Elevated Living
A Round-up Of Mountain Town Magic In The Natural State
By Stacy Bowers
Photography Courtesy of Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism
Gaston's White River Resort
When you hear the words “mountain town,” it’s easy to get lost in thoughts of snowy peaks, winding curves and sleepy town squares. In Arkansas, mountain towns have a personality all their own. What we lack in snow-capped cliffs, we make up for in surprises, be they bluegrass jam sessions, hidden breweries or spooky art installations. Mountain towns are Arkansas’s best-kept secrets.
MOUNTAIN VIEW Mountain View is arguably the epicenter of bluegrass in The Natural State, boasting regular Friday and Saturday night free concerts at its incredibly quaint town square. It’s, where you’ll find great crafts and antiques at local boutiques, Mountain View Music if you want to take a little of the Ozark sound home with you, and kitschy diners like PJ’s Rainbow Cafe, which has been a staple of the square since the 1930s. Take advantage of all the outdoor activities Mountain View has to offer, like North Sylamore Creek Trail for waterfall hiking; Syllamo Mountain Bike Trail, with over 50 miles of novice-to-advanced cycling trails; Blanchard Springs Caverns and its winding cave system glowing with spotlit stalactites and stalagmites; Gunner Pool Recreation Area, with access to great campsites and spectacular swimming holes; and, if you’d rather enjoy the outdoors from a comfortable seat, dinner on the deck at Gaston’s White River Resort offers stunning views of the White River, which is eerily beautiful when an evening mist rolls in.
DON’T MISS: The Mountain View Bluegrass Festival, Nov. 7-9. Get your tickets at mountainview-bluegrass.com. Fall foliage typically peaks in late October to early November.
CALICO ROCK Just 30 minutes north of Mountain View, the little town of Calico Rock is a hidden gem dotted with unconventional — and sometimes macabre — surprises. The downtown is small but packed with great finds, like the Calico Rock Museum and Visitor Center, which houses a collection of artifacts from the prehistoric era to the 1960s, an artisan gift shop, and Cooper’s Antiques and Collectibles if you want a piece of history as a souvenir. Take a walk a block behind Main into Peppersauce Alley to take your photo inside the little brick City Jail, then turn left on Walnut Street, and you’ll find the Jennings Mortuary, a lurid abandoned building-turned-art installation of grim humor advertising “YOU STAB ’EM, WE SLAB ’EM.” Finish your tour of downtown Calico Rock with a stop at Juniper’s Back Door, a speakeasy-esque bar with live music.
DON’T MISS: Living Windows on Main Street, Dec. 14. When the sun sets, see the storefront windows of Main Street light up with immersive holiday displays where costumed performers act out scenes.
Calico Rock
Did you know?
Calico Rock derives its name from the distinctively patterned bluffs by the White River, whose natural colors mirror those of calico cloth.
LESLIE
About halfway between Jonesboro and Fayetteville, Leslie is the must-stop small town you’ve probably never heard of. Homesteaded initially by pioneers migrating westward from the Appalachians, Leslie was first surveyed by Herbert Hoover in the late 19th century and boasts less than 500 residents today. Anyone who knows the town sings the praises of the Skylark Cafe, which is locally famous for its desserts and healthy lunch offerings. Leslie is a foodie hotspot, boasting one of the best bakeries in the state, Serenity Farm Bread, and a farm-to-table hidden breakfast gem, Crooked Gate Farm and Cafe. Leslie’s artisan heart extends beyond the kitchen, with unique shops that sell Arkansas-made goods and feature local artists: Brick House Artisans, Oak and Main Used Books and More, Ozark Heritage Center and Museum, and The Little Hill Shop. Mountain towns are some of the best places to antique, and Leslie delivers with Leslie Antique Mall and an enthralling antique store downtown called Antiques And.
DON’T MISS: The fall foliage typically peaks in mid-to-late October. Traverse Stem Rock Trail, an easy 1.4-mile in-and-out trail that is good for all levels and offers epic vistas.
Skylark Cafe, Leslie
WINSLOW
In Washington County, near the Oklahoma border, you can get an unbeatable view of the changing leaves in the Boston Mountains by taking the leisurely roundtrip Winslow-to-Van Buren passenger train with the Arkansas & Missouri Railroad. Opt for the 1940s-style cars with glass dome roofs and enjoy the mountainside from a different perspective. When the train returns to the station, use Winslow as your home base to explore the scenery. Take your bike to Fossil Flats Trail or pitch a tent at White Rock Mountain Recreation Area and Campground.
DON’T MISS: The year-round Winslow Farmers Market is held every Saturday at the Winslow Depot. Fall foliage typically peaks in late October to early November.
White Rock Mountain, Winslow
Did you know?
Known for being the highest railroad pass on the St. Louis–San Francisco Railway between the Rocky and Appalachian Mountains, Winslow’s elevation made it a sought-after summer getaway for years.
NORFORK A short drive northwest of Calico Rock, you’ll discover Norfork, where your tastebuds will thank you. Much of mountain town Arkansas is dry county territory, but things get wet in Baxter County, where Norfork and one of the Ozarks’ only breweries are located. Visit the taproom at Norfork Brewing Company and order a flight of Ozarks-themed brews, then grab a six-pack before you venture into another dry county. Don’t miss the Jacob Wolf House, built in 1829 as Izard County’s first courthouse. Now a museum, visitors can explore its history and role as a Trail of Tears Interpretive Center.
DON’T MISS: Fishing for gargantuan trout year-round. Norfork, situated at the convergence of the North Fork and White rivers, held the world record for brown trout for many years and is home to the Norfork National Fish Hatchery. Fall foliage typically peaks in late September to early October.
