Results have been tabulated from September and October balloting in Traveler’s 2012 Readers Choice Awards. Winners and nominees are listed below.
Winners and runners-up were declared where a person, place or business received the largest number of nominations. Certificates, suitable for framing, will be mailed to the winners.
Michael Jeffries is the winner of a one-night stay for two and a one day float trip for two on the Current River. Jeffries name was drawn from the submitted ballots.
Favorite Float Stream
Winner: Current River, favorite stretch, Pulltite to Round Spring; other stretches mentioned: Cedargrove to Akers, Akers put-in. Runner-up, Jacks Fork, Alley Spring to Two Rivers and upper Jacks Fork to Two Rivers. Also nominated: Black, K Bridge put-in; Jacks fork, Alley Spring to Two Rivers and upper Jacks Fork to Two Rivers; Meramec, Bird’s Nest to Onondaga.
Favorite Fishing River
No winner. Nominations: Current River, Dent and Shannon Counties, Niangua River, St. Francis River near Greenville; Meramec River at Onondaga State Park.
Favorite Fishing Lake
Winner: Lake of the Ozarks. Also nominated: Council Bluff in Iron County and Wappapello Lake.
Favorite Natural Park
Winner, Alley Spring. Runner-up: Hawn State Park. Also nominated: Lone Elk Park, Meramec State Park and Hickory Canyon Natural Area, Ste. Genevieve County.
Favorite Hiking Trail
Winner: Pickle Springs Trail near Bloomsdale. Also nominated: Onondaga, Leasburg; Wilderness Trail, Meramec State Park, and Ozark Trail in Taum Sauk State Park.
Favorite Natural Outdoor Place
Winner: Twin Pines Conservation Education Center, Winona. Also nominated: Johnsons Shut-Ins, Middlebrook; Mark Twain National Forest, Potosi; Blue Spring, Ellington; Jack’s Fork River and Copper Hollow, Meramec State Park.
Favorite Motel
Winner: The Landing, Van Buren. Also nominated: Drury Inn, Poplar Bluff.
Favorite Campground or RV Park
Winner, Pulltite, Ozark National Scenic Riverways. Also nominated: Hapy Pappy’s RV Park, Salem; Old Greenville, new section, Meramec State Park, Alley Spring.
Favorite Bed & Breakfast
No winner. Nominated: Loganberry Inn, Fulton.
Favorite Resort
No winner. Nominated: Big Cedar Lodge, Ridgedale; Robins, Lake of the Ozarks; Eagle Hurst, Crawford County.
Sporting Goods Dealer
Winner: Bass Pro Shop, Springfield. Also nominated: Foutz Fishing Shop, Cape Girardeau; Cabela’s, Hazelwood; Bass Pro Shop, St. Charles; Lock N Load, New Haven.
Favorite Camping Vehicle Dealer
No winner. Nominated; Bill Thomas RV, St. Charles; Middleton’s RV, Festus.
Boat Dealer
No winner: Nominated: Troutt & Sons, St. James; Scenic Rivers Marine, Bonne Terre; Twin Riveers Marine, Bonne Terre.
Favorite Bait & Tackle Dealer
No winner. Nominated: Foutz, Cape Girardeau; Dunn’s Sporting Goods, Herculaneum; DJ’s, St. James; Traden Post, Ste. Genevieve.
Favorite Canoe Outfitter
Winner: Harvey’s Alley Spring Canoe Rental, Eminence. Also nominated: Jadwin Canoe, Jadwin; Riverview Ranch, Bourbon; Ozark Outdoors, Leasburg.
Favorite Outdoor Service Provider
No winner. Nominated: Reis Meat Processing, Pocahontas; Windy’s Canoe Rental, Eminence.
Favorite Artist or Photographer
Winner: Reva Dow, Birch Tree. Runner-up: Al Agnew, Ste.Genevieve. Also nominated: Noppadol Paothong, MDC.
Favorite Park Person, Ranger
or Conservation Agent
Winner: David Baldridge, Missouri Department of Conservation, Van Buren; Also nominated: Darren Pettit, MDC, Cape Girardeau; Tara Flynn, naturalist, Onondaga State Park, Leasburg.
Favorite Writer or Storyteller
No winner. Nominated: Bob Todd, Piedmont, River Hills Traveler; the late Mitch Jayne, novelist and musician, Eminence; Jo Schaper, Pacific, River Hills Traveler.
Favorite Hunting Guide
No winner. Nominated: Alex Rutledge, Birch Tree.
Favorite Fishing Guide
No winner. Nominated: Alex Rutledge, Birch Tree.
Favorite Meat Processor
No winner. Nominated: Ruble’s, Ironton; Oberle’s, Ste. Genevieve; Swiss Meats, Swiss; Piedmont Processing, Piedmont.
Favorite Place for Breakfast
No winner. Nominated: Dogwood Hills Golf Course, Osage Beach; Kin Folks, Greenville; Ike’s Chat N Chew, Leasburg; Kozy Kitchen, Bloomsdale.
Favorite Place for Lunch
Winner: Memories Sweet Shop, Birch Tree. Also nominated: Buffalo Wild Wings, Cape Girardeau; Caledonia BBQ, Caledonia; Tire Biters, Lake Ozark; Kozy Kitchen, Bloomsdale.
Favorite Place for Dinner
No winner. Nominated: Bayle Jo’s BBQ; Twisting V Grille, Fredericktown; China Wok, High Ridge; Missouri Hick BBQ, Cuba.
Favorite Place for Pie & Coffee
Winner: Captain Jack’s, Eminence. Also nominated: Happy Pappy’s Store, Salem; Russell’s Restaurant, Caledonia; Ike’s Chat N chew, Leasburgd; Bouse’s, Steelville; Kozy Kitchen, Bloomsdale.
Favorite Place for Baked Goods
No winner. Nominated: Aunt Mary’s Bakery, Arcadia.
Favorite Place for a Drink
No winner. Nominated: Cave Winery, Ste. Genevieve; Twin Oaks Winery, Farmington; Deb & Gary’s house, High Ridge.