The Magnolia — A River-View Bungalow with Hot Tub, Fire Pit & Room for the Whole Crew A two-bedroom, two-bath home-away-from-home on the banks of the Ouachita, where deck sunsets, hot tub soaks, and campfire nights come standard.
The Space The Magnolia is the most full-featured cabin in our small riverside resort — a proper bungalow with everything you need to settle in and stay awhile. The fully equipped kitchen and large dining area make it easy to cook together, and the living room's wood-burning stove adds a cozy warmth on cooler evenings. When you're ready to be outside, the private deck delivers river views and hot tub access, and the outdoor fire pit is perfect for long nights under an impossibly starry sky. Bedroom 1 — King bed Bedroom 2 — Two twin-over-full bunk beds (great for kids or a flexible group) The Magnolia offers WiFi and a Smart TV — log in to your streaming services or use it to stream a movie after a long day on the river. The private yard gives you space to spread out, and a charcoal grill is ready for your next cookout.
On the River The Ouachita runs right alongside the property, and on-site canoe, kayak, and river tube rentals are available with an advance reservation — shuttles included. The river is gentle and family-friendly, winding past towering rock bluffs draped in wildflowers, through long flat pools and occasional Class I–II rapids. Fishing is outstanding: smallmouth, largemouth, and spotted bass, bluegill, catfish, walleye, longear sunfish, and more. March through November brings the most popular conditions — spring wildflowers, summer shade on the water, and fall's brilliant foliage — but the Ouachita rewards visitors year-round.
Explore the Area Short trails into the National Forest begin just steps from the cabin. Venture further and you'll find the Womble Trail, Ouachita Trail, and Lake Ouachita Vista Trail — exceptional routes for mountain biking and hiking. The Fourche Mountain Trail and other secluded forest roads are ideal for ATV exploration. Nearby, horseback riding, crystal mining, and road biking round out an already full menu of options. A short drive brings you to Mount Ida, the Quartz Crystal Capital of the World — a must for rock hounds of any experience level. (A friendly note: please keep crystals out of the cabin, and we kindly ask that you take your finds home with you!)
After Dark We're situated near one of the darkest sky areas in Arkansas. On clear nights the Milky Way is unmistakable, fireflies light up the tree line in season, and the occasional Bald Eagle, Great Blue Heron, or Roadrunner makes a daytime cameo. Roast marshmallows at the fire pit and let the night do the rest.
Good to Know We live on-site and are always reachable via text or message
Pet friendly — $40 per stay per pet. Must be leashed outdoors and comfortable around other dogs and people. No smoking inside the cabin. Quiet hours: 10:00 PM – 7:00 AM
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Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Parties and events are allowed on site. Maximum attendees: 8
Host has indicated that there are no carbon monoxide detectors or gas appliances on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios and terraces, which may not be suitable for children; if you have any concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm that they can accommodate you in a suitable room
About the area
Pencil Bluff
Located in Pencil Bluff, this cabin is in a rural area and on a river. Mountain Harbor Marina and Turtle Cove Spa are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area's natural beauty can explore Ouachita National Forest and Dragover Recreation Area. Travelling with kids? Consider Nirvana Star Farms and Gee & Dee Crystal. Discover the area's water adventures with jet skiing and kayaking nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with cycling and hiking/biking trails.
Fulton Branch Recreation Area - 13 min drive - 14.1 km
River Bluff Recreation Area - 15 min drive - 15.2 km
Montgomery County Library - 16 min drive - 22.4 km
Lake Ouachita - 19 min drive - 24.6 km
Restaurants
P & R Dairy & Grill - 6 min drive
La Pasadita - 11 min drive
Yellow Store - 6 min drive
Frequently asked questions
Is The Magnolia — A River-View Bungalow with Hot Tub pet-friendly?
Yes, this property allows dogs (limit 2 total).
How much does it cost to stay at The Magnolia — A River-View Bungalow with Hot Tub?
As of 7 May 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at The Magnolia — A River-View Bungalow with Hot Tub on 15 July 2026 start from NZ$428, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.
How much is parking at The Magnolia — A River-View Bungalow with Hot Tub?
On-site parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at The Magnolia — A River-View Bungalow with Hot Tub?
Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.
What time is check-out at The Magnolia — A River-View Bungalow with Hot Tub?
Checkout is at 11:00 AM.
Where is The Magnolia — A River-View Bungalow with Hot Tub located?
This family-friendly Pencil Bluff cabin is located on a river, steps from Ouachita National Forest and within 9 mi (15 km) of Dragover Recreation Area and Fulton Branch Recreation Area. Nirvana Star Farms and Lake Ouachita are also within 12 miles (20 km).
Reviews
9.0
Wonderful
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Cabin was dated but clean. Lots of family friendly activities.
Laurie g.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2019
Response from VrboOwner on 31 March 2020
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Verified
8/10 Good
Jodie C.
