August 25, 2021 – Eureka Aprings, AR

We continued our I40 trek eastward to the Ozark community of Eureka Springs, Arkansas, passing through Fort Smith, Fayetteville and Bentonville, home to WalMart. We visited the area in 2019 while in Branson, MO. We liked this area more than the commercialization of Branson and wanted to make it a stop on this year’s trip. “Secluded and peaceful with winding mountainside streets, Eureka Springs has flair like no other town. In fact, the National Trust for Historic Preservation named Eureka Springs as one of its “Dozen Distinctive Destinations.” The streets of this north Arkansas town are lined with extraordinary Victorian homes hugging cliff sides, and its entire downtown area is on the National Register of Historic Places.” Parking can be tough however the town has a trolly that can take you to most destinations.

Photos of our Eureka Springs stay are below.

Thursday was “catch-up day” to get some of our admin and chores caught up. We also took a drive to Thorncastle Chapel. We visited this chapel two years ago and found it a peaceful stop. Their website states, “Thorncrown Chapel was designed by world renowned architect E. Fay Jones. Fay was born in Pine Bluff, Arkansas in 1921. He studied at the University of Arkansas, Rice University, the University of Oklahoma, and finally under his mentor Frank Lloyd Wright at the Taliesin Fellowship.” 

We decided to cancel our Memphis stop and extend our stay in Eureka Springs due to Hurricane Ida’s effects on our route.

Friday saw us on the Eureka Springs Tram Tours. The tour passes literally 100’s of old homes and historic buildings, as well as several of the healing springs that made Eureka Springs so famous in the late 1800’s. We ate lunch at one of our favorite restaurants, Mud Street Cafe, an underground spot on Main St.

Friday evening we went to the Intrigue Theatre to see illusionist  Sean-Paul and Juliana Fay perform their  show, “Perplexed.” The show was fun and the illusionist interacted with the audience with every effect. This made the evening very enjoyable.

On Saturday, we took the tram into the downtown area of Eureka Springs and walked through many of the local businesses and enjoyed a pleasant outdoor lunch at the Eureka Grill.

Monday, our last day in the area, we decided to take a self-tour around the area visiting Pivot Rock and Natural Bridgeand Magnetic Spring.

Pivot Rock and Natural Bridge was first developed as a tourist attraction more than 100 years ago, the park features paved pathways winding through unique rock formations and the beautiful Ozarks. According to legend, the ravines and caves of the park  served as hideouts for outlaw Jesse James and the James-Younger Gang, the notorious band of Old West train and bank robbers..

Magnetic Spring was Eureka Springs’ number one attraction at the dawn of the 20th century. Its waters were said to cure drunkenness and drug addiction, which were big problems among the sick at that time, since many medicines were boosted with alcohol, cocaine, and heroin. Also, any metal object placed in the spring supposedly became magnetized — proof of the water’s mysterious power.

Tuesday we left for Brinkley, AR for our overnight stop at Dub’l R RV Park.

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