Shepherd of the Hills Homestead Tour
Embark on a 60-minute, Jeep-drawn tram tour of the Historic Homestead Tour, which includes stops at Old Matt's Cabin, Inspiration Point, Wright Church and Little Pete's Cave. Your first stop will be Old Matt's Cabin, which served as the Ross family home for approximately 30 years before it was established in history through Harold Bell Wright's famous novel, "Shepherd of the Hills." Inside the cabin you will find numerous antiques and historical items, including clothing worn by John and Anna Ross, some of their furniture, photographs, tools, cooking utensils, and much more. Then it's time to head on to the incredible views at Inspiration Point.
You'll get a great look at Inspiration Tower, a 230-foot-tall lookout tower that was built in 1989 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Harold Bell Wright's first visit to the Ozark Mountains. The tram will also stop for an unbelievable view of the Ozark Mountanis from Inspiration Point, and you'll see where Wright pitched his tent to write "The Shepherd of the Hills."
After visiting Inspiration Point, you'll see the quaint Wright Church. Originally located in Morgan County, Missouri, the church was constructed in 1901 and resembles one that Harold Bell Wright preached in during his time in Kansas.
Take a behind-the-scenes look at the Old Mill Theatre during the next phase of your tour. The tour guide will take you down on set, where you will be up close with Old Matt's steam engine and grist mill. Here you will learn all that it takes to put on the production every night, and possibly even meet Houdini, the wandering mule!
The excitement doesn't stop there. You'll also get to peer into Little Pete's Cave, see a real, working moonshine still, go through the Harold Bell Wright Museum, and visit the horses at the stables. After your tour, you can stroll through our gift shops and maybe have a snack at Aunt Mollie's Restaurant while the kids check out the playground. And, of course, you can pick up your own copy of the world-famous book! There's always something happening at the Homestead!
Tour Highlights
- Old Matt's Cabin
- Inspiration Tower
- Wright Church
- Outdoor Drama Stage
- Old Matt's Steam Engine
- Grist Mill
- Little Pete's cave
- Harold Bell Wright Museum
- Stables
- Aunt Mollie's Restaurant
Details
- Tour price includes narrated tram tour.
- Tours depart between 10:00 am and 5:00 pm Monday - Saturday. Tours normally leave every hour on the hour. Please check schedule for specific departures.
- Tour length is approximately 60 minutes.
- Cameras are permitted.
- This tour is appropriate for all ages.
- The tram is handicap accessible.
