Biography
Mike Mills grew up on a farm in Rogers, Arkansas. He knew how to work hard. He was an excellent student and athlete. His dad always pushed him to work harder and do better. He learned about the outdoors growing up camping with his family. Due to the 1970s environmental boom, his skills became popular when he was in college.
After studying pre-med at Hendrix College, Mike followed his passion and turned his love of the Natural State into a career. He bought a canoe rental business and founded Buffalo Outdoor Center in 1976. Mike loved canoeing and hiking. A vacation to him is to paddle a river somewhere around the globe. His memorabilia from these excursions decorate the BOC cabins. Each year, in the winter, when he was not renting canoes, Mike and his one employee built a log cabin. A lot of people liked renting the cabin so he built a cabin each winter. Then he built a lodge for big gatherings with porches that overlook the Ponca area. The Buffalo Outdoor Center experience now includes hot air balloon rides, a zip line and soon a spa – all tucked away in the Buffalo River region of the Ozark Mountains in Ponca, Arkansas – a town of 117 people. He now has a gift shop and recreation center and employs 35 people.
Mike has paddled around the globe and hosts many international visitors at his Buffalo River resort. His business sells experiences on the first national river in the United States. In 2013 Buffalo Outdoor Center was Arkansas’ Small Business of the Year.
After studying pre-med at Hendrix College, Mike followed his passion and turned his love of the Natural State into a career. He bought a canoe rental business and founded Buffalo Outdoor Center in 1976. Mike loved canoeing and hiking. A vacation to him is to paddle a river somewhere around the globe. His memorabilia from these excursions decorate the BOC cabins. Each year, in the winter, when he was not renting canoes, Mike and his one employee built a log cabin. A lot of people liked renting the cabin so he built a cabin each winter. Then he built a lodge for big gatherings with porches that overlook the Ponca area. The Buffalo Outdoor Center experience now includes hot air balloon rides, a zip line and soon a spa – all tucked away in the Buffalo River region of the Ozark Mountains in Ponca, Arkansas – a town of 117 people. He now has a gift shop and recreation center and employs 35 people.
Mike has paddled around the globe and hosts many international visitors at his Buffalo River resort. His business sells experiences on the first national river in the United States. In 2013 Buffalo Outdoor Center was Arkansas’ Small Business of the Year.
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