Tourism / Heritage

Hunt Ventures land deal nixes planned Pinnacle area hotel

A planned 16-story hotel to be built in Rogers on the site that was once a Ruth’s Chris Steak House will not be built after Hunt Ventures bought the land…

Walton Family Foundation design program has backed 20 NWA projects

Since its inception in 2015, the Northwest Arkansas Design Excellence Program of the Walton Family Foundation has provided $28 million to support the design of 20 projects for community gathering…

NWACC seeks applicants for new butchery program

Brightwater: A Center for the Study of Food, a department of NorthWest Arkansas Community College in Bentonville, is accepting applications for its new artisanal butchery program. Application deadline is Jan….

Fort Smith Board approves second payment for waterpark slides

The Fort Smith Board of Directors passed an ordinance at the regular board meeting Tuesday (Dec. 17) to pay for the second half of the cost of new slides at…

Funding approved for Miss Laura’s Brothel Museum

The Fort Smith Board of Directors approved $522,579 for Miss Laura’s Brothel Museum during its regular board meeting Tuesday night (Dec. 17). The Fort Smith Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB)…

Ground broken for expanded Clinton Airport canopy

Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport officials and Little Rock Mayor Frank Scott broke ground Wednesday (Dec. 18) on a $5.24 million project that will expand the airport’s curbside canopy….

$50 million pickleball facility to be built in Springdale

A $50 million pickleball development is planned for east of Interstate 49 along the new segment of Emma Avenue in Springdale, according to a partnership group. The first-of-its-kind project in…

City officials in Benton County discuss growth opportunities, challenges

City officials in Benton County continue to plan for economic development and work together to tackle infrastructure challenges in the region, based on comments at the Build Bentonville event held…

XNA tops 1 million enplanements, 2024 numbers up 14% from 2023

Northwest Arkansas National Airport (XNA) in Highfill expects to exceed 2023 enplanements – people flying out of the airport – by about 14% in 2024, officials said. Through November, XNA…

Cromwell completes design for NWACC education center

Springdale-based Cromwell Architects Engineers recently worked with NorthWest Arkansas Community College in Bentonville to design its $2.7 million Cycling and Trail Education Center. The 10,184-square-foot center is the new home…

ARDOT provides grants for trails, sidewalk projects

The Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) has awarded $3.72 million to support 12 projects related to trails and transportation alternatives across Northwest Arkansas. Transportation alternatives include pedestrians, cyclists, and other…

Traffic up 1.3% at Fort Smith Regional Airport through November

Enplanements at the Fort Smith Regional Airport between January and November totaled 56,430, up 1.3% compared with traffic in the same period of 2023. November traffic was down almost 7%…

Pro soccer stadium to be built at new Pinnacle Hills location

The Rogers-based club looking to bring men’s and women’s professional soccer teams to Northwest Arkansas plans to build its stadium at a different site but still in the Pinnacle Hills…

Hunters asked to be alert for avian influenza symptoms in wild birds

An alert has been issued by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission asking waterfowl hunters and wildlife watchers heading to the field to keep an eye out for any sick…

Catalyze to offer $10,000 fellowships to artists in Central Arkansas and the Delta

Artists in Central Arkansas and the Arkansas Delta now have the chance to receive $10,000 fellowships to support their creative work through Catalyze, a program of the Mid-America Arts Alliance….

Booneville, Fort Smith and Van Buren receive money for trails, streetscapes

The Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) announced award recipients for the 2024 Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) and Recreational Trails Program (RTP) and Booneville, Fort Smith, and Van Buren were among…

2024 Fort Smith film fest has estimated $225,000 economic impact

The 2024 Fort Smith International Film Festival had a direct economic impact of $225,000 “and generated substantial financial contributions to the local economy through visitor spending, event services, and more,”…

Botanical Garden of the Ozarks sees 100,000 visitors annually

Botanical Garden of the Ozarks (BGO) is growing more than plants, trees, bees and butterflies. The Fayetteville nonprofit is also growing in visitors, staff, programs and plans for its 44…

Gem, mineral show to move to Bentonville

The Northwest Arkansas Gem & Mineral Society will move its spring Gem, Mineral, and Jewelry Show to Bentonville in 2025. About 4,000 people are expected to attend the two-day show…

Berry Pre-Coon Supper reception planned for Jan. 11

The 13th annual Berry Pre-Coon Supper Reception will be held on January 11 at the Berry Farm Shop in Gillett. “The Coon Supper has been a long-standing tradition in Gillett,”…

Tyson board chairman’s new contract includes $40 million cash incentive

Officials from Fort Smith and Poland sign Friendship Pact, mark arrival of F-35 jets

Grow for the Green Soybean Yield Challenge slated for its 16th year

Gov. Sanders: Student proficiency scores up since LEARNS