Eureka Springs, Arkansas

Also called the city that Water Built; Eureka Springs, Arkansas is a historic Victorian village, filled with old-world charm, timeless leisure and endless sightseeing tucked in the hills of Northwest Arkansas surrounded by miles of lakes and rivers. The entire town of Eureka Springs is on the National Register of Historic Places and is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Arkansas. Eureka Springs is known for well preserved Victorian architecture nestled in the picturesque hills of the Ozark Mountains in northwest Arkansas.

Visitors love to explore its romantic winding streets, vibrant nightlife, fabulous restaurants, relaxing spas and charming shops. This lovely town has over: 3,000 motel rooms, 125 bed and breakfasts, 100 specialty shops (most locally owned), 20 art galleries, 75 restaurants and not one stop light. It is the only city in North America where none of the streets meet at right angles.

People are still drawn to the healing power of this small community (population of 2500) tucked in the mountains, but relaxation has replaced the miracles found in the water. Eureka Springs renews your spirit and lets families and couples reconnect outside their normal hectic life.

History:

Several old Native American legends tell of a Great Healing Spring in the Eureka Springs' area. In 1856 Dr. Alvah Jackson located the spring and claimed that the waters of Basin Spring had cured his eye ailments. Dr. Jackson then established a hospital in a local cave during the Civil War and used the waters from Basin Spring to treat his patients. After the war Jackson marketed the spring waters as "Dr. Jackson's Eye Water".

The City of Eureka Springs was founded and named on July 4, 1879. As word of Eureka's miraculous, healing waters began to spread, thousands of visitors flocked to the original encampment of tents and hastily built shanties swelling the population to over 10,000. The economy of Eureka Springs developed around the springs. The springs brought in tourists as well as people with health afflictions with the result that hotels, saloons, bathhouses, dry goods stores, groceries and liveries soon sprang up.

Location:

Eureka Springs is located in the Ozark Mountains of northwest Arkansas. Eureka is about an hour's drive from the growing metropolitan area of Fayetteville, Springdale, Rogers, and Bentonville and the popular tourist destination of Branson, Missouri (considered the new music capital of America). The Eureka Springs area in Arkansas has two scenic rivers, three gorgeous lakes and a nice stretch of the Ozark Mountains in which to enjoy outdoor adventures.

Trolley:

The City of Eureka Springs operates public transportation called the trolley. Five color coded trolley routes run through the city. A central trolley depot is located downtown and lets you transfer trolleys so you can catch a trolley to any part of town. One or two day passes are offered so you can leave your car at your lodging facility and take the trolley during the day to see the town. With ever rising gas prices and limited downtown parking; this option is increasingly popular.

Weddings:

The appeal of Eureka Springs continues to grow as a wedding and honeymoon destination. The State of Arkansas does not require a waiting period or blood tests to get married. However, you must have an Arkansas Wedding License to be married anywhere in Eureka Springs. . More than 4,000 wedding licenses were issued from the local courthouse last year. Wedding chapels ranging from the romantic to the quirky are scattered through the town. Eureka also has its share of on-call ministers who will marry you just about any place in town that strikes your fancy provided you have your license. Weddings in Eureka Springs also make sense because it's the perfect spot for the honeymoon too.

Lodging:

From historic hotels, cozy cabins and private suites; Eureka Springs has more one-of-a-kind Bed & Breakfast's per capita of any town in the south. Eureka Springs offers welcoming and relaxing lodging for every traveler. Whether you prefer historic hotels, Bed & Breakfast's or cabins; there is a property that will fulfill your every need. Eureka has great romantic hideaways complete with fireplaces, decks and in room Jacuzzi's for two.

Spas:

Although mineral baths and massages are not new to Eureka Springs; new technology and skilled professionals have expanded on this wellness theme. Eureka offers many spas and diverse experiences from steam cabinets and saunas to massages. They all serve to relax and rejuvenate both your body and mind.

