At mile 6 of the Frisco Highline Trail, a small kiosk across from the Willard trailhead tells a story from 1908. Two bank robbers made their escape on a railroad handcar down the same tracks that are now paved trail. Ozark Greenways describes the trail as 35 miles of path between Springfield and Bolivar, with Willard at mile 6.
The rail line gave the town its old reason to gather on Jackson Street, and the trail now does the same. A taproom took its name from the mile marker. The city holds its biggest October afternoon at the trailhead. Willard's newest planning documents use the trail as the line everything else connects to. In October 2026, the few blocks of Jackson Street within walking distance of mile 6 serve as Willard's town square.
A Taproom Named for the Trail
Springfield Brewing Co. opened Mile 6 Taproom at 115 E. Jackson St. on Dec. 22, according to a Springfield Business Journal profile posted in January 2025. Co-owner Christina Chanter told the Springfield Business Journal that the name refers both to the Frisco Highline's mile marker 6 and to the taproom's location. The building was set up for people who come in off the path. The Business Journal described cornhole, pool tables, board games, fire pits and space for two mobile eateries.
On tap are Springfield Brewing Co. beers and Ty Iechyd Da spirits. There's also a small to-go package store, rotating food trucks, and indoor and outdoor beer gardens with family games. The taproom posts two sets of hours. Its regular schedule is closed Monday and Tuesday, 2 to 8 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, 2 to 9 p.m. Friday, noon to 9 p.m. Saturday and noon to 7 p.m. Sunday. Its winter schedule runs 2 to 9 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, noon to 9 p.m. Saturday and noon to 8 p.m. Sunday. The page doesn't say when the switch happens, so it's worth checking before a Thursday evening visit this fall.
The taproom still appears in 417 Magazine's September 2026 guide to spending a day in Willard.
One Address Holds Most of the Day
Head east on Jackson and much of the block's daily routine sits under a single address. The Wooten Company lists East Center at 304 E. Jackson St., next to Willard High School. Several of the businesses that keep this stretch busy from breakfast through dinner are inside it.
The Hive is in Suite 5E, across from Willard Middle School. It serves specialty coffee, tea, smoothies, pastries, brunch and lunch, and it advertises employment and job-skills opportunities for people with disabilities. 417 Magazine lists biscuits and gravy and avocado toast in the morning, and chicken salad and french dip sandwiches at lunch.
Calm & Collected Mercantile is in Suite 6E and carries antiques and vintage finds.
Hog Tide Bar-B-Que lists its Willard location at 304 E. Jackson St. It's open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday. Ozark Greenways includes it among the food stops at mile 6.
Griffins Keep lists its store at 304 E. Jackson St., Suite 5G, with posted store hours.
With that much of the block at one address, a change at that address affects everyone on the block.
The Rent Notice That Reached the Whole Block
In early December 2025, KY3 reported that a new company had bought the East Center and told tenants their rents would rise when their leases renewed. The owner of the In and Out'let gave KY3 her figures. She was paying $3,088 a month. Her understanding was that the new rate would be about $13 a square foot, $10 plus a $3 management fee, which would have put her rent around $12,000 a month. She said she would close just before Christmas.
According to the business owners, the increases were meant to bring the center up to market value, closer to rents in Nixa and Ozark. The Wooten Company, which now manages the property, told KY3 it had no comment. The Springfield News-Leader covered the story again on December 16.
The other tenants faced their own timelines. A representative of Frontline Fitness said the gym's two-year lease ended in January and that a 300 percent increase put staying in doubt. Troy Allen of Griffins Keep had another year on his lease and said he was looking at options. He told KY3 that opening there had been "probably one of the better decisions I've ever done."
Ten months later, Griffins Keep's website still lists Suite 5G. No published update says whether Frontline Fitness stayed, moved or closed. The Hive, Hog Tide and Calm & Collected all still list 304 E. Jackson as their address.
West of the Trailhead
The rest of the walkable stretch runs west along Jackson and gives the block its evening options.
Darla's Diner is at 104 W. Jackson St. Greene County food-inspection records show it as active after a routine inspection on June 29, 2026.
