Your Guest Guide
Stone Creek Canyon
10998 Bunyard Road · Winslow, Arkansas
"A family legacy since 1973. Built stone by stone. Yours to enjoy."
A Personal Welcome
Hello! I'm David Swanson, and I am genuinely thrilled to have you at Stone Creek Canyon.
You've chosen something special. This is not a house that was built for short-term rental. It's a family home, a legacy property, and a piece of Arkansas history sitting on 160 acres of Boston Mountain wilderness inside the Ozark National Forest.
Whether you're here to explore the trails, ride ATVs through the forest, sit around the fire pit under a sky full of stars, or simply do nothing at all — I hope this place gives you exactly what you came for.
My grandparents, Norma and Gilbert Swanson, built this home by hand. My grandpa did 95% of the work himself, carrying every stone up from the creek. He mixed most of the concrete in a wheelbarrow that's still on the property today. They started in 1975 and finished in 1984. That kind of care is baked into every wall of this place.
Now it's my turn to carry it forward, and I want every guest who walks through that door to feel that same warmth.
"I pray your stay is an awesome one." — David Swanson, Owner
Need Help During Your Stay?
Message through your booking app first.
913-461-3283
David Swanson
Emergency Contacts
- Emergency: 911
- Washington County Sheriff: 479-444-5711
- Nearest Hospital: Washington Regional Medical Center, Fayetteville (~30 min)
Quick Reference
Arrival & Access
Finding the Driveway
GPS: 10998 Bunyard Road, Winslow, AR 72959. Map: tinyurl.com/y3rb6nrn
Approach from Winslow (recommended). The road turns from pavement to gravel about 1 mile before the driveway. If you come from Chester, the road is narrower and rougher. Both are drivable in a standard vehicle.
Look for These Driveway Markers
- A yellow newspaper box and a black mailbox
- An enclosure with two trash cans
- A metal burn barrel
- A large rock with "10998" in letters on the rock
Turn into that driveway. You'll pass through two chain-link fence gates on the way up to the house.
Getting Inside
Enter through the door at the top of the front stairs. Your door code is in the booking app or was sent before your stay.
- The code for the downstairs door is different. Contact David if you need it.
- On the downstairs door only: after entering the code, turn the deadbolt handle manually.
Parking
- Vehicles, ATVs, UTVs, SxS: Park under the carport or on the gravel near the house.
- Pull-behind trailers: Park and unload outside the gated fence area — the inside has obstacles that trailers can clip.
Check-In
4:00 PM
Check-Out
11:00 AM
Early / Late
Ask in the booking app
WiFi & Entertainment
WiFi Network
riverbed
Password
base1000
Cell Service
Excellent at the house — close to the highway. Tested and working with Sprint, T-Mobile, AT&T, and Verizon. Phone hotspots work well too. The house runs high-speed fiber internet.
Televisions & Entertainment
- Five smart TVs throughout the house
- Downstairs fifth TV: DVD player, Wii, and PS3 connected (no DirecTV)
- Hundreds of DVDs plus many PS3 and PS4 games
- Upstairs TV has a soundbar with its own remote
- Log in to your own streaming account on any smart TV
House Manual
Heating
Radiant ceiling heat. Each room has its own thermostat. The rooms don't heat up instantly — radiant heat builds from the ceiling. Don't crank it too high or it will get uncomfortably warm.
Air Conditioning & Fans
- AC window units: In upstairs and downstairs bedrooms, kitchen, and downstairs sitting area. Turn off when leaving or checking out.
- Ceiling fans: Both upstairs bedrooms have ceiling fans controlled by pull chains.
- Attic fan: Controls near the upstairs full bath. When running, open at least one door or window so it can pull fresh air through.
Fireplaces & Fire Pit
Important: The two indoor fireplaces have not been inspected for safe use. Please do not build a wood fire in them. Candles are perfectly fine.
The outdoor fire pits are fully available. Cardboard, paper, pine cones, and pine needles all make great fire starters. Firewood can be found throughout the property as fallen trees and branches have been cut up — help yourself.
Kitchen
Fully stocked for cooking real meals.
Major Appliances
- Refrigerator & freezer with icemaker and filtered water
- Electric stove
- Microwave
- Dishwasher
- Air fryer
Additional
- Crock Pot, Instant Pot, Ninja Blender
- Electric Hand Mixer
- 4-Slice Toaster, Electric Griddle
- Drip Coffee Maker, Keurig, French Press
BBQ Grill
The propane grill is on the top deck near the kitchen door. Propane is provided. The built-in lighter doesn't always ignite — use the lighters in the top drawer of the portable island near the upstairs window AC unit.
