Before I left on an overnight trip to a famous resort in Ridgedale, Missouri, I was already hearing about the ghost of Dorothy who allegedly resides there. So, I dove back into time to do a quick research on the history of Big Cedar Lodge. I found that in the 1800’s the Ozarks were barely-touched lands with the only inhabitants being Indigenous tribes (the Osage), and a few pioneers and settlers. There were no supply chains in the vicinity. But in 1904, roads were carved and train tracks were laid. The world slowly discovered this undisturbed haven. Harry Worman was the Chief Operating Officer for Frisco Railroad. He wanted a vacation home, and chose this area to build his private retreat. It still stands to this day. And it is here that Dorothy’s story begins, and doesn’t end….
Harry was 47 when he married Dorothy. She was 23. Accounts describe her as vivacious and strikingly attractive. In my search through newspapers of that era, I discovered Dorothy often vacationed in Europe, with her jet-setting friends. Harry, in the meantime, worked. And only worked. In an interview, he described his work as his grand passion in life. (Not his wife). He stated he had no hobbies, and whenever he was on vacation at his retreat home, he spent all his hours in his basement working with his tools. We can see where this is going. After 14 years of marriage, Harry filed for divorce, charging “general indignities”. It is now 1942. Harry is 61 years old; Dorothy is 37. Harry immediately remarried. And what became of Dorothy?! Just two years later, we read the rest of her story:
At only 39 years of age, Dorothy died of a presumed heart attack/drowning in her bathtub. Her body was cremated and her ashes were brought back home, per Harry’s request. Her ashes were scattered off the back patio of her home, which is now a restaurant at Big Cedar Lodge. To this day there are continuing accounts of visitors and staff seeing and being gently touched by Dorothy. Many recognize her apparition from photos. Here is one of the last ones taken of her:
Surprisingly, Harry died only 2 years after Dorothy. He was 68. I pulled his death certificate and found his cause of death was due to “myocardial damage due to hypertension”. In his will, Harry left his estate to The Shriner’s Hospital for Crippled Children and to the School of the Ozarks.
In time, the land was sold off to timber companies. And here is where the story gets really ugly. They stripped the lands of the magnificent trees, leaving a barren wasteland. In just a few years, greed had done that much damage. The federal government was alerted, and the lands were immediately established as a national forest.
In 1987, Johnny Morris, owner of Bass Pro Shops, bought Harry and Dorothy Worman’s property. He carefully restored their home and the original buildings. He added rustic, but luxurious accommodations, restaurants, a glorious coffeeshop, a children’s game zone, and five golf courses. FIVE. I have heard that Big Cedar Lodge is a golfer’s heaven. There are even two classical chapels for weddings.
Be sure to find the wine tunnels! You will enter by descending into a stone cave.
A tunnel will stretch out before you with sight of a dining alcove up ahead.
Look for the romantic nooks along the path.
And finally you will emerge to the end of the trail — a dining area with spectacular views.
No wonder Dorothy wants to linger at Big Cedar Lodge. I can imagine her hanging over Johnny Morris’ shoulder, enraptured with excitement and appreciation for every new creation on their land.