ada

Pine Bluff Regional Park in Pine Bluff, Arkansas

5+ Outdoor Things to Do in Pine Bluff

July 17, 2024

Incorporated in 1839, Pine Bluff is a unique place to visit. Located along the Arkansas River, the city used to thrive as a cotton center and river port. Its unique geography places the city along the boundary line of the West Gulf Coastal Plain and the Delta. The area contains much history, as it has seen the removal of Native Indians during the Trail of Tears, the October 1863 Attack on Pine Bluff, plays a role in music history, and has a heritage in Civil Rights.

Pine Bluff is a great place for outdoor enthusiasts to explore nature and enjoy outdoor activities. The city is host to nineteen parks and a plethora of rivers and lakes! The Delta Family Adventure Trail in Pine Bluff encompasses the city’s many experiences inside and outdoors. Check out just a few of the family (and adult) friendly things to do outdoors in Pine Bluff in the list below. All things listed below are free, so be sure to eat and shop in Pine Bluff to show your appreciation and support for providing these activities to the public.

AGFC Nature Center

The Governor Mike Huckabee Delta Rivers Nature Center is a great place to learn about the Delta’s heritage and the wildlife and ecology that make up the Delta. The center offers visitors a 22,000-gallon aquarium, native reptiles and American alligators in two ponds, and native birds of prey in an outdoor exhibit.

The center offers 130 acres of forest and is surrounded by a bayou and lake. With over two miles of hiking trails, there is plenty of wildlife to encounter. The main trail, Discovery Loop, is a short half-mile paved and ADA accessible trail. Whitetail Trail is a shorter trail that is also paved. The other trails are primitive and not paved.

In addition to nature, the center also offers a 3D Archery Range that gives visitors the opportunity to practice shooting from different distances. There are 20 targets in different sizes of game.

Please be aware that Delta Rivers Nature Center is not pet friendly. Picking flowers and plants is also not allowed.

Murals of Downtown Pine Bluff

Just driving around Pine Bluff’s downtown area will attract your attention to the large wall murals on many of the downtown buildings. The mural tour can easily be explored on foot as it is a short distance between the murals. The murals depict different aspects of the area’s history over the past 200 years. While they are all uniquely curated, some are more educational in content.

Along the tour, you will find an entertainment park with plenty of tables and shade for resting or a picnic. Also, while walking the downtown streets viewing murals on the tour, be sure to stop by the Pine Bluff Veterans Memorial for another large mural spanning the side of a building.

Bayou Bartholomew

Flowing roughly 364 miles, Bayou Bartholomew is the longest bayou in the world. Beginning in Pine Bluff, the bayou joins the Ouachita River in Louisiana. It is the second most diverse stream in North America as it contains over 117 documented species of fish. Lined with tupelo and cypress swamps, the bayou is home to an entire ecosystem of nature and wildlife. Turtles and alligators are known to make their home in the bayou.

The bayou is the perfect place for fishing, canoeing, or kayaking. For an ultimate lazy river experience, launch your kayak at the Dr. Curtis Merrill Access.

Bayou Bartholomew is a parent stream of Byrd Lake, an Arkansas Natural Area that represents the boundary between the Coastal Plain and Mississippi Plain. Byrd Lake Nature Trail offers an easy and ADA accessible hiking trail loops visitors through a bottomland mixed pine-hardwood forest. An overlook of the lake and viewing benches are available on the trail. This trail is located off Main Street. More information on its location can be found here.

Saracen Landing All-Inclusive Playground

If you are visiting Pine Bluff with your family or children, the Saracen Landing All-Inclusive Playground is a good place to bring the kids to play and run off some energy. This playground was thoughtfully designed to provide a safe place for kids of all abilities to play alone and/or with other kids. The park’s equipment is mostly sensory.

See, feel, discover and play together!
Pine Bluff Parks & Recreatonal Department

Harbor Oaks Golf Club and Restaurant

Located at Pine Bluff’s Regional Park, the Harbor Oaks Golf Club reopened last year. Voted one of the top 10 public golf courses in the state of Arkansas, there is also an award-winning restaurant and conference center on site. Offering its guests an 18-hole golf course, Harbor Oaks is a challenging par 72. Facilities also include a chipping and putting green, practice bunker, and 25 hitting stations on the practice range.

