Two years after the passing of legendary Jim Gaston, his 27-year-old grandson has confidently stepped into some mighty large boots to carry on as president and owner of the nationally popular Gaston's White River Resort below Bull Shoals Dam.
Since Jim's death in July 2015, the tall, athletic Clint Gaston (picture actor Keanu Reeves) has been more than busy leaving his own indelible mark on the family's resort whose 79 distinctive cabins and unique restaurant stretch for two miles along the river's shoreline.
Clint's no stranger to hard work at the resort or guiding on the river. We met a decade ago when visiting in Jim Gaston's office. Jim's pride in his grandson was apparent. "Can you believe Clint here just got out of high school and has already bought himself a home? He's sure got his head on straight. I'm proud of him," he said.
I returned the other day for the 12th spring writers' conference hosted by Gaston's. It's become a rite for invited media from several states. The gathering provides time for sharing stories, breaking bread, comparing catches and some musical fellowship by those who bring their instruments and voices.
Clint, his wife Nicole, and their 7-year-old son Trey made us feel at home. Nicole has assumed the late Jill Gaston's responsibilities for managing the resort's well-stocked gift shop. The resort has a capable staff of many longtime employees to help, including the loyal and accommodating Ron Branaman, who keeps the office humming, along with managing a stable of veteran guides.
The job so far has offered plenty of challenges for Clint, including a work schedule spanning 40 consecutive days. He told of working long days to clear the resort's grassy airstrip of invasive kudzu vines that suffocated trees Jim planted when Clint was a small child. Gaston's airstrip accommodates a steady stream of fliers from surrounding cities and states who drop in for a meal at the world-class restaurant or to spend time in the comfortable cabins while boating rainbows and browns.
As a result, Gaston's finds itself featured with other airstrip destinations in what's known as the "100 Dollar Burger" menu. "By the time the fliers gas up, fly in for lunch or dinner and back home, they figure they've spent the equivalent of about 100 dollars for a burger," Clint said. "They obviously feel the experience and food is worth it."
Improving the food range and quality served in the popular romantic restaurant perched above the river with panoramic window views was one of the first reforms Clint saw as necessary in 2015 to restore its luster and reputation as one of Arkansas' finest dining experiences.
"I believed the food service and quality needed improving, so I made some personnel changes and we wound up with our executive chef, Rick Gollinger, who's among the finest and most creative chefs in the nation," he said.
The two dinners and a darned-near gourmet shore lunch the writers enjoyed together left no doubt of Gollinger's culinary skills. Where else could we get meals as flavorful and unique as an exquisite dinner of savory bison short ribs (Clint's favorite) followed the next evening by equally tender and tasty rabbit (better than chicken) with a dessert of perfect creme brulee and fresh raspberries? I didn't know what to expect from either meal, but found each satisfying and delicious.
"My goal is simple, to satisfy those who come to dine with us," said Gollinger. "If we know in advance, we'll work with a group to prepare pretty much whatever they like, either from our regular menu or something special. I'm always flexible."
Other than the 24/7 challenges of managing the enormous, bustling resort, Clint's busy spreading the word about the place on Facebook and social media. Having grown up in the era when the Internet is important in daily life, he understands the value in using it to get information out instantly to thousands across Arkansas and nationwide.
"It's definitely been valuable to us in several ways," he said. "It's also helped us have a good early season and I expect things to only get better this year."
As valued readers know from my years of writing about this sanctuary, I consider it the Shangri-La of all things serene and enchanting. Clint sure doesn't need to sell me on Gaston's any more than I am.
Now that the torch has been passed, I feel certain wherever Jim and Jill Gaston are looking down alongside Clint's late father Eric, they are smiling as they discuss all the positive changes he and Nicole are making to amplify this valuable family's bright heritage. It is the circle of life, ya know.
Oh yeah, almost forgot. In three mornings of fishing with veteran (and infamous) guide Joe Hicks, the three of us lost track of how many 14-inch rainbows we reeled in and released. Maybe 60? But we did photograph the four 20-inch browns before sending them back to the cold crystal stream. Another thing that never concerns me each time I find my way back to the Gaston's Garden of Eden is failing to catch plenty of fish.
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Mike Masterson's column appears regularly in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Email him at [email protected].
Editorial on 04/16/2017