Tourism / Heritage

Ghan & Cooper open dog park in downtown Fort Smith

Fort Smith dogs have a new place to hang out and sniff and run when they accompany their owners to downtown Fort Smith thanks to a private park now planned…

Beatles at the Ridge slated for Saturday in Walnut Ridge

Beatles at the Ridge, one of Northeast Arkansas’ signature festivals is slated for Saturday (Sept. 21) in Walnut Ridge. Live music, food and vendors, children’s attractions, a car show, and…

Tyson Foods, Walmart land spots on the Razorback football field

For Hog fans in Arkansas yet unfamiliar with two of the state’s largest publicly-held companies, good news. The logos of Bentonville-based Walmart and Springdale-based Tyson Foods will be on the…

Fort Smith CVB asking for local photos to create mural

The Fort Smith Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) is renovating the new Fort Smith Visitors Center at 524 Garrison Ave., for an opening later this year and needs local photos…

Restaurant, bar open in Motto by Hilton in Bentonville

Charleston, S.C.-based Indigo Road Hospitality Group recently opened Japanese restaurant Junto and tropical Bar Kapu in the lobby of the new Motto by Hilton hotel in downtown Bentonville. The six-story…

Motorcycle group one of several to bring conference dollars to Fort Smith

The Fort Smith’s Convention and Visitors Bureau is focusing on the details to recruit large groups and their dollars to the city. Just four large groups on the books for…

Jonesboro awarded grant to study feasibility of children’s museum

The city of Jonesboro was awarded a $15,000 grant from the Arkansas Tourism Attraction Feasibility Study Matching Grant Program. The grant will be used to conduct a comprehensive feasibility study…

Fort Smith Board approves $4.2 million for waterpark slides; tables vote on lease plan

The Fort Smith Board of Directors on Tuesday (Sept. 3) voted four to three to spend $4.2 million to purchase a five-slide complex for the Parrot Island Waterpark that will…

Fayetteville to host Music Cities Convention in September 2025

Experience Fayetteville and Music Cities Events will host the 13th global edition of the Music Cities Convention in Fayetteville from Sept. 15-18, 2025. A schedule and support partners have yet to…

Main Street Fort Smith issues call for artist on downtown ‘art activation’

Main Street Fort Smith is working to bring a unique art activation to connect historic areas in downtown Fort Smith, but it needs the right artist to make it happen….

Reading retreat to be held at A-State Heritage Sites

A reading retreat is planned for this fall at two of the Arkansas State University Heritage Sites. The retreat will be held at The Historic Dyess Colony: Johnny Cash Boyhood…

Fort Smith Board moves forward with ‘Safe Streets’ grant

City Administrator Carl Geffken has been authorized by the Fort Smith Board of Directors to seek two federal grants to implement parts of a safety action plan designed to reduce…

XNA adds flights to Detroit, Salt Lake City

Northwest Arkansas National Airport (XNA) in Highfill recently added two new nonstop flights provided by Delta Air Lines. The new flights are to Detroit and Salt Lake City. The Detroit…

Changes made with planned ‘Dream’ hotel in Pinnacle Hills

The planned upscale 16-story hotel to be located in the Pinnacle Hills area of Rogers is still on track but will not have the associated entertainment venue. Parking became a…

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…

Bentley Story named director of industrial accounts at Entergy Arkansas

Conductor selects startups for 10x Growth Accelerator

AG Griffin announces $45 million settlement with Block, Inc.

J.B. Hunt Q2 earnings jump 40%, revenue up 19%