The Natural Choice in the Natural State. www.discoverrussellville.org • 479.967.1762 The Natural Choice in the Natural State. Defined by dramatic geography and subtle beauty, the River Valley is framed by the tallest peak in Arkansas, Mount Magazine, and her sisters Mount Nebo and Petit Jean collectively known as the Tri- Peaks to the south, and the Ozark Mountains to the north with the Arkansas River and Lake Dardanelle nestled between the hills. The region is known for verdant beauty and down-home hospitality. In the heart of the River Valley sits the town of Russellville. A blend of yesteryear’s charm and modern convenience, Russellville is a small city with a big heart. Art galleries, antique markets and enticing eateries populate the historic downtown area as music from local talent fills the air. Land loving outdoor enthusiasts will find gritty adventure in nearby public wild lands and parks. Water enthusiasts can boat, ski and fish on Lake Dardanelle. Russellville sits conveniently at the crossroads of Interstate 40 and scenic Highway 7 with interesting and fun opportunities in every direction. North to south and east to west, the River Valley is full of activities and inspiration for everyone. Pg. 2 ~ Russellville Tourism & Visitors Center www.discoverrussellville.org ~ Pg. 3 Pg. 2 ~ Russellville Tourism & Visitors Center www.discoverrussellville.org ~ Pg. 3 True to its name, the River Valley is defined by water. Ozark streams provide whitewater excitement on Big Piney Creek and the Illinois Bayou as their waters rush toward Lake Dardanelle. Joining the Arkansas River from the south, the Petit Jean River offers a slower float with an emphasis on catfish and crappie angling. Countrysides surrounding the waterways, the Ozark National Forest and Holla Bend National Wildlife Refuge, offer adventure for hunters, wildlife photographers and hikers. Black bear, wild turkey and whitetail deer along with small game and birds abound in the fertile river bottoms and wild highlands surrounding Russellville. If fishing is your thing, the River Valley is the sweet spot you’ve been looking for. Lake Dardanelle is a world-class bass fishery famous for heavy stringers and fast action. Lake Dardanelle’s rise to prominence in bass fishing circles attracts numerous professional and collegiate tournaments throughout the year. The lake’s popularity among bass anglers led to construction of an 1,861 square-foot tournament weigh-in pavilion and adjacent tournament staging area -- located in Lake Dardanelle State Park -- that set the template for other tournament hosting lakes around the nation. But bass aren’t the only fish to be found here. Big- game anglers can focus on the tailwaters of Dardanelle Lock and Dam where heavyweight blue and flathead catfish lurk in the depths awaiting your challenge. Pg. 4 ~ Russellville Tourism & Visitors Center www.discoverrussellville.org ~ Pg. 5 Pg. 4 ~ Russellville Tourism & Visitors Center www.discoverrussellville.org ~ Pg. 5 Perhaps you prefer a more refined outdoor experience. The River Valley is home to four state parks – Lake Dardanelle, Mount Nebo, Mount Magazine and Petit Jean – offering visitor centers, park interpreters, marked hiking trails and swimming areas or pools. Mount Nebo, Mount Magazine and Petit Jean – the Tri-Peaks – offer breathtaking views. Lake Dardanelle’s visitor center features an aquatic exhibit holding many species of fish native to the river as well as Piney Creek and the Illinois Bayou. Planned activities such as kayak and pontoon boat tours of the lake, fish feedings, hands-on interpretative activities and hikes with an interpreter are just a sampling of the fun and wonder to be experienced at beautiful Lake Dardanelle State Park. Pg. 6 ~ Russellville Tourism & Visitors Center www.discoverrussellville.org ~ Pg. 7 Pg. 6 ~ Russellville Tourism & Visitors Center www.discoverrussellville.org ~ Pg. 7 Celebration of community is a common theme in the River Valley. Main Street Russellville’s Taste of the Valley is an award-winning party of delectable food and drink sampling provided by River Valley restaurants, vineyards and food service institutions. Autumn brings the Russellville Downtown Fall Festival and Chili Cookoff. The Downtown Fall Festival is a fun-filled, day-long nostalgic celebration bringing back the days when carnivals set up on the streets of Downtown Russellville. Championship chili sampling is part of the fun as well. The communities surrounding Russellville are big on community spirit as well. Dover celebrates the settling of the foothills during Ozark Memories Day. Atkins Picklefest is a jubilee of the delicious brine- packed cucumbers. You can even sample a fried pickle. And across the river the town of Dardanelle celebrates all things Yell County at Yell fest where, yes, you can enter a yelling contest. Pg. 8 ~ Russellville Tourism & Visitors Center www.discoverrussellville.org ~ Pg. 9 Pg. 8 ~ Russellville Tourism & Visitors Center