Discover the allure of Arkansas in 2024, where a tapestry of new experiences awaits eager adventurers. From the untouched beauty of emerging hiking trails to the vibrant cultural festivals pulsating through charming towns, the Natural State beckons with fresh wonders.

The Arkansas Symphony Stella Boyle Smith Music Center

This center, which is slated to open in September 2024 in Little Rock, is the first permanent home for the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra. The center will also host music education, music performances, and music making to the community and will have a broadcast and recording studio. For more details visit arkansassymphony.org/music-center.

New exhibit at Mosaic Templars Cultural Center

An update to the museum’s permanent gallery represents a new chapter in the story of the Mosaic Templars Cultural Center and its mission to preserve Arkansas’ African American history. The Mosaic Templars Cultural Center is the first publicly funded museum of African American history and culture in Arkansas and is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. The center is a recreation of the original Mosaic Templars of America headquarters that was built here in 1913. For more details visit arkansasheritage.com/mosaic-templars-cultural-center.

New exhibits at Museum of Discovery

The Museum of Discovery in Little Rock has two new galleries to explore. Seventy-eight new exhibits and experiences can be found in the two new galleries. For more details visit, museumofdiscovery.org.

New visitor center for Pinnacle Mountain State Park

At Pinnacle Mountain State Park, near Little Rock, outdoor explorations include climbing to the top of Pinnacle Mountain, hiking and mountain biking the park’s Monument Trails and more. The state park now has a new visitor center to explore too, which is housed in an innovative architectural space. Here you will find new indoor and outdoor exhibits, a trail entrance to the base of the West Summit Trail, and more. For more details visit arkansasstateparks.com/parks/pinnacle-mountain-state-park.

Restoration at Arlington Resort Hotel and Spa

A restoration is in the works at the Arlington Resort Hotel and Spa in Hot Springs. The hotel is the largest hotel in Arkansas. The goal is for the restoration to be completed by the end of 2024, which also marks the 100th anniversary for the building. The present Arlington Resort Hotel and Spa opened December 31, 1924 and a gala New Year’s Eve dinner dance was held at that time to mark the occasion. For more details, visit arlingtonhotel.com. 

Parking deck clears way for new public park

The City of Fayetteville has opened a new parking deck in its downtown entertainment district. Located at the northwest corner of Dickson Street and West Avenue, the deck replaces the surface-level parking lot across the street, which is currently being developed into a public park.

The park is the second phase within the creation of a cultural arts corridor called The Ramble. The park and civic plaza will be a central hub and gathering spot for residents and tourists. Plans call for art gardens, trails, water running the length of the space and areas for picnics, kids at play and events. A new hotel will also anchor one end of the park.

The lower Ramble has already been developed and includes the Fay Jones Woods featuring a forest, trails, boardwalks, tree-lined sidewalks, terraced creeks and gathering spaces.. The 50-acre outdoor corridor follows the Razorback Regional Greenway from Dickson Street to Prairie Street.

The Ramble is named as a nod to Arkansas-born musician and actor Levon Helm. As a former member of The Band, Helm hosted Midnight Ramble sessions in a barn on his property in Woodstock, New York. The historic Fay Jones Woods space is an homage to well-known architect and Fayetteville resident Fay Jones.

New breweries on the Fayetteville Ale Trail

The Fayetteville Ale Trail has added several new breweries, bringing the total up to 24 locations. The Fayetteville Ale Trail, which is a self-guided tour of craft breweries, started in 2013 with seven breweries located in Fayetteville, the birthplace of craft beer culture in Northwest Arkansas.

Fayetteville now has nine craft breweries. Immensely popular, the Ale Trail has expanded to include other brewery stops (and one cidery) in the nearby cities of Springdale, Rogers, Bentonville, Lowell, Eureka Springs, Gravette and Siloam Springs. Even more breweries are expected to open soon, so expect these numbers to change as the Northwest Arkansas beer scene continues to develop. 

The Fayetteville Ale Trail has passports that can be redeemed for prizes. There is no cost to participate, and those interested can pick up a Fayetteville Ale Trail passport at the Experience Fayetteville Visitors Center at 21 S. Block Ave. on the Fayetteville downtown square. Passports are also available at any of the participating breweries, and stamps can be collected at each location. Completed passports can be mailed or brought to the Visitors Center for a free prize.

Here are the breweries participating in the Fayetteville Ale Trail:

• BOSTON MOUNTAIN BREWING & SUPPLY
• COLUMBUS HOUSE BREWERY
• CRISIS BREWING COMPANY
• FAYETTEVILLE BEER WORKS
• FLYWAY BREWING COMPANY
• FOSSIL COVE BREWING CO.
• MAD ROOSTER BEER COMPANY
• PURITAN COFFEE & BEER
• WEST MOUNTAIN BREWING CO.
• BENTONVILLE BREWING COMPANY
• BIKE RACK BREWING CO.
• BLACK APPLE
• CORE OF ARKANSAS
• EUREKA SPRINGS BREWERY
• GOAT LAB BREWERY
• IVORY BILL BREWING CO.
• NATURAL STATE BEER COMPANY
• NEW PROVINCE BREWING COMPANY
• ORTHODOX FARMHOUSE BREWERY
• OZARK BEER CO.
• RENDEZVOUS JUNCTION BREWING CO.
• SADDLEBOCK BREWERY
• SOCIAL PROJECT BREWING CO.
• THE RECREATION PARLOR

Fort Smith is home to a new baseball league

Fort Smith has been selected as one of six team locations for the newly formed Mid America League, a premium baseball development league. Teams are expected to play ball beginning in May of 2024 and will initially be from Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas.

The league will have a 68-game schedule with playoffs to determine a champion. The new league was created by Lawrence, Kansas-based National Sports Services and Ventura Sports Group. A Fort Smith team owner or owner group has not yet been named. Public input will help select a team name.

According to Mid America, the team selection is from regions with at least 100,000 population “with a solid business base, and will initially play in a combination of municipal and university facilities.”

Initially, the Fort Smith team will likely play on the baseball field of the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith. The league will work with the owner or owners group to have a stadium ready by May 2026.

More information can be found here: www.midamericaleaguebaseball.com.

YT Industries Experience Center

In 2023, YT Industries announced that a new “YT Mill” will be opening in Bentonville, Arkansas in early 2024. Following the success of the YT Mill consumer experience centers in San Clemente, CA, Surrey Hills UK, and Hausen, Germany, YT Industries will open a new flagship Mill in the heart of the OZ Trails mountain bike network in Northwest Arkansas.

The immersive, two-floor showroom to be located at 305 N. Main St. in downtown Bentonville will showcase the entire range of YT mountain bikes, host community events, and feature a unique rider’s lounge area with pre- and post-ride beverages and entertainment. A pro-level workshop will allow YT customers to get their bikes built, set up, and serviced onsite. For more information visit www.yt-industries.com.

Upper Delta

The Louis, a restored boutique hotel, opened in Wilson in 2023. Located in the century-old Wilson Administration building, bed and bath linens are made from cotton grown in the town. In addition to the 16 king rooms at the Louis, there are also cottages available nearby that feature the full amenities of a home for larger groups. Visit thelouishotel.com for more information.

Lower Delta

Phase 1 of Lakewood Trails opened in September 2023 in Monticello. Phase 1 consists of approximately 6 miles of non-motorized trails for hiking and biking, along with a skills area. The completed area runs alongside Lake Monticello. The Lakewood Trails is located in Harold D. West Park, which offers a fishing pier, a playground and pavilions. 

In 2024, Arkansas invites you to uncover a trove of treasures, each moment a testament to the state’s evolving charm and endless exploration.