Posted in Arkansas
January 03, 2017
12 Small Towns In Rural Arkansas That Are Downright Delightful
Raise your hand if you live in a small town in rural Arkansas. I do, so just imagine me raising my hand right now. I love my town, I love rural Arkansas and truth be told, all of my favorite places in the Natural State are in or near small towns. Below you’ll find a dozen small towns located in rural areas that are absolutely delightful. From natural wonders to adorable downtown areas to historic places, these twelve towns are rural wonders that simply must be enjoyed.
We’re aware that these uncertain times are limiting many aspects of life as we all practice social and physical distancing. While we’re continuing to feature destinations that make our state wonderful, we don’t expect or encourage you to go check them out immediately. We believe that supporting local attractions is important now more than ever and we hope our articles inspire your future adventures! And on that note, please nominate your favorite local business that could use some love right now: https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/nominate/
The small town of Wilson is located in the delta region, and it’s absolutely adorable. One of the things that makes it so charming is that there’s a cafe there called the Wilson Cafe and most of the veggies for the cafe come from nearby Wilson Gardens. In short, everything in Wilson is coming up Wilson and you need to check it out.
JB Weisenfels
Set in the gorgeous Boston Mountains, the town of Mountainburg is adorable and set amid some of the most stunning nature in the Natural State. In addition to being a haven for nature lovers, Mountainburg’s city park has huge dinosaur statues. If that’s not delightful, I don’t know what is.
This town is the gateway to the Buffalo National River, and there’s a fantastic old restaurant there called the Ozark Café. If you’re not already impressed, it’s also located near Hawksbill Crag and the Arkansas Grand Canyon. In short, if you love to glory in natural spaces, you need to head to Jasper right away.
This historic town is located in a relatively untouched part of the Ozarks, making it one of the prettiest places in Arkansas. The community grew up around the largest natural spring in the Natural State, and you can still visit that spring at its very own state park located in the town of Mammoth Spring.
Mount Ida is the Quartz Crystal Capital of the World, and that’s just one reason you should visit. It is in the lovely Ouachita mountain range, and it’s a wonder you don’t want to miss. Amid its rural charm, you’ll find plenty of mines where you can dig for quartz. If you aren’t into digging, you can find a place to buy a lovely quartz crystal instead.
Mena is the –mena in the Talimena National Scenic Byway, and this little Ouachita mountain town is the perfect place to take in some scenic beauty. It isn’t all Ouachita National Forest and Ouachita mountain beauty, this historic town comes with its own arts district and enough ATV trails to make this town a hub for four-wheeler enthusiasts.
This north-central Arkansas town has a population of around 1,300, but that’s not including all the flippin’ awesome waterways nearby. From Bull Shoals Lake to the White River to the Buffalo National River, Flippin is near some of Arkansas’s most beloved waterways. That’s probably why Flippin is also home to Ranger Boats, a popular sporting brand.
This Delta town has had a hard row to hoe, but the town and its people have persevered through it all. From devastating floods to economic hardship, Dyess has made it through. You may also know it as the boyhood home of Johnny Cash, which, by the way, you can totally visit if you go there.
Piggott is in the northeastern corner of the state, and it’s a totally adorable little place. Perhaps that’s why the Hemingway-Pfeiffer Museum and Educational Center is such a popular destination for literary enthusiasts. Well, also because Ernest Hemingway wrote part of A Farewell to Arms there.
Prairie Grove is well-loved by the people who live there for its charm and beautiful scenery, but it’s also a popular place for Civil War enthusiasts. Prairie Grove State Military Park is a gorgeous place full of history, and it’s part of what makes Prairie Grove such a lovely place to visit.
Mountain View is the Folk Music Capital of the World, and you’ll learn all about that if you visit Ozark Folk Center State Park. This state park is devoted to the preservation of Ozarks culture. In addition to all that culture you’ll find natural wonders like Blanchard Springs Caverns and Mirror Lake, making this rural town a must see for all Arkansans.
The tiny town of Gurdon is located in southwestern Arkansas, and it’s a great place to go if you love a good unexplained phenomenon. The Gurdon spook light has been around a long time and was once featured on the TV show Unsolved Mysteries. Legend has it that the light hovers midair in the woods near the railroad tracks, but it’s probably best if you go on down to Gurdon and check it out for yourself.
For photographic evidence of why rural Arkansas is the absolute best, click here. To go on a road trip through the Natural State’s most scenic towns, try this one.