15 July 2019
Liked: Check-in, communication, location
Just ok
When we arrived the host was very warm and welcoming. Aside from the property had a few issues our stay wasn’t bad and it was nice to get away from technology. The cabin could definitely use some deep cleaning. The AC unit will freeze (we were told but didn’t try out) if you turn it below 78/80, so the cabin always pretty hot. You have to sleep with fans on because the ac doesn’t come on after the sun goes down because the temp decreases but the humidity does not. For what we paid per
Night for our stay, one could replace the ac unit. Also the king size bed sits on the ground on two box springs. A bed frame would be a nice touch. Other than that the unit had lots to do. We enjoy the old radio but the volume takes a bit of a learning curve. This was our first time to the area.. I’m not sure I’d ever return here with the availability of other options.
Jodie C.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2019
Response from VrboOwner on 31 March 2020
I just talked to Jodie and she misunderstood what I was trying to tell her about the AC. It is quite capable of keeping the cabin very cool, but you should not turn it to the coldest setting, which is about 50 degrees, and leave it there. I wish we could have cleared this up while they were here and they could have been comfortable on their vacation. As for the bed being on the ground on two box springs, that is the equivalent of the wooden box frames a lot of motels use, gives total support and nothing can get lost under the bed. We have 4 cabins and deep clean one a week starting with cabin 1 (Honeybear) the first week of the month.
The cabin was simple and cozy with a big front deck and views over the river. The river bank has some fun activities for the kids like swings and basketball. It was a nice getaway.
My brother and I stayed here so that we could Get direct access to Fort Mountain Trail and the Washington national forest system. Both are spectacular and by staying here we didn’t have to trailer our four wheelers anywhere we could get to both trails right from this location which made it a breeze. Jan was awesome host and we enjoyed speaking with her and everyone at the camp. Looking forward to going back and doing this again
We had no problems renting property all went well. Porch & some of inside needed more cleaning up. Had a lot of extra stuff around that would make feel cleaner if wasn’t there.
Excellent Overall. Jan and family could not have been more hospitable, with a beautiful location.
Lawrence D.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2020
Verified
4/10 Poor
Carmen C.
15 July 2019
Disliked: Cleanliness, location, listing accuracy
Dated cabin
Overpriced for what it was. Far away from everything, no cellphone service.
Carmen C.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2019
Response from VrboOwner on 31 March 2020
This cabin's base price is for 8 people, you had 4 people in your group. We have other cabins that are reasonably priced for 4 people. We are located in the middle of the Ouachita National Forest and the nearest town is 11 miles away. Because of our location Cell phone service is sketchy and WiFi is available only in the office by satellite. Most of our web sites make it clear that you should unplug and come and stay with us. I have updated the description on my Vrbo sites to clarify this information. Thank you for bringing it to my attention.
Verified
10/10 Excellent
Beth H.
4 June 2019
Great place to get away!
Cabin is the basics- works great for family. Staff is wonderful. Location is perfect for biking and river floats.
Beth H.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2019
Verified
8/10 Good
James M.
24 April 2019
River cabin
Nice, clean cabin
James M.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2019
Response from VrboOwner on 31 March 2020
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Verified
10/10 Excellent
Sarah P.
31 March 2019
Great as always!
Had a great time again. We love coming here. Jan, her family and sweet dogs are fabulous!
Sarah P.
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2019
Verified
10/10 Excellent
Claire R.
19 March 2019
Beautiful, quiet and remote
Jan was a wonderful and helpful host. Property was beautiful, charming, quiet and remote. Looking forward to another visit.
Claire R.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2019
Response from VrboOwner on 31 March 2020
.
Verified
10/10 Excellent
Matthew G.
23 February 2019
Great Time Had A Blast!
Fun place to get away, everything needed to have a great time!
Matthew G.
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2019
Response from VrboOwner on 31 March 2020
.
Verified
8/10 Good
Sinto J.
24 November 2018
really good
The property was good. neat and clean.
Sinto J.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2018
Verified
8/10 Good
Sarah P.
10 October 2018
Super cute seculuded friendly place
Very cute, nice, friendly place for a family of 6. Lots to do on the property and the place was clean and tidy. My kids didn't want to leave. Great family camping trip in Arkansas.
Sarah P.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2018
Response from VrboOwner on 31 March 2020
Our goal is to provide a place for a family or group to come and relax and be able to canoe or kayak the river, swing on our tall swings, swim, fish, play volleyball, basketball, tether ball, horseshoes, bean bag toss, or hike the trails all on our property. Nearby you can go horseback riding, crystal digging and hiking on many trails.
Verified
10/10 Excellent
Cindy L.
31 July 2025
Cindy L.
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2025
About the host
Hosted by Amanda Sullivan
Hi! Our names are Casey and Amanda Sullivan. We were married in August 2020, and closed on this beautiful property in October 2020. It was a whirlwind year to say the least!
We moved from Denver, Colorado to enjoy all that Arkansas has to offer (so many outdoor activities are in this area).
We have 3 children and love sharing and learning more about nature with them.
Why they chose this property
We love this property because it is so secluded and peaceful. Surrounded on 3 sides by National Forest and the Ouachita River on the other really sets it apart from anywhere else. Our children (and ourselves) get to discover new and exciting plants and creatures we have never seen all the time, and go on fun river trips together.
What makes this property unique
The only overnight riverfront campgrounds on the upper Ouachita river. Float or paddle back to your rental after a day on the river!