Eureka Springs City Guide

Millions have now seen the incredible footage of the full-size male paranormal apparition caught on thermographic videotape by the Sci-Fi Channel's “Ghost Hunters.” Thousands more have actually visited “the morgue” where it was “captured.” And during October, a few can have the opportunity to sleep in these lower-level series of rooms that are said to be one of the most active areas here in “America's Most Haunted Hotel,” The 1886 Crescent Hotel and Spa.

Some folks celebrate Halloween by hanging a cardboard skeleton on their front door with fake cobwebs or putting out a carved jack-o-lantern but the ultimate in celebrating the eve of All Saints Day is spending the night in a morgue. At least that's the idea behind the October package being offered by this now famous “sprit-filled” symbol of Arkansas hospitality.

“Well, it's not really a morgue anymore,” explained the hotel's director of marketing, Bill Ott. “In the late-1930s it was a morgue as used by the then hotel owner, the infamous and self-named doctor, Dr. Norman Baker. Today it is our maintenance area.

“However, the autopsy table is still in place as is the walk-in cooler where Baker kept bodies and body parts for experimentation in his highly advertised ‘cancer curing hospital.' In fact, the room where he kept his body parts in jars of formaldehyde is the site where a full-bodied apparition was caught on videotape by the Sci-Fi Channel's ‘Ghost Hunters' in 2005.”

This truly unique package entitled “Fall Back In Time and Dimension” was created for the “fall back in time” promotion being conducted by Historic Hotels of America (HHA), of which The Crescent is a member. The hotel has been a member of HHA since 2000.

“Our hotel has become famous for doing things a little bit different,” noted hotel manager Jack Moyer, “it is part of our ‘making lifetime memories' philosophy. And what could be more memorable than a night in a former morgue where numerous paranormal sightings have occurred.”

The three-day and two-night package is designed for a group of four and includes one night in the morgue and the other night in the hotel's luxury suites, one per couple. To add to the paranormal theme of the package, the hotel is including a Crescent Hotel Ouija board, an official “ghost meter,” and a complimentary video of the guests overnight morgue “sleep-in.” Some meals and other amenities are also included.

“Since this package is only available any October Tuesday and Wednesday night combination, there are only five of these packages available this year,” said Ott. This package is not only scary but scarce.”

Information courtesy of Crescent Hotel

Eureka Springs is now for its haunted hotels, such as the Crescent Hotel, and is a great place to celebrate Halloween.  A top attraction during this holiday is Raycliff Manor.  This haunted house is a catacomb of nightmares, a macabre maze of horror. Enter freely and of your own will. This may be your last contact with reality; you have now entered the world of spirits.

Eureka Screams takes visitors inside the manor of a mad genius who once discovered the secret of extracting fear from his victims as trophies for his collection of terror. Now those fears are trapped inside, waiting for those who are brave enough to enter.

No amount of screaming can wake you and your nervous laughter can’t protect you. In one of these rooms your worst nightmare has come to life and is waiting to confront you. It beckons you into the darkness…do you dare?

Haunts are available on the following dates: Sept. 28, 29, Oct. 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20, 26, 27, 28 and 31. Nov. 2 and 3

Raycliff Manor will be located in the Old Magic Theatre at 132 Huntsville Dr., on Hwy 23 South, directly across from the Country Music Inn. 479-253-7887

The 5th Annual Eureka Springs Bluegrass Festival is around the corner! You can anticipate one of the most outstanding festivals to date.

This year features Sam Bush, Marty Stuart, Ronnie Reno and Mare Winningham along with a wagonload of other acts and workshops, contests, and the new tradition of the watermelon social to kick it all off on Thursday evening (6:00pm) in Basin Spring park in the heart of downtown Eureka Springs. With free watermelon for everybody, it's great fun for all ages to get together, socialize and hear four great bands for free!

After the evening shows in the Auditorium, the public is invited to bring a chair and join 100+ musicians at the picking party at the Rodeway Inn.

In the bluegrass tradition, there will be live music all over historic downtown Eureka Springs all weekend long.

