Arkansas is affectionately known as “The Natural State” due to its numerous scenic and breathtaking sights such as the Ozark mountains and fresh springs. Eureka Springs is a charming little town near the border of Arkansas and Missouri. It is the perfect place for a weekend getaway to experience some of these beautiful natural sights! Eureka Springs also offers eclectic shops, cozy cafes, streets lined with Victorian-era buildings, public transit trolleys and interesting religious sites. Here are 8 things you need to do in Eureka Springs, AR!
1. See a Natural Spring at the Blue Spring Heritage Center
The Blue Spring Heritage Center regularly shows up on tourism sites as a top attraction in Eureka Springs. After visiting the site, I completely understand why! The Blue Spring Heritage Center features beautiful botanical gardens and is home to Blue Spring. Blue Spring is a natural spring that flows 38 million gallons of water from its center every 24 hours. Interestingly, some of the water from this spring originates in the Pacific Northwest. The water has a very distinctive color that ranges from deep cobalt to different shades of green. It was one of the most unique bodies of water that I have seen. The water is pretty chilly and stays a consistent 54 degrees year round. You can dip your feet in the spring, but warning: it’s very cold!
The Blue Spring Heritage Center is also historically significant. The Bluff Shelter at Blue Spring is listed on the National Register of Historic Sites. Archaeologists have uncovered numerous prehistoric artifacts while excavating near the Bluff Shelter, including some dating back to 8000 BC. Unfortunately, it is also historically significant as it was a stop for many Native Americans on the Trail of Tears.
2. Walk Around the Charming Downtown
My Eureka Springs Airbnb host told me that “the entire town is on the National Register of Historic Sites” and she was not exaggerating. Numerous Victoria-era buildings and homes line the streets of Eureka Springs and and almost every building I passed featured a “National Register of Historic Places” plaque. Many of these buildings are now quirky shops and unique restaurants and it’s easy to spend an afternoon exploring these interesting spots. My favorite shop was Soap Stop & Shop, which had a huge variety of local homemade soaps with super fun names. Packrats Paradise was also really cool and had lots of interesting souvenirs.
Apart from the shops and restaurants, the downtown area is really interesting because it was built to complement its natural surroundings. There are trees everywhere you look and the streets wind up and down in sync with the mountains they are built into. Eureka Springs is known as the “Stairstep Town” because there are several sets of stairs you can take up and down the hilly parts of town.
3. Check out the Iconic Flat-Iron Building
While walking around the charming downtown, make sure to check out the iconic Flat-Iron building. The Flat-Iron Building is one of the most recognizable landmarks in Eureka Springs. It is also one of the most photographed buildings in Arkansas!
4. See Eureka Springs from Above at One of the Town’s Lookouts
There are several overlooks in Eureka Springs area where you can stop to take in the beautiful nature of the area. My favorite overlook was the Inspiration Point Overlook, which is just a ten minute drive from downtown Eureka Springs. It offers a beautiful view of the Ozark mountains and the horseshoe curve of the valley below. It’s also a great place to visit after visiting Blue Spring Heritage Center as it is just a few minutes from Blue Spring. Another option is the East Mountain Gazebo. East Mountain Gazebo is right outside the downtown area and is a great place to see the town from above. Both overlooks have limited parking, but I did not have trouble parking at either one.
5. See a Glass Chapel in the Forest
Thorncrown Chapel is a beautiful chapel nestled in the forests of the Ozark Mountains. The Chapel was constructed of entirely natural elements including glass, stone and wood, which complements its natural surroundings. The Chapel is very tall and narrow and rises vertically with the surrounding trees. It contains hundreds of windows and you really feel as if you are one with nature when you step inside.
The Chapel was constructed in 1980 and was designed by E. Fay Jones. Jones was an apprentice of Frank Lloyd Wright and the Chapel does have a similar vibe to Wright’s work. It also reminded me of Phillip Johnson’s Glass House. Thorncrown Chapel has been listed on the National List of Historic Places and has been recognized with numerous accolades for its unique architecture. The Chapel is just 10 minutes from the downtown area and is a great place to spend a peaceful morning in Eureka Springs!
6. Eat Underground at Mud Street Cafe
Mud Street Cafe is an adorable restaurant with an interesting history. Today, the Mud Street Cafe is in “underground Eureka” and you have to walk down a flight of stairs to access the restaurant. However, back in the late 1800s, the Cafe was actually at street level. A spring runs underneath Main Street (where the cafe is located), which used to cause flooding and cause the area to get very muddy. This resulted in Main Street getting the nickname of “Mud Street.” Major street renovations fixed the flooding problem, but also resulted in the buildings being raised with the ground floors turning into basements. I would recommend the chicken salad croissant (very yummy!) at Mud Street Cafe. Other great restaurant options in Eureka Springs are Eureka Springs Coffee House (try the stuffed french toast!) or The Spring on Main.
7. Hop on the Eureka Springs Trolley or Railway
The main form of public transportation in Eureka Springs is the Eureka Springs Trolley. The trolleys travel along four different routes and stop at all of the major sites in Eureka Springs. A day pass is pretty cheap (only $6) so it’s a very inexpensive and fun way to see the whole town without having to drive. Another way to travel through Eureka Springs is on the Eureka Springs & North Arkansas Railway. The railway offers excursion tours, lunch tours and dinner tours that take riders on vintage trains through the Ozarks. Unfortunately the train was not running when I was visiting, but it looks like a unique way to experience Eureka Springs.
8. See Christ Rise Above the Ozarks
The Christ of the Ozarks is another of the most recognizable landmarks in Eureka Springs. The Christ of the Ozarks is a 65 foot tall statue of Christ that stands atop Magnetic Mountain in the Ozarks. It resembles the “Christ the Reedeemer” statue in Brazil given the similarities in design. The statue is located within the “Great Passion Play” park, which is a religious theme park located just outside Eureka Springs. There park is free to visit and it is only a short walk from the parking lot to the statue.
Apart from The Christ of the Ozarks statue, the park also consists of a hodgepodge of different buildings and historical items including a piece of the Berlin Wall, an Israeli bomb shelter and theaters where religious-themed plays are performed. Additionally, it hosts mountain bikers and bike competitions. When I visited, there was a mountain biking event taking place with bikers biking off ramps set up at the foot of the statue, which was bit unusual to see at religious site. I wouldn’t anticipate spending more than a half hour there or expect to have a spiritual experience. However, The Christ of the Ozarks is definitely worth seeing and you will be impressed by its size!
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