Bub's Historical Cabin, Ozark National Forest, Arkansas

Bub's Historical Cabin is also known as the Spurgeon-Warren or Virgin Warren Cabin, and is in the Ozark National Forest in northern Johnson County, Arkansas, situated off rough forest service roads near the Little Piney Creek, between Highways 21 and 123.

The property is cared for by its longtime owner, Bub Pearson, who is almost always there greeting adventurous visitors and overlanders exploring the backcountry. It was such a delight to meet him! He was what made the place feel so special to us. We visited on April 25, 2026.

We began at the Union School House and went back over the Little Piney Creek. Now I was following and not navigating, but I can see on maps online sort of how we traveled along County Road 1004, which seems to run jointly with 5550 along the Little Piney Creek. Then it appears we crossed the Ceder Creek, turning off 1004 onto 5550. County Road 5550 seems to also be called Forest Service Road 1405A, so those two numbers now run jointly. We turned off 1004 onto Mount Pleasant Road 1405A. Before it turns into Forest Service Road 94318b, near were Lick Creek and the Little Piney Creek are close, we crossed the Little Piney Creek again, continuing down Mount Pleasant Road 1405A.

Here we are doing a water crossing and I am not sure which creek we crossed!

This is crossing Little Piney Creek the second time. There was a sharp turn to the right after crossing the river.

That's my truck ready to cross the river!

And there is me crossing the river!

It was a little crazy to be out in the back country where people should not be and to arrive to see so many people. Of course, in this photo is our crew that we were with, but there were plenty of other people around.

The highlight of the visit was talking to Bud! He really made the place. It was cool to see an old home where people lived back in the day, but it was a delight to talk to Bud. He told us the original owners of the house, William A. Warren and Narcissa Cribbins Warren were married in 1847 and lived in the one room house to raise a family. The date of the building of the cabin is estimated from their marriage. In 1900's, another owner doubled the house. (I believe the second owners were the Spurgeons, but that is unclear to me.)

As can be seen in the video, he showed us an old rolling toy on the back porch and at his age, he could still move fast enough to do it a short distance. He told us he was 91 years old.

I asked him how he got to be 91 years old, and he said "Just like I've been preaching all my life, get off your lazy end and go to work."

After visiting at the house, we walked over the to barn. The troughs in the barn were large hollowed out trees which was really cool.

The view out into the hills is beautiful.

After I visited the other side of the property where the outhouse is located, Bud was waiting for me and gave me a hug before walking away. I felt a little bit of bond and love from him! It was so sweet and touching of a moment.