Faulkner: History, Art and Nature

Cadron Settlement Park sits on a hill overlooking the Arkansas River, just west of Conway. Art and events in Conway, along with lakes and outdoor trails, add to the picture of Faulkner. If you’re planning a hotel stay, you can base your search on the excursions that interest you most.

Cadron: River Views and History

The grounds of Cadron Settlement Park cover 150 acres, and the park was established in 1979. During a cholera epidemic, more than 700 Cherokee people were stranded there for 16 days. Two exhibits focus on the Trail of Tears. The Cadron Blockhouse also tells the story of early settlement: It is a replica of a late-18th-century structure that served settlers and fur traders as a home, trading post, and public meeting place.

Cadron was a stop on the Butterfield Overland Mail Route in the 1850s. The Trail of Tears and the Butterfield Trail near Cadron are part of the Arkansas Historic Trails System. In addition to these historical themes, the park offers a boat ramp, hiking trails, picnic areas, and two pavilions. The river landscape and various ways to enjoy the outdoors sit alongside the history of the place.

Conway: Museum, Art and Events

The Faulkner County Museum is housed in the historic county jail built in 1896. It preserves the history of Conway and Faulkner County through exhibits on historic and modern crafts, equipment, and photographs. Visitors can also use its research and archival collections for genealogical or historical research on Faulkner County.

At the University of Central Arkansas, the Baum Gallery presents traveling national and international exhibitions, as well as juried student exhibitions. As an educational art museum, it serves university students, faculty, and staff, as well as the Central Arkansas community. Its program brings together student work and exhibitions with a broader art program.

Toad Suck Daze has been a spring tradition in the Conway area since 1982. The festival in downtown Conway includes the World Championship Toad Races. The Toad Market offers shopping at local boutiques and at arts and crafts booths; participating vendors may vary. The Conway Symphony Orchestra also caters to a range of interests: It performs masterpieces and lesser-known musical works, and presents holiday, children’s, and park concerts.

Lakes and Outdoor Trails

Woolly Hollow State Park is in Greenbrier, about 18 miles north of Conway. Its Lake Bennett covers 40 acres. The 3.5-mile Huckleberry Trail is a loop that runs along the lake, over the earthen dam, and through a deciduous forest. Fishing is available at Lake Bennett, and canoes, kayaks, and pedal boats can be rented in the park. Rental availability may vary by season.

Woolly Cabin is another notable historic site in the park. The original building, constructed in 1882, is a one-room family dwelling; it was moved to its present location and restored in 1975. Erosion-control structures dating from the Great Depression are also still visible in the park. For mountain biking, Enders Fault offers a 9.4-mile trail.

Lake Conway is quite different from Lake Bennett: It covers 6,700 acres and is a popular fishing spot for catfish, bream, and bass. The Lake Conway WMA Woodlands Auto Tour is a 4.5-mile loop with five stops. Another activity is available at Beaverfork Lake Park, which has an 18-hole disc golf course.

Conway also has trails for an active outing: The city’s original walking and biking trail runs 3.1 miles along Tucker Creek, from Tyler Street to Hogan Lane. The Dave Ward Pedestrian Bridge safely connects sections of the Conway trail system.

Discover more destinations: Greenbrier, Conway, Damascus, Stone County, Independence County, Conway County, Hot Spring County, Little River.

For the broader travel overview: Arkansas.