Arkansas.com Escape to Arkansas
Robert Runyan
Robert Runyan has been building log structures for more than 40 years, but he doesn't build run-of-the-mill log cabins. Unlike most log cabin makers, he doesn't use modern machinery to manufacture them. His “old world” methods of construction involve a team of mules, antique hand tools, apprentices and a lot of hard work.
His accomplishments in log cabin construction and stone masonry – as well as his dedication to teaching the craft to others – earned him the 2014 Arkansas Living Treasure Award.
The Arkansas Living Treasure program annually recognizes an Arkansan who is outstanding in the creation of a traditional craft and has significantly contributed to the preservation of the art form. An independent panel of practicing craft artists and professionals in the fields of craft and folk art select the recipient based on the following criteria: quality of work, community outreach and overall contribution to the field of traditional crafts.
Runyan, 65, of Winslow, is a self-taught craftsman, born and raised in Newport. His interest in log cabin construction began when he attended a Boy Scout camp and learned skills in timber tower construction and using hand tools. I can remember, as a kid, building miniature structures from Lincoln Logs and stones just to entertain myself, he said.
His passion continued to grow as he received hands-on experience working as a draftsman for his father's architectural design business. But he almost chose a different path. Runyan was a pre-med student at Arkansas Tech University in Russellville. “By the time I got through with school, I was so burned out, I ran off to live in the woods. My goal was to be a doctor, but that’s not where my heart was. My heart was with Mother Nature,” he said.
After college, Runyan moved to Winslow and built his first log structure in 1972. His “off the grid” lifestyle reflects his work philosophy. He lives in a remote corner in Washington County surrounded by woods in a two-story, stone and log cabin he built using materials he gathered from his surroundings.
He has no running water, no publicly-supplied electricity, no computer, no television and no telephone. He heats his house and cooks his food using wood stoves and generates electricity through solar panels. “I chose this lifestyle mostly for environmental reasons. I’m just a nature boy at heart,” he explained. “This lifestyle is demanding, but fulfilling. It’s like a job.”
In his construction, Runyan employs techniques that were used 700-800 years ago. He begins by hand selecting and cutting standing dead oak timbers indigenous to the Ozarks. He doesn’t cut down living trees. He hauls and hoists the logs, as well as native stones, using his team of mules, Jasper, Jenny and Junebug.
He processes the logs and stone with hand tools (axes, draw knives, calipers, chisels, etc.) and uses traditional joinery with notching and wood pegs. Typically, he puts a structure together first off-site and then disassembles it, numbers the parts and reassembles the entire building at its final destination.
Nothing makes me happier than building something and working with my hands,” he said. “From the selection of timber, loading, hauling, working the stone and logs to the tools and devices I employ, I have attempted in every instance to maintain the traditions of my craft, minimizing the use of heavy equipment and gas or electric powered implements.
He has completed dozens of notable projects in Arkansas, including the construction of the Bottle Rocket Gallery in Fayetteville, the reconstruction of the Yellow Rock Overlook at Devil's Den Park in Winslow and the Underwood-Lindsey Pavilion at Mount Sequoyah Woods in Fayetteville, as well as the restoration of the 1820s log granary at the Rice-Upshaw House in Dalton.
In each of his projects, he mentors to apprentices and colleagues on the traditional techniques of stone and log construction. For two years, he worked with apprentices on the rebuilding and repairing of several structures at the Shiloh Museum of Ozark History. The construction was done in the public view and included lectures and discussion.
When he isn't working, Runyan enjoys reading, making home improvements, drawing, leatherwork and spending time with his wife, Dorothy.
04-01-2018 Arkansas - Springtime in the Ozarks
***NOT FOR BROADCAST***
Contact Brett Adair with Live Storms Media to license.
brett@livestormsnow.com
Video of waterfalls, flowers, and aerial video from the Ozarks of Arkansas. Spring flowers dot the forest floor and the heavy recent rains have the streams flowing great. The waterfalls are from Engagement Hollow (a spectacular area I found several years ago). So named after a friend proposed at one of the waterfalls (now named Amy Falls in his fiancés honor). Located in the Ozark National Forest near Oark, Arkansas.
Best Western Inn of the Ozarks, Eureka Springs Arkansas
This video will give you a sneak peek of your stay at Best Western Inn of the Ozarks, in Eureka Springs, AR with a “guests’ eye view” of our accommodations and amenities. Once you arrive at the Inn – centrally located and surrounded by 30 wooded acres – our friendly staff will welcome you with good ol’ fashioned Southern hospitality. You’ll find you’re just a short bike or trolley ride away from everything historic Eureka Springs has to offer. Make some memories with quality family time in our game room featuring table tennis, billiards, ski-ball and mini golf. We’ll feed you like family at Myrtie Mae’s Café, and cater to your needs as you and your family play and relax in our secluded tree-lined pool courtyard. In the evenings, enjoy breathtaking balcony views before enjoying a peaceful rest in spacious rooms with plush-top beds and dream maker pillows. All of this and so much more is waiting for you at Eureka Springs’ best – Best Western Inn of the Ozarks.
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Snippets from the surrounding area. I live in the middle of the Ozarks in Missouri, only 10 miles from the Arkansas state line. Fall is the best time in these parts!
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wildlegacyar.wordpress.com A collection of moments in the wild exploring Arkansas during the spring and summer. The views are incredible but the moments surrounding the shots with great people in great places are what really stay with us. The stories can be found at wildlegacyar.wordpress.com as well as more videos to come of the Natural State.
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For more of Arkansas' Beauty, visit...
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music by: Ross Bugden
Driving in the Ozark Mountains
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Experience Fayetteville | Arkansas
Nestled in the scenic Ozark Mountains, Fayetteville hums with creativity and energy throughout the year. The city is an inspiring mix of arts, nightlife and the outdoors. A weekend here means gazing at public murals, browsing through quirky shops and exploring a sprawling ecosystem of parks and green spaces. It’s an outgoing town with an abundance of charm, a dynamic nightlife and a devotion to a locally sourced lifestyle.
Fayetteville Visitors Bureau
21 S. Block Ave., Suite 100
Fayetteville, AR 72701
Toll Free: (800) 766-4626
Local: (479) 521-5776
Fax: (479) 571-4731
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Arkansas Attractions! | Visit Northwest Arkansas | FUN at Mystic Caverns, the Buffalo River & MORE!
✈️???????? Arkansas Attractions! | Visit Northwest Arkansas | FUN at Mystic Caverns, the Buffalo River & MORE!
Arkansas Attractions! | Visit Northwest Arkansas | FUN at Mystic Caverns, the Buffalo River & MORE!
Experience a FUN day trip in beautiful Northwest Arkansas with John and Amy! The fall colors in Jasper, Arkansas and in the Arkansas Grand Canyon are stunning!
They visit Mystic Caverns, the cute town of Jasper Arkansas, the stunning Buffalo River, a stop to check out the views at Scenic Point and The Cliff House Inn for lunch!
They also explain why day trips and fun times are important for married couples! It's important to regularly invest in your relationship, and having date days every week to venture off into new, uncharted territories is a great idea!
#visitarkansas #mysticcaverns #jasperarkansas #buffaloriver #cliffhouseinn
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12 dead in Arkansas flooding
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