Franklin County: Wine, River, and History

Franklin County brings together winemaking history, river landscapes, prairie, and distinctive cultural sites. This lets you include nature, regional products, and history in your vacation plans. When choosing a vacation rental, it helps to decide on your main focus first: would you like to explore winemaking, river activities, or historic sites? These topics also offer different points of interest for families; it’s best to choose which stops to visit based on your travel group’s interests.

Winemaking History and Products Around Altus

The climate and terrain in northern Franklin County are well suited to winemaking. Swiss and German farmers established wineries in Altus; the Altus AVA was established in 1984 and covers 46,000 acres. This scale gives winemaking a regional dimension. The landscape also offers a connection to the industry: Pond Creek Mountain, also known as St. Mary’s Mountain, rises 400–500 feet above the Arkansas River. Post Familie has vineyards on the summit of this mountain in Altus.

The products showcase different aspects of the regional wine industry. Post Familie produces wines ranging from sweet dessert wines to very dry varieties, sells fresh grapes to the public in summer, and makes nonalcoholic grape juice for sale. Mount Bethel Winery produces elderberry wine from a native wild berry. Dionysus Wine & Brew is a boutique winery in Altus. Chateau Aux Arc opened its winery on July 21, 2001, and sells Cynthiana grapevines to both retail and wholesale customers.

To reach Chateau Aux Arc, take Exit 41 off Interstate 40, then travel 2.3 miles south on Highway 186. If winemaking and regional products are central to your trip, compare your vacation rental’s location with the stops you actually plan to visit.

Prairie, River, and Seasonal Activities

Grassland is a defining feature of Cherokee Prairie Natural Area: the area contains one of the largest remaining prairie grasslands in the Arkansas Valley and provides habitat for plant and animal species considered rare or endangered. Prairie Creek flows through the center of the natural area. This makes both the open prairie and a specific waterway central features of the area.

The approximately 55-mile-long Mulberry River offers a different kind of natural setting. In spring, it has Class II/III whitewater features; during drier periods, there are opportunities for swimming, wading, and fishing. The river was designated a National Wild and Scenic River in 1992. Seasonal differences can help with planning: consider which activities suit your travel dates, and check conditions before planning a day on the river. There are relatively frequent access points along the Mulberry River, especially where it runs through the Ozark National Forest. The Highway 23 crossing is less than twelve miles north of Interstate 40.

At the junction of the Pig Trail Scenic Byway and the Mulberry River, Turner Bend Outfitter rents canoes, kayaks, and rafts. Since offerings may change, check in advance to see what is available for your planned outing. The Pig Trail runs between Fayetteville and Ozark in Franklin County through the Ozark National Forest and is used more for recreation and leisure than for travel between two destinations. It is a trip in its own right, alongside the river activities.

Historic Sites and Regional Remembrance

The Ozark Courthouse Square Historic District includes the courthouse and commercial buildings around Courthouse Square, the 300 block of W. Commercial, and half of the 100 block of N. Second Street. This description provides a specific area for a historic walk. The Ozark Area Depot Museum is housed in a historic railroad depot that Main Street Ozark converted into a museum. The building is on the banks of the Arkansas River and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

St. Mary’s Catholic Church, known as Our Lady of Perpetual Help, is also part of the region’s architectural history: it was built in 1879 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Charleston School District offers another historical perspective. It was the first school district in the former Confederate states to integrate all twelve grade levels and was recognized as a National Commemorative Site by the National Park Service. These sites bring architecture and civil rights history into vacation planning alongside nature and wine.

Choose a Suitable Vacation Rental as Your Base

Franklin County suits a variety of vacation interests: winemaking and regional products, river activities, prairie, or history. You can also include Ozark as a destination in your plans. This way, your accommodation choice reflects your own sightseeing plans, without letting any one focus define the region’s diversity.

Discover more destinations: Stone County, Chicot County, Phillips County, Jefferson County, Benton, Greene County, Crawford.

See the main travel overview: Arkansas.