A stroll down the riverbank

Newland's history

Bill Newland started Newland's Float, Fishing and Camping trips in 1954. He had come down from the Bolivar, Missouri area to fish the White River, and that is where the idea for the business was born.

Armed with handmade lures, a small piece of riverfront property and an agriculture degree from the University of Missouri, Bill set out to make his dream real. After teaching farming to servicemen returning from World War II, Bill and his wife Louise settled on the river and began guiding trips on nearby Bull Shoals Lake. That grew into Newland's Float and Fishing.

In the early days Newland's offered guided fishing trips, and Bill and the other guides helped guests set up camp on the riverbank. Thanks to Louise, every guest was treated like family. That Southern hospitality, paired with some of the best fishing in the country, turned Bill's vision into a lasting business.

After Bill passed away in 1974, his son Charles took over. Louise and Charles expanded beyond camping trips, buying more acreage and adding lodging as they could afford it.