Tourism / Heritage

Levitt AMP Fort Smith Music Series to begin Friday

The Levitt AMP Fort Smith Music Series will kick off Friday (Aug. 30) with soul singer Nadjah Nicole. The series will showcase a live concert at 6 p.m. Friday through…

Fort Smith Coffee Co. to open a location in the U.S. Marshals Museum

Fort Smith Coffee Co. is expanding its footprint yet again, this time opening inside the U.S. Marshals Museum on the Arkansas River in downtown Fort Smith. A grand opening is…

Arvest Foundation donates $60k to Museum of Discovery

The Arvest Foundation donated $60,000 to the Museum of Discovery as part of the museum’s Reimagination Campaign. The Museum of Discovery is committed to transforming how Arkansas’ children engage with…

State of the State Mid-Year 2024: Arkansas tourism continues to be a strong industry

Arkansas Tourism Director Dalaney Thomas said the state’s 2% tourism tax collections continue to rise with fiscal year 2024 (June 2023-July 2024) closing out at a record $26.363 million, up…

Waterpark lease deal approved by Sebastian County Quorum Court

The Sebastian County Quorum Court voted Tuesday (Aug. 21) for an ordinance that gives the county judge authority to complete a Parrot Island Waterpark lease agreement with the City of…

Saracen Casino to add $250 million hotel, event center

Saracen Casino Resort in Pine Bluff announced Monday (Aug. 19) it will open a $250 million hotel and event center in the fall of 2025. The 320-room, 400,000-square-foot hotel will…

Onyx Coffee receives ‘Living Wage’ status

Rogers-based Onyx Coffee Lab has been certified by Living Wage for Us for the company’s commitment to paying all workers a living wage. According to Lilburn, Ga.-based Living Wage, Onyx…

Griffith: Olympic cycling bringing Bentonville ‘more global recognition’

Kalene Griffith had not immediately seen an influx of interest in Bentonville because of the mountain biking competition at the Paris Olympics, but the Visit Bentonville CEO is confident it’s…

Northwest Arkansas Land Trust adds 395 acres; land in the Beaver Lake watershed

The Fayetteville-based Northwest Arkansas Land Trust (NWALT) has added 395 acres to its portfolio with “ecologically significant land” that is part of the Beaver Lake Watershed in Madison County. The…

Mobility plan concepts presented to Fort Smith Board

A mobility plan for the city of Fort Smith, presented at a Fort Smith Board of Directors meeting Tuesday (Aug. 13), suggests a number of ways to help move people…

Gov. Sanders talks leadership, education at Forty Under 40 event

Arkansas Gov. Sarah Sanders said she wants to be known as the education governor as she looks to build on policy and legislation that’s impacted pre-K through high school education…

7 startups to participate in UA outdoor recreation incubator

The sixth cohort of Greenhouse Outdoor Recreation Program (GORP) includes companies focused on cycling, firearms, outdoor apparel and camping, the University of Arkansas announced Tuesday (Aug. 13). The 12-week incubator starts…

AMFA receives $450,000 from Windgate Foundation

The Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts (AMFA) announced Monday (Aug. 12) the receipt of a multi-year grant totaling $450,000 from the Windgate Foundation. The grant will significantly enhance the museum’s…

UAFS professor buys former Carnegie Library, KFSM building

Diana Sims on Wednesday (Aug. 7) was the top bidder with $149,000 in a public auction to buy the former KFSM-5 facility in downtown Fort Smith. She is not yet…

Fort Smith Board tables action on $4.2 million waterpark expansion, lease proposal

The Fort Smith Board of Directors on Tuesday (Aug. 6) tabled a vote on spending $4.2 million to expand the Parrot Island Waterpark, and tabled a vote on a waterpark…

Elisabeth Engel selected as director for the Arkansas State University Museum

Arkansas State University has selected Elisabeth Engel as the director of Arkansas State University Museum, said Dr. Will McLean, senior vice provost for Academic Affairs and Research on Monday (Aug….

Study: Visitors make up 49% of Bentonville restaurant sales

Ahead of restaurant week (Aug. 18-24), Visit Bentonville has released a study showing that visitors spent an average of $77 in a city restaurant in 2023, up from $73 in…

Waterpark lease, $4.2 million for slides on Fort Smith Board agenda

The Fort Smith Board of Directors will not only once again take up the subject of new slides at Parrot Island Waterpark, but is expected to consider a lease proposal…

Opponents petition court to block anti-casino amendment

Opponents of a citizen-led proposed constitutional amendment that would revoke the Pope County casino license said Aug. 1 that they are petitioning the Arkansas Supreme Court to have the measure…

Sebastian County Judge proposes Fort Smith lease the Parrot Island Waterpark

Sebastian County has suggested they lease Parrot Island Waterpark to the City of Fort Smith for $1 a year. The facility is now jointly owned by the two governments, with…