Sooners Softball.

Mountain Vista cabin is located in Broken Bow, OK near Beavers Bend State Park. Minutes from Broken Bow Lake, it features acres of seclusion and 50-mile views of the Kiamichi Mountains.

By |2021-08-07T22:08:27+00:00August 7th, 2021|Beavers Bend State Park/Broken Bow Lake Book|

Book Your Summer Beavers Bend Cabin Stay

 

Jerry & Sherri Isbell, Owners, Mountain Vista Cabin Broken Bow, OK

Jerry & Sherri Isbell
Mountain Vista Cabin

We’ve had a busy spring at Mountain Vista. My blog has taken a backseat because of a huge project with attorney and Oklahoma Hall of Fame member, Bob Burke. Our book, “Explosion of Prosperity, A History of Broken Bow Lake, Beavers Bend State Park and Hochatown” is available for pre-ordering and will be released in June 2021. 

New Beavers Bend Book

Picture of Jerry Isbell and Bob Burke's Book Cover: "Explosion of Prosperity, A History of Broken Bow Lake, Beavers Bend State Park and Hochatown. Phone number ordering information.

What Mountain Vista Guests Are Saying

“Neat, very clean, hot tub was perfect…all appliances were in top shape, beds and mattresses were very comfortable. My friends said they want those for their homes now!”
-Ugonna
“This was a great family getaway. It felt so good to unplug from the world and enjoy nature. The hiking was breathtaking and fishing was relaxing. We had some much needed quality family time.”
-Debbie
“We had a wonderful & safe vacation during the pandemic at the luxurious cabin. The cabin has a lot of privacy, but civilization isn’t too far – so you get the best of both worlds. Jerry & Sherri’s recommendations were great and their hospitality is admirable. Can’t wait to visit again.”
-Nishant
“This is a great cabin and a superb location on a hill with beautiful views. The decks are massive. The area outside is just the best – very secluded and perfect. Beds are all huge. Everything you could want in a weekend rural getaway in the wilderness. Definitely go hiking up the road at Beavers Bend State Park. Highly recommend.”
-Chad
Multiple pictures of Mountain Vista Cabin property
Congratulations to Skip & Shel Copeland at Rolling Fork Takery. They’ve won several national awards through the years and recently added another to the list. The best sandwich in Oklahoma according to Yelp! Visit them on Memorial Weekend in Broken Bow.
Take our video tour and see the 50-mile views. Mountain Vista Cabin is just a short jaunt to Broken Bow Lake and Beavers Bend State Park.
By |2021-05-18T19:51:37+00:00May 18th, 2021|Beavers Bend Cabins With Views, New Author|

OKC’s News9 Features Mountain Vista Cabin In Holiday Series

David Payne Trout Fishing Broken Bow, Oklahoma

David Payne Trout Fishing Broken Bow, Oklahoma

News 9 Chief Meteorologist David Payne toured Beavers Bend State Park. He featured Mountain Vista Cabin, landed a huge trout and enjoyed Broken Bow Lake.

David, along with anchor Dana Hertneky and crew, spent time aboard the famous Tiki Boat and enjoyed lunch at Rolling Fork Takery.

I’ve been away from the blog for a while writing the upcoming Beavers Bend book with Oklahoma Hall of Fame member, Bob Burke. It’s scheduled to be released in 2021 and will highlight the history and recent tourism boom in our area.

2020 has been a weird year to say the least. It’s been the busiest in history at Mountain Vista. We’ve had hundreds on the waiting list during the summer and holidays.

Beavers Bend has many visitors discovering it for the first time. Broken Bow’s popularity is at an all-time high. Make sure to reserve your 2021 dates soon.

Thanks to News9 for making the trip to Beavers Bend!

By |2023-03-02T20:39:54+00:00December 15th, 2020|News9 Holiday Adventures|

Deer Feeder Added to Mountain Vista Cabin Property

Deer feeder at Mountain Vista Cabin

The views, seclusion and wildlife are fantastic at Mountain Vista  Deer sightings occur frequently on our property. Now, you’ll know where to look for them!

We installed a new feeder recently and guests have reported sights of Bambi stopping by for a meal.

Beavers Bend Fall Foliage Season

October and November are spectacular months in Beavers Bend. We have lots of local attractions and offer VIP deals on the Beavers Bend app.

Beavers Bend Fire Pit

Light a fire, crank up the grill and enjoy nature at Mountain Vista Cabin. See our video tour.

Bambi is waiting!

By |2020-08-22T20:36:30+00:00August 22nd, 2020|Beavers Bend fall foliage|

Mountain Top Luxury Cabin
475 Southern Hills Circle
Broken Bow, OK 74728
Make A Reservation
405-535-8055

Mountain Vista Cabin, BeaversBendVacations.com and the Beavers Bend app are for sale by owner.

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