A full plate awaits after
a big day on the river
By BYRON BEERS
[email protected]
A number of options
for fun in the sun are
available along the Illinois
River in Tahlequah during
the summer months.
From floating the river
on a kayak, canoe or raft,
to camping, to live music,
to enjoying food and
drinks, there’s something
for everyone.
Float operators were
hampered by the
COVID-19 pandemic but
have been up and running
since May. Some
even had record turnouts
over Memorial Day Weekend.
War Eagle Resort offers
housing rentals, rentals of
kayaks, canoes and rafts,
and also has Moe’s BBQ.
Moe’s BBQ, owned by
Troy Sanford for the last
10 years, is open on Saturday’s
from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
and offers breakfast and
dinners. It serves scrambled
eggs, bacon, sausage,
biscuit and gravy, watermelon
and pineapple.
It also offers Build Your
Biscuit, rib, combo and
sandwich dinners that include
side items such as
beans, potato salad and a
pickle spear. Sandwiches
include hot link, smoked
baloney and pulled pork.
Beverages include orange
juice, milk, coffee and
fresh brewed tea.
Travelin’ Joe offers a
wide variety of drinks,
which includes coffee,
espressos, and teas.
There’s also merchandise
to choose from. Seasonal
drinks on the menu are
Bourbon Barrel Mocha,
Coconut Jamaican Rum,
Pistachio Cream Latte,
Cafe Mexicano, Lavender
Honey Latte and River 7.
T&J’s Snack Shack &
Catering offers a wide
range of items on its
menu from burgers, nachos,
tacos, wraps, stir fry
and burritos.
Diamondhead Resort
has floats options with
kayaks, canoes and rafts,
offers camping areas, live
music and Gravel Bar &
Grill.
Gravel Bar & Grill, the
only full-service bar option,
is open Friday and
Saturday nights with
breakfast served on Saturday
and Sunday mornings.
Upcoming concerts
on both the campground
stage and at Gravel Bar
& Grill include Paul Benjamin,
Randy Crouch
with Flying Horse, Charlie
Hickman Band, Chris
Blevins, Dave Kay and RC
& The Ambers.
Other Illinois River
camping and floating outfitters
include Arrowhead
Resort, All-American
Floats, Riverbend Floats,
Eagle Bluff Resort, Elephant
Rock Nature Park,
Falcon Floats, Hanging
Rock Camp, Illinois River
Outfitters, Peyton’s Place
Resort, Riverside Resort
and Sparrow Hawk Camp.
Kayaking, canoeing
and rafting:
River Town Outfitters
in Park Hill has seen a
surge in kayak sales and is
even struggling to stay in
stock this year.
10 Tahlequah Daily Press | Green Country Scene • Lake & River Edition • July 2020