The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff has a partnership with Harbor Oaks that allows the U of A golf team to host all home and dual tournaments at the Harbor Oaks Golf Course.

For more information on things to do and what Pine Bluff offers, make a stop at their Visitor’s Center (623 S. Main Street). Located in a historical building, it is a great place to learn about Pine Bluff’s history, as well.

What is your favorite outdoor activity?

Herman Davis Memorial State Park in Manila, Arkansas

Herman Davis: Arkansas’s Most Decorated WWI Hero

June 26, 2024

The state’s most decorated World War I hero resides in Manila, Arkansas. Private Herman Davis is known for independently taking out a German gun nest (~31 Germans) one by one, saving his company from their open fire. Receiving three medals for this act of bravery, he was listed as 4^th out of 100 on General John J. Pershing’s list of the greatest heroes of World War I.

An out-of-the-way trip for us to visit the Herman Davis Memorial State Park was a neat experience. Manila might be a small town, but it offers a great deal of attractions for a variety of people. The highlight of our trip was learning about Manila’s war hero and his interestingly humble character at the state park.

If you have a chance to visit Manila, do not miss out on their other attractions! You will learn so much about Herman Davis and enjoy the museum. The town is easy to navigate and downtown is fun with their military themed street names.

Manila

Big Lake Island was founded in 1852. In the late 1860s, John Needham established a herdsman camp in this area of the Arkansas Delta region. A community developed in the area thirty years later. In 1901, the community incorporated themselves as a city. The name “Manila” was chosen to honor Commodore George Dewey and his victory in the 1898 Battle of Manila Bay in the Philippines during the Spanish-American War.

The railroad in the surrounding areas extended a rail line to the city soon after. In 1910, the railroad constructed the Manila Depot, which now serves as a museum and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In 1925, the city established a memorial for Herman Davis and his heroism during World War I.

A total area of 3.8 square miles, Manila is just south of the Arkansas-Missouri state line. Even with less than a population of 4,000 people, this little town boasts a museum, state park, war memorial, national wildlife refuge, water park, municipal airport, and a country club. The town honors its military connections by naming their downtown streets after battleships in the Battle of Manila. Manila is also known for forming the state’s first Boy Scout troop. However, one of its main attractions is Herman Davis Memorial State Park.

Herman Davis

Growing up in a large wildlife and hunting area, Herman Davis learned to hunt at an early age. His family supplemented their income with farming, fishing, and hunting. After the fourth grade, he quit school to help support his family. Supposedly in his teens, Davis became a hunting guide. Killing almost 400 ducks a day, they were sold and shipped to northern markets.

In 1918, Davis was drafted into the United States Army during World War I. Being 5’3” and having a small frame, he was quick on his feet. As a result, he was assigned as a scout and a runner. Due to his marksmanship while hunting as a child, he also became a sharpshooter in the military. After 90 days of training, he was sent to France to fight in the war.

Being a scout, Davis was required to go out ahead of his company. On one patrol near Verdum, his platoon encountered shots from a German machine gun. Davis crawled on the ground to within fifty yards of the machine gun and killed four German gunners. Another time was when Davis killed five German soldiers as they were trying to set up a machine gun.

Davis’s most notable act of bravery was when a different German machine gun opened fire on the American forces. Davis and another scout climbed the ridge to spot the German gun nest. Leaving the other scout behind, Davis crawled on his belly through the brush to about 50 yards away from the gun. He took aim on the gunner and then took out each German one at a time. He independently killed 15 gunners in the machine gun nest and 11 German soldiers that were climbing out of a dugout. This act of bravery earned him three medals.

Honorably discharged in 1919, Herman Davis is Arkansas’ most decorated World War I hero. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross by the United States, and Croix de Guerre with Palm, Croix de Guerre with Gilt Star, and French Medaille Militaire by France.

Returning home to Manila, Davis began working at a hunting club. He was very humble and never told anyone about his acts of bravery in the military. As a scout, he encountered poison gas many times. Unfortunately, in 1922, his health took a decline. The exposure to poison gas caused him to develop tuberculosis. Members of the American Legion in Blytheville transported him to the Memphis Veteran’s Hospital for surgery. Sadly, Davis died during an operation in 1923. After four years of returning home, the poison gas had affected his lungs to the point of death.

