gilbert general store

Drove down here to the end of the road to see Gilbert, AR. It was well worth the trip. Loved the access to the river and the old general store. We definitely be returning here on another trip.

The place is amazing...it's like a store and museum all-in-one. The store has been around over 100 years!! It is a few miles off of Highway 65, but it is way too cool to pass up. We rented our kayaks and rafts from them...they were super friendly. We floated Baker Ford to Gilbert (about 10 miles). The great part is that you are only 50 yards from your car when you get back to the Gilbert landing after your float.

This is a great place for Buffalo River float excursions. The general store has a laid-back, friendly atmosphere, complete with a couple of dogs and a kitten that roamed around. Ben was our driver who took us to the landing with our canoe. He was very knowledgeable about the river and was great with our kid. He was able to answer a lot of questions for us and gave us some tips. We enjoyed the short trip to the landing in the van. He helped us get set up and took a picture of our family with my camera before leaving. Besides the great people, the big difference between the Gilbert General Store and other Buffalo River companies is that at the end of your trip, you can get out of the river right at Gilbert, and it's a short walk back to the general store and parking lot. You don't have to wait on a bus to come get you. My family got a real kick out of floating down this beautiful natural river, and the wonderful staff of the Gilbert General Store made it a perfect trip. We will be back!

We enjoyed our canoe trip on the Buffalo River. We rented our canoes from the Gilbert General Store. The staff were friendly and helpful. They were stocked with cold ice cream and cokes which was much appreciated after our trip. They have good beef jerky too. Highly recommend visiting the store and town of Gilbert. Canoeing the Buffalo River is a must when in north Arkansas.

First and Last Time. Paid$1600. With rafts for 17 people for weekend. With 2 beautiful cabins for our group. Not bad. So everything should be great. Nope. Cabin 5 was ours. Very clean. Fulling stocked. But freezer didn't work. No biggie. Then the air conditioner was broken. We go to tell office. Closed at 5 pm. So went up next morning to tell office. They said sorry we will check while you all are on float. Come back around5 . Air still doesn't work. Went to office. Which was closing at 5 again as about 50 floaters coming in. And they said oh we fixed it. Well its not working i said. I told them I wanted at least one day refund. They said no.

On our way home to Louisiana from 4th of July Vacation in Illinois . . . I really wanted to do a little "float" trip just to introduce my son to being on the Buffalo River by boat - saying that he was not at all interested is a HUGE understatement... but he was at least willing to play in the river. In Saint Joe - Seeking lodging for the evening, one of the friendly local ladies that I found when I stopped to dip my toes in the river at Grinder's Ferry suggested I try my luck in Gilbert, AR (it was Sunday night). Gilbert's a really teeny little town but very quaint and friendly. I stopped at the general store to inquire about the cabins next door. The owner (Ben) informed me that I was in the right place and that they had one available but it was being "reset" and would be ready in about an hour and additionally that towels are not normally provided but since he knew we were "drop-ins" he would make sure that we had a set of clean towels. He then suggested that we use their changing rooms to "suit up" and head down to the river about 150 yards down the road to play in the river. Great idea! Paid for the cabin, bought a "floatie" for me and headed that way. We splashed around in the river for a few hours and had a great time. When we were done playing in the river - the cabin was all ready. Beds were comfortable, water pressure in shower excellent - clean towels & wash rags much appreciated. Only teeny problem was the overflowing garbage can right outside the cabin would let in quite a few flies every time we opened the door - on the plus side, there was a fly swatter sitting on the table on the front porch and my son learned how to use it. Never did talk my son into the float trip but want to go back next spring with my husband and my son and we'll be staying here if they've got space for us.

I will be going to Gilbert in two weeks and staying in the cabins at the Gilbert General Store. I don't know about you, but all the review from "chefshef" says to me is that the owners went out of their way to make it up to someone who felt they had been wronged. The owners gave them a ride and money...that seems pretty accomodating to me. You can't please everyone all the time, but it sure seems to me like they tried harder than a lot of people now days would have! If they were truly shady they would have let you keep walking and not really cared how upset the previous poster was.

The bad review has to be bogus. I was treated fantastic and had a super trip. I'm planning to go back for Christmas. I just can't see the owners having someones car towed on purpose unless it was parked where they had no choice.

The owners of Gilbert General Store are on first name basis with everyone in at least a 15 mile radius... all of the locals know the integrity of this family. They provide great canoeing and kayaking experiences for those 'city folk' (like us) who flock into Gilbert every season. They are accomodating when things don't go the way travelers' planned, i.e., returning money if due. These are very busy owners who take the time to care about how they treat their customers, their family, and their neighbors. Good people, excellent friends... since 2001. Thank you, Jim and Tammy Finlen

Reading the review that other person posted made me post. I'm sure the car was parked improperly because the people in the General Store have been nothing short of over the top when it comes to nice to me and my extended family for the past 15 years. One year, my son was having a problem with his truck and the people from the store brought tools from home to help him resolve the problem. Not the kind of people who would purposely be mean. I love the canoe trips we have been on and love staying in the cabins behind the store. Great place...great times had there.J from Texas

The people at the Gilbert store really screwed myself and a few friends one time. We rented a kayak from them, and they had our car towed while we were floating. We returned to find out that we had to call the towers in St. Joe with whom the Gilbert people were on a first name basis. On their first request, the rate for the release of the car was cut in half. They claimed that we parked in the lot reserved for cabin renters, but the lot was mostly empty, and it had two entrances, one of which wasn't marked at all. I called the Gilbert store owner on running a racket, told him I was calling the police, and started walking. He caught up to us, gave us the cash for the release of the car, and gave us a ride. Pretty shady folks.