Discover Dallas County

Dallas County combines impressive buildings, railroad history, woodland landscapes, and regional events. Several of the historic examples mentioned can be found in Fordyce. At the same time, Big Timber WMA offers a distinctly more scenic focus. When choosing your vacation rental or vacation home, you can therefore consider whether you mainly want to include culture and local history, an event, or nature in your travel plans.

Historic Traces in Fordyce

The Fielder House in Fordyce is the only surviving residence from the period before the railroad or, more precisely, before the founding of Fordyce. Railroad history can also be seen in several buildings: the Cotton Belt Depot was built in 1925 in the Mediterranean and Craftsman styles, while the Rock Island Railway Depot dates from around 1925. The tracks of the Fordyce and Princeton Railroad ran south to connect with the Cotton Belt main line and north into the forests.

Another prominent landmark is the Dallas County Courthouse. It is the largest and finest Classical Revival-style building in Dallas County and is also a landmark and central point of reference for the county. The historic heritage of the Fordyce Commercial Historic District was preserved on May 20, 2008, through its inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places. The Nutt-Trussell Building at 202 North Main is the oldest building there. Many active businesses also make the district part of the town’s present-day streetscape in the 21st century.

Museums and Other Places of Remembrance

The Dallas County Museum features exhibits on local geology. The topics on display also include pioneer pottery from kilns in Dallas County that are described as the first in Arkansas. Marks’ Mills Battleground State Park offers interpretive exhibits and has picnic areas. This makes it possible to combine different historical perspectives: regional nature and geology, early settlement, and the memory of specific events.

Individual buildings also add to this picture. The Wynne House, built in 1904, is a Classical Revival-style building and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The Dallas County Training School High School Building was added to this register on January 21, 2004. The D. C. Gates House at 609 Charlotte is considered a good example of the bungalows in the Charlotte Street Historic District. The Fordyce Mural honors the city’s past in vivid colors. The Hampton-Kervin House is connected with the early settlement of Rock Island.

Woodland Landscape and Special Travel Interests

Big Timber WMA is characterized by various forest types. These include upland pine forests, upland mixed pine and hardwood forests, upland hardwood forests, lowland mixed pine and hardwood forests, and lowland hardwood forests. The WMA offers opportunities for hunting deer, turkeys, and small game. What matters is which type of stay you would like to plan, without having to combine both interests.

Events and Local Traditions

The Dallas County Fair takes place annually in Fordyce at the Dallas County Fairgrounds. It lasts an entire week and includes livestock shows, rides, and competitions. The Fordyce on the Cotton Belt Festival takes place annually on the fourth Saturday in April and honors Fordyce’s railroad history. This specific date can be particularly helpful for travel planning if you would like to arrange your stay around the festival.

Other facets of the local annual program include the Veterans Ceremony in Peace Park, which honors people who have served in the United States Armed Forces, as well as the Sticky Fingers BBQ Cook-Off. At this food event, pitmasters compete against one another. Redbug Field remains the football field of the Fordyce High School team. The range therefore extends from local history and remembrance to regional food culture and sports.

Putting Dallas County into Perspective as an Accommodation Destination

A vacation rental in Dallas County is particularly well suited to your plans if you do not want to limit your trip to a single theme. You can give different weight to historic buildings, museum topics, events, and the woodland landscapes of Big Timber WMA. When searching for accommodation, consider above all which focus is most important to your travel group and whether your desired travel period coincides with one of the annual events mentioned. For additional destinations in the same overview, Drew, Union County, Cross County, Boone County, Arkansas County, Saline County, and Grant County are also available for further orientation.

For the overarching travel overview: Arkansas.