LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Arkansas took the first formal step toward creating its 53rd state park today as Secretary Shea Lewis of the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism signed a memorandum of understanding with the U.S. Forest Service to begin designating the Blanchard Springs Caverns Complex as Blanchard Springs State Park.
The agreement establishes groundwork for a joint management model between Arkansas State Parks and the Ozark-St. Francis National Forests, aimed at enhancing visitor services, strengthening cultural and environmental protections, and aligning federal and state investments in staffing and facilities.
Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders said designating Blanchard Springs Caverns as a state park reflects the state’s Natural State Initiative, launched in January 2023 to promote outdoor recreation, expand the outdoor economy and position Arkansas as a premier outdoor destination. First Gentleman Bryan Sanders said the designation would protect the site while supporting families and local communities through expanded outdoor opportunities.
Lewis said the partnership would elevate one of Arkansas’ top tourism destinations and enrich both cavern experiences and surrounding outdoor recreation, including paddling, camping and mountain biking. He noted the site’s proximity to the Ozark Folk Center would help attract more overnight visitors and support local communities.
State Sen. Missy Irvin, District 24, said the designation would secure the future of a critical tourism asset for Stone County and surrounding communities, including Mountain View, where the local economy is driven largely by tourism tied to the caverns.
Located in north-central Arkansas near the community of Fifty-Six, the Blanchard Springs Caverns Complex sits within the Sylamore District of the Ozark National Forest. The complex includes about 8.5 miles of explored caverns, the only Forest Service major visitor center in Arkansas, as well as a campground, swim beach, picnic area and multiple trails. Blanchard Springs is one of a limited number of federally managed “living” caves in the United States, with active mineral formation growth and one of the nation’s largest flowstones.
The caverns opened to the public in 1973 and offer guided tours, including the Dripstone Tour and the Discovery Trail, along with seasonal Wild Cave Tours in undeveloped areas for advanced visitors.
Blanchard Springs Caverns draws nearly 70,000 visitors each year and is the second-largest cavern system in Arkansas. State officials said adding the complex to the state park system would strengthen its role as a regional tourism anchor, connecting nearby recreation opportunities such as boating and trout fishing on the White River, as well as hiking, biking and camping throughout the National Forest.
In 2023, Arkansas welcomed more than 50.7 million visitors, generating $9.9 billion in travel spending and supporting over 100,000 jobs statewide. Stone County recorded $74.1 million in visitor spending last year, with more than 308,000 visitors drawn largely by its natural attractions, including Blanchard Springs Caverns.
State officials said future state park management would also support long-term conservation of the site’s fragile ecosystem. Increasing visitation can heighten risks of erosion and habitat disturbance, and state park designation would allow for managed access, designated trails and enhanced environmental safeguards to protect endangered gray bats, rare salamanders and other cave-dependent species.
Photos courtesy of Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism
