The Griffin Tradition:

For nearly 60 years, the Griffin family has owned property along the South Fork of the Spring River just above Hardy. Here, the family has raised children, operated businesses and hosted thousands of tourists to the Hardy area.

Bernard Griffin first traveled through the Hardy area in the 1930s and was a visitor to the area until 1940 when, following purchasing land which would become his families' home, he moved to the area. Bernard left a profitable rice farm in Craighead County behind, along with the mosquitoes, and gladly traded them for the rugged beauty of the Ozarks.

A major drawback to the property he purchased was that there was no bridge to cross over to nearby Hardy. Being resourceful, Bernard built his own bridge across the South Fork. Bernard worked as a land surveyor, served as the Sharp County Surveyor and later served for 14 years on the Sharp County Quorum Court.