Joe "Mr. Big" McClung, founder of the festival, sums it up: "We have music and excellent pickers all over town. Eureka Springs comes alive with talent during the Bluegrass Festival."

Schedule of Events

Friday, August 24

Friday morning, rise and shine bright and early for the guitar workshop with Arkansas Red at 9:00am and the fiddle workshop at 10:30am.

Before every show at the Auditorium will be a pre-show featuring the Eureka Springs bluegrass band which features Steve Bush, Arkansas Red, Tim Crouch (the most sought after fiddler in Nashville), Mare Winningham, Pam Kirby, Mark Jones (son of legendary Grand Ole Opry star Grampa Jones), Spoon Man Family (they haven't missed a festival yet and always draw a crowd!), and the McClung boys. There is also a surprise guest performer from Memphis that will shock and amaze you! Don't miss it!

"King of Newgrass" Sam Bush, the mandolin prodigy from Kentucky, headlines two shows on Friday at the City Auditorium. As co-founder and leader of the seminal progressive bluegrass band New Grass Revival, he helped create newgrass music almost 35 years ago. Newgrass is the wild bluegrass stepchild that features rock 'n' roll grooves and extended virtuosic jams. He's still as vital a presence on the acoustic music scene as ever: still making new sounds, still rockin' out on great songs, and still pushing the bar higher for the legions of his protégés, fans and friends. His captivating, high-energy live shows have made him an in demand headliner and fan fave at important festivals like Telluride and MerleFest.

Sam Bush's afternoon show at 2:00pm (don't miss the pre-show at 1:30pm!) opens with the Tennessee Gentlemen, the Williams Family, (a group of local all-stars) and the Buffalo City Ramblers who promise to be one of the show-stopping highlights of this year's festival. A group founded by a husband and wife based in Harrison, Arkansas, formed this year with a crew of well-seasoned entertainers. They're already stirring up quite a buzz at bluegrass festivals throughout the Midwest.

Based out of Memphis, The Tennessee Gentlemen have been entertaining bluegrass fans for over thirty years. The band members, Sam Vance, Ricky Reece, Donny Catron and Doyle Catron have each performed with countless favorite acts and each brings their own remarkable talents to contribute to the creation of an unbelievable sound.

The evening show (with the pre-show at 7:oopm!) at 7:30pm has Old School, Ozark Alliance and Ronnie Reno opening for Sam.

The Old School Bluegrass Band plays Arkansas Bluegrass for Arkansas people. They have spent the last 16 years playing their unique mixture of Bluegrass, Old-Time Stringband and Gospel music, mostly in the Little Rock and Central Arkansas area, though they do travel abroad (to neighboring counties) on occasion.

The Ozark Alliance is a true family band from Salem, Mo. who placed second out of 25 competitors  in the 2003  festival band contest.  The two teen-age children play  fiddle, guitar, & mandolin, the 3-year-old plays her own fiddle & mandolin, the dad & mom play banjo and upright bass, and they feature very fine vocal harmonies.

With Ronnie Reno and The Reno Tradition, Ronnie steps up to share the tradition and legacy set forth by he and his legendary father, Don Reno, in the early days of Bluegrass. Ronnie has selected some of the finest musicians in bluegrass music in Danny Roberts, Heath Van Winkle, Jackie Miller and Mike Scott to form his band. The show takes you through the musical life of Ronnie, Don Reno, The Reno Brothers, and the legends that Ronnie has had the privilege to play and record with over the years. You'll hear the original songs written and recorded by Ronnie, his father, and the songs and sounds Ronnie helped create throughout his career.

Saturday, August 25

Saturday morning at 9:00am Irl Hess is presenting an upright bass workshop, which absolutely no bass player should miss. Hess makes the bass do things no one knew it could do. You will hear him later on at the Auditorium shows.

Come join us on Saturday to hear Six Bands compete in the Finals of the Best Bluegrass Band Contest, from 10am to 2pm.

The afternoon show at the Auditorium at 2:00pm (with the pre-show at 1:30 with the Eureka Springs Bluegrass Band!) opens with the Tennessee Gentlemen, Old School and a special appearance by Irl Hess and features Ronnie Reno & the Reno Tradition .