www.discoverrussellville.org ~ Pg. 9 Do you want to watch the kids have fun while sitting in the shade? Maybe breaking a sweat is in your agenda. You can do both in the River Valley. The city of Russellville provides 23 parks, soccer and baseball complexes, a skateboard park, memorial parks with pavilions and two 18-hole championship caliber disc golf course at scenic Old Post Park. Bona Dea walking and bike trails cover 186 acres and provide the perfect place for a strenuous workout or leisurely tour of lakeside woodlands. Short trails, long trails, workout stations with suggestions for stretching and targeting muscle groups, rest benches and hard surfaced trails for all-weather use -- Bona Dea is a great way to warm-up or wind-down for the day. Pg. 10 ~ Russellville Tourism & Visitors Center www.discoverrussellville.org ~ Pg. 11 Pg. 10 ~ Russellville Tourism & Visitors Center www.discoverrussellville.org ~ Pg. 11 With a community of approximately 12,000 students taking classes through campuses in Russellville and Ozark, Arkansas Tech University offers a stackable degrees approach that creates multiple access points to higher education. NCAA athletics, vibrant programs in the arts and numerous community services initiatives are just some of the ways that ATU serves and partners with the residents of the Arkansas River Valley. See for yourself at www.atu.edu. LAKE POINT CONFERENCE CENTER Conferences, business meetings, social gatherings and educational opportunities are all part of the daily schedule at the Lake Point Conference Center, which is owned by Arkansas Tech University and located on Lake Dardanelle in Russellville. Lake Point provides the technology, hospitality and amenities necessary to make your event a success. Elegant and casual dining services, on-site overnight lodging and the variety of recreational activities in the area make Lake Point an ideal destination for any organization seeking a peaceful setting for its next meeting or small conference. Visit www.atu.edu/lakepoint for more information. Pg. 12 ~ Russellville Tourism & Visitors Center www.discoverrussellville.org ~ Pg. 13 Pg. 12 ~ Russellville Tourism & Visitors Center www.discoverrussellville.org ~ Pg. 13 Downtown The thumping, clacking Union Pacific railcars provide a fitting accent. The din of yesterday’s workhorse echoes at a comfortable volume through the corridors of downtown Russellville. It’s a nostalgic sound that works in concert with the buildings and the businesses. It’s the heartbeat of community here in the core of the city. The railroad is where the story begins for downtown Russellville. The Little Rock/Fort Smith Railroad was completed in 1873 and its route through Russellville tipped the balance of economic, and then political power in Pope County.The first depot was constructed in 1880 and shortly after that, in 1887 to be exact, the county seat moved from Dover to Russellville. The years meld together when visiting with downtown merchants. Old-fashioned service with a smile is still the foundation for good business whether you’re shopping at C&D Drug, a location that’s housed a pharmacy since 1877, or sampling a sweet at Kneading Hands Bakery. You can hear the thumping clacking sounds of a rousing economy. The sound echoes through the corridors of downtown Russellville. The sound and the spirit of downtown has survived through the decades and now sits ripe with potential. Pg. 14 ~ Russellville Tourism & Visitors Center www.discoverrussellville.org ~ Pg. 15 Pg. 14 ~ Russellville Tourism & Visitors Center www.discoverrussellville.org ~ Pg. 15 American Best Holiday Inn Express Value Inn & Suites 300 E. Harrell Drive 204 Lake Front Drive (479) 219-5152 (479) 968-5511 LaQuinta Inn & Suites Best Western 111 E. Harrell Drive Evening settles over the River Valley. 2326 N. Arkansas Ave. (479) 967-2299 You’ve got a full belly and big plans for tomorrow. A good (479) 967-1000 Motel 6 night’s rest is the only thing left on your day’s agenda. Luckily, Budget Inn 215 W. Birch Street Russellville offers accommodations for all budgets. 1206 E. Main Street (479) 968-3666 You can find lodging just a short drive from all Interstate 40 (479) 968-4959 Park Motel exits. Continental breakfast, outdoor pool, indoor pool, hot tub, Clarion Inn & Suites 2615 W. Main Street gym, mini-fridge, microwave, excellent parking and, of course, 2407 N. Arkansas (479) 968-4862 wi-fi are all readily available. (479) 968-4300 Quality Inn Clean rooms, fresh sheets, and small-town hospitality all Comfort Inn & Suites 3019 E. Parkway ensure that you’re rested, refreshed, and ready as the sun 2714 E. Parkway (479) 967-7500 shines down on another beautiful day in Russellville — the (479) 968-2424 natural choice in the Natural State. Relax Inn Courtyard by Marriott 1320 E. Main Street 154 E. Aspen Lane (479) 968-6332 (479) 968-6000 Russellville Days Inn & Suites Marina & Cabins 109 E. Harrell Drive 330 Beach Road (479) 280-1940 (479) 967-1543 Econo Lodge Super 8 Motel 2200 N.