Drew County: Water, Nature and History

When searching for a hotel in Drew County, you can first decide what you want to focus on during your stay: water activities, nature trails, or art and history. Lake Monticello, the Lakewoods Trail and the cultural sites in Monticello offer specific places to start.

Water, Rivers and Trails

The 1,520-acre Lake Monticello offers opportunities for fishing and boating. There are two concrete boat ramps: one at 299 Harris Road next to Harold West Park on the east side of the lake, and the other on the lake’s west shore at Hunger Run Access, reached via AR Highway 35. These access points therefore differ in their location around the lake.

Cut-Off Creek has no rapids and can be paddled upstream when water levels are normal. Since water levels can change, check them before a paddling trip. There is public access to the Saline River in Drew County at Ozment Bluff near Possum Valley. Bayou Bartholomew runs along the eastern edge of the county; you can fish there for crappie, bream and catfish. So, in addition to the lake, you can choose a river access point and a fishing spot with named fish species.

If you would rather focus on a trail than a water activity, the Lakewoods Trail offers another option: Phase 1 includes approximately six miles of a shared, non-motorized trail. This figure refers to the first phase and is an approximate length. The Seven Devils WMA is part of a 6,000-acre swamp in Drew County and adds to the region’s varied landscape offerings.

Art and Architectural History in Monticello

The Monticello Mural is next to City Hall in the Historic Downtown Business District. Its postcard-style images introduce visitors to different aspects of Drew County. The work was painted by Erin Ashcraft, who was born in Monticello. The Monticello Commercial Historic District offers a different perspective on the city: its many buildings illustrate Monticello’s development from 1890 through the 1950s.

The Monticello WPA Bas-Relief Mural also connects art with a specific regional subject. It consists of three unglazed terra-cotta bas-reliefs depicting tomato farming. While the historic district portrays the city’s development over several decades, this work focuses on a single theme. In Monticello, you can therefore explore different forms of public art and architectural history without reducing them to the same period or subject.

Areas of interest to visitors at the University of Arkansas at Monticello include buildings from the Civilian Conservation Corps era and other historically significant buildings, as well as Weevil Pond and the Weevil Walk. The Southeast Arkansas Concert Association also presents professional dance, theater and music performances at the UAM Fine Arts Center in Monticello. If you would like to attend a performance during your trip, check the event schedule as you plan.

Museums and Regional History

The grounds of the Drew County Museum and Archives include two cabins built by pioneers from Drew County, relocated there and opened to the public. The Taylor Log House is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Both sites add to the picture of regional history, while the Commercial Historic District primarily illustrates Monticello’s architectural development over a longer period.

The Allen House represents a different, paranormal-focused topic: it has been investigated by twelve different organizations and featured in eight paranormal investigation television shows. The number of organizations and the number of television shows describe two distinct aspects of its notoriety.

Discover more destinations: Monticello, Scott County, Clark County, Carroll County, Sharp County, Mississippi County, Little River, Marion County.

For an overview of travel across the state: Arkansas.