Tourism / Heritage

Fort Smith Regional Airport traffic down 94.5% in April, down 36.4% year-to-date

Fort Smith Regional Airport Director Michael Griffin is not surprised with the significant downturn in enplanements, and he is hopeful the need to get back to business will soon result…

Restaurant industry divided on re-opening, casinos eager to implement new protocols

Stacy Hurst, Secretary of the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism, said the plans in motion to re-open casinos, restaurants, parks and large venues are moving cautiously forward. Appearing…

Van Buren, Alma groups work to help advertise business reopenings, push buy local message

Crawford County businesses starting to reopen say they need help, and their chambers of commerce are setting up plans to do just that. After reviewing results of a recent COVID-19…

World War-II era plane flyover in Arkansas will salute COVID-19 frontline responders

A team of pilots, including Steuart Walton, chairman of the Arkansas Economic Recovery Task Force, will embark on a one-day, 15-city flyover of the state Saturday (May 9) with a…

Gaming operations in Arkansas may begin limited reopening on May 18

Gov. Asa Hutchinson said Thursday (May 7) the state will allow a limited opening of three gaming operations in Arkansas on May 18. He said the facilities will open at…

Controversial Planned Zoning District at Chaffee Crossing approved by Fort Smith Board

The Fort Smith Board of Directors at its regular meeting Tuesday (May 5) voted for an ordinance that will set a Planned Zoning District (PZD) for a portion of the…

Bradbury Art Museum finds virtual way to display 2020 exhibition in May

Bradbury Art Museum, in partnership with the Department of Art + Design, will host a virtual exhibition space created to showcase the work of the class of 2020. Family, friends…

Gov. Hutchinson issues dates, guidelines for venue reopening; Ready for Business program returns with $55 million

Gov. Asa Hutchinson on Monday (May 4) announced dates and guidelines for the limited opening of indoor and outdoor venues and places of worship. It was also announced that the…

Preserve Arkansas releases its list of most endangered historic places

Preserve Arkansas’s 2020 Most Endangered Places list includes a nationally significant military hospital, a Trail of Tears witness structure, the Grapette Company headquarters, a Charles Thompson-designed bank, a historic mercantile,…

Restaurants can begin limited openings on May 11; $15 million grant program created

Arkansas restaurants can begin a limited reopening on May 11, with the state establishing a $15 million grant fund to help restaurant and other business owners reopen in a way…

Governor: State parks to partially re-open Friday with expanded services by mid-May

Gov. Asa Hutchinson said Tuesday (April 28) he would eye May 1 as the re-opening date on a limited basis for Arkansas State Parks while expanding services by May 15….

Rare badges and toilet paper among U.S. Marshals Museum unique exhibits

With more people spending more time at home during this era of social distancing, the U.S. Marshals Museum is using the opportunity to reach more people and start to tell…

TempleLive sets May 15 concert; Harry’s Downtown shuts its doors

TempleLive in downtown Fort Smith is attempting to “lean forward” during the COVID-19 pandemic and open its doors for a May 15 concert. But just a few blocks west, the…

Ritter Communications launches online music venue for regional entertainment

COVID-19 has stopped nearly all local musicians from performing at venues throughout Northeast Arkansas. Ritter Communications has found an innovative way to turn shutdowns into a showcase streamed concert series….

Arkansas’ tourism industry handles COVID-19 better than other states; leisure, hospitality industry most affected in state

The tourism industry in Arkansas looks to be faring the COVID-19 pandemic better than other states, but the health crisis is expected to have the biggest impact on the leisure…