Mountain Harbor Resort & Spa

Mountain Harbor Resort & Spa, a family-owned resort on Lake Ouachita, has received statewide and national recognition.

Established in 1955 by Hall Barnes, it has been involved in the lives of Montgomery County residents for years, donating to charities, supporting fundraising events and underwriting a volunteer fire department, said Lodge Manager Pati Brown.

“I’ve been working here 35 years and have always been proud of our company because of our family values,” Brown said.

Mountain Harbor started with 100 fishing boats and stalls and now has one of the South’s largest inland marinas, Brown said. The resort remains in the family with son Bill Barnes now in charge.

The resort has more than 1,300 boat slips, a restaurant and a full-service store with repair shop and fuel dock. It also offers a variety of accommodations, including lake view guest rooms and condominiums, as well as cottages with lake views, fireplaces and hot tubs.

It also offers a dive shop, a place for water toy rentals and three swimming pools, along with more than 40 miles of hiking trails and two conference facilities, including a 2,000-SF open air pavilion and a smaller pavilion that overlooks the lake. Mountain Harbor employs 73 people.

Mountain Harbor received the 2015 certificate of excellence from Trip Advisor, and in 2014 it was chosen best marina in Arkansas by two statewide publications.

“We also work very hard to give back to the community,” said Brown, adding that Mountain Harbor donated about $120,000 to various organizations and events in the county in 2015. Mountain Harbor also co-sponsors a fish fry every spring for the Warm Hearts Humane Society, and many of the marina’s employees volunteer in the local communities, Brown said.