“To raise funds to pay the debt from World War I, the Secretary of War asked General Pershing for the top 100 war stories. When the stories were published, Arkansans were suprised to find a small, quiet man on the list, Private Herman Davis of Manila, Arkansas.”
Herman Davis, Reluctant Hero

Upon his death, local groups began a collection to honor his memory and service. His mom chose Manila to honor his memory. In 1925, the town of Manila donated land for the memorial. They moved his body there to be interred at the monument’s base. A granite monument was erected and a life-size marble statue that was made in Italy stands on top of the monument. In 1995, the monument was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Did you know any of this about Private Herman Davis, World War I, or Manila?

Mary Ann Richter Overlook at Petit Jean State Park in Morrilton, Arkansas

Arkansas’s Most Popular (And First) State Park: Petit Jean State Park

June 12, 2024

My mom has always wanted to visit Petit Jean State Park. In all our adventures when I was a little girl, I am surprised my family had never visited. So, one day we just randomly decided to take off for Petit Jean the next morning!

Honestly, I do not understand why Petit Jean is such a popular tourist attraction. I understand that there are amazing scenic views, waterfalls, the geology is unique, and the mountain has much history. But I feel like everywhere has beauty, history, uniqueness, and can be a waterfall with the right runoff. Regardless, I did really enjoy our visit and learning about its history. It is a place that we intend to go back and visit again (and probably again). So, my lack of understanding its popularity is not going to keep us away from such a beautiful and bountiful state park.

What Makes Petit Jean State Park So Popular (Things to Do)

As Arkansas’s first state park, Petit Jean embodies everything that anyone could hope for in a state park. With less than 3,000 acres, there is plenty of history, hiking, lake activities, lodging, a restaurant, outdoor activities, scenic views, and more that entice people from all over the nation to visit. When Cedar Falls is flowing well, tourism peaks to see its beauty. Natural bridges, creeks, and unique rock formations can be found along the hiking trails.

The most renowned of all the waterfalls at this state park is Cedar Falls, which is on the front of most publications. Cascading 95-feet down over a rocky cliff, this waterfall is one of the most photographed in the state! If you are an experienced hiker, the trail down to the bottom of the falls is quite a rocky experience. For us lazy (or handicapped) people, there is a scenic overlook that consists of a long barrier free boardwalk that leads to an open viewing area. You can even hike down to the falls from this point, as well.

Unique geology and rock formations can be found along trails like Seven Hollows. If you are interested in pictographs, be sure to venture down the Rock House Cave Trail. For a short, easy hike through gigantic sandstone boulders, journey along Bear Cave Trail. On your way to Cedar Falls, take the long route on Cedar Creek Canyon Trail to see more falls and deep pools. Cedar Creek Trail is located above Cedar Falls and will guide you around the top of the waterfall. To see all the park’s nature and wildlife, you will have to be an experienced hiker to trek along the 12-mile Winthrop P. Rockefeller Boy Scout Trail. For a trail that connects park amenities with overlooks, grab a bike or hike the CCC Hike & Bike Trail.

YMCA College Lodge rock ruins at Stout's Point Overlook at Petit Jean State Park in Morrilton, Arkansas

Petit Jean Mountain rises 1,120 feet above the Arkansas River Valley. While no vantage point is any better than the other, the park does have many overlooks that provide a grand view over the valley. Stout’s Point is one of my favorites, as it provides the history of Petit Jean, her gravesite, a fantastic view of the Arkansas River and portion of the Trail of Tears route and has an old YMCA building at this site. A barrier free walkway guides you along the top of the overlook. However, the camp building and Petit Jean’s gravesite must be walked to on rocky ground. While there are other vantage points, the Mary Ann Richter Overlook is a great place to stop at to see Mount Nebo and Mount Magazine. Lastly, the Cedar Falls Overlook provides a barrier free walkway to see the famous Cedar Falls waterfall.

The state park has quite a bit of amenities for people to enjoy. They offer lodging in cabins, Mather Lodge, campsites, and yurts. Mather Lodge holds a lot of history, being the only lodge built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the entire state. Built of native log and stone, the Lodge sits on the bluffs overlooking Cedar Creek Canyon. The restaurant provides the perfect setting to enjoy the 1930s lodge and canyon views.

