The Small Town In Arkansas That's One Of The Coolest In The U.S.
By J.B. VanDyke|Published May 03, 2017
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J.B. VanDyke
Author
J.B. Weisenfels has lived in rural Arkansas for three decades. She is a writer, a mom, and a graduate student. She is also an avid collector of tacky fish whatnots, slightly chipped teapots, and other old things. In her spare time she enjoys driving to the nearest creek to sit a while. If you were to visit her, she'd try to feed you cornbread.
When I say the tiny town of Mammoth Spring is cool, I mean both literally and figuratively. The unique combination of history, natural beauty, and good old fashioned small town charm make Mammoth Spring pretty neat, and the massive natural spring for which the town is named stays hovers near 58 degrees year round, making it a cool place to hang out no matter how warm it is outside. This little town has a population of less than 1,000, which just makes it an even more attractive destination for a lovely day trip.
Mammoth Spring is located in the scenic Ozarks of north central Arkansas, just a little ways from our border with Missouri. To find directions, click here.
Just like other historic towns, Mammoth Spring has a downtown area that fills locals with pride and visitors with a sense of whimsy and nostalgia.
On top of being super cute, Mammoth Spring also holds the designation of being super old. It was incorporated in 1889 and became an important stop on the railroad.
The significance of the railroad to the history and development of Mammoth Spring is preserved in the restored Frisco depot that serves as the visitor center of the state park based around the natural spring from which the town gets its name.
The electricity, which assisted in the industrialization of the area, was thanks to the extreme volume of water that flows from Mammoth Spring. Mammoth Spring is a first magnitude spring, which means it’s just about as big as a spring can get. Over 9 million gallons of water flow from that spring every hour.
The Spring River flows from Mammoth Spring, and it is home to some of the best trout fishing in the Natural State. But if you’re looking for a place to take the kids where you don’t have to bait a hook to see trout, you should consider visiting the Mammoth Spring National Fish Hatchery.
With outdoor recreation opportunities, historical significance, and just so much charm, Mammoth Spring has to be one of the coolest tiny towns anywhere.