The evening show at 8:00 (with pre-show entertainment at 7:30pm!) features Marty Stuart , with opening acts Ronnie Reno , the Nelson Family, and the Buffalo City Ramblers with a special guest appearance by Irl Hess.

If you're still in the dark about Marty Stuart, now is your chance to turn on the light. At age 14, Stuart was offered a full-time job with Lester Flatt's band, then went on the road with fiddler Vassar Clements, worked with Doc and Merle Watson, toured with Bob Dylan, and played as a session musician on albums by Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Emmylou Harris, Neil Young and Billy Joel. Don't miss this stellar performance.

The Nelson Family, a festival favorite is back again this year. They are one of the regional favorites around the Ozarks.

Sunday, August 26

Don't miss the Sunday Gospel show! At 2:00pm in the City Auditorium (with pre-show at 1:30pm featuring Eureka's own McClung family!) the Williams Family, Nelson Family, Ozark Alliance, and special guest Mare Winningham will present a bone-chilling performance of spirituals to salvage your soul after a weekend of such fun it must have been a sin!

Mare Winningham is a critically acclaimed performer on stage, television, and occasionally feature films. She began her career performing a song on the Gong Show. She recorded an amazing album this year with Tim Crouch, the most sought after fiddler in Nashville, who is also appearing at the festival. She has a beautiful, haunting voice, a delicate touch on the guitar and will receive an enthusiastic welcome back to Eureka Springs by all the fans she gained here last year.

Information courtesy of Eureka Bluegrass Festival

Tucked into a deep valley in the Ozarks, Eureka Springs first embraced visitors in the 1880s, when people flocked there to bathe in its mineral springs. Over the decades, its distinguished (and not so distinguished) guests have included W. C. Fields, who went for the waters, and Al Capone, who went to elude the law.

Situated in northwestern Arkansas, Eureka Springs continues to attract tourists and second-home owners. These days, though, they tend to come for the steep terrain of hardwood and evergreen forests, the lakes and the rivers, and not for the 60 or so springs that still gurgle throughout town.

Richard Speer, a retired airline pilot, prefers Eureka Springs to his primary home in Nehalem, on the Oregon coast. “I don’t get out that much when I’m out on the coast,” he said, “but when I come here I have more energy than I do practically anywhere I’ve ever lived.” He bought a three-bedroom Victorian downtown for $229,000 last year after touring Arkansas on a motorcycle.

The Ozarks peak and curve across the horizon, and daily life seems anchored by the outdoors. In the afternoons, people relax on the porches of their gingerbread Victorians, many of them perched on stilts above rock outcroppings. The local trolley, which covers the crooked 1.5-mile historic downtown loop, jingles by every so often. Dogwoods, redbud and forsythia bloom in spring and flood the streets with color. “When serviceberries are just beginning to pop out,” said Jim Magee, a local jeweler, “you look over the mountain and it’ll look like it’s snowing.”

The region is not defined by hills so much as by water: Lake Leatherwood, Beaver Lake, Kings River and the White River, which runs north to Holiday Island where it turns into Table Rock Lake, are all nearby. So it’s no surprise that even as Eureka Springs flaunts its historic downtown, Beaver Lake 12 miles southwest of town and Holiday Island 5 miles north are sought by second-home shoppers because of their access to water.

The lakes and rivers are busy with fishermen: The White River is known for its large German brown trout and rainbow trout, the Kings River for smallmouth bass and Beaver Lake for catfish.

Jim Butler, whose parents own C & J Sports, a diving outfit on Beaver Lake, said: “People come to see the underwater rock structure or to spearfish. It’s one of the top five freshwater lakes for clarity in the country.”

The 487 miles of shoreline along Beaver Lake has inlets that branch in every direction. In summer, the lake is populated by swimmers, sailboats, party barges, cruisers, kayaks and canoes. WaveRunners chug by, trailed by water-skiers.

