Arkansas State Parks: 75 Years of History, Preservation and Recreation
State parks showcase our stateâs natural treasures, reveal its history, and offer recreation and enjoyment for everyone. This year, the Arkansas State Park system celebrates its 75th anniversary with activities, celebrations and openings across the state.
The lands establishing the first state park, Petit Jean State Park, were donated in 1923 and construction of the park began in 1933 by the Civilian Conservation Corps (which also celebrates its 75th anniversary in 2008). Within a few years, the first parks were constructed, and our state park system was well on its way to becoming the treasure it is today.
Over the years, the system has been maintained, enhanced and expanded to meet the needs of Arkansans at playâ"whether itâs the construction of new campsites and cabins, trails for hiking or interactive museums for education.
Different state parks focus on different facets of Arkansas history. Parkin Archeological and Toltec Mounds state parks both feature research into the stateâs prehistoric American Indian history, while Historic Davidsonville and Historic Washington state parks focus on early settlements in our state. Several locationsâ"such as Prairie Grove Battlefield, Jenkinsâ Ferry and Poison Springâ"preserve areas associated with the Civil War. The Ozark Folk Center preserves cultural aspects of life in the Ozarks, including homestead crafts, pioneer skills and Southern mountain music.
Other parks aim at providing recreation for Arkansans and visitors. Bull Shoals-White River, Lake Ouachita and White Oak Lake all offer various water access and activities including fishing and water sports. Queen Wilhelmina, Mount Nebo and Mount Magazine celebrate majestic mountaintop views, while Crowleyâs Ridge and Village Creek allow for cabin stays and camping in lush forested woods.
This year, one of the popular state parks in western Arkansas reopened. Lake Fort Smith State Park was closed in 2002 for a massive expansion project to the lake itself. Lake Fort Smith and nearby Lake Shepherd Springs were combined to form a larger water supply reservoir for the Fort Smith area. New facilities including campsites and a new group lodge have been built, plus a swimming pool and marina with boat rentals.
Two other parks are in the works. Delta Heritage Trail State Park will make use of old rail beds and rail bridges spanning the White and Arkansas rivers in eastern Arkansas to create a hiking/biking trail along 73 miles of the former Union Pacific Railroad right-of-way that once carried the Delta Eagle. Mississippi River State Park will be developed in the St. Francis National Forest located between Marianna and Helena-West Helena and will initially include a campground, day-use area, visitor center and accessible trail
Arkansas state parks offer outdoor recreation and overnight stays in natural settings. In addition to campgrounds with RV hookups at many locations, some parks offer lodges or cabins, and unique camping choices like Rent-An-RV or Rent-A-Tepee. Watchable wildlife and lake tours are geared at educating visitors about flora and fauna at many parks, and some parks have become active in the new geocaching phenomenon, in which visitors participate in an outdoor treasure hunt for cached items using a GPS as a guide. Almost all state parks offer a visitor center, where you can discover unique facts about the park and the surrounding area.
To learn more about Arkansas state parks, call (888) 287-2757 or check out ArkansasStateParks.com. You can also visit any state park for brochures and information about any of the facilities in our state.
For more information on Mount Magazine State Parkâs lodge and cabins, (877) 665-6343.
