Hermitage ArkansasATTRACTIONS & THINGS TO DO
Listed below are the best attractions and things to do near Hermitage, Arkansas.
1. Moro Bay State Park
OUTDOOR RECREATION PARADISE
Moro Bay State Park offers visitors a serene natural setting along the Ouachita River with well-maintained campsites and cabins. The park features excellent fishing opportunities, boat rentals, and a marina for water enthusiasts to explore the surrounding waterways. Visitors can also enjoy hiking trails, wildlife viewing, and educational programs led by park interpreters throughout the year.
2. Felsenthal National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center
WILDLIFE SANCTUARY EXPERIENCE
The Felsenthal National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center serves as the gateway to one of the largest flooded bottomland hardwood forests in North America. The center provides educational exhibits about the diverse ecosystem that supports over 200 bird species, numerous fish, and other wildlife native to the region. Visitors can obtain maps for hiking trails, waterways for kayaking, and information about seasonal hunting opportunities within the refuge's 65,000 acres.
3. Dallas County Museum
LOCAL HISTORY PRESERVED
The Dallas County Museum showcases the rich cultural heritage and historical significance of the region through carefully curated exhibits and artifacts. The museum houses collections ranging from Native American artifacts to displays highlighting the agricultural, industrial, and social developments that shaped the area. Visitors can explore multiple galleries featuring period furnishings, photographs, and interactive exhibits that bring local history to life.
4. Johnny Cash Boyhood Home
MUSIC LEGEND'S ROOTS
The Johnny Cash Boyhood Home has been meticulously restored to reflect the period when the legendary musician lived there with his family during the Great Depression. Visitors can tour the modest five-room farmhouse and gain insight into the early influences that shaped Cash's life and musical career. The home is part of the Historic Dyess Colony, a New Deal agricultural resettlement community that provides context for understanding Cash's formative years in rural Arkansas.
5. Historic Dyess Colony
NEW DEAL COMMUNITY
Historic Dyess Colony offers visitors a glimpse into one of the most ambitious agricultural resettlement communities established under President Roosevelt's New Deal programs. The restored administration building serves as a museum with exhibits detailing the colony's history and the experiences of the 500 impoverished farm families who were relocated there during the 1930s. Tours include access to original colony buildings and the Johnny Cash Boyhood Home, highlighting the unique social experiment that helped families survive the Great Depression.
6. Little Portion Hermitage & Monastery
SPIRITUAL RETREAT DESTINATION
Little Portion Hermitage & Monastery offers visitors a tranquil spiritual retreat nestled in the beautiful Ozark Mountains. The contemplative center features an inspiring monastic church, peaceful prayer gardens, and a welcoming community that preserves traditional monastic practices. Guests can participate in scheduled prayer services, walk the grounds during public visiting hours, or simply enjoy the quiet contemplation that this hidden spiritual jewel provides.
7. Blanchard Springs Caverns
UNDERGROUND NATURAL WONDER
Blanchard Springs Caverns features spectacular living limestone formations within a massive three-level cave system in the Ozark National Forest. Guided tours take visitors through illuminated chambers where stalactites, stalagmites, columns, and flowstones continue to grow and change through ongoing natural processes. The surrounding recreation area offers hiking trails, picnic facilities, and a beautiful mountain stream for visitors to enjoy before or after exploring the underground marvels.
8. Fordyce and Princeton Railroad
HISTORIC RAILWAY LINE
The Fordyce and Princeton Railroad passes through Hermitage as a historic railway line that played a crucial role in the development of Bradley County. This railroad facilitated the transportation of agricultural products, particularly the region's famous tomatoes, to broader markets across the country. Today, remnants of this important transportation infrastructure serve as reminders of the economic forces that shaped Hermitage's growth and development.
9. Bradley County Tomato Festival
AGRICULTURAL CELEBRATION EVENT
The Bradley County Tomato Festival celebrates the area's reputation as one of the nation's premier tomato-producing regions with a variety of family-friendly activities. The annual event features a tomato-eating contest, the crowning of the Tomato Festival Queen, arts and crafts vendors, and live entertainment throughout the weekend. Visitors can sample and purchase the famous Bradley County pink tomatoes while learning about the agricultural heritage that has made this region nationally recognized for its produce.
10. Camden Expedition Sites
CIVIL WAR BATTLEFIELDS
The Camden Expedition Sites comprise multiple National Historic Landmarks related to the significant 1864 Civil War campaign in southern Arkansas. These preserved locations include battlefields, river crossings, and strategic positions where Union and Confederate forces clashed during the Red River Campaign. Visitors interested in American history can explore these sites to gain insight into the military strategies, challenges, and impact of this pivotal series of Civil War engagements.
11. Fort Southerland
CIVIL WAR FORTIFICATION
Fort Southerland stands as a well-preserved Civil War earthwork fortification located on Bradley Ferry Road near Camden. Originally constructed by Confederate forces, the fort was later occupied and improved by Union troops during their temporary occupation of Camden in 1864. The National Historic Landmark offers visitors the opportunity to walk through authentic Civil War defensive positions while interpretive markers explain the fort's strategic importance during the Camden Expedition.
12. Wardlaw Brothers Farms
WORKING AGRICULTURAL ENTERPRISE
Wardlaw Brothers Farms operates as a significant agricultural enterprise in Hermitage, showcasing the region's continuing agricultural traditions. The farm, run by Arkansas State Representative Jeff Wardlaw, contributes to Bradley County's reputation as a premier tomato-growing region. Visitors interested in agricultural tourism can learn about modern farming practices and the economic importance of agriculture to the local community.
13. Prairie D'Ane Battlefield
HISTORIC CIVIL WAR SITE
Prairie D'Ane Battlefield preserves the site where Union and Confederate forces engaged in a significant four-day battle from April 9-12, 1864. The battlefield, designated as a National Historic Landmark, marks where Confederate resistance successfully blunted the Union drive toward Louisiana during the Camden Expedition. Visitors can walk the grounds where approximately 15,000 soldiers once fought, with interpretive signage explaining the battle's importance within the larger context of the Civil War in Arkansas.
14. South Arkansas Arts Center
CREATIVE COMMUNITY HUB
The South Arkansas Arts Center serves as a cultural cornerstone in the region, offering visual arts galleries, a theater program, and educational opportunities for all ages. The center hosts rotating art exhibitions featuring local and regional artists, along with theatrical productions performed in their well-equipped performance space. Visitors can participate in workshops, attend special events, or simply appreciate the creative expressions that showcase the artistic talent of southern Arkansas.
15. Arkansas Museum of Natural Resources
OIL INDUSTRY HERITAGE
The Arkansas Museum of Natural Resources documents the fascinating history of the oil and brine industries that transformed southern Arkansas in the 1920s. Interactive exhibits include recreated oil derricks, period storefronts, and working machinery that demonstrate how these natural resources were extracted and processed. Visitors can explore both indoor galleries and outdoor displays that bring to life the boomtown era when the discovery of oil dramatically changed the region's economy and culture.