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Turkey Mountain
Airport
Closed 2006 A Great $100
Hamburger Location
By Ralph McCormick
Southwest Missouri holds one of America’s best kept
secrets. Somewhere near, a little burg called Shell Knob, is a
community of settlers that fly out of an airport called Turkey Mountain
Airport (MO00). Now that identifier is not MOOO… as in cow. It is Mike
Oscar Zero Zero. The CTAF is 122.9. The airport isn’t that far from
Branson (MO), Rogers (AR), and Eureka Springs (AR). It is accessible by
car or plane… however; it is much easier to get there by plane. I
departed my home airport for the eighty-five mile flight in my Cessna
182 to Turkey Mountain, a trip that I had not made before. The flight
to Turkey Mountain Airport from my home airport took about 40 minutes on
a clear day, as it turned out, was a great day for that $100 Hamburger.
The
 airport
was easy to locate. If you land to the north on runway 36, it is a bit
like landing on an aircraft carrier. There was water (Table Rock Lake
tributary) below and an eighty foot climb up to the runway. It is a
great sight and fun to land on a sod runway that is certain manicured.
I didn’t see the mountain at Turkey Mountain. But then I was flying and
my concentration was directed to the landing and not the surroundings.
I would have to rate the runway as one of the better sod strips that my
182 has placed her mains. It is long (almost 4,000 feet by 80) and
smooth. The most danger I might have faced that day was the golfer who
placed a wild shot and hooked it to the runway. Cedar Creek Golf Course
joins the runway… separated only by nothing.
As I got out of the plane I watched a Cessna 150
depart. After it flew along in ground effect till the end of the
runway, it just disappeared below the runway. I never saw it again. As
I said earlier, at the end of the runway there is an eighty foot drop
down to the lake. Those eighty feet gave the Cessna pilot lots of room
to FLY-LOW out of the area. I had to put that plug in there.
 Where
can you fly to your destination, get out of your plane, drag out the
golf clubs and start playing through (or what ever golfers do)? I don’t
golf as one can tell. I do fly and flying to a new location for a $100
Hamburger is always fun. This one is rather unique. During the summer
months, there is a swimming pool you or the kids can use
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Many times there is a story inside a story. Turkey
Mountain is just that. Part of the significance of Turkey Mountain
Airport is Judy Reynolds. Who, you ask? Judy is one of the owners and
a driving force. You’ll find her at the airport restaurant most of the
time. 
She is not a pilot, but one of the most energetic, direction oriented
ladies you will ever meet. That drive and enthusiasm is what, I
believe, has helped Turkey Mountain survive the hard and good time times
- continuing to grow in recent years. Her letter and invitation to me
is the reason I flew to southwest Missouri to find Turkey Mountain
Airport.
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Turkey
 Mountain
Airport, Cedar Creek Golf Course, and Airport Grill all cater to the
pilots. It is evident by the number of events that are directed toward
pilots. The events are listed on our Air Events page at
www.fly-low.com. There are events on June 25th, July 4th,
August 6th, and September 17th. These folks are
serious about pilots. You’ll be treated better than you can image.
That dynamic force, Judy Reynolds, will see that you get the best
treatment.
Groups of pilots from Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma,
Arkansas and other states have flown into Turkey Mountain Airport for a
bit of “R & R”. Large groups should call ahead, but if you don’t… don’t
worry... Judy will make it happen.
I forgot to mention, the food is good and the price
is reasonable. If you go to their website
www.turkeymountainairport.com, you’ll find a menu, information on
how to get there by car or air, pictures of the events held there,
runway information, golf course information, and much more. I was so
impressed with Judy’s hospitality and contagious smile that I plan to go
back.
What they don’t have at Turkey Mountain is aviation
fuel and over night rooms, both are available near by. I found lots of
good stuff and what they don’t have - doesn’t hurt Turkey Mountain
Airport at all. What they do have is Judy and she makes it all come
together.
Editor’s note: Photos by Andy Berkemeyer
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