Holiday Island, a resort-like retirement community on Table Rock Lake, is home to some 3,000 residents attracted by its golf, swimming, tennis and marina.

No one dresses up in Eureka Springs. Out to dinner or at the lake, people wear jeans and T-shirts, and in summertime shorts and sandals. The bustling dining scene is old-style Italian, American Nouveau or barbecue.

“There’s something really magnetic about this place,” said Mary Springer, a local artist. “We just drove through here 20 years ago, living in Memphis, and turned around a month later and bought a house.” (Since Louis Freund, a muralist for the Works Progress Administration, and his wife, Elsie Freund, a jewelry designer, arrived in the 1930s and founded the Summer Art School, the region has attracted artists.)

There is no arts shortage. Music festivals range from opera to bluegrass, and each night at twilight, from late April through October, there is “The Great Passion Play.” Telling the story of Jesus’ last days, it features a cast of 250 local residents, complemented by horse-drawn chariots, camels and a flock of sheep.

The downtown has cafes, galleries and boutiques that may sell antique prints, Amish and Ozark quilts or leather goods. Victorian architecture and brick buildings with cast-iron balconies line the streets.

Barbara Scott, an art historian from Broken Arrow, Okla., was lured by the idea of buying a historic property. “It reminds me of hill country in Italy,” said Ms. Scott, who ended up on Holiday Island. “The architecture has that old-country feeling to it.”

Kathy and Greg Hughes, who own a trucking company in Harper, Kan., love the climate. “It has a mountain atmosphere,” Ms. Hughes said, “without having to have nine months of winter.” They bought a Federal-style Victorian downtown in 2004.

The weather does tend to be mild year-round. Temperatures average 38 degrees in winter, 58 in spring, 76 in summer and 60 in fall, according to the chamber of commerce.

There is a shortage of parking for people who live in the historic loop. “You park at the meter and sit and watch,” Mr. Hughes said. “Winter’s not bad, but in summertime, with all of the tourists around, it’s bad.”

The tourist season starts in March and continues through Christmas, and the town estimates that it receives 500,000 to 750,000 tourists a year.

Much of the housing in the center of town consists of Victorians. Smaller cottages sell faster — and for less per square foot — because part-time residents find them easier to maintain. “I just sold a four-bedroom Victorian with 3,000 square feet for $240,000, a great buy for that size house,” said Mark Mattmiller, a broker with Evelyn Cross & Associates. Clients want Victorian homes with original hardwood floors, high ceilings, original moldings and porches, he said.

Elise and Marty Roenigk, who own the 1886 Crescent Hotel & Spa, are developing 38 condos in Prairie-style duplexes near the historic district. The condos are designed in the manner of the late E. Fay Jones, a Frank Lloyd Wright disciple, and will cost $325,000 to $375,000 a unit, the Roenigks say.

Diane Murphy, an agent at Century 21 Woodland, says the market has been steadily increasing in town and in the lake area, especially during the last three years. Average prices for the 51 lake area houses sold in 2006 were $256,000, up from $205,000 in 2005, Ms. Murphy said. In town, average prices for the 57 houses sold in 2006 were $152,000, up from $138,000 in 2005.

In town, time on the market averages five months, versus seven months at Beaver Lake — unless the lot is zoned for a private dock. “A lakefront house with a private dock might not make it a day on the market,” Mr. Mattmiller said.

The lake area, the highest-priced location, has log, dome and ranch-style houses, many with wraparound porches. Mr. Mattmiller said he recently sold a lakefront log house with no dock for $695,000.

Lots in the older part of the historic district, which run 25 feet by 80 feet or 40 feet by 80 feet, sell for $12,000 and up, real estate agents say. Around Beaver Lake, lots are one to three acres, and larger lake-area lots are getting harder to come by; reflecting that scarcity, prices are rising. A 13-acre lot that sold for $550,000 two years ago is now listed at $1.2 million.

On Holiday Island, houses by the golf course are around $200,000, while lake property is $400,000 or higher. Second-home owners are a quarter of the population. “They’re buying it for a vacation home,” Ms. Murphy said, “knowing they can recoup a lot of the cost of it by renting it out.”

