Arkansas Open for Business

I am reprinting here an article from Arkansas Tourism.

If you're planning a trip to Arkansas in the near future, there’s no need to worry. We're still here! Although faced with torrential rain and flooding, The Natural State is still in fine form. "Things seem to be getting better," says Cathy Drew, executive director of the Ozark Gateway Tourism Council. “The majority of our tourism attractions are open and ready for the summer season.” Many attractions and state parks throughout Arkansas were briefly affected by the rain and flooding, but most have reopened and are looking forward to welcoming visitors.

“Our tourism people are used to dealing with changing waters,” said Kelley Linck, executive director Ozark Mountain Region Tourist Association. He added that the few attractions or lodging facilities that did experience damage from the water are already in the repair stage and almost open for business. Visitors will find new carpet, appliances and other improvements at these locales. “So it’s actually going to improve our product.”

The rains have brought some benefits. Floating on the upper Buffalo National River is prime right now and expected to be good for the rest of the river as well for many weeks to come. It is also a great time to get out and view or photograph waterfalls.

“The increased water flow is helping the fish grow. We should have an excellent lake spawn,” Linck said. He added that trout fishing on the White River is good right now even with all the high water, although it’s being done by boat.

Linck said people planning a trip to Arkansas should call ahead to the area they want to visit to determine the best time to go based on the water activities they want to enjoy, whether it be wade fishing, skiing or scuba diving.

In the upcoming weeks, if you’re planning on visiting The Natural State, come on….we’re open for business! You can visit www.Arkansas.com and click on the Breaking News icon to learn the latest information on roadway conditions, current weather forecasts, updates from Arkansas State Parks and Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and situation reports from the Corps of Engineers. We’ve got all the information you need in one place to plan your trip to The Natural State.