Tourism taking off in NEA

I was having a conversation the other day with a friend about “things to do” in Arkansas and, of course, we came up with plenty of suggestions to consider.

Arkansas is blessed with world-class art museums in Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville and the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts in Little Rock. Our outdoors amenities are unparalleled. If you want spectator sports, our colleges and universities offer plenty of quality choices.

There are destination communities, such as Hot Springs and Eureka Springs for shopping, dining, cultural and recreational fun.

We see other parts of the state making significant investments for the future, such as bike trails in Mena, the U.S. Marshals Museum in Fort Smith, and soon a revitalized downtown Little Rock River Market. There’s no shortage of great ideas.

Let’s give Northeast Arkansas a pat on the back.

When you think about some of the unique attractions that have launched, are coming together or have made progress, the list is impressive.

We’ve seen the huge success of the Johnny Cash Boyhood Home in Dyess and what it has brought in terms of fascinating music history and impactful concert performances. It’s a destination that few other states could replicate.

The National Cold War Center in Blytheville will truly be an impressive experience. With the trajectory of international affairs these days, the museum may turn out to offer a nostalgic look at the “good ole days” when the world was a simpler place: just two powerful nations with nuclear capabilities searching for détente versus WWIII. In truth, the storytelling for this museum should be incredible.

The Sultana Disaster Museum in Marion is another completely creative experience that will be one-of-a-kind. Though built on a terrible tragedy, Civil War tourists should find the museum to be an all-new exploration of that era in the nation’s history.

I’m particularly curious about the new Hoxie: The First Stand museum that is about to open. It captures the history of the earliest days of public school integration in Arkansas. In contrast to Little Rock Central High School and 1957, the tiny town of Hoxie found a way to peacefully integrate in 1955.

I love the attitude displayed by then-Hoxie Superintendent Kunkel Edward Vance, who said he supported integration because it saved the district money, it complied with the recently decided U.S. Supreme Court case Brown v. The Board of Education of Topeka, Kan., and it was “right in the eyes of God.”

Other regional attractions for Northeast Arkansas include a smattering of festivals, locations, destinations: the forthcoming Ridge Athletics Center in Jonesboro, Bradbury Art Museum at A-State, Beatles at the Ridge music festival in Walnut Ridge, Arkansas Rock ’n’ Roll Highway 67, the Arkansas Pie Festival at Cherokee Village, and the city of Wilson and its nod to Southern life and culture.

These suggestions don’t even mention hunting, fishing, boating, hiking, biking, golf, and casinos.

A tip of the hat to Northeast Arkansas for creating some truly unique experiences, and let’s hope many more.

Editor’s note: Roby Brock is the editor-in-chief of Talk Business & Politics. He hosts “Talk Business & Politics” and “Capitol View” and a radio program three times a week on KASU.