In addition to hiking, Petit Jean State Park is host to an airport, amphitheater, swimming pools, basketball and tennis court, playgrounds, and more! A boat launch ramp provides access to a lake where you can fish, kayak, and more.

Furthermore, the park is a certified Trail of Tears National Historic Trail Site. In the 1830s, Cherokee Indians and Southeastern tribes experienced a forced migration to Oklahoma along the Arkansas River. The Trail of Tears route included both land and river routes. River routes were often faster and the Arkansas River played an instrumental role in the Indian removal.

How Petit Jean Mountain Got Its Name

Petit Jean Mountain was named after Adrienne Dumont, a young 18th century French woman, who did not like being told no. When her fiancé, Chavet, set off to explore the Louisiana Territory in the New World, she decided to find a way to join him on his voyage. So, she cut her hair and disguised herself as a boy in order to find passage on his ship. The voyage was long and hard, and she was lucky to have survived being a lowly cabin boy. When they neared the mountain, the woman became gravely ill. In her helpless state, it was discovered that she was actually a woman. Her dying wish was to be buried high upon the mountain overlooking the river. Set to marry Adrienne when he returned from the New Worl,d Chavet’s love for her remains today in her burial site on the mountain top and in the naming of the mountain. She was buried under her name on the ship – Petit Jean (Little John).

However, there is much debate on this story being true or not. The preserved burial site is even debatable becuase no one knows anything about where she was actually buried or if she was even buried on top of the mountain. It was just a mound of dirt that we suppose is the site and has since been preserved. But the story is romantic in nature and it is nice to think that it is a true story.

Other theories about the mountain’s name include being named after a local hunter/trapper named Little John that was killed by the Osage Indians in 1732. Another theory on the name comes from the 19th century name for Petit Jean River – Petit Juane. So, whichever story you believe is entirely up to you!

Becoming An Arkansas State Park

Evidence suggests that Native American Indians inhabited the mountain 1,000 years ago. There is also evidence of 100 documented archeological sites and the largest rock art collection in the state. In the 1840s, the first permanent white settlers moved to the area. In 1891, a large mansion was built on the mountain overlooking the Arkansas River and was later converted into Hotel Petit Jean. The property was sold in the 1920s and donated to the Young Men’s Christian Academy. They built several more buildings, in which the rock ruins of the College Lodge can be seen at Stout’s Point Overlook.

In 1906, Dr. Thomas William Hardison explored the rugged area of Petit Jean Mountain and fell in love with its beauty. Pursuing making the mountain a national park, it was declined in 1921 because the land was too small and not unique enough in the United States to be a national park. It was suggested that the proposal be sent to the state to be declared a state park. So, in 1923, the state legislature passed Act 276, which recognized donated lands reserved to be a part of a park and designating Petit Jean as Arkansas’s first state park. In 1927, Act 172 created the Arkansas State Parks Commission and gave them the authority to acquire and oversee land to be reserved as a state park.

Beginning in 1933, the Civilian Conservation Corps began constructing facilities like roads, trails, dams, cabins, and Mather Lodge on Petit Jean Mountain. Much of the park’s infrastructure is due to the CCC, as they built most of the park’s significant buildings. The Lodge, administration building, water treatment building, field chimney, and cabins are an example of their work. Roads were constructed to connect overlooks and trails, giving visitors access to more amenities. Trails were constructed for public use and enjoyment through the mountain’s natural beauty. With less than 3,000 acres, Petit Jean offered plenty to see and do and the CCC made sure the public could enjoy all that could be offered. As a result of their efforts, 26 properties are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Today, there is ample camping, hiking, and things to do that makes visiting more than just a day trip.

Nearby Attractions

Just down the road from the campsite is the Museum of Automobiles and the petting zoo Barnyard Friends & Stables. Nearby, in the greater area, is Lake Dardanelle State Park and Mount Nebo State Park. Further away is Mount Magazine State Park and the highest point in the state.

Where is your favorite place to visit or hike at Petit Jean State Park?

Statue of Liberty War Memorial

June 5, 2024

Quite a while back, I saw a post on social media about all the Statue of Liberty replicas that were in Arkansas. I was completely fascinated and immediately saved the post for future reference. So, when mom and I made the trip to visit Crowley’s Ridge State Park and explore that area of the state, I jumped on the opportunity to see one of the replicas. Afterall, they were both in Paragould, so surely it would not be too out of our way.

