Five things to eat, see and do in Eureka Springs! | McLarty Daniel Ford

Founded way back in February 1880, the town of Eureka Springs is one of the true jewels of Northwest Arkansas, featuring street after street of Victorian homes, hotels, churches, buildings and storefronts that look like they’ve been trapped in amber since the early 20th century. The beauty of Eureka and the uniqueness of the town has made it a major tourist attraction, with tens of thousands of visitors still making the trip every year, even though the lure of the “healing waters” the town was built on in the days before modern medicine have long since been debunked as snake oil. There’s plenty to eat, see and do in Eureka, which is why it’s one of our favorite weekend road trips here at McLarty Daniel Ford. So get on over there! Whether it’s been a long time or a little since you visited Eureka, there’s bound to be something to tickle your fancy. Read on for a few of our favorites.

Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge
239 Turpentine Creek Lane

Though it would seem like a no-brainer that you don’t want a dangerous, meat-hungry tiger, lion or cougar as a family pet, there are always going to be people who can’t resist the momentary charm of owning an exotic cat. Sadly, when the charm runs out, big cats can be neglected, mistreated or killed by owners who don’t know how to take care of them. For over two decades, Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge in Eureka Springs has been taking in and caring for big cats and other large carnivores whose owners no longer want them, attending to the needs of animals who may have been abused during their time with private owners, small zoos or circuses. To date, Turpentine Creek has saved hundreds of animals who might otherwise have been destroyed, keeping them happy and healthy in a nurturing, cruelty-free environment. It’s all paid for by donations and ticket sales to animal lovers just like you, who come in droves to take the tour of this world-class animal sanctuary. Tickets to Turpentine Creek are $20 for adults, $15 for teens, and $10 for children 4-12. For more information, visit their website at www.turpentinecreek.org

Thorncrown Chapel
12968 Highway 62 West

If you’re a person of faith, the pristine beauty of the mountains around Eureka Springs makes the area perfect for a little quiet and contemplative communing with Big G. There’s no place better for that than the soaring majesty of Thorncrown Chapel. Opened in 1980, Thorncrown Chapel was the brainchild of Jim Reed, a retired teacher who wanted a beautiful, non-denominational place for people to pray or attend services while surrounded by the faith-affirming splendor of nature. Designed by the renowned Arkansas architect Fay Jones, the 48-foot-high Thorncrown features a light and almost ethereal wooden frame, a foundation of native local stone, and 425 individual windows. Over five million visitors have made the pilgrimage to Thorncrown Chapel since it opened, both to contemplate their faith and to view one of the great masterpieces of American architecture, which won the American Institute of Architecture’s Design of the Year Award for 1981. Admission is free, but donations are welcomed for the continued maintenance and upkeep of the chapel. For more information, visit the Thorncrown Chapel website at: www.thorncrown.com

Le Stick Nouveau
63 Spring Street

Though there was a time when the height of the Eureka Springs restaurant scene were all-you-can-eat tourist trap buffets, the little village that could has seriously upped its restaurant game in the past few years, with new cafes and restaurants joining old favorites like the outstanding Ermilio’s and Mud Street Cafe. One of our longstanding faves during trips to Eureka in the last few years has been Le Stick Nouveau. A cozy space situated inside the romantic New Orleans Hotel at 63 Spring Street, Le Stick Nouveau translates to “The New Stick,” a homage to the famed Candlestick Inn which opened in 1962 in nearby Branson, Missouri, but was sadly destroyed by a tornado in 2012. After the loss, the family behind The Candlestick moved their operation to Eureka, opening on a smaller scale while keeping their same high standards for gourmet food and beautiful presentation. The result is one of the best restaurants in the state, with a high-concept menu featuring dishes like escargot, deviled duck eggs with smoked paprika and red onion, and Le Stick’s take on Beef Wellington in a puff-pastry basket with pickled mustard seed and bordelaise sauce. Fond memories of a bucket-list quality culinary experience are provided at no extra charge. For more information and a full menu, visit their website at www.lestick.com

Lake Leatherwood City Park
1303 County Road 204

The largest city park in Arkansas, Eureka’s 1,600-acre Lake Leatherwood City Park is built around — of course — the 85-acre Lake Leatherwood, which was created in the 1940s after the Works Progress Administration built one of the largest hand-cut limestone dams in America across Leatherwood Creek. Along with the dam, several other WPA structures at the site are still standing, and have been protected by being listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In addition to opportunities to cool off in the chilly, spring-fed lake, the park includes over 25 miles of hiking and mountain biking trails that wind through the natural beauty and serenity of the surrounding mountains. If you’re in the mood to paddle or drift, there’s a paved boat ramp and a kayak and canoe launch, plus an outfitter near the lake that rents kayaks, canoes, paddle boats by the hour or day. If you’re just into soaking up some nature, plentiful wildlife calls Lake Leatherwood home, including raccoons, beavers, deer and over 100 species of birds. Whatever you’re looking for, it’s a great place to visit when you want to leave the hectic world behind.

Take a ghost tour at the Crescent Hotel
75 Prospect Ave

Considering that a majority of Eureka Springs looks like it would make a great set for an episode of “Scooby Doo, Where Are You?” it’s probably no surprise that Eureka has long had a reputation as a place where all manner of spooks, specters and things that go bump in the night freely roam. Situated on a picturesque mountaintop with commanding views of the town below, the Crescent Hotel has become something of a hot spot for seekers of Eureka’s most permanent residents in recent years. Completed in 1886, the hotel is rumored to be home to several ghosts, including Michael, a stonemason who, according to legend, fell from a scaffold and died during the construction of the hotel, and victims of the notorious quack medicine practitioner Norman G. Baker, who bought the hotel in 1937 and turned it into a hospital where he bilked desperate patients with phony “cures” for fatal ailments, including cancer. Baker’s former morgue in the basement of the Crescent is rumored to be haunted by more than a few ghosts these days, with tour guides thrilling guests with stories of past experiences and inevitably blurry photos of purported paranormal activity. Whether you’re a believer or not, it’s a whole lot of fun. Tickets for the Crescent Hotel ghost tour are $22.50 for adults, or $8 for kids. For more information, visit the ghost tour website at: www.americasmosthauntedhotel.com

Whatever brings you to Eureka Springs, there’s plenty to fill your time there, from quaint shops to thrills to just relaxing and letting the beauty of the place wash over you. If you need a car, truck, van or SUV to take you there, stop in today at McLarty Daniel Ford in Bentonville. With unbeatable deals and a selection of new Fords and pre-owned vehicles that’s second to none, we’re sure to have a vehicle that fits both your needs and your budget. Stop in today for a test drive!

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »