Downtown Fort Smith tourism mural could be ready by summer
by April 6, 2025 4:24 pm 717 views
As the Fort Smith Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) settles into its newly renovated and fully functional office space at 524 Garrison Avenue, work continues on the portions that will ultimately serve the public.
The lobby that faces Garrison is a construction zone. For now, the automatic sliding glass doors that will someday welcome visitors remain locked. Flooring is only partially installed.
According to Fort Smith CVB Executive Director Ashleigh Bachert, the mural that will someday decorate the lobby walls is also a work in progress. In September 2024, the CVB asked the community to submit local photos to be included in the mural. The response included 150 submissions, ranging from individuals to local businesses and schools. The images are now in the hands of a design company. The layout process will take from four to six weeks, followed by a two-to-three week print schedule.
When complete, the mural will visually blend Fort Smith’s heritage with more recent events and initiatives, Bachert said. With a total budget of $12,000, the mural is a small part of the $1.4 million renovation project. But as the mural will likely create a visitor’s first impression, Bachert has prioritized excellence over expedience. Bachert expects all work, including the mural installation, to be complete by mid-year.
“We don’t want to rush it. We want to get it right. … We would like to have a ‘soft opening’ in June or July. We plan to have a grand opening in the fall,” she said, adding that the CVB is planning for a formal unveiling with attendance by regional and state officials.
After sharing space for 32 years with the Miss Laura’s Brothel Museum at 2 N. B St., last year the CVB moved to its new location.
“Visitors were having trouble finding us,” said Bachert.
Now located in the heart of the downtown district, she said th eCVB can more directly meet the needs of visitors and the businesses hoping to serve them. With this move, according to Bachert, the CVB and Miss Laura’s can expand.