Attractions in Arkansas' North Central and Eastern Ozarks

January 2010

 

Blanchard Springs Caverns – Ranked among the most beautiful underground discoveries of the 20th century, this limestone cavern is located deep in the Ozark National Forest, 15 miles north of Mountain View (listed below). It is the only developed cave system operated by the U.S. Forest Service and is open throughout the year. Lighted walkways lead to stunning formations and massive rooms, one as large as six football fields. Nearby, Blanchard Springs Recreational Use Area provides scenic campgrounds, picnic areas, hiking trails, a massive natural spring and a trout lake. 

Greers Ferry Lake/Little Red River – Nestled in the hardwood forests and foothills between Clinton and Heber Springs, Greers Ferry is the third-largest lake in Arkansas' Ozark Mountains (31,500 surface acres). The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reservoir has served as a national model for environmental cleanliness. Commercial and public-use campgrounds, first-class lodging, resorts and championship golf courses are trademarks. The Little Red River emerges icy-cold from Greers Ferry Dam and provides excellent trout fishing waters for miles downstream. The current world-record brown trout (40 pounds, four ounces) was landed on the Little Red in 1992. Resorts and outfitters are available. The lake and river visitor center is located on Ark. 25 at the western end of the dam. 

Hardy Old Town – Overlooking the cool, flowing waters of the Spring River, Hardy is a preserved 1920s-era Ozark village with a National Historic District that extends the length of the old business district. Stores in town have been converted into antique malls, craft and gift shops, and specialty outlets. The quaint town boasts three museums, bed and breakfast inns and a dinner theater. 

Jacksonport State Park – The beautifully restored 1872 Jackson County Courthouse welcomes visitors to this historic riverport site on the White River, near Newport, Ark. Established in the 1830s, the town was a crossroads for both Union and Confederate forces during the Civil War and a landing for pioneers heading west. Unique exhibits inside the courthouse tell the story of the town and its people. The sternwheeler, Mary Woods No. 2 is moored nearby to give visitors a glimpse of river boating history. The park also offers camping, picnic areas, access to the river, and wildflower nature trails. 

Mammoth Spring State Park – One of the great natural wonders of mid-America, Mammoth Spring flows at an average hourly rate of some nine million gallons of 58-degree water. The flow creates a 10-acre lake and then becomes Spring River, a popular year-round canoe and fishing stream. The park, located at the big spring, includes a restored 1886 Frisco Depot with engaging exhibits and a "crew" of workmen and waiting passengers from the early 1900s. Other features include walking trails, picnic sites, playgrounds, early hydroelectric power plant and an official Arkansas Tourist Information Center. Along U.S. 63 at Mammoth Spring. 

Mark Martin Museum – Experience life in the fast lane at the Mark Martin Museum in Batesville, the racing champion’s hometown. The state-of-the-art museum features several of Martin’s race-winning cars, trophies, racing suits and helmets, personal memorabilia, video detailing Martin’s award-winning career and a museum store offering authentic Mark Martin merchandise. 

Ozark Folk Center and Mountain View – This small town is the home of the only park in America devoted to the preservation of Southern mountain folkways and music. The Ozark Folk Center State Park is a "living museum" of traditional pioneer skills, such as furniture making, quilting, blacksmithing, tintype photography, woodcarving and 15 other craft demonstrations. Concerts, performed in a 1,000-seat theater, feature songs and instruments from America's past. The park also offers a restaurant, lodge, library, conference center, visitor center and gift shop. The town of Mountain View has a variety of music shows, shopping, and restaurants, plus impromptu folk music gatherings on the downtown square and yearly festivals. 

Rock ‘n’ Roll Highway 67 – Located along U.S. 67 in Jackson, Lawrence, and Randolph Counties in northeast Arkansas, stretches of the highway were home to a variety of nightclubs, theaters, and roadhouses in the 1950s and 60s. Musical giants such as Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Conway Twitty, Johnny Cash, and Roy Orbison played at the clubs, resorts, and theaters along the highway. Signage along the stretch of U.S. 67 will denote the historical designation. 

White River and Bull Shoals Lake – Internationally famous for its beauty and great fishing, the White flows through the Ozark Mountains and across the Delta (over 700 miles) before joining the Mississippi River. Trout fishing below U.S. Army Corps of Engineers-built dams is a major draw. A rainbow trout estimated at 24.7 pounds was caught and released on North Fork River, a major tributary of the White, in the fall of 2002. Resorts and full-service marinas are available. Bull Shoals Lake, with more than 45,000 surface acres of water and a 1,000-mile shoreline, is a popular destination for anglers and outdoor enthusiasts. Largemouth bass and big stripers (in the 50-pound class) are on the fishing menu. Many accommodations and guide services are available.