LAY OF THE LAND

POPULATION 2,358, according to a 2006 estimate by the Census Bureau.

SIZE Nearly seven square miles, according to the census.

LOCATION Northwestern Arkansas, nine miles from the Missouri line. By car, Eureka Springs is six hours from Memphis and four hours from Little Rock.

WHO’S BUYING Baby boomers, professionals and artists from Kansas, Texas, Minnesota and Nebraska, attracted by the water and mountains.

GETTING THERE Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport is in Bentonville, 50 miles west. The airport has flights (some nonstop, some connecting) to major cities, including New York, Los Angeles and Chicago.

WHILE YOU’RE LOOKING For scenery, there is the 1886 Crescent Hotel & Spa (75 Prospect Avenue), a castle-like limestone building with panoramic views from its porch. It also has a swimming pool and modern and light-filled, if slightly worn, rooms from $179 in season and $119 in winter. The Palace Hotel and Bath House (135 Spring Street), built in 1901, is within walking distance of restaurants and shops. Eight spacious, high-ceilinged suites are $163 to $183, (slightly more during October leaf season) and are furnished with antiques.

Information courtesy of New York Times

9th Annual Native American Festival & Pow-wow

Friday, June 15th, 2007 - Sunday, June 17th, 2007

Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge, located 7 miles south of Eureka Springs, Arkansas, on Scenic Highway 23, will again host its popular Native American Pow Wow on Father’s Day weekend, 2007.

The festivities at Turpentine Creek are as follows:

-Craft Booths open at 3:00 p.m. on Friday – Grand Entry at 7:00 p.m.
-Craft Booths open at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday – Grand Entry at 1:00 & 7:00 p.m.
-Craft Booths open at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday – Grand Entry at 1:00 p.m.

The weekend celebration, in addition to the craft booths, will include dancing, Color Guard, drumming, artists, wildlife exhibits, and other activities. Food and soft drink concessions will be available.

$5.00 Daily Admission or $10.00 for the Weekend. Children 3 and under admitted free.
Proceeds help to build natural habitats for the Big Cats of Turpentine Creek.

For additional information, please call Phyllis Jackson at (479) 253-5841 or (479) 253-3781 or email: phyllis@turpentinecreek.org.

13th Annual Street Rod and Custom Car Show

Saturday, June 16th, 2007

Pine Mountain Village in Eureka Springs, Arkansas will be loaded with over 150 unique vehicles Saturday, June 16 during the 13th Annual Street Rod and Custom Car Show. Entrants from at least seven states are expected by organizer Mark Middleton. The show is open to any wheeled customized vehicle. “We’ll have the traditional looking customized cars as well as maybe a few of the ‘new concept’ ones,” said Middleton. “We’ve been at it working hard for years now and by the looks of this year’s show, it’s finally paying off,” he added.

The eye-popping cars begin arriving as early as 7 am and the DJ starts spinning tunes at 9 am on the 16th. Spectators are welcome to view the cars anytime before 2 pm, when the entourage departs for the parade, and they are expected to line the parade route as well. From Pine Mountain Village it will head West on Hwy. 62, South on Hwy. 23 through the historic district, East on Main St. to Passion Play Rd., South to Hwy. 62, and then West back to Pine Mountain Village.

For more information about the 13th Annual Street Rod and Custom Car Show call 479-253-7541.

The charming Victorian town of Eureka Springs, Arkansas is a community built around art, history and heritage.  There are plenty of things to do in Eureka Springs, and even better, there are plenty of FREE things to do in Eureka Springs!  The picturesque beauty of this town combined with the fantastic activities available make this vacation getaway a perfect choice! 

Many of the FREE things to do in Eureka Springs involve its magnificent architecture and interesting past.  There is also a thriving art community in Eureka Springs that adds to the allure of this quaint destination.  Enjoy these FREE Eureka Springs activities when you visit!

-Thorncrown Chapel: Visit this unique chapel for a breathtaking experience.  Thorncrown Chapel incorporates 425 panels of clear glass  to showcase the beauty of the Ozarks.  This architectural masterpiece was named among the top four buildings of the 20^th century by the American Institute of Architects. 

