5 Reasons Nature Lovers Should Visit Bass Pro Shops

Springfield, Missouri’s biggest store had a small start. Johnny Morris began selling fishing tackle in eight square feet in the back of one of his father’s liquor stores in 1972. He’s since expanded his business into Bass Pro Shops, an outdoor recreation giant that has more than 100 retail locations across North America. Despite its expansive growth, the Bass Pro Shops headquarters is still located in Springfield, and draws more than 4 million visitors every year, making it one of Missouri’s biggest tourist attractions. If you're an outdoor enthusiast, you'll want to make a stop there—and and check out these other outdoorsy spots—if you're staying at a hotel in Springfield.

Hemingway’s Blue Water Cafe

Hemingway’s Blue Water Cafe—a nod to famous author and angler Ernest Hemingway—offers a sportsman-inspired menu and a popular buffet. Photo Credit: @j10lam

While the store is full of things to see, shop and experience, you may be surprised to discover it’s also a place to have a meal! The retailer’s restaurant has a distinctive atmosphere, inspired by famed author and saltwater fishing legend Ernest Hemingway. The menu includes bacon-wrapped duck poppers and fried chicken. Can’t settle on just one item? Hemingway’s also offers buffet-style dining for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and it has a Sunday brunch, too.

Impressive atmosphere and attractions

Many people go to Bass Pro Shops for outdoor gear, apparel and gifts, but simply walking through the Springfield store is an experience unto itself. Highlights from nature—like wildlife mounts, waterfalls and seven distinct aquariums—are everywhere. An in-store swamp features alligators and turtles, and kids love the free, twice-daily fish-feeding shows in Uncle Buck’s Auditorium. There are even occasional educational sessions on Missouri’s native fish.

Archery Hall of Fame & Museum

Among the 1,500 artifacts at The Archery Hall of Fame & Museum are a bow that belonged to Geronimo, bowhunter Ann Clark’s tackle box and century-old arrows. Photo Credit: @eboyfernandez

This free attraction is part museum and part historic preservation project. It found a permanent home inside Bass Pro Shops in 2012 and features around 1,500 artifacts. The 3,500-square-foot space on the store’s fourth floor seeks to preserve archery’s history and tradition through memorabilia, literature and research material. Some of the most iconic archers of the 19th and 20th centuries are celebrated here, including Apache leader Geronimo, whose handmade bow and quiver are on display.

Wonders of Wildlife National Museum & Aquarium

The new, standalone museum, opened Sept. 21, 2017, is designed to bring the great outdoors inside, with a truly immersive experience. Among the highlights are a 1.5 million-gallon aquarium and 35,000 live fish, mammals, reptiles and birds representing 700 species. Galleries and dioramas, the Boone and Crockett Club’s National Collection of Heads and Horns, and more than a mile of trails and exhibitions complete the experience. The 320,000-square-foot museum celebrates the great outdoors with a focus on conservation.

Fantastic Caverns

Missouri is known as The Cave State, and the Ozarks area in particular is known for its stellar caverns. But there’s one network of caves—Fantastic Caverns in Springfield—with a tour that is truly unique. Discovered in 1862 by a farmer, these beautiful caverns are toured by Jeep-drawn trams. It’s the only ride-through cave in America, and the vehicle-led tours allow many visitors to view the splendor of the caves without putting its existence at risk. When you visit, bring a sweater: the caverns are about 60 degrees year-round.