State, feds sign MOU for Blanchard Springs Caverns

Gov. Sarah Sanders and Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism Secretary Shea Lewis signed Monday (Dec. 8) a memorandum of understanding with the U.S. Forest Service that begins the formal process of designating The Blanchard Springs Caverns Complex as the 53rd Arkansas State Park: Blanchard Springs State Park.

“From the moment we launched the Natural State Initiative, our mission has been clear: protect what makes Arkansas special and build an outdoor economy that supports every corner of our state,” said Gov. Sanders. “Blanchard Springs Caverns is a jewel of the Ozarks, and by kickstarting the process to designate it as a state park, we’re preserving its cultural and environmental legacy while creating new opportunities for tourism, jobs, and year-round adventure.”

“This partnership with the U.S. Forest Service allows us to elevate one of Arkansas’ top tourism destinations. The creation of Blanchard Springs State Park will enrich the experiences across the caverns as well as outdoor recreation like paddling, camping and mountain biking. Its proximity to the Ozark Folk Center will bring more overnight guests and support local communities,” said Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism Secretary Shea Lewis.

The memorandum of understanding lays the groundwork for a new joint management model between Arkansas State Parks and Ozark-St. Francis National Forests to enhance visitor services, strengthen cultural and environmental protections, and align federal and state investments in staffing and facilities.

Located in north-central Arkansas near the community of Fifty-Six, the Blanchard Springs Caverns Complex sits within the Sylamore District of the Ozark National Forest. The Blanchard Springs Caverns Complex encompasses eight-and-a-half miles of explored caverns, the only Forest Service Major Visitor Center in Arkansas, as well as a campground, swim beach, picnic area, and multiple trails. Blanchard Springs is one of only a handful of federally-managed “living” caves in the United States, featuring active formation growth and one of the nation’s largest flowstones.

Since its opening in 1973, Blanchard Springs Caverns Major Visitor Center has offered two signature guided tours: the Dripstone Tour and the Discovery Trail.

The Dripstone Tour leads visitors a half-mile through some of the cavern’s most decorated chambers, filled with stalactites, soda straws, a natural bridge, and the sweeping Cathedral Room – more than 1,000 feet long and anchored by a stone column over six stories tall.

The Discovery Trail follows the underground stream that carved the caverns, guiding visitors 366 feet below the surface to view Rimstone Dams, the natural entrance, and the dramatic Ghost Room. More advanced visitors also participate in seasonal Wild Cave Tours exploring undeveloped areas of the cavern system.

“Blanchard Springs Caverns is not only one of the most magnificent and largest living cave systems in the world, it is also the heart of the Ozarks. Today’s announcement is a monumental action that secures the future of this incredibly valuable asset for Stone County and for the entire state of Arkansas. The local economy is driven by tourism, and the caves are critical for my rural area of the state, and especially for my town of Mountain View,” said Sen. Missy Irvin, R-Mountain View.

This designation will build on Gov. Sanders’ Natural State Initiative, led by her husband, Bryan, and which aims to advance outdoor recreation projects across the state, from expanding trail systems and improving access at state parks to launching Outdoor Opportunity Zones. Bringing Blanchard Springs Caverns into the State Parks system reflects the Initiative’s commitment to linking conservation with economic growth in rural regions.

As the second-largest cavern system in Arkansas and a cornerstone of regional tourism, Blanchard Springs draws nearly 70,000 visitors annually and significantly contributes to the economies of nearby communities.

In a press release, officials said the future state park would operate as a hub that elevates and connects the broader region into a premier recreation destination.

Moving toward state-park designation also ensures long-term protection of the site’s natural and cultural resources. While geologists estimate the cave’s interior has remained structurally unchanged for more than 10,000 years, the increasing volume of annual visitors can heighten risks of erosion, habitat disturbance, and unregulated development.

Under a future state-park management, Blanchard Springs Caverns would benefit from permanent conservation measures, including managed access, designated trails, and proactive environmental safeguards that protect its fragile ecosystem – home to endangered gray bats, rare salamanders, and one of the most complex cave environments in the Ozarks.

Arkansas State Parks was developed by Act 276 of 1923.  The system comprises 52 state parks on 54,400 acres, with 1,800 campsites, 208 cabins, and 5 lodges serving 8 million visitors annually.