LITTLE ROCK, Ark. 12-9-25 — Arkansas has taken its first official step toward establishing a new state park in the Ozarks, following a memorandum of understanding signed today by Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism Secretary Shea Lewis, and the U.S. Forest Service. The agreement begins the formal process of designating the Blanchard Springs Caverns Complex as Blanchard Springs State Park. The announcement comes from a press release issued by the Governor of Arkansas’s office.
“From the moment we launched the Natural State Initiative, our mission has been clear: protect what makes Arkansas special and build an outdoor economy that supports every corner of our state,” Governor Sanders said. “Blanchard Springs Caverns is a jewel of the Ozarks… preserving its cultural and environmental legacy while creating new opportunities for tourism, jobs, and year-round adventure.”
First Gentleman Bryan Sanders echoed those remarks, calling the caverns an example of why Arkansas’ natural beauty remains a core strength of the state’s identity and economy.
Secretary Shea Lewis noted that the new partnership will elevate a major tourism destination while enhancing recreation opportunities such as paddling, camping, and mountain biking. Its proximity to the Ozark Folk Center State Park is expected to further boost regional tourism.
State Senator Missy Irvin, who represents the Stone County region, emphasized the importance of Blanchard Springs to the local economy. Calling the action “monumental,” Irvin praised the collaboration between state and federal agencies and highlighted the site as a critical tourism driver for Mountain View and surrounding communities.
Joint Management to Strengthen Conservation and Visitor Services
The memorandum of understanding establishes a new cooperative management structure between Arkansas State Parks and the Ozark-St. Francis National Forests. The model is expected to enhance visitor services, improve resource protection, and align federal and state investments in facilities and staffing.
The move builds on momentum from the Natural State Initiative, launched in 2023 to expand Arkansas’ outdoor recreation infrastructure and boost the state’s outdoor economy. Integrating Blanchard Springs into the State Parks system aligns with the initiative’s efforts to tie conservation principles to economic growth across rural Arkansas.
A Jewel of the Ozarks
Located near Fifty-Six in north-central Arkansas, the Blanchard Springs Caverns Complex covers eight-and-a-half miles of explored caverns within the Sylamore District of the Ozark National Forest. It features the only U.S. Forest Service Major Visitor Center in the state, a campground, swim beach, picnic grounds, and extensive hiking trails.
The caverns—among the largest “living” cave systems managed by the federal government—are known for active formations and one of the nation’s largest flowstones. Since opening in 1973, the visitor center has offered two signature guided experiences:
- The Dripstone Tour, a half-mile walk through richly decorated chambers including the Cathedral Room;
- The Discovery Trail, which follows the underground stream that carved the caverns and leads visitors 366 feet below the surface to the Ghost Room.
Seasonal Wild Cave Tours provide advanced explorers with access to undeveloped portions of the system.
Economic and Environmental Impact
Blanchard Springs draws nearly 70,000 visitors each year and serves as a cornerstone of tourism in Stone County. In 2023, the county saw $74.1 million in visitor spending, much of it tied to outdoor attractions. State officials say transforming the site into a state park will strengthen its role as a regional tourism anchor, connecting recreation opportunities from the White River to surrounding National Forest lands.
The state-park designation will also add long-term environmental safeguards, including controlled access, designated trails, and measures to protect fragile habitats. The caverns are home to endangered gray bats, rare salamanders, and a complex ecosystem shaped over thousands of years.
As visitation continues to rise, state officials say the new management model will balance public access with preservation—ensuring the caverns remain a protected natural treasure while supporting year-round tourism and outdoor recreation.
Images of Blanchard Springs Caverns are available through a link provided in the Governor’s press release.
