Tourism / Heritage

Chipotle to open a Fort Smith location

A Chipotle Mexican Grill will open in Fort Smith later this year, and will be part of a multi-tenant redevelopment of the former Logan’s Roadhouse restaurant in the northeast corner…

Permit issued, demolition to begin by July 1 on St. Scholastica Monastery

A permit was issued Tuesday (June 21) by the city of Fort Smith to Catoosa, Okla.-based DT Specialized Services for the demolition of the historic St. Scholastica Monastery. Demolition of…

CBID votes to send downtown Fort Smith assessment plan to Fort Smith city clerk

The Fort Smith Central Business Improvement District (CBID) Commission agreed Tuesday (June 21) to send its petition to levy a supplemental annual assessment for operations to the Fort Smith City…

FCRA meeting deals with parking lot conflict; votes against sale of golf course

In what started as a largely attended and contentious meeting of the Fort Chaffee Redevelopment Authority Board of Trustees, board members accepted offers for purchase of two parking lots, the…

Steering committee possible to pursue feasibility of Fort Smith indoor sports facility

While members of the Fort Smith Board of Directors agree that an indoor sports facility would be a beneficial amenity for the city that could help the economy, how to…

Windgate Foundation extends challenge grant to Arkansas Symphony Orchestra

The Arkansas Symphony Orchestra announced Tuesday (June 14) it has received a $1.5 million two-to-one challenge grant from the Windgate Foundation to help build the future ASO Stella Boyle Smith…

Data on possible $31 million indoor sports facility to be heard by Fort Smith Board

A feasibility study for a potential new Indoor Sports Facility in Fort Smith, which will be presented to the Fort Smith Board of Directors at its study session Tuesday (June…

Outdoor fitness courts, floodplain resolutions approved by Fort Smith board

The Fort Smith Board of Directors on Tuesday (June 7) approved resolutions) to install outdoor fitness courts near the Arkansas River in downtown Fort Smith and in east Fort Smith,…

Arlington Hotel owner fails to convince Sisters to save St. Scholastica

Not even the owner of Arlington Resort Hotel & Spa in Hot Springs, one of the most iconic structures in Arkansas, could convince an order of Benedictine Sisters to halt…

Plant-based foods chef planning for expansion

The wins are building for Alicia Watson, chef and owner of Little Rock-based culinary wellness company Vito and Vera. She said her most recent win on Food Network TV show…

Fort Smith Juneteenth events include U.S. Army band, ‘A Raisin in the Sun’ performance

Several events are planned for Juneteenth celebrations, now a national holiday, in Fort Smith, including a performance in downtown Fort Smith by the U.S. Army Field Band Jazz Ensemble and…

Sisters confirm demo plans for St. Scholastic Monastery; demo could begin in three weeks

The Benedictine Sisters have rejected a flurry of requests and pleadings from state and local individuals and organizations and are moving ahead with demolishing the historic St. Scholastica Monastery in…

Walmart to invest in AC Marriott hotel on home campus

Walmart and Marriott International signed a franchise agreement for the retail giant to build and own an AC Hotel on its home campus in Bentonville. The AC Hotel by Marriott…

Inflation adds to pressures in the restaurant sector

An Alignable Research Center survey found that 72% of restaurateurs say they will be out of business if inflation does not moderate. Roughly half said inflationary pressures could force them…

$10M gift from Alice L. Walton Foundation to support Crystal Bridges interns

Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville announced Thursday (May 26) one of the largest museum endowments in the country dedicated to developing the next generation of arts leadership….

Preserve Arkansas acting to delay demolition of St. Scholastica

Little Rock-based Preserve Arkansas has received preliminary grant approval from a national trust to conduct an assessment of historic St. Scholastica Monastery in Fort Smith, which is set for demolition…

Grady Spann accepts top job with NWA Land Trust

Fayetteville nonprofit Northwest Arkansas Land Trust (NWALT) said Wednesday (May 25) that former Arkansas State Parks director Grady Spann is its new CEO and executive director. Spann, who has relocated to Northwest…

Bass Reeves streaming series in the works; no word on film location sites

Paramount+ has plans to produce a Bass Reeves limited series as part of its “Yellowstone” spinoff “1883.” State and local officials are mum about any chance all or parts of…

J&S Italian Villa in Hot Springs gets new owners, upgrades

Jeannie and Saddiq Mir have purchased J&S Italian Villa in Hot Springs and the couple have plans to improve the interior and menu. The restaurant is located at 4332 Central…

State official hopes for more time to ‘explore’ options to save St. Scholastica

Stacy Hurst and Ken Kupchick want more time to explore options in an effort to save the historic St. Scholastica Monastery in Fort Smith from a June 1 demolition date….