I may or may not have been right about the replica not being too much distance to add to our itinerary, but it was definitely worth the trip! Crowley’s Ridge and the memorial are only about 25-30 minutes apart and really easy to find. Unfortunately, I forgot that there were two replicas in Paragould. So, we only stopped at this one, which made me entirely forget that other replicas exist in the state.

Traveling to the Statue of Liberty Memorial is really easy. Depending on where you are coming from, you should not have any trouble locating the site. If you know the area, then you can head straight to the Courthouse to experience the memorial. If you are like us and have never travelled to Paragould, just plug 320 W Court Street in your GPS and it will take you to the Courthouse without any problems. The Memorial is located at the corner of West Court and North Third Street, so it will be on a corner of the plot, which you will easily see from the road when you approach the location.

Located on the Greene County Courthouse grounds, the site was impeccably constructed. Seemingly in an odd place, it is understandable why Greene County residents chose the Courthouse grounds for their grand gesture to appreciate the county’s military residents. What was once a booming area of the city, the old downtown is just that – old. Paragould now thrives in other areas, where clusters of shopping and eateries have accumulated in a mix of both historic and modern architecture.

The Statue of Liberty War Memorial

Paragould is host to the county courthouse, in which the oldest replica of the Statue of Liberty in Arkansas resides. This war memorial even has the honor of being the oldest Statue of Liberty outside of the original lady in New York.

American Legion records 40 of the 476 Greene County military enlistees died while serving in World War I. The county residents wanted a way to honor and appreciate these men, as well as all those that served in the county. So, the public gathered together to decide on a memorial. A replica of the Statue of Liberty was chosen as the memorial’s centerpiece. Since a doughboy-style design had already been used in the Craighead County memorial located in Jonesboro, an entirely different design was curated by the neighboring Greene County.

In the early 1920s, Greene County residents raised $2,000 to create a respectable monument as a way to honor the county’s men who served and died in World War I. On November 11, 1924, the statue was lifted, and the memorial unveiled. Over 5,000 people were said to be in attendance for the event, which included a whole day of festivities, starting with a grand parade, community lunch hosted by the American Legion and United Daughters of the Confederacy, and more in honor of the memorial. Businesses closed for the day and the city was decorated for the event. The memorial was a proud gesture for the entire county to relish.

“This memorial is an outstanding page in the history of Greene County and an honor to those who gave their lives on foreign soil and a reminder to the gold star mothers and fathers that their sons died for a worthy cause,” serving “to keep the spirit before the children of the present and future generations and to do honor [to] those who made the supreme sacrifice.”
Speaker Harry L. Ponder, a former state senator

After World War II, two wings were added to the marble base of the memorial. One wing listed the names of casualties of the Great War and the other wing listed the seventy-eight county residents that served and died in World War II. On the backside of the wing are the names of other war casualties – 2 Korean War and 12 Vietnam.

Standing 7-foot tall, this bronze statue is one of four replicas in the state. She sits on a 6-foot marble base, making this a very impressive display and unique way to honor veterans. The memorial is known to be the only World War I sculptural memorial in Arkansas that is not the typical doughboy statue.

Located in a corner of the Greene County Courthouse lot, the little memorial park serves as a monument to World War I and World War II veterans. The creation of the park was very beautifully curated with adorned flower beds, appropriate lighting, sitting areas, and an amazingly constructed memorial to our war veterans.

Both the memorial and Greene County Courthouse are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Greene County Museum of Paragould Arkansas

While you are in Paragould, do not be like us and forget to stop by the Greene County Museum to see the second Statue of Liberty replica. This replica is just a statue located on the front lawn of the museum. While she is a very lovely replica, she does not hold the same value and grandeur as the War Memorial lady.

Located in the former home of Governor J. Marion Futrell, the museum opened in 2008 to the public. They are open on Friday and Saturday for a few hours, so be sure to get their information before making a trip to the museum. Filled with all kinds of history, the most interesting is their display of an 800-pound meteorite that landed in Paragould on February 17, 1930. This year is the 94^th anniversary of its crash landing.

While you are in the area, don’t forget to spend some time at Crowley’s Ridge State Park and Lake Frierson State Park.

Have you visited either of the Statue of Liberty replicas in Paragould? Tell us about it!