Batesville

Discover Batesville: Arkansas' Second-Oldest City

Located along the scenic White River in north-central Arkansas, Batesville combines more than 200 years of history with modern charm. As Arkansas' second-oldest city, this historic river town offers visitors authentic architecture, cultural festivals, and a downtown where antique shops and art galleries occupy buildings that once welcomed steamboat travelers.

A River Town Since 1804

Sitting just 90 miles from Little Rock, Batesville’s story begins where Poke Bayou meets the White River. What started as a single log cabin in 1804 quickly grew into a thriving settlement with John Reed's trading post selling "whiskey and notions" to pioneers. By 1820, thousands of travelers passed through on the Old Southwest Trail, crossing the White River just below town. The settlement officially became Batesville in 1821, honoring James Woodson Bates, Arkansas' first territorial delegate to Congress.

The White River shaped Batesville's destiny for seven decades. Steamboats transformed the frontier outpost into a bustling commercial center. Though railroads eventually replaced river transport in the early 1900s, Lock and Dam No. 1 remains as a scenic backdrop at Riverside Park.

Historic Downtown & Architecture

Batesville’s historic downtown offers a glimpse into the city's past through buildings on the National Register of Historic Places. These preserved structures house modern businesses such as law offices, antique stores, music shops, restaurants and art galleries, making downtown a vibrant part of the city.

Batesville stands apart from other Arkansas towns because the Civil War spared its buildings while destroying others across the state. Today, visitors can explore residential architecture from every decade since the 1840s. The Maxfield-Garrott House on Main Street, built in the early 1840s, survives as the oldest home in town. Victorian-era mansions anchor two historic districts, their ornate details telling stories of prosperous river commerce days.

Must-See Attractions

Melba Theater
This Main Street landmark opened in 1875 as an opera house and, a few years later, was converted into a mercantile store. After an Art Deco renovation, it reopened in 1940 as the state's first Cinemascope theater. Though it closed in the early 1990s, the theater was revived in 2000.

Today, the renovated Melba Theater seats about 400 moviegoers in its single-screen venue that maintains a vintage neighborhood feel. During the holidays, the theater presents “A Very Melba Christmas,” a series of classic movies with pre-show entertainment each night. The theater goes all out to create festive holiday ambiance.

Mark Martin NASCAR Museum
This museum honors NASCAR racing star and Batesville native Mark Martin, showcasing his trophies, race cars, uniforms, and other racing mementos. See where he got his start at the Batesville Motor Speedway, where drivers compete in modifieds, super stocks, hobbies, super stars and front-wheel drives on a three-eighths mile, red clay oval track from March through September.

Batesville Community Center
Perfect for families, especially in the summer, this modern facility features basketball courts, a track, a catering kitchen, a fitness room, meeting rooms, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, plus a lazy river.

Lyon College
Founded in 1872 and known as Arkansas College until 1994, Lyon College sits nestled in the rolling hills of east Batesville. Due to storm damage in the early 1970s, most of the construction is less than 35 years old. This liberal arts college features the Holloway Theatre, a state-of-the-art facility for collegiate productions with black-box seating for 175. The Kresge Gallery hosts exhibits by artists and students. Mountain bike trails start right from campus, too.

Old Independence Regional Museum 
History enthusiasts will appreciate this museum's award-winning exhibits on early settlement, Native Americans, the Civil War and transportation. The research library contains family files and early county records, while the gift shop offers unique local items.

Bethel AME Church
Standing as the oldest religious structure in Batesville, this church served as the home of the first black congregation in town.

Outdoor Adventures

Jamestown Crag
Just south of Batesville, this rock climbing destination features one of the largest, most exposed areas of Atoka sandstone in the region, making it the best sport climbing rock in northeast Arkansas. With more than 100 bolted routes, Jamestown has chicken head holds, nice gritty texture and climbing styles characteristic of Arkansas. The tallest route reaches 90 feet, with routes ranging in difficulty from 5.5 to 5.13. The crag provides some of the best beginner and intermediate climbing in the country. It’s easily accessible via a short hike from the parking lot.

Don’t miss King of the Crag, a climbing competition held in October each year as a fundraiser and community gathering for climbers.

White River
The White River offers year-round fishing opportunities. While the river is famous for its trout populations upstream, the Batesville section provides excellent walleye fishing, along with catfish, bass, and various panfish species. Multiple boat ramps provide easy river access for both bank and boat fishing.

Polk Bayou Park & Waterway
Polk Bayou Park is home to the summertime swimming hole "The Rocks,” while Polk Bayou waterway offers an easy, leisurely float via kayak or canoe through scenic beauty. You’ll float under several bridges through rural countryside and right through downtown.

Greasy Bend Off-Road Park
This 1,200-acre ATV and UTV venue features nearly 70 miles of trails through terrain that includes sharp turns, inverted climbs, odd angles, and several miles of White River frontage.

The Course at Eagle Mountain
This 18-hole championship course features Empire Zoysia fairways and SR1119 Bent Grass greens, playing from 5,008 yards to a demanding 7,009 yards. Nestled alongside the White River through woods and rolling hills, the facility also includes a swimming pool overlooking the course, plus a full-service restaurant and bar.

Annual Events

Arkansas Scottish Festival
Lyon College hosts this celebration each April, complete with Highland games, Celtic music, and traditional Scottish fare. 

Ozark Foothills Film Festival 
Independent films screen throughout Batesville and surrounding towns each spring.

White River Wonderland 
This holiday light display traditionally opens on Thanksgiving night, as do most lighting events across The Natural State. Batesville’s display has become one of the largest in Arkansas, with more than one million lights illuminated at Riverside Park. Lights dance to music that visitors can tune in to on their car radios as they drive through. Or, take a horse-drawn carriage ride through the holiday glow.

Plan Your Batesville Visit

From exploring Victorian mansions to catching races at the speedway where Mark Martin started, Batesville offers authentic Arkansas experiences along the White River. This historic town delivers the perfect blend of preserved heritage and modern attractions, all within easy reach of the Ozarks' natural beauty.