Discovering Springtime Adventures and Attractions in Wright County Missouri
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- 5 days ago
- 6 min read
Spring breathes new life into Wright County in Missouri, inviting locals and visitors to explore its natural beauty and vibrant communities. As the snow melts and flowers bloom, our county offers a variety of activities and sights that capture the spirit of the season, you just have to know where to look!
Living in this area my whole life, I can truly say it's beautiful place to live and visit.
Explore Nature in Wright County
Spring is the perfect time to get outside and enjoy Wright County’s rivers and conservation areas. The warming weather makes hiking, biking, and birdwatching especially enjoyable. Although trails for hiking and biking are limited in our area, there are plenty of great spots for swimming, fishing, and floating.
The Gasconade River is known as one of the world's crookedest rivers and starts near Hartville, in Wright County. It's a premier, often uncrowded, Class I-II stream popular for fishing (smallmouth/largemouth bass), canoeing, and kayaking through the Mark Twain National Forest. The river is characterized by steep bluffs, towering hardwood trees, and hidden caves, providing a slow-moving, scenic, and often, a quite, rural, and quiet experience for floaters. Public access points include Camp Branch, Buzzard Bluff Access, and Wilbur Allen Memorial Conservation Area. You can hike a few trails, rent a kayak, or have a picnic near the water. Some areas even offer primitive camping.
Cedar Gap Conservation Area is recognized as the second highest point in the State of Missouri. Here, visitors can explore the headwaters of Bryant Creek, view limestone glades, and explore the oak/hickory forest. A gravel-surfaced trail leads from the parking lot to a valley overlook. This three-eighths mile trail can accommodate most hikers with some effort. For a more rugged hike, visitors can continue beyond the overlook and hike the 1.6 mile loop trail. This area allows some biking and horseback riding too!
John Alva Fuson, MD Conservation Area is also a great place to explore nature in Wright County. Although the caves are currently closed to the public, the east side of the area features three caves: Smittle, Little Smittle and Lowell caves and there is also hiking outside of the cave. Smittle Cave is one of the largest caves in the state, with over two miles of mapped passages.
There are plenty of places to stay surrounded by nature too, one is right here on our farm! Explore the creeks, woods, fields, and historic buildings while you're here. Fish in the pond, wade in the creeks and catch some tadpoles for a true country experience. We also highly recommend Blue Skye Farms for overnight stays in the country.
All of these locations provide a refreshing way to connect with nature and enjoy the fresh spring air. Often times these simple things are exactly what we need to reset.
Attend Local Spring Events and Festivals
Wright County hosts several events that celebrate the season and bring community together. These gatherings offer a chance to enjoy local food, crafts, and entertainment.
Baker Creek Seed Company, in Mansfield, hosts several huge festivals during the year, and two of them are in the Spring. If you are a gardening or homesteading enthusiast, these festivals are for you! There is live music, artisan booths, great food, animals, and expert speakers at all their festivals. All their festivals are a fun day out for the whole family.
Farmers markets & Farm stands open across the county in spring, offering fresh produce, flowers, and homemade products. The markets and stands are a great way to support local farmers and discover unique items. Grovespring, Hartville, Mansfield, and Mountain Grove all have farmer's markets throughout the spring and summer, and there are tons of pop up farm stands all over the county, including these: Shaver's Farm Stand (Grovespring), Laberia Farm (Hartville), Oetting Farm Stand (Mansfield), Heavenly Hens Farm (Mansfield), Rock N Roots Homestead (Hartville)
The Mountain Grove Heritage Festival is in the Springtime in Mountain Grove. This festival brings you the experience the pioneer days, a long with lots of food and activities for the family. As Mountain Grove is the biggest town in our County, there is a lot to see and experience while you're there as well! Their square is so nice with small businesses all around. The whole town is a great place to stop and explore.
We have many Wright County businesses that host amazing events throughout Spring as well, we don't want to forget them, and they are listed below!
These events highlight the county’s vibrant culture and provide fun ways to spend a spring day.
Discover Historic Sites and Museums
Spring is also a good time to explore Wright County’s history. Mild weather and blooming landscapes create a welcoming backdrop for learning about the area’s past.
Visit the Wright County Historical Society in Hartville on Friday' in the Spring. Inside you'll find so much history, local artifacts, and photographs that tell the story of the county’s early settlers and development. While you're in town, visit the Patriot's Memorial on the Courthouse Lawn and the Civil War Kiosk by the Steele Cemetery. The Battle of 1863 was fought right on the Courthouse Lawn here, so many things to see if you're a history buff, including a mass grave. While you're in town, there are a few neat places to stop and shop & eat of course!
In Mansfield, you'll find many areas to explore as well, as it is known for being the home of Laura Ingalls Wilder. With the The Laura Ingalls Wilder Home & History Museum, along with the Historical Society and Museum, you could easily spend a day exploring here. Right next to the Historical Society and museum is an old Frisco Train Car that serves as a unique little restaurant too! There are a few neat stops on the square in Mansfield too that you don't want to miss.
Exploring these sites adds depth to your spring visit and connects you with the county’s roots.
Celebrate Local -- Discover Businesses that Host Events
To make the most of your springtime visit to any of our Wright County communities, here are our favorite local stops! These businesses regularly host their own events too, so be sure to follow their pages for more info!
Hartville -- The Farmer Brew B&B & Coffee & Ice Cream Shop, R & R Clubhouse/Lila Dean's Eatery & Antiques, The Corner Cafe, Ivan's Mexican Grill, The Flower Village, Rosewood Farms, Hope Springs Farm, & Indian Creek Antiques
Mansfield -- Weaver Inn B&B & Coffee Shop, Frisco Train Car Diner, Cassell Vineyard, Mary Mack's Mercantile, Wingo's Cafe & Ice Cream Shop, A New Chapter Bookstore
Norwood -- Sue's Greenhouse
Grovespring -- Spinners
Mountain Grove -- E'Maries Antiques & Gifts, Club 60 Steakhouse, Spiceberry Flowers & Gifts, A Squared Brewing, Upstairs Marketplace, Randel-Hinkle Municipal Golf Course, Cattlemen's Steakhouse, Wedgewood Country Club, Mountain Grove Town Square (lots of cute little shops!)
Springtime Adventures and Attractions in Wright County Missouri
There are plenty of things to do in Southwest Missouri, and our rural historic communities are a great place to start, where you can be out of the city to experience Ozark culture. Our area is full of history and plenty of things to keep you busy while you're discovering springtime adventures and attractions in Wright County Missouri! For a full venue tour or overnight accommodations, contact us below!
📍 Location: 1658 Pyatt Rd, Hartville, MO
🌿 Style: Rustic‑elegant, romantic, timeless, and welcoming
💍 Perfect for: Large weddings, intimate ceremonies, and everything in between
Hope Springs Farm
1658 Pyatt Rd
Hartville, MO 65667
417-300-4068
Hope Springs Farm is a locally owned and operated wedding venue proudly serving Springfield, MO and all of SW Missouri as a destination venue. We believe there is real value in choosing locally owned venues and vendors when planning your wedding day. Local businesses bring a personal level of care, clear communication, and genuine hospitality that can’t be replicated. When you choose a locally owned venue, you’re not just booking a space—you’re partnering with a team that is deeply invested in making sure your wedding day is everything you imagined and more. We truly believe in supporting small businesses and we appreciate these locally owned wedding venues from around the country who continue to inspire and support our small business wedding venue daily!
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