Eureka Springs, Arkansas. Is It Worth Visiting?
At first, it just didn't seem that interesting, but here is what we discovered.
This is the same question I asked myself several weeks ago as we planned our travels between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Since we’ve never been to Eureka Springs, we didn’t know what to expect. People told us we should go there, but I didn’t know why.
So we took a chance, and here’s what we discovered.
Driving into Eureka Springs from Highway 23 included a lot of winding roads through the hills, but it was wonderful and peaceful. There wasn’t much traffic, allowing us to enjoy the incredible views as we headed north. I can only imagine the colors of the leaves had we made the drive in early fall.
When we arrived in town that evening, there wasn’t much going on. The tourist season had just wrapped up, and COVID-19 seemed to further dwindle activities and the number of people. Many hotels, restaurants, breweries, campgrounds, and other entertainment venues were shuttered for the season.
Eureka Springs felt desolate that night, but the next couple of days would present some wonderful experiences.
Downtown Eureka Springs is unique.
Nestled in the Ozark Hills of northwestern Arkansas, Eureka Springs exudes a historic, distinctive vibe. Maybe it’s due to the old Victorian-style buildings or the eclectic range of shops downtown, but you will sense something different or unique.
Most of the people we met were extremely friendly and welcoming. The waterfalls throughout the city are captivating, and the landscape is relaxing. The architecture of the old buildings and stone walls is intriguing to study, and despite the town being small, you can find quite a bit to do.
While visiting Eureka Springs, we discovered some REALLY COOL places that we’d recommend checking out.
Rockin’ Pig Saloon
Hands down the best BBQ we’ve had in a long time! The Rockin’ Pig Saloon is a biker bar, but you don’t have to wear leather chaps to enjoy it. It’s a groovy place filled with kick ass classic rock nostalgia and music.
We chose the fried pickles and pulled pork plate with coleslaw, both of which tasted amazing, and there was plenty of food for two people! They offered pickled onions like my mother and uncle made, and that made my day. The local Oktoberfest beer was the perfect way to wash it down, especially at $3 per pint.
Finally, the bartenders were super cool to chat with.
Tee Rex Toys
In full disclosure, and without any shame, I totally geeked out in this place! Walking into Tee Rex Toys, I was not fully prepared for the priceless treasures and joy I would find there. I thought I’d died and gone to heaven.
My first discovery was a shelf filled with classic Star Wars toys and memorabilia. All the figures I have and all the figures I want, plus dozens of other goodies I could’ve filled my truck with. They had originals of G.I. Joe, Thundercats, Masters of the Universe, and a whole lot more. Tee Rex also sells comic books, graphic novels, photos, t-shirts, art, and games.
If you love vintage collectibles like this, you just might shed a tear or two as I did.
Pivot Rock Park
As always, Donetta and I love to go hiking, and our friends all recommended checking out Pivot Rock and Natural Bridge. The trail is short and you don’t need any special gear; all you need is the love of being in the woods.
There are many inspiring rock formations to be seen and it’s such a peaceful walk. Halfway through the hike, you’ll come across piles of rocks people have made, some of which are pretty elaborate. We also loved the little store, which offered beautiful artwork created by local artists.
Pivot Rock is well worth the visit and a terrific way to support the local economy.
Christ of the Ozarks
Apparently, the Great Passion Play and the Christ of the Ozarks statue are among the region's biggest tourist draws. While the play was closed for the season, we still got to drive around the grounds and see the Christmas lights.
The museum includes tons of touristy Christian gifts, but what was neat about this place was the large selection of ancient Bibles, manuscripts, and historical artifacts dating back to biblical days. The grounds themselves were beautiful to drive through, but the statue was a bit disappointing—even at 67 feet tall.
I admit this is more of Donetta’s cup of tea, so she’d probably say it was incredible.
Was it worth it?
While we had anticipated staying in town for a week, we grew bored after a few days and decided to move on. This has nothing to do with the city—it’s a wonderful place. It’s just that so many places were closed for the season.
It was worth visiting Eureka Springs, and we’ll go back again someday when everything is open and the weather is warmer.