Jerry Isbell marketing and media

Broken Bow Lake Fishing Update

A boat ramp is open on Broken Bow Lake after recent flooding. No one is better qualified to give a fishing update than my pal, Bryce Archey of BrokenBowLakeGuide.com.

The Carson Creek boat ramp is open after recent flooding and from the pic of Bryce’s catch this week, fishing is very good on Broken Bow Lake. Bryce is the premiere guide on Broken Bow Lake, and as always, knows the scoop…

“The North ramp is open on Carson Creek. The lake level is 614.95 and normal pool is 599.50, so we have a way to go. The lake level is dropping almost one-foot-per-day due to the releasing of 7,850 cubit feet per-second (from the dam). Two other ramps should be open by end of the week. The lake should return to normal pool elevation in about 12-14 days, barring no more rain.”

Spawning season is approaching on Broken Bow Lake and there is no better guide to learn and laugh with than Bryce. He has years of experience after floods on Broken Bow Lake.

“Fishing can be really productive while the lake is extremely high. You can catch a variety of fish under flooded conditions, even during the winter months of January and February. The high water has fish up, moving around and looking for food to forage on. This makes your chances better than normal for catching quality fish,” Bryce reports.

If you want a tremendous outing on Broken Bow Lake, Bryce is a great choice for novice or professional anglers. Contact him at 870-582-4561. He’s our favorite guide on Broken Bow Lake!

By admin2|2016-01-17T22:03:17+00:00January 17th, 2016|Oklahoma Fishing|

You Don’t Want To Feel The Noise…

Tourism is booming in Beavers Bend, low oil prices seem to have little impact on cabin building in Broken Bow. New cabins continue to pop up everywhere…low to high-end.

It’s a good idea to map out exactly where your luxury cabin rental is located before making your reservation. Many are being built near busy highways. Surprise! The sweet sounds of logging trucks and 18-wheelers zooming by at 65 miles per hour isn’t exactly my definition of a relaxing getaway in the forest!

Cabin websites don’t mention this, but it’s something to consider if you don’t know the lay of the land in Beavers Bend. Ask for a 360-degree video of the property before you book a cabin. Don’t simply believe pictures on a website. This will eliminate all surprises upon arrival.

One of the biggest complaints for first-time cabin visitors to Broken Bow is a lack of seclusion. Many are located mere feet away from another cabin. Others are located near a bar or restaurant with loud music playing nightly. How will you know for sure? Ask for the video and do your homework.

Quiet Riot was a great old band, but you don’t want to “feel the noise” when staying in Beavers Bend!

We love logging trucks in the Kiamichi Mountains of Southeastern Oklahoma. They’re a staple of our economy, but there’s no need for them to be cranking by your cabin on a busy highway. Demand seclusion when staying in Beavers Bend.

We offer acres of seclusion away from noisy highways at Mountain Vista. Our 20-mile views and loyal following have made Mountain Vista a popular getaway for several years.

There are plenty of cabins in the area that won’t remind you of C.W. McCall’s hit, Convoy!

Reserve your stay at Mountain Vista soon. Breaker, breaker 1-9…you’ll truly have a “Quiet Riot!”

By admin2|2016-01-09T19:46:20+00:00January 9th, 2016|Texas Travel, travel blogs, travel promotions|

5 Things To Never Pay For In Beavers Bend

There are 5 things to never pay for in Beavers Bend when staying at a luxury cabin rental.

2016 has arrived and it is time to plan your cabin getaway to Broken Bow, OK. There are a few things to consider while researching top cabins in Beavers Bend. New add-on fees keep popping up with many cabin management companies.

Never pay…

Firewood Fees: We left free firewood for our New Year’s Eve guests and they appreciated it so much they sent us this picture around the campfire. Many other cabin management companies will charge you over $100 for a few sticks of wood. It’s on the house at Mountain Vista. Our guests knew how to build a nice fire!

Cleaning Fees: This add-on fee began about a year ago in Beavers Bend. Scores of cabin management companies are now charging $70-$100 extra in order for their maids to mop. If you pay this fee, you deserve to be “taken to the cleaners!”

Resort Fees: One of the most clever add-on fees to hit the Broken Bow luxury cabin market in years. I’m still not sure what it means, but there’s no need to pay this.

