JULY 2013 CONNECTION MAGAZINE | 1JULY 2013

FREE

READERS SHARE THEIR MEMORIES OF TABLE ROCK LAKE

High-Flying

+A visible reminder

CCC WORKER STATUE DED ICATED AT RRSP

Eat what you canT IPS FOR PRESERV ING

YOUR SUMMER HARVEST

High-Flying High-Flying FUNFUNFUNL AKESIDE AIRPORT HOSTS

MONTHLY FLY- INS

LOVIN’

THE

LAKE

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CONNECTION MAGAZINE

contentsJuly 2013

On the cover:Joey McCracken gets some air and jumps the wake while wakeboarding on Table Rock Lake. Photo by Jeremy Huse of Huse Photography.

8 High-flying fun TurkeyMountainAirportinShellKnobhostsmonthlyfly-ins

15 Home decor business thrives Towneley Furnishings opens in newly

renovated downtown building

20 Eat what you can and can what you can’t Tips for preserving your summer harvest

32 Table Rock Years Love for the lake began at any early age

34 Lovin’ the lake Readers share their memories of Table Rock Lake

38 A visible reminder CCC Worker Statue dedicated at Roaring River State Park

43 Crazy about the Cornhuskers Mt. Vernon man has amassed impressive

collection of sports memorabilia

47 The people in your neighborhood

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High-flying FUN

TURKEY MOUNTAIN AIRPORT IN SHELL KNOB HOSTS MONTHLY FLY-INS

STORY BY CHARLEA MILLSPHOTOS BY JOSHUA BOLEY

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Judy Reynolds bought Turkey Mountain along with her late husband, Marshall Reynolds, and another couple in 1992. At that time, the airport was partofabiggerpicture--anine-holegolfcourse and clubhouse with restaurant. Turkey Mountain was built in 1970, but eventually, it had to be split up to survive. After Judy’s husband died, she and the other couple continued the legacy until

One Saturday a month from May through November, Shell Knob residents may notice quite a few small planes buzzing through the skies. The occasion is the monthly fly-in at Shell Knob’s Turkey Mountain Airport. The grass airstrip on Table Rock Lake is unassuming, but that one weekend a month, a flood of small plane enthusiasts and their families pop in for fun and food.

2003 when the couple sold out their portion.Now,Judyistheone-womanshowresponsibleforkeepingalong-standingtradition alive. Thedrawofafly-inforaviationenthusiasts is the fellowship with other pilotsandtheirfamilies.Thepilotsflyintothe airport, park their planes and chat with Judy and the others. Judy serves a specialty mealtoanyonewhopays,butthefly-insare

free otherwise, including to members of the community. It’s a fun event for anyone who wants to bring a lawn chair and watch the smallplanesbuzzinandoutoftheairport. Themostmemorableeventofthefly-inseason is the Wounded Warrior fundraiser on Memorial Day weekend. On that Saturday,thefly-inbecomesastoponthePiper Cub poker run, which raises money for the Wounded Warrior Project. Planes

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flyintotheairport,raisingmoneyforthebenefitandcompetingwithshorttake-offsand landings. The event also includes a flour-bombingcompetitionwheresmallplanes try to hit a target on the grass with a bagofflourfromtheair.

Eachfly-inscheduledthroughouttheyear offers small plane enthusiasts and area pilotsanopportunitytoeat,socializeandenjoythelakefromauniquevantagepoint.The events also help promote the airport, and its role in providing convenient access

to Table Rock Lake for those wishing to travel by air. For over four decades, the small business has survived and achieved its fundamental goals. “We bought [Turkey Mountain Airport] to support and promote aviation,” explains Judy.“Itwasneveramoney-makingoperation. Not many small businesses can say they met their goals, but we did.” It was passion for the aviation community that inspired Judy to continue on with the airport. As a retired schoolteacher, her livelihood revolves aroundtheairportandthefly-insthroughout the year. Part of her success is low overhead. Sinceshekeepsnofuelonthefield,insurance and taxes are her only costs. Her biggest expense may be the gas for mowing. “All that owning it means is that I mow a lot,” laughs Judy. At one time, her passion was to become a pilot, but time and some roadblockswithherflighttrainingdeterred her. “The good Lord intended for me to keep my feet on the ground and mow,” Judy explained. Inadditiontothefly-ins,Turkey

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Mountain is a private airstrip where pilots musthavepermissiontoland.Planesflyin from all over the country, including Tulsa, Oklahoma, Plano, Texas, Rochester, Minnesota, and Wichita, Kansas. The airporthas25membersthatpayannualfees to be able to use the airport anytime they need to come to the area, but Judy doesn’t charge anyone to use the landing stripforaone-timelanding. “I don’t charge, because once people come in for their family reunion or whatever, they will love the area and want to come back,” said Judy. “Then they can become a member.” It is Judy’s generosity and kind spirit that keep Turkey Mountain Airport alive. The restaurant is no longer open, but she doesuseittocookmealsforthefly-ins.One of her most popular food items is her famous“In-the-BagOmelet.” While many smaller airports with grass landing strips have closed over the years, Turkey Mountain Airport and Judy’s fly-insstilldrawpeoplewhoarelookingfor

accesstoTableRockLake,aquiet,beautifullocation, a place to gather with family and fellow pilots, and a generous and joyful hostess.

The fly-ins at Turkey Mountain Airport remain open to the public. A complete schedule is available on the airport’s website at www.turkeymountainairport.com. The airport is

located four and half miles off of Highway 39 on Farm Road 1230 in Shell Knob at 23197 Maple Lane. For additional information, call Judy at 417-858-6345 or 417-671-1832.