Things to Do in Festus

With a strong belief in life’s simpler pleasures, the staff of Riverview Ranch oversees a host of watersports, campsites, and cabins along the picturesque shores of the lazy Meramec River. Shuttled upstream, visitors push off in canoes, rafts, or kayaks to enjoy the easy-moving currents of the stream before arriving back at vehicles or campsites to do celebratory touchdown dances and life-vest spikes.

Lush trees, sand, stone, and tall grasses encroach the banks of the Meramec River. Recognizing the area as an idyllic setting for camping, hunting, boating, and fishing, Green's Canoe Rental & Campground's owners determined it was also the optimal place to set up shop. They equipped their campgrounds with restrooms, hot showers, hiking trails, and a country store to give visitors a comfortable place to stay while participating in area activities. As deer, raccoons, and birds wander bankside, fishermen wade into the semitransparent waters to catch rainbow trout, smallmouth bass, and the attention of passing pastoral painters. Guides with firsthand knowledge of the river point visitors to the best spots to find fish, such as large catfish and rock bass, just as they help hunters locate the best spots along the 6,000 acres of wooded land to find deer and wild turkeys. Staffers rent canoes, rafts, and kayaks for leisurely floats to riverside picnic spots or nature walks. They can also help curate family stays with adventure packages that include camping, all-day floats, bonfires, and barbecued pork-steak dinners.