Restocking Fees: Another cleverly coined fee. Everyone must “restock” their cabins. We don’t charge you for this one either. Ask your cabin management company “What’s the difference between a resort and restocking fee?”

S’mores Fees: We provide free s’mores kits to all guests staying at Mountain Vista. Others charge you $50-$100 for a couple of sticks and a bag of generic marshmallows.

Insurance Fees: This “gotcha charge” began in Beavers Bend a few years ago. Countless management companies are trying to play State Farm Insurance agents when you book a cabin in Broken Bow. Like a good neighbor, we were the first to write about this fee years ago. Do the math and you’ll realize it’s a bad deal for you and a great one for them.

There will undoubtedly be more add-on fees in Beavers Bend in 2016. Never with us…Hopefully, the next up-charge won’t result in a guy wearing a trench coat visiting your cabin and asking, “Hey, want to buy a watch?”

Reserve your holiday and peak dates soon at Mountain Vista. Our calendar begins to quickly fill during the next few weeks. Our winter special continues through February…Arrive on Sunday-Tuesday and receive a 20% discount.

Remember to do your homework before reserving a luxury cabin. Take into account these 5 things you should never pay for in Beavers Bend.

Winter is wonderful at Mountain Vista! Contact us at 405-535-8055 or reserve online to experience our 20-mile view of serenity. One thing you won’t experience is add-on fees!

Jerry & Sherri Isbell & “Kula” the Grand Champion Show Dog.

By admin2|2019-03-30T20:43:18+00:00January 4th, 2016|Dallas spring break, Dallas travel, Dallas travel blogs|

Beavers Bend Winter Wonderland Cabin Deal

You’re in luck! We just announced a Beavers Bend winter wonderland cabin deal at Mountain Vista in Broken Bow, OK.

Arrive on Sunday-Tuesday and receive a 20% discount during January and February!

Unlike most other cabins in Beavers Bend, we have no-add on fees and provide free firewood!

We invite you to visit our vacation home soon!

Jerry & Sherri Isbell

BeaversBendVacations.com

@BeaversBend

By admin2|2015-12-23T15:01:33+00:00December 23rd, 2015|Travel Deals|

The Warner’s Return To Mountain Vista

The ArkLaTex’s Emmy Award winning KSLA television anchor Doug Warner and wife, Libby, returned to Mountain Vista for a little R&R recently.

The Warner’s have visited our vacation home numerous times through the years and we always enjoy having such quality people experience Mountain Vista.

Doug is very popular figure in the Shreveport viewing region and I’ve enjoyed seeing the transformation he’s brought to KSLA Channel 12. He’s taken it to an entirely new level with his leadership.

“Absolutely spoiled. I’m not sure we could ever “rough it’ camping after staying at Mountain Vista again. It’s an incredible getaway and relaxing to know that everything is taken care of…” Doug said.

Sherri and I are thrilled that Doug and Libby enjoy each trip to Mountain Vista!

You can enjoy Mountain Vista in January and February at a discounted rate! Arrive Sunday through Tuesday and receive 20% off your rate!

By admin2|2015-12-23T14:33:31+00:00December 23rd, 2015|ArkLaTex Travel, Luxury Vacation Rentals, travel blogs|

Merry Christmas From The Isbell’s In Beavers Bend

Thank you to everyone that has visited Mountain Vista in 2015. We’ve made many new friends and the feedback regarding our vacation home and stunning 20-mile views has been spectacular.

We knew Mountain Vista would be special when we climbed the hill and stood high-atop a truck to survey the view several years ago. The view took our breaths away but we had no idea about how big the Mountain Vista brand would become…we’re very thankful.

There are scores of cabins in Beavers Bend and many are now becoming simply “rental cabins.” Management companies are building cabins trying to capitalize on the two-million annual tourists that visit Broken Bow. Often, seclusion, luxury and views have been replaced by cabins 20 yards apart and generic amenities. We do things differently

Guests tell us they realize it’s our vacation home and not a glorified hotel immediately after arriving. 2015 has been our biggest year for repeat visitors. We have numerous guests that stayed six-seven times this year!

Our Beavers Bend app has been critical to our success and popularity. Many guests take advantage of last-minute specials and enjoy VIP packages offered only to our app fans.

