Rice is enjoying an Arkansas Renaissance

“In Little Rock, the Arkansas Arts Center is building a national reputation for its European art,” said Rice. “And the revitalization in Little Rock’s downtown is ongoing. We just opened the new Two Rivers pedestrian bridge near the Clinton Center last year, and we have had lots of new restaurants open downtown.

“When you consider the arts offerings that are also in place now in Hot Springs, at Garvan Woodland Gardens, in Eureka Springs and elsewhere across the state, it’s easy to understand why the theme of this year’s Travel South Showcase is Arkansas’ art,” said Rice.

Rice also mentioned several other venues that attending tour operators and media will want to become acquainted with. They include the following:

• Heifer International’s headquarter’s new educational wing in Little Rock.

• The restoration of Johnny Cash’s boyhood home in Dyess, Arkansas, about 45 minutes west of Memphis, Tennessee.

• Mount Magazine State Park, which sits high atop one of the state’s signature peaks in Arkansas’ Ozark Mountains.

• The renovation of the historic Mather Lodge at Petit Jean State Park, just northwest of Little Rock. The lodge was originally built by the Civilian Conservation Corps works project, authorized after the Great Depression.

“The timing is perfect for us to host Travel South Showcase and bring tour operators and the travel media up to speed on all the great things happening in Arkansas,” said Rice. “Our arts scene, when combined with our well-known outdoors, creates a statewide destination that is deserving of this kind of attention.”