About two miles south of Montauk State Park lies a historical and family-friendly experience. A self-described “step back in time,” Bo’s Hollow boasts a 1930s village built for visitors to explore. The village includes (but is not limited to) a Post Office, Barber Shop, Mine, Hardware Store, Telegraph Office, and the Gas Station, which is where the story begins.
Owners Lynne and Bracy Borel moved to the area from Texas and later decided to build this village after settling into their homestead. “My husband always wanted to build a gas station out here, but I told him that no one except us and the mail lady ever drove out here,” Lynne shares. After buying his first Model A Ford in 1990, however, he began to draft the plans for his gas station. Meanwhile, the Borels would host private dinners and offer tours of the restoration barn. Later, they began selling gas and jerky from their gas station, and soon enough, the rest of the village came into place.
“All of these buildings were his idea,” says Lynne. “He designed them all, and our two sons helped.” Each of the buildings is meticulously curated with era-specific items, each one with a fascinating story behind it. “We have been collecting since we’ve been married, which is sixty years, and the village is a place for us to display all of it,” Lynne explained as she led me through some of the buildings and explained stories behind some of the items on display. The intricacy of the displays and the detail in the arrangement makes this a perfect excursion for those seeking a fun and educational trip close to home.
In addition to the detail, the Borels have worked to make each facet of the trip as interactive as possible. While explaining some of the typical activities one might encounter on their trip, Lynne shared, “I’ll show the kids how to use the corn-sheller and the grinder, and then they can carry it over and feed the chickens.” Lynne also grows lettuce for the children to use for feeding the animals. “I try to make it as interactive and as educational as possible,” Lynne states.
Bo’s Hollow features multiple activities for visitors beyond the village. One can call ahead and reserve a tour of the restoration shop and get a look at the Model A’s. “All of the Ford Model A’s we have were built in 1928-1931, and we have collected them from Washington State to New York,” shares Lynne of the classic car featuring the “ahooga” style horn. Visitors can also take a ride in a Model A around the village or even reserve a picnic lunch, which includes transportation via Model AA open bus down to Ashley Creek. The lunch is prepared for you, and it features Granny’s BBQ, a fixture of the experience.
When asked what she felt was the most important part about Bo’s Hollow, Lynne responded with a laugh in saying, “I think it’s the history, but most people would probably tell you it’s the BBQ.” One of their sons, David, along with his wife Ellena, work around the village but are well-known for their skills in the smokehouse.
A natural storyteller, Lynne leads most of the tours while her husband, Bracy, enjoys working quietly in the restoration shop on the Model A’s. Lynne gives tours of the village and David gives rides and tours focusing on the surrounding areas. “We most enjoy visiting with people,” Lynne states of her favorite part of the village. “We meet a variety of people, and visitors who we met once as children are now returning with children of their own, so we have gotten to know a lot about them.” Bo’s Hollow has welcomed visitors from all fifty states as well as twenty-five countries, and they hope to welcome even more visitors during the upcoming season.
Bo’s Hollow is open from May through October on Thursdays-Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The average amount you will pay is $5, which covers a wooden nickel to apply to a purchase in the village. Tours of the shop and picnic rides are additional costs. If you only wish to walk around the village, admission is just $2.50 per person. To make reservations, locate directions, or for any questions you can visit BoHollow.com, find them on Facebook, or call 573-548-2429. The address is 22516 Bo’s Hollow Lane, Salem, but Lynne instructs visitors to “avoid putting that into their GPS. Follow the written directions, follow the signs, and look for the name painted on the barn. Finding this without a GPS is part of the Ozark experience; don’t worry, you’ll find us just fine.”
