Outdoor recreation fuels Arkansas’ tourism growth

Whether you are dropping in on the Castle Hub, cruising down the nation’s first national river, chasing a combine harvester in search of a Yellow Rail, defying gravity by trusting the strength of the Ozark Sandstone while standing on Hawksbill Crag of Whitaker Point, or perhaps setting your sight on digging for a diamond — the natural, historical and cultural resources of Arkansas are driving growth in the thriving Arkansas’ tourism industry.

Last year 50.7 million people visited our Natural State. While here, they spent $9.9 billion at our hotels, restaurants and retailers. Every month, Arkansas is setting new tourism records, making it the state’s second largest industry.

Enticing new visitors and encouraging repeat visitors to come to Arkansas requires a continual strategy for developing products and bringing innovative experiences to the market.

The driving force behind Arkansas’ efforts is outdoor recreation.

Arkansas is a clear leader in the emerging outdoor economy in the industrial sector, in creating new activities, and for our favorable year-round weather. It’s a natural fit for the Natural State.

When Gov. Sarah Sanders took office in January 2023, she outlined a bold agenda to establish Arkansas as the nation’s leader in outdoor recreation, further enhancing Arkansas’ outdoor economy. Her administration has moved strategically and swiftly to do just that.

Approximately 1,000 outdoor companies are in the state, manufacturing everything from guns and fishing gear to boats and bicycles. There are 40,000 Arkansans who work for those companies generating $4.5 billion for the state’s economy.

And we are developing new products to encourage tourists to return often, leading the nation in recreation and relocation. In 2024, Arkansas was No. 1 in the nation for inbound movers.

Through public/private partnerships, Arkansas is an inspiration to other states as we develop an outdoor economy that features options that appeal to many, from adventure seekers to leisure travelers. We are a renowned hiking, biking, hunting, fishing, floating, climbing destination.

At the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism (ADPHT), we are excited about the new and unprecedented projects in trail development.

ADPHT, in partnership with the National Forest Service, is currently working on a project in Mena, where construction will soon begin on an expansive new downhill trail system with lift structures between Queen Wilhelmina State Park and Ward Lake, traversing through Ouachita National Forest. The chairlift will take riders and their bikes to the highest elevation on the trail where riders will then descend some 1,300 vertical feet and onto the main trail.

In Bella Vista, Runway Group recently announced plans to build a similar chairlift structure featuring more than 20 miles of gravity trails along Highway 71. As in Mena, this high-speed chairlift system will be accessible year-round for riders of all skill levels and will connect seamlessly to the existing OZ Trails network.

But that’s not all.

In the Arkansas Delta, expansion of the Delta Heritage Trail at Helena is continues to move towards completion. Construction on approximately 14 miles of trails and bridges will complete the 84.5-mile trek through the Delta, creating a premier outdoor recreation destination and an economic boost.

These new developments, along with Arkansas’ top rated state park system, is why Outside.com recently referred to our state as “America’s New Adventure Hub.”

We enjoy more than 3.2 million acres of public lands in Arkansas. Our 52 state parks offer so many unique experiences that we can’t list them all here. In the last full data capturing year of 2023, Arkansas State parks welcomed more than 8.5 million visitors, which generated operating revenues of $35.8 million.

Arkansas State Parks invested $26.7 million in capital improvement in fiscal year 2024. I encourage you to take a drive to Pinnacle Mountain State Park outside Little Rock where those investment dollars helped construct a state-of-the-art visitors center that features indoor and outdoor exhibits, serving as a hub to the Monument Trails, Base Trail, Summit Trail, and access to the ever-emerging Maumelle Pinnacles connections. Then, when finished, hikers can enjoy a scoop of ice cream from our on-site private vendor partner, Loblolly Ice Cream.

Other projects include expanded mountain bike trails at Bull Shoals – White River State Park; renovation of the historic CCC cabins at Devil’s Den State Park; new campgrounds at Mount Magazine, Lake Chicot, Crowley’s Ridge and Mount Nebo (with new camper cabins) state parks; and renovation of Mather Lodge at Petit Jean State Park.

While we are excited for the future of our state as a national leader in outdoor recreation, rest assured Arkansas will never compromise when it comes to protecting, preserving and conserving our state’s resources. We want more people to enjoy what we have to offer, and our outdoor recreation industry is open for business.

Editor’s note: Shea Lewis is the Secretary of the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism. The opinions expressed are those of the author.