We were the first to blog in Beavers Bend and have thousands reading our content monthly. Our blog has been an incredible tool to educate tourists regarding how to choose a luxury cabin in Broken Bow. We receive multiple calls and emails each week thanking us for bringing add-on fees to light.

Add-on fees are additional charges to your nightly cabin rental. Firewood, cleaning, resort fees and insurance charges are just a few of the terms many cabin companies use to gouge guests for more revenue.

We never charge add-on fees at Mountain Vista!

Contact us if we can help plan your luxury cabin getaway to the Broken Bow Lake area.

Many great things are planned for 2016. Sherri and I wish you a Merry Christmas and happy holiday season!

Jerry & Sherri Isbell

By admin2|2019-07-05T17:10:46+00:00December 20th, 2015|Dallas travel blogs, Dallas weekend travel, dfw travel, travel blogs|

Hochatown Distilling Company

Update: 6-25-20. Click here for the Hochatown Distilling Company website and tour information.

The Hochatown Distilling Company will open soon near Beavers Bend State Park. This will be a hot spot for tourists to wet their whistles while vacationing near Broken Bow Lake.

Sherri and I enjoyed a nice visit with owner Kerri McDaniel recently. Their beautiful gift shop is already open. The distillery and tasting room will be unveiled soon.

We were greeted with a friendly smile and great hospitality from Kerri as we checked out this new facility. It’s located a few minutes north of the Stevens Gap/Broken Bow Lake exit on Highway 259.

Being a marketing and media guy, I immediately realized they “get it.” The facility is first-class and their gift shop is adorned with scores of high-end merchandise. There’s no doubt the Hochatown Distilling Company will be highly successful.

Approximately two-million tourists visit Beavers Bend State Park and Broken Bow Lake annually. The Oklahoma economy is horrible now with low oil prices, but tourism is booming better than ever in Broken Bow, OK.

Visit the Hochatown Distilling Company during your next trip to Beavers Bend State Park.

By admin2|2020-06-25T17:15:05+00:00December 15th, 2015|Oklahoma Travel Blogs|

Winter In Beavers Bend

Winter in Beavers Bend is amazing and so are the views from Mountain Vista’s deck!

When the foliage falls in Broken Bow, our views get even better. Each season is truly special near Beavers Bend State Park. We love winter at Mountain Vista. We enjoy the fire pit and hiking the acreage surrounding Mountain Vista and the David Boren Hiking Trail.

When considering a luxury cabin rental in Beavers Bend State Park, make sure you validate a few things before booking.

Seclusion: Many cabin pictures are posted online promoting Beavers Bend and everything it has to offer. Often beautiful pics are posted without indicating there are other cabins only feet away. This is one of the two biggest complaints we hear from people visiting other cabins in the area.
Add-On Fees: Don’t pay for them. Take you business elsewhere. We received a call last week from someone telling us another cabin company wanted to charge big bucks for a little firewood. This is ridiculous. If there are guest-gouging charges from a cabin company…punt them. S’mores fees, cleaning fees, resort fees, restocking fees, firewood fees…the list goes on and on. A clever new add-on fee name pops up frequently in Beavers Bend. Some cabin companies are charging $40-$100 for s’mores and firewood. They’re always free at Mountain Vista!
Owner Involvement: If owners are highly involved in the cabin you’re renting in Beavers Bend, that’s good. Absentee owners almost always indicate a drop in cabin amenities. Most cabin companies don’t care. They want you booked, then out the door. If you’ve chosen one of 30-50 cabins on a website, you’re just a number. You’ll notice if the cabin owners are highly involved within 60 seconds after opening the cabin’s front door. There’s a difference between staying at a vacation home versus a rental cabin.
References: Our references are easy to find. We’ve enjoyed yet another successful year of great guests at Mountain Vista. Checkout our references and compare.

Contact us at 405-535-8055 or via our website to experience Mountain Vista luxury cabin in Broken Bow, OK soon!

By admin2|2021-09-17T10:49:27+00:00November 30th, 2015|Texas Travel, travel blogs, Travel Deals|

Cabin Management In Beavers Bend

Cabin management in Beavers Bend plays a vital role in the Broken Bow, OK tourism industry.

If you’re considering buying or building a luxury cabin, do your homework before choosing a company to manage your property. There are many things to consider before inking a deal with someone that will take 30-50 percent of your rental rates.

Make sure to assess how many properties the company manages. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to determine that you won’t get much individual attention being one of 40 cabins on a website.