Trash
- Trash bags are provided. Place all trash in bags and carry them to the cans at the start of the driveway.
- Trash day is Tuesday. If you're here on a Tuesday, put bags in the cans for pickup.
- Trash service does not take plastic grocery bags or loose items — use actual trash bags.
- Cardboard, paper, and pine cones can go in the fire pit.
- Keep food smells minimal. Wildlife is real out here.
Laundry
A washer, dryer, and two all-in-one GE Profile washer/dryer units are located in the laundry room. Detergent and dryer sheets are provided.
GE Profile All-in-One Units
Just load your clothes, select a cycle, and press Start. The machine automatically dispenses detergent — no need to add any. No moving clothes between machines.
If a lint filter alert appears
Open the small center compartment between the screen and detergent drawers, pull out the filter, remove any lint, and slide it back in securely.
What We Provide
Kitchen
- Keurig pods (multiple varieties)
- Dishwasher pods and dish soap
- Paper towels and trash bags
- Cooking spices, salt, pepper, oils
Bathrooms
- Toilet paper
- Hand soap
- Shower gel and conditioner
- Shower towels, hand towels, washcloths
Outdoors & Safety
- Sunscreen and bug repellent (half bath off kitchen)
- First aid kit
- Flashlights and lighters
- Batteries
- Propane for the grill
Laundry & Cleaning
- Laundry detergent pods or liquid
- Dryer sheets (cabinet above dryer)
- Spray cleaners and disinfectants (under sink)
- Brooms (between fridge and wall, or upstairs closet)
Please leave any unused consumables when you check out. What's here is for guests to use — not to take home.
On the Property
160 acres of Boston Mountain wilderness. You don't have to drive anywhere to have an adventure.
🥾
Hiking & ATV Trails
Multiple trails created during the timber harvest years. See the full property map at tinyurl.com/y3u7xuhy
🎣
Stocked Pond
A stocked pond is on the property. Perfect for fishing or just sitting quietly by the water.
🔥
Outdoor Fire Pit
Fire pit with firewood available throughout the property. Pine cones and needles make excellent kindling.
🌄
Wrap-Around Deck
Mountain views from the upper and lower decks. The BBQ is on the upper deck. Sunsets are worth staying for.
🏍️
ATV & UTV Riding
The property trails are accessible to ATVs and UTVs. Ask David about the nearby Buckhorn ATV trails.
🎮
Indoor Games
PS3, PS4, hundreds of DVDs, and many games — all hooked up on the downstairs TV and ready to go.
Area Guide
You're sitting at the edge of one of the most interesting corners of Arkansas.
🏍️ OHV & ATV Trails
Property Trails
On-siteThe property has several miles of trails for hiking and ATV riding, created during the timber harvest years.
View Property Trail Map →Buckhorn OHV Trail System
~6.4 miles away60+ miles of purpose-built Ozark trails. Great terrain for side-by-sides and ATVs. Recommended by 17 locals. The east entrance is 6.4 miles from the house.
East Entrance Coordinates
35°42'46.0"N 94°15'20.4"W
Mill Creek OHV Trail System
~1 hr rideNearly 50 miles of ATV and UTV trails through remote Ozark National Forest terrain. Recommended by 19 locals. About a one-hour ride from the house.
Trail Maps App
Download Maprika from the App Store for offline trail maps. All trail maps for the area are available there.
🍽️ Food & Restaurants
The property is pretty remote — all dining is 15–40 minutes away. Worth planning ahead.
Chester Country Cafe
~8 milesA true local diner. No frills, good food, classic atmosphere. The closest restaurant to the property.
Facebook Page →The Ol' Cabin
~15–20 minNot a traditional restaurant — more of a food truck experience with outdoor activities around the eating area. A fun, casual local spot.
Facebook Page →Pig Trail Bypass Country Cafe
~38 miles, ElkinWorth the drive. Open Tue–Sun for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Famous for the Hooshburger. Classic Arkansas country cooking: chicken fried steak, fish sandwiches, omelets, breakfast burritos.
West Fork Cafe
Along Hwy 71 North99 N Centennial Ave, West Fork, AR 72774. A good stop if you're coming or going via Highway 71 from the north.
