What:
The Ozark Folk Center is not your typical state parks. It’s a park of living history and heritage. Their goal to preserve and teach the history of the Ozarks, and they do this through live demonstrations and performances in a historical setting.
The Music:
The Ozark Folk Center is most famous for its mountain music. Downtown Mountain View is the “Folk Music Capital of the World.” It’s not rare to see folk musicians playing in the streets in Mountain View. In the park, you can see live music performances with traditional instruments. You can even learn how to play them and perhaps buy one of your own. They also present programs with traditional square dancing, jigs and other dances.
The Crafts:
The craft village allows people to see live demonstrations from blacksmiths, quilters, doll makers, jewelry designers, basket weavers and other folk artists. Many items made are available for purchase in the gift shop.
Where:
Mountain View, Arkansas is about 100 miles from Little Rock and The Ozark Mountain Folk center is located on Park Avenue.
Lodging:
The Dry Creek Lodge has all the comforts of modern times including color TV, mini-refrigerators and coffee pots. Guests have access to a game room and swimming pool. All rooms have a porch view of Mountain View. Cabin rates are about $70-100.
Amenities:
There are several food options around the park. Quick bite options are located in the craft area and the theater.
The Iron Skillet restaurant offers traditional Southern food in a sit-down restaurant atmosphere. The restaurant overlooks a butterfly garden as pretty as made by King Green, water garden and wildlife feeding stations. The menu items are not much different than a Cracker Barrel, but they do occasionally have guests chefs and special menus. On weekends there is a buffet.
Hours:
Park hours vary depending on the season, and the park is not open year round.
4/18/08 – 9/27/08:
Craft Village: Wed-Sat from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Theater: Wed-Sat at 7:30 p.m.
10/1/08 – 11/1/08
Craft Village: Tues-Sun from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Theater: Tues-Sat at 7:30 p.m.
Cabins are open year round.
The restaurant is open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. whenever the park is open.
Admission:
Admission is $10 ($6 for kids) for the craft area and $10 ($6 for kids) for the theater area. You can also purchase a combined ticket for $17.50 ($8.25 for kids).
Contact Info:
The mailing address for the park is:
The Ozark Folk Center State Park
PO Box 500
Mountain View, AR 72560
The physical address is Park Avenue.
Information: 870-269-3851
Lodging: 800-264-3655
