Through a special use permit from the USDA Forest Service, Arkansas State Parks
has developed
Mount Magazine State Park on Ozark National Forest lands high atop 2,753-foot
Mount Magazine, the state's tallest mountain. The mountain offers vistas of
broad river valleys, deep canyons, and distant mountains. Here the altitude,
geography, and climate combine to create unique habitats for rare plants and
animals. The elevation makes the mountaintop a cool place to be on hot summer
days.The park's new, magnificient mountain resort lodge, The Lodge at Mount
Magazine, opened May 1. The lodge features 60 guest rooms that all offer
breathtaking views of the Petit Jean River Valley and Blue Mountain Lake from
Mount Magazine's south bluff Forty of these guest rooms include balconies and 17
offer spa tubs. Fine dining can be enjoyed in the lodge's Skycrest Restaurant
where large windows frame the dramatic view from the bluff. Stretching along the
bluff from both sides of the lodge are 13 new, fully-equipped cabins with
outdoor hot tubs on covered decks facing the view. For lodge and cabin
reservations call 1-877-MM-Lodge (1-877-665-6343) or go online at
www.MountMagazineStatePark.com.
The park also offers a campground featuring 18 campsites (including
Premium A,Premium B, Preferred B, and Standard C), hiking trails, overlooks,
a pavilion, picnic area with restrooms, visitor center with exhibit gallery, and
gift shop. Park interpreters present a wide variety of interpretive programs
about the flora, fauna, and natural and cultural history of Mount Magazine.
The park is a place to enjoy sightseeing. It's a place for nature lovers, and
for students of the natural sciences. It's a place to explore the mountain's
rich history. And Mount Magazine is a destination for outdoor sports and extreme
adventure enthusiasts.
The more adventuresome can go rock climbing, hang-gliding, biking, horseback
riding, and riding along the ATV trails here.
Mount Magazine is the state parks system's most dramatic location for
technical rock climbing. Traditional and sport climbing, and rappelling, are
allowed in the park in a designated area on the mountain's south bluff that
overlooks the Petit Jean River Valley. This 1,500-foot wide stretch of sandstone
boasts over 100 routes up to 80 feet high, ranging from 5.5 to 5.12c in
difficulty, with plenty in the 5.10 and under range. Climbers are required to
register at the state park visitor center.
Hang gliders have flocked to Arkansas's highest point for many years. Rising
high above the Petit Jean River Valley and Arkansas River Valley, 2,753-foot
Mount Magazine has near perfect conditions for flight. Hang gliders must
register each day at the park visitor center and be Class 4 certified to fly
alone. A Class 3 flier can fly with a Class 4. Parking is available at the hang
gliding launch site.
Arkansas's highest mountain at 2,753-feet, Mount Magazine is a magnet for
outdoor enthusiasts. For mountain bikers, the Huckleberry Mountain Trail is a
challenging 34-mile trek down the mountain and into the adjacent Ozark National
Forest. This multi-use trail is also used by equestrians, ATV's, and
backpackers. The trail's three loops cross creeks and connect Mount Magazine
with nearby Huckleberry Mountain. Camping is allowed on the portions of trail
that are located on national forest lands.
For more information about outdoor sports and extreme adventure opportunities
in Arkansas's state parks, go to: http://www.adventurestateparks.com/.
9/24/2006 Construction of Mount Magazine Lodge |
Mount Magazine State Park's new 60-room mountain lodge, restaurant,
conference center, and 13 cabins opened on May 1, 2006 to rave reviews. These
exciting new, first-class facilities carry on the lodging tradition that has
been a part of the recreational legacy of Mount Magazine since 1900.
The new Lodge at Mount Magazine is comprised of a three-building complex
totaling 126,177 square feet. The three connected buildings include a
restaurant/conference/meeting facility, registration/guest services facility,
and guest room/indoor swimming pool facility.
The 66,617-square-foot guest room/swimming pool facility features 60 guest
rooms consisting of 24 standard queen rooms, 19 deluxe (double) queen rooms, 13
king rooms, and four suites. Forty rooms offer balconies and 17 rooms feature
spa tubs. All rooms offer a sweeping view of the Petit Jean River Valley and
distant Blue Mountain Lake below. The facility also houses a 1,325-square-foot,
indoor swimming pool featuring a children’s wading pool, lap lane, and a hot
tub. A fitness center and game room are located adjacent to the pool.
The 35,678-square-foot restaurant/conference/meeting facility features a
3,840-square-foot conference/meeting space. This multi-functional space can be
divided into three meeting rooms, or opened up to accommodate banquet seating
for up to 192 at 24 eight-person tables. This building also features a 125-seat
restaurant with views overlooking the valley below. The remainder of the
facility contains support functions such as a full-service kitchen, kitchen
support and office areas, and loading docks.
The 23,882-square-foot registration/guest services facility is located in the
center of the lodge complex. A covered entry welcomes visitors to the lodge.
Visitors enter into a spacious great room called the Hearth Room featuring a
two-story fireplace and large windows framing the view of the Petit Jean River
Valley beyond. The registration and guest services facility also house two
meeting rooms that offer seating for groups up to 25 persons, a gift shop,
registration desk, and administrative offices.
Thirteen full-service cabins consist of five 873-square-foot one-bedroom
designs, seven 1,317-square-foot two-bedroom designs, and one 1,669-square-foot
three-bedroom design. Emulating the rustic architectural style made popular in
the 1930s, these single story frame structures feature native stone wood clad
exteriors. The interior of the cabins are wood tongue and groove paneling. Each
cabin offers a fully-equipped kitchen, clothes washer and dryer, fireplace,
bathroom for each bedroom, and wrap-around covered deck with an outdoor hot tub.
All the park cabins are situated near the bluff so that guests can enjoy the
expansive view of the Petit Jean River Valley and Blue Mountain Lake below.
The $33 million construction project includes the lodge and 13 cabins.
Mount Magazine State Park is located on Scenic Highway 309 approximately 17
miles south of Paris; or from Danville, travel nine miles west on Ark. 10 to
Havana, then go 10 miles north on Scenic Highway 309.
Contact Information
16878 Highway 309 South
Paris, AR 72855
GPS: 35° 17’ 30” N / 93° 43’ 35.4” W
To reach the park office or make campsite reservations call (479) 963 8502
To make lodge or cabin reservations or conference arrangements, call
1-877-665-6343 (V/TT).
www.MountMagazineStatePark.com
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