Chihuahua Mexican Grill
Along Hwy 71 North88 N Centennial Ave #1, West Fork, AR 72774. Another solid option along Hwy 71 heading north.
Fayetteville
~25 milesIf you want a full range of options — Fayetteville has everything. Ask David if you want specific recommendations for a type of cuisine.
🌲 Nearby Attractions
Devil's Den State Park
~30 minutesOne of the best state parks in Arkansas. Built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s. Rock formations, caverns, and an 8-acre lake in Lee Creek Valley.
- Hiking: Yellow Rock Trail is a standout
- World-class mountain biking — Fossil Flats was AR's first designated MTB trail
- Swimming in clear Lee Creek
- Pedal boats and canoe rentals on Lake Devil
- 107 campsites + 18 cabins with kitchens and fireplaces
Lake Fort Smith State Park
~30 minutesThe western gateway to the Ozark Highlands Trail — 230 miles through Northwest Arkansas. Great for fishing, camping, and hiking.
Buffalo National River
~60 milesOne of the few free-flowing rivers in the US. Over 95,000 acres of protected land. Hiking, backpacking, canoeing, kayaking, and fishing.
Whitaker Point (Hawksbill Crag)
~60 milesOne of the most photographed spots in Arkansas — a sandstone bluff jutting out over the Buffalo River wilderness. Plan 2–3 hours round trip.
Fayetteville
~25 milesHome of the University of Arkansas and the Razorbacks. Dickson Street entertainment district, Botanical Garden of the Ozarks, and Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art nearby in Bentonville.
House Rules
These keep the property in great shape for every guest. Thank you for following them.
- No smoking inside the house.
- No drugs on the property.
- No wood fires in the indoor fireplaces. Candles only.
- All trash in bags. Carry bags to the driveway cans at checkout.
- Pets welcome — please clean up after them. Let David know if anything is damaged.
- Turn off all window AC units when leaving rooms or checking out.
- Trailers park outside the gated fence area.
- Primary guest must provide valid government-issued ID through the booking platform.
- Be a good neighbor to the wilderness. Leave no food out. Wildlife is active.
Checkout
Checkout Time
11:00 AM
These steps take less than 10 minutes and make a real difference for the next guests.
- Bring all trash bags from the deck and inside the house to the driveway trash cans.
- Leave the blue 55-gallon drum on the upper back deck.
- Turn off all window AC units.
- Lock both doors. The same code locks them.
- Leave towels in the bathroom or on the floor (not outside or in trash bags).
- Leave unused consumables (soap, paper products, spices) in place.
- If anything broke or needs attention, message David through the booking app before you leave.
"Thanks for staying at Stone Creek Canyon. We hope you'll come back."— David Swanson
The Story of Stone Creek Canyon
Gilbert Swanson retired in 1976, having never earned more than $14,000 per year. He had built wealth quietly — through stock market investing and the ceramic business my grandmother Norma ran. Thousands of her ceramic molds are still stored in one of the outbuildings on the property.
When they moved to the land, Gilbert and Norma lived in a trailer on the property while Gilbert started building the house by hand. He did approximately 95% of the work himself. Construction started in 1975. They moved into the lower level in 1978. The upstairs was completed in 1984.
Built Stone by Stone
The name Stone Creek Canyon comes from the local stone covering the outside of the house. Gilbert carried every one of those stones up from the creek to the northwest of the home — roughly 500 feet below in the terrain visible out the back door.
He originally collected stone from the side of the road. When a neighbor spotted him and came at him with a shotgun, Gilbert decided he'd stick to his own land from then on. Almost all of the concrete was mixed by hand in a wheelbarrow. That same wheelbarrow is still on the property today.
The Land and Trees
All of the cleared land in front of the house was cleared by Gilbert and Norma with a push lawn mower and an electric chainsaw. The large evergreen trees lining the driveway were planted as saplings by Gilbert. He watered each one by hand, carrying 5-gallon buckets of water down the hill. Those trees are now nearly 50 years old.
The property trails were created when Gilbert had portions of the forest selectively harvested for timber.
Norma and Gilbert
Both Norma and Gilbert have now passed. Check the mantel on the downstairs fireplace — there's a photo of the two of them from around the early 1980s. They're smiling. They built all of this.
It's now my job to carry this place forward, to keep improving it, and to let others experience what I consider an oasis.
"He never made more than $14k per year, and built 160 acres of paradise with his own hands."— The Swanson Legacy
Managed by Porch Light Reserve
← Back to Porch Light Reserve