Ask yourself, how are they going to rent my cabin with all the competition on their website?

Scrutinize the fees charged to you and renters by the Beavers Bend cabin management company. New fees pop up frequently and many have gotten creative with the fee names. Renters and owners hate add-on fees!

There are resort fees, restocking fees, cleaning fees, firewood fees, insurance fees, incidental fees and property protection fees...You get the picture, its crazy. I follow this stuff closely and its tough for me to keep up with the latest guest gouging techniques.

Many companies are also charging advertising fees to owners. There’s no need to put up with these unnecessary charges. A cabin owner recently told us they’re being charged to have cabin pictures uploaded to a cabin management company’s website.

The media and marketing background of your Beavers Bend cabin management company should be the determining factor in hiring them. Checkout their online presence and ability to draw attention to your luxury cabin. How will they be able to differentiate your cabin from scores of others on their website?

Simply owning a cabin and hoping people will visit doesn’t guarantee success in the Broken Bow luxury cabin business. Your cabin must have something unique. For us, it’s the amazing views at Mountain Vista. We’re also not penny pinchers regarding luxury amenities and are fortunate to have developed a loyal following through the years.

Many cabins fail because owners refuse to spend money on upscale amenities. Don’t expect a guest to return to your cabin if they’re paying $400/night and you’re giving them generic paper towels and hand soap. If your bath towels and linens were purchased at the Dollar General Store, your cabin is destined for failure in the luxury segment.

It’s expensive to correctly own, operate and manage a luxury property in Beavers Bend. Make sure you have the necessary funds in place for last minute emergencies. Three appliances and a flat screen television going out in a month can sting your pocketbook! Congratulations, your hot tub needs replaced…that’s about $6,000.00.

We’re asked about Beavers Bend cabin management companies on a weekly basis. There are very good and bad ones.

If you’re a current cabin owner or considering building one, contact us regarding cabin management in Beavers Bend. Our media background enables us to offer unmatched professional video services to showcase your luxury property.

Our fall promotion at Mountain Vista has been extend until mid-December. Arrive Sunday-Tuesday and your third-night is free!

By admin2|2015-11-11T15:13:27+00:00November 11th, 2015|travel blogs|

Beavers Bend Cabin Fall Foliage Special

Take advantage of our Beavers Bend cabin fall foliage special through November 19th.

Stay two-nights and receive the third free during Sunday-Thursday stays at Mountain Vista luxury cabin.

The fall foliage season is underway in Beavers Bend State Park and the next few weeks will be spectacular. We received much needed rainfall during the past few days and that will enhance the vibrant leaf colors.

Mountain Vista’s Deck View

The foliage surrounding Mountain Vista changes dramatically each day during this time of year. It’s truly breathtaking to view the changes occurring overnight. This shot was taken on October 22nd from our deck.

I enjoyed visiting with the staff at Adam & Eve’s Coffee House earlier this week. They have great java and food along with a fantastic gift shop. They are offering catering to luxury cabins and will make a formal announcement soon. I saw a few pictures of their food for a recent catering project and it looked fantastic!

We only have one weekend available at Mountain Vista until January. It’s December 10-13. 2016 dates are already beginning to fill. If you want a peak date for holidays or spring break, make your reservations now. Many people are amazed at how quickly the top luxury cabins in Broken Bow get booked for peak dates.

If you’re unfamiliar with the Broken Bow Lake area, two million tourists visit our Southeastern Oklahoma gem each year. We’re a highly popular getaway destination for OKC and DFW residents.

Download our Beavers Bend app for area information and promotional offers. The app gives you access to our blog that is read by thousands each month. We also have the ability to send occasional texts for last-minute offers and important local news.

The burn ban has been lifted in Beavers Bend and our guests are enjoying free firewood on our acres of secluded property. Browse other websites and research how many offer free firewood. Do your homework and study other websites regarding whether they charge for insurance, cleaning, resort fees or any frivolous add-on fees. We also feature our highly popular free S’mores Kits!

Get to Mountain Vista during the next few weeks and enjoy the views. We hope you can stay at Mountain Vista during our Beavers Bend cabin fall foliage special!

By admin2|2020-02-10T18:07:11+00:00October 24th, 2015|Beavers Bend Deals, Beavers Bend Specials|