-Downtown Eureka Springs: Strolling the beautiful streets of downtown Eureka Springs is a great way to spend the day!  This Victorian Village is filled with wonderful architecture and the downtown streets are lined with shops and sites of interest. 

-St. Elizabeth’s Catholic Church: This church has been listed in Ripley’s Believe It or Not! and is located between the Carnegie Library and the Crescent Hotel, accessible by Crescent Drive (Crescent Grade) off of the Historic Loop.

-Art Galleries: There are several galleries in and around downtown Eureka Springs.  A few to choose from include Eureka Thyme, Gumpshun Gallery, Quicksilver Gallery, 83 Spring Street and Eureka Fine Arts Gallery.  These amazing displays are a must see Eureka attraction!

-Christ of the Ozarks: This seven story high statue is a monumental sculpture of Jesus Christ.  It is located on the Great Passion Play grounds and is open to the public free of charge. 

Eureka Spring’s fantastic location also provides various ways to enjoy the great outdoors!  These activities are always fun and always free!

-Lake Leatherwood Park: Listed on the National Register for Historic Places, this 1,600 acre park has a 100 acre spring fed lake.  It’s a great place to enjoy natural Eureka.

-Pivot Rock & Natural Bridge: These two natural formations are interesting features that add to the beauty of Eureka Springs. 

-Pea Ridge National Military Park:  This historical park is located approximately 30 minutes from Eureka Springs.  There is a nominal fee to enter, but the things to do at Pea Ridge are educational and fun.

Eureka Springs is a charming town that springs to life during this time of year.  The small town atmosphere allows guests to stroll from shop to gallery to eatery with ease, all in a blooming and blossoming setting alive with color.  The Victorian architecture in beautiful Eureka also adds to its appeal.  A Eureka Springs getaway is an experience unlike any other.  The fantastic Eureka Springs Festivals and Eureka Springs Art Galleries are also favorites of visitors.  Both the Eureka Springs May Festival of the Arts and the Eureka Springs Blue Festival will be held this spring, making for yet another reason to visit.

The Victorian charm of Eureka also makes it a popular place to say “I Do.”  Weddings in Eureka Springs allow newlyweds to experience an elegant, unique ceremony and in the spring the beautiful weather and sunny skies only add to the appeal.  The Crescent Hotel is a popular place for nuptials, as well as a favorite place to stay in Eureka Springs among visitors.  Built in 1886, this hotel has a rich history and luxurious amenities for their modern day customers. 

Eureka Springs, Arkansas also has many interesting attractions to visit.  The Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge is a USDA licensed facility dedicated to the rescue and life time care of abandoned and unwanted Big Cats.  They house tigers, lions, cougars and more all of which are available for the public to see.  Blue Spring Heritage Center a unique historical site tied to the Trail of Tears and early Native Americans.  It’s also a natural wonder, pouring 38 million gallons of cold, clear water each day into its trout-stocked lagoon.  Another natural creation that’s one of the top things to do in Eureka Springs is visit Cosmic Caverns.  This hidden treasure is a famous cave with two bottomless caves and an amazing straw formation called “Silent Splendor.”  You’ll want to see this for yourself!

The Great Passion Play begins their 2007 season this spring.  This top Eureka Springs Show retells the story of Jesus Christ’s life in an outdoor drama unlike any other.  This production is a perfect addition to Easter weekend, allowing family to celebrate in both story and life.  Two other great Eureka Springs Shows are Pine Mountain Jamboree and Ozark Mountain Hoedown.  Both shows provide fantastic music and hilarious comedy that’s family friendly.  Of course, visitors also love to take advantage of the shopping in Eureka Springs as well as the delicious restaurants in Eureka Springs.  Eureka is also known as a spa haven, where one can relax and pamper themselves at some of the finest spas around. 

A Eureka Springs vacation is a unique experience with interesting things to do and exciting entertainment.  This spring visit this quaint Victorian town for a step back in time and a step towards wonderful memories.