Ode to Bella Vista

John Cooper traveled through here;

Saw the hills, the woods and the deer.

He said, “I’ll build a town

And folks will come down.

Low taxes, mild weather all year.”

So he bought up large tracts of land;

And the village began to expand.

He built roads and lakes, Through the critters and snakes,

Where only did trees and brush stand.

Then people moved into this place

At an ever increasing pace,

Down from Minnesota, Wisconsin, the Dakotas And a house built in each cleared space.

Amenities soon came, quite a few,

Country Club and Branchwood too.

Old Riordan was cool So is Kingsdale pool And Metfield, plus another or two.

If you’d rather play cards than eat,

There are clubs that frequently meet. If bridge is your game Or whatever you name You’ll enjoy with a drink and a treat.

Playing golf, that’s what many folks do

And courses, there are quite a few.

It used to be free

But now there’s a fee And maybe a beer when you’re through.

Bella Vista has many volunteers,

Been doing it for years and years.

They make Crystal Bridges go

And the churches you know.

Let’s give ‘em a hand and some cheers.

And the lakes, how lovely they be.

There’re Windsor, Ann, Lomond, let’s see.

Hey, they’re all great for boating

And fishing and floating, And for beautiful viewing so-gee

It all seems so good so I’ll stay

with good friends I see every day.

People here are the best. We really are blest. There is no reason to move away.