Escape to the Ozarks: A Weekend of Inspiration, Scenery & Fellowship

Join us for a weekend getaway that blends natural beauty, uplifting entertainment, and Christian fellowship—all set against the stunning backdrop of the Ozark Mountains. Check out the basic itinerary below and mark your calendar to be part of this adventure. Spots are limited—secure your spot today.

Comfortable & Convenient Accommodations
Enjoy hand-picked privately-owned hotels known for their comfort, hospitality, and guest satisfaction. All properties include breakfast and offer amenities to ensure a restful stay. 

Faith & Fellowship
As with all Father’s World Tours, the journey includes daily devotions and weekend WELS worship opportunities. These moments provide spiritual connection and reflection throughout your time together.

Travel in Comfort and Style

This small-group tour features transportation in premium Mercedes Sprinter vans, offering a smooth and comfortable ride throughout your journey. Please note that boarding will involve stepping in and out of the vehicle several times each day. To enhance ease of access, we’ll provide a stepstool. We will leave at least one seat open in each row to promote a more spacious and relaxing experience.

Meals & Inclusions

All hotel accommodations, attractions admissions, and show tickets are included. Your tour package also includes three continental breakfasts at the hotels, two group lunches (Lambert’s Café and Crystal Bridges), and one group dinner at the Great Hall Buffet.

Additional meals—such as Friday evening’s dinner during travel, Saturday evening concessions at the Clay Cooper Theater, Monday’s lunch at Chick-fil-A, and the return trip’s evening meal—will be at your own expense. 

Minimum/Maximum

A minimum of 10 registered travelers is required by August 1 for the tour to operate. A maximum of 16 can attend.

Friday, August 29. Departing at 3:30 from New Ulm, MN, we journey to the Kansas City area for a restful overnight at Hotel Lotus in Merriam, KS. We'll make a brief dinner stop in Clear Lake, IA (multiple fast food options...Wendy's, Culver's, Arby's, McD's) along the way.

Saturday, August 30.  Fun and flavor await as we stop for some road-trip essentials and unique treats at the legendary Buc-ee’s in Springfield, MO, then enjoy a hearty lunch at Lambert’s Café in Ozark, MO—home of the famous “throwed rolls”. From there, it’s on to Branson for a double feature of unforgettable shows kicking off with an awe-inspiring matinee performance of David at the renowned Sight & Sound Theater. Clay Cooper Theater hosts our 2nd show. an electrifying musical variety act by The Haygoods. Relax and recharge with an overnight stay at the Brookwood Inn, Branson, MO.

Sunday, August 31. Our new week begins with a joyful WELS worship service at the breathtaking Mildred B. Cooper Glass Chapel led by Rev. Ross Chartrand, WELS home missionary in nearby Bentonville, AR. We'll enjoy lunch and spend midday immersed in art and nature at Crystal Bridges, Arkansas’s crown jewel of culture. Later that afternoon, we arrive in charming Eureka Springs—home to the Christ of the Ozarks statue and the impressive Bible Museum. Cap off your evening with dinner at the Great Hall Buffet and a stirring performance of The Great Passion Play. Our final overnight stay will be at the cozy Trails Inn in Eureka Springs, AR.

Monday, September 1. We bid farewell to the Ozarks and head home with hearts full and a lunch stop at Chick-fil-A to keep spirits high. 

 The tour is open to all members of the WELS (Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod) or ELS (Evangelical Lutheran Synod).

We rate this tour as a 4 of 10 on the mobility scale. This means that to fully enjoy this tour, you should be at or just below average mobility. You will need to get on and off our passenger van multiple times each day. Hiking is not required, but nearly every venue requires some level of walking/standing.

We are thankful to have the OWLS (Organization of WELS Lutheran Seniors) as our marketing partner/tour sponsor. A portion of Father's World Tours proceeds goes to support this worthwhile group. Dues paying members who register as such will receive a $10 gift card on Day 1 of the trip. Be sure to note your OWLS membership on the registration form.

Waitlist Policy
We are holding 2-4 seats for MLC students. If none are claimed, we will release them for others. If registrations exceed capacity, a waitlist will be maintained. When a spot opens, we will call the first individual/couple on the waitlist and give them an opportunity to accept a spot, then work down the list. In past years, a high percentage of individuals on the waitlist were accommodated due to cancellations.

Payment Schedule
A $250 deposit is due upon registration to secure your spot. A final payment of the remaining balance is due on August 1. Please note that the payments will be automatically withdrawn on August 1 from the account you used for the deposit unless you change or cancel it. An email reminder will be sent a few days prior to that payment coming out.

Cancellation Policy
Refunds are offered on a sliding scale based on your cancellation date. If a waitlist exists and a replacement traveler is found, only a $50 administrative fee will apply regardless of when the cancellation occurs. See the schedule below.

Cancel prior to July 31...$50 cancellation fee applies.

Cancel between August 1-14...$250 cancellation fee applies.

Cancel between August 15-28...$450 cancellation fee applies.

Travel Insurance
For those interested in protecting their trip investment in case of unforeseen illness or emergency, travel Insurance (optional for this trip) may be purchased through a vendor of your choosing.

Tour Communications
Confirmed passengers will receive an email with basic trip details on August 3. A final communication will be sent (via USPS and email) on August 18. It will include a passenger list, packing suggestions, a “final” itinerary, parking/pickup instructions, etc. Passengers will be asked to download the free Whatsapp cell phone application so that we can communicate easily and effectively to the group throughout the tour.

Those who would like to book a night at a hotel in New Ulm for Thursday, August 28 or Monday, September 1 may do so in our special Father's World Tours block for $119 + 10.88% tax (roughly $132 total) at Best Western Plus, 2101 S Broadway St. Complimentary breakfast is included and reservations may be cancelled without penalty up to the day before checkin. Click the links below to make your reservation by August 1. Rooms in our block not claimed at that point will be released.

Thursday, August 28 New Ulm Booking Link

Monday, September 1 New Ulm Booking Link 

Free parking will be available for the duration of the trip at the boarding site at Martin Luther College in New Ulm. The vans will load by the Chapel of the Christ on Friday, August 29 around 3:15 PM and return on Monday, September 1 around 8:30 PM.

Do you live outside of driving distance from New Ulm? Would you like to join the tour, but would need to fly into MSP? Contact Steve at Father's World Tours (507-217-1731 or [email protected]) and we will make an arrangement to help you with accommodations and transportation to make it possible.