The population density of Stone County, named for its natural rock formations, is only 20 per square mile. The only town of consequence is Mountain View, the county seat and Folk Music Capital of the World, population 2,876. The White River runs north of town.
Attractions
Stone County is noteworthy for its mountainous beauty. It’s home to Blanchard Springs Caverns, administered by the U.S. Forest Service. The area — particularly Mountain View — is also widely known as a cultural center of music and crafts associated with the Ozark Mountains region. The Ozark Folk Center is a state park located in Mountain View that’s dedicated to preserving the region’s culture.
The 637-acre site has an 80-acre entertainment and cultural history complex, and it features a lodge, swimming pool, picnicking sites, hiking trails, arts-and-crafts displays, conference facilities, a restaurant and a 1,000-seat music auditorium. Hunting and fishing are popular. Alcohol is not sold legally in the county.
Land Availability
There’s no shortage of land, and prices are reasonable. Among recent offerings were 38 wooded acres with a small creek for $77,000; 89 acres just outside Mountain View, $133,500.
Log-Home Landscape
Stone County is underserved by log-home companies and builders, but the Ozarks tradition of log cabins, dogtrots and hewn-log houses, and its log-suitable settings make contemporary log homes welcome, especially by weekenders from Missouri, Oklahoma, Louisiana and Tennessee. Logs are pine and some oak.