Pizano's Pizza and Sauce Lounge is at 106 E. Jackson St. Its site lists lunch and dinner hours for the pizza side and a separate evening Sauce Lounge. The site still shows a July 3 to 13 closure notice from this summer, so call ahead to confirm current hours.
The Better Together Playground at 218 W. Jackson St. has been in place since at least November 2024, which makes it easy for families to add a stop after coffee or a short ride.
Here is a fall day on the block, using each business's posted hours:
| Stop | Address | Posted hours |
|---|---|---|
| The Hive | 304 E. Jackson St., Suite 5E | Weekdays 6:45 a.m.–4 p.m.; Saturday 7:30 a.m.–2 p.m. |
| Hog Tide Bar-B-Que | 304 E. Jackson St. | Tue–Sat 11 a.m.–8 p.m.; Sunday 11 a.m.–2 p.m. |
| Mile 6 Taproom | 115 E. Jackson St. | Regular: Wed–Thu 2–8 p.m., Fri 2–9 p.m., Sat noon–9 p.m., Sun noon–7 p.m. Winter: Wed–Fri 2–9 p.m., Sat noon–9 p.m., Sun noon–8 p.m. |
| Pizano's Pizza and Sauce Lounge | 106 E. Jackson St. | Confirm with the restaurant |
| Darla's Diner | 104 W. Jackson St. | Confirm with the restaurant |
The Hive also posts a separate summer schedule. One summer staple is done for the year. Ozark Greenways advertises the Willard Community Market as a Friday-evening gathering at the trailhead from Memorial Day through Labor Day, so it won't be back until next spring.
October 24 Happens at the Trailhead
The city's Halloween calendar shows where Willard gathers. On Saturday, October 24, Willard Parks and Recreation is putting both of its Halloween events at the Frisco Highline Trail Head, listed at 211 E. Jackson St.
- Trunk or Treat, 2 to 5 p.m. The event is free. Willard Parks directs guests to park at Willard Middle School, and local businesses, organizations and churches are invited to host trunks.
- Spooky Sprint 5K, 7 to 9 p.m. The race starts at the same trailhead.
The two events leave a two-hour gap that falls on a Saturday. On Mile 6 Taproom's regular schedule, Saturday runs noon to 9 p.m., so the taproom is open for the whole stretch between the two. Hog Tide's Saturday hours run until 8 p.m.
On the same page as the event listings, Willard Parks lists the trailhead as 211 E. Jackson St. Ozark Greenways lists the Willard Trailhead at 107 E. Jackson St. For October 24, use the Parks address and plan to park at the middle school.
The City Is Planning From Here, Too
City Hall's planning documents also start at the trailhead. In November 2025, the City of Willard said a contractor had begun the final phase of the Jackson Street sidewalk project. MoDOT's bid notice for that work called for new Jackson Street sidewalks built to ADA standards, along with the affected driveway aprons and roadway sections. The city hasn't published a completion update since.
Willard's 2026 Active Transportation Network Plan lays out a citywide network of paved paths, sidepaths, bike facilities and sidewalk links, with the Frisco Highline as a core corridor. It names the trail as a possible backbone for downtown and spur connections, but the plan doesn't commit to a construction schedule.
Parking on Jackson came up in August. According to a recap of the August 2026 Board of Alders meeting, staff outlined roughly 40 possible parking spaces on Jackson Street, along with 8-foot sidewalks and stormwater upgrades. The recap says funding was discussed and doesn't report a vote. Separately, the economic-development policy the Board approved on July 6, 2026, lists casual dining, small grocery options and family entertainment among its priorities. It also says incentives are decided case by case and don't guarantee any project.
One change affects trips to the block this week. The city announced that Main Street will close from Knight Street North to Laura's Home starting Monday, October 5, for repairs expected to last through the week, weather permitting. Until that work is done, coming in on Jackson is the easier way to reach the trailhead.
If you've been watching Jackson Street and thinking about a storefront, a lease or a property near the trailhead, Amy and Carrie at 417 Property Pros are glad to talk through what they're seeing on this corridor. Their experience covers both commercial leasing and residential sales, and they'll walk you through it calmly and in plain terms. Work With Us.
