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A wealth of adventures in Eureka Springs
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Eureka Springs is a "Top 25 Art Destination in the U.S."
As we learned in part one of this feature series, with accolades such as a “Top 5 Mountain Destination in the U.S.,” “One of America’s Top 6 Getaway Destinations,” “A Favorite Arkansas Weekend Destination” and “A Top 25 Arts Destination in the U.S.,” among others, Eureka Springs is a sure bet.
A true jewel in the Ozark Mountains, thisbeautiful little town of only 2,278 people originallydiscovered by the Native Americans, and later officially founded in 1879, has a lot to see and do.
One of the first things to enjoy about Eureka Springs is the stress-free driving due to the absence of streetlights. In fact, there are only two, four-way intersections in the entire town!
Leisurely cruising along the meandering roads and highways both residents and visitors alike take great pleasure in a number of significant and awe-inspiring attractions in the area.
Capturing “the rich history of the Ozark region from American Indian journeys and early settler life to prehistoric civilization,” the Blue Spring Heritage Center is an ancient sacred site for Native Americans who used to camp under the bluffs on the grounds.
An exquisite array of plants and flowers, more than a mile of walking trails, several themed gardens and over 38 million gallons of flowing, pristine spring water --all set on 33 acres of picturesque land--are only the beginning here.
Among the architectural marvels, I fell in love with the Thorncrown Chapel. Soaring 48 feet high and possessing over 6,000 square feet of glass and 425 windows, it was designed by world-renowned architect E. Fay Jones who drew his inspiration for it from Sainte Chappelle, Paris’ light filled Gothic chapel.
Reportedly ranked as the fourth most significant American architectural structures behind the Sears Tower, Empire State Building and Chrysler Building, the chapel is surrounded by verdant Ozark mountain forest and constructed with all organic materials including the native flagstone floor, except for the steel forming the diamond-shaped pattern in its wooden trusses. Thorncrown Chapel takes spiritual inspiration to an entirely new level.
More oneness and harmony with nature can be found at Quigley’s Castle. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Quigley’s Castle features a beautiful perennial garden of over 400 varieties of flowers, winding garden paths, secluded benches, a lily pond and birdbaths surrounding the home of its original owner, Elise Quigley.
Just down the road, you can’t miss the quirky and fun Celestial Windz Harmonic Bizaar—I mean literally can’t miss it, as it is the world’s largest tuned musical wind chime, measuring eight-feet tall by six-feet across and hangs from a 100-foot tall oak tree. An adjacent “museum” and funky, eclectic memorabilia surrounding the wind chime add to the odd fun here.
For a walk on the wild side visit the Promised Land Zoo, popular for its scenic four-mile drive-through and exciting exotic animal petting zoo with zebras, camels, deer ostriches, llamas and other animals that eat right out of your hand.
Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge is the world's largest sanctuary for big cats and serves to teach visitors about the plight of big cats such as tigers, lions, leopards, cougars and other big wild animals in the U.S. In addition to embarking upon guided tours of the animals’ natural habitats, you can also be a guest in a guest room, the secluded tree house or in the Safari Lodge.
Theatrical adventures in Eureka Springs encompass The Great Passion Play, Ozark Mountain Hoedown and Pine Mountain Theater. Named as “America's #1 Attended Outdoor Drama,” The Great Passion Play has been delighting audiences for over 35 years with the thrilling, epic drama surrounding Christ’s last days on earth, death and resurrection, in a stunning 4,100 seat panoramic outdoor amphitheater featuring a cast of hundreds.
Another popular attraction on the property is the Christ of the Ozarks Statue, a seven-story statue of Christ built entirely by hand (no poured segments were used) with 24 layers of white mortar on a steel frame, weighing over 2 million pounds and spanning 65-feet from fingertip-to-fingertip.
The Ozark Mountain Hoedown is a 2-1/2 hour country, comedy and Gospel show while pop, country and comedy musical theater including a tribute to Arkansas musicians is the focal point of performances at the Pine Mountain Theater.
Outdoor enthusiasts will thoroughly enjoy the wealth of recreational opportunities offered at the numerous waterways dotted around the area including Tablerock, Beaver and Leatherwood Lakes and the Kings and White Rivers, and at Lake Leatherwood Park, one of the largest city parks in the country.
Every year Eureka Springs hosts the annual Fat Tire Festival, a very popular mountain biking affair drawing over 1,000 participants and spectators from all over the country for a series of competitive and non-competitive cycling events.
Thousands of others arrive in town to marvel at the Onyx Cave Park, a living cave highlighted by spectacular underground formations, as well as Cosmic Caverns, one of America’s top ten must-see caves.
These are just a few of the many al fresco opportunities found in Eureka Springs.
Stay tuned for more about Eureka Springs, including where to shop, stay, wine and dine, get your spa groove on!
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