Attractions:

With over 30 attractions open almost every day of the week, it is quite possible you will find Eureka Springs to be your favorite vacation destination. Besides the excellent variety of restaurants and shops, there are many Eureka Springs attractions that bring people to this town for either a family vacation or a short get away. Here is a list of just a few:

St. Elizabeth Catholic Church is the only church which you enter through the bell tower and has been featured by "Ripley's Believe It or Not" because of this unusual feature.

Thorncrown Chapel is just a few minutes outside the city limits. This magnificent structure contains 425 windows and over 6,000 square feet of glass giving the feel of an outdoor wedding and is one of the most popular location for weddings in Arkansas,

Christ of the Ozarks statue stands over 67 feet tall and overlooks the scenic Ozark Mountains. Visitors from all over the world enjoy The Great Passion Play, New Holy Land Tour and Museums at this location.

Blue Spring Heritage Center captures the rich history of the Ozark region, from American Indian journeys and early settler life to prehistoric civilization.

Opera in the Ozarks has magnificence performances from rising young national talent held in June/July each summer.

Turpentine Creek is home of rescued tigers, lions, cougars, bobcats, bears. The kids love to see all these big cats in one place.

Pine Mountain Jamboree was the first nightly family theater show of its kind in Arkansas and remains one of the Ozarks top family attractions.

Ozark Mountain Hoedown has a long tradition of providing not only the hottest pickers in the Eureka Springs area, but also the kind of comedy that will have you repeating the punch lines for days.

Beaver Lake just 10 miles from Eureka Springs is prized by scuba divers who love to explore the clear water and submerged town. Fishing is great all year long.

Shopping:

Eureka Springs is home to hundreds of unique shops and galleries, many featuring one-of-a-kind items created by local artisans and craftsmen. Since the early 19th century, the town has been a destination for artists and today is home to over 200 working artists and more than 20 art galleries. Most art galleries in the downtown area are open all year, offering the works of both local and national artists such as Susan Morrison.

Restaurants:

There are also many unique restaurants offering everything from Caribbean cuisine to authentic Mexican, German and local fare. There are very few national chains in Eureka Springs.

Each year the Arkansas Times Newspaper conducts a Readers Choice contest to recognize the best restaurants in the state of Arkansas. The contest divides the winners based on whether the restaurant is located in Little Rock or elsewhere in the state. Once again 11 local restaurants in Eureka Springs won top honors or runner up for the entire state excluding Little Rock.

Festivals:

Eureka Springs is the home to a large number of unique events held all year long. Here is a list of just a few of the major festivals:

The Auditorium on Main Street is where many major shows and events are held each year and has hosted such talent as Willie Nelson, Ray Charles, and Bill Cosby.

There are special weekend area events devoted solely to car shows such as: Corvettes, Mustangs, Volkswagens, BMWs, Harley Davidson, Triumph, etc. through the year.

Four yearly gay and lesbian events called Diversity Weekends are held each year.

May Festival of Fine Arts is held each May with featured events taking place each weekend all month long.

Blues Festival is a unique celebration of blues all around town and is featured after Memorial weekend each year.

Annual Native American Pow-Wow weekend celebration, includes craft booths, dancing, Color Guard, drumming, artists, wildlife exhibits, and other activities.

Ozark Mountain Gospel Festival features special guests and gospel groups in early September.

Ozark Mountain Folk Festival begins with a queen's contest and continues through Sunday with musical performances in town.

To Summarize:

Eureka Springs, Arkansas is a destination for all seasons and a great vacation choice for both families and couples. Eureka Springs was named one of 12 DISTINCTIVE DESTINATIONS by the National Trust for Historic Preservation in 2001. The City considers this a great honor and strives to restore and preserve its history and character. Eureka Springs, Arkansas is nestled in the heart of the Ozarks and is a unique destination offering plenty of entertainment, fantastic lodging and wonderful shopping for everyone. Eureka Springs feeds the soul. Eureka Springs offers a slower pace of life allowing families and couples to reconnect with each other. Plan your next trip soon; we will be waiting.