Each fall for the past several years, we’ve spent a few days at the Red Apple Inn on Eden Isle at Heber Springs, Arkansas. While we have also been there during the winter and summer, autumn is my absolute favorite time to go. The  red blaze of the crabapples and the maples seems to set the sky on fire while the elms are sparkling with gold. Breathtaking to be sure. 

The Inn and the surrounding resort of Eden Isle were the jewels in the crown of developer and business tycoon Herbert Thomas and his wife Ruby.  The stories of the property and its development  take many interesting, and sometimes mysterious, turns.  

Thomas was the founder and president of The First Pyramid Life Insurance Company of America (1925) in Little Rock, Arkansas. Born in the small south Arkansas town of Crossett in 1899, he went on to become one of the “movers and shakers” in Arkansas business, education and politics.  His alliance with U.S. Senators John L. McClellan (Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee) and J. William Fulbright (Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee) and U.S. Representative Wilbur D. Mills (Chair of the House Ways and Means Committee) is said to have  influenced the development and location of  Greers Ferry Lake formed  by the  damming of the Little Red River. (UARK Special Collections)

Thomas, it seems, had purchased the entire property of what would become Eden Isle, ultimately surrounded on three sides by the newly formed lake,  prior to the building of the dam and the lake.  Just how he knew the significance of this area prior to the announced location of the dam would only be conjecture.  For many years, people had bought land  as speculation for the dam development only to lose hope and sell it.  Supposedly, no one knew the exact location so it was a huge gamble to purchase land that might actually not be near the lake or worse, flooded during its creation.  Thomas’ gamble, it seems, paid off.

Thomas later figured importantly in the dedication of the lake and dam by President Kennedy  in October of 1963 only a few days before J.F.K’s  assassination in Dallas.  (Arkansas Preservation)

Photo Credit: Butler Center 

Text of President Kennedy’s Dedication Speech

After purchasing the 500 acres originally known as Estes Hill, Thomas had to construct a causeway that would traverse the property since the Corp of Engineers prohibited the private ownership of an island within one of their controlled lakes.  After the filling of the lake and construction of the dam and the causeway, approximately 400 acres remained for what would become the resort of Eden Isle.  (Arkansas Preservation) 

The inn itself first opened in 1963 but burned in 1964 and was rebuilt atop boulder outcroppings where it stands today. Throughout the years since, it has enjoyed a reputation for being a romantic destination with a fine dining restaurant serving world-class cuisine. 

Sometime after the property was sold to real estate investor Melvyn Bell, it fell into disrepair.  However in 1995, Dick and Patti Upton,, founders of Aromatique, purchased the inn and country club and began a long-term renovation which is still going on.   While maintaining the original integrity of the construction, many of the rooms have been updated with modern touches in the furnishings and artwork and lighter colors throughout.  The remainder of the rooms are scheduled for updates over the course of the next couple of years.  In addition, bathrooms are being completely redone as each room is renovated.

In 1990, Ruby Thomas authored a cookbook highlighting the essence of the Red Apple Inn Restaurant’s dining experience.  Quite the gourmet cook and gracious hostess herself, Mrs. Thomas was central to the early operation and success of the restaurant.  Both she and Mr. Thomas had definite ideas regarding the kind of dining and hospitality that were to be experienced at their “little bit of paradise in the Ozark foothills.

From time to time, I will be recreating some of Mrs. Thomas’ dishes that were featured in her cookbook and at the inn.  Feasts of Eden,  is out of print.  Jack Gay, who has been with the Inn 41 years and now serves as its manager,  and who kindly shared the Inn’s original copy of the cookbook with me for some early research indicated that because Mrs. Thomas’ work was so extensive, there has never been a need to write new editions. I have since obtained my own copy, signed by Mrs. Thomas herself.  I’m about to wear it out already.

I’m looking forward to this little project highlighting one of my favorite places in Arkansas, and I hope you will enjoy the journey with me.  First up we’ll be taking afternoon tea, a much-loved tradition at the inn for many years.  

Do you have any personal connections to the Red Apple Inn?  I would love for you to share them.