Hobbs State Park – Conservation Area facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hobbs State Park – Conservation Area |
|
|---|---|
Historic bridge leading to the Van Winkle site
|
|
 Hobbs State Park – Conservation Area
Location in Arkansas
|
|
| Location | Benton, Carroll, and Madison County, Arkansas, United States |
| Area | 12,056 acres (48.79 km2) |
| Established | 1979 |
| Named for | Roscoe C. Hobbs |
| Governing body | Arkansas Department of Parks & Tourism/Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission/Arkansas Game and Fish Commission |
| Website | Hobbs State Park–Conservation Area |
Hobbs State Park – Conservation Area is a large Arkansas state park. It covers about 12,056-acre (4,879 ha) of land. You can find it in Benton, Carroll, and Madison Counties, Arkansas.
This park was bought in 1979. Many banks in Northwest Arkansas helped pay for it. Hobbs State Park is mostly located in the Ozark Plateau region. It is just south of Beaver Lake. The park is open all year for fun activities. You can enjoy 32.9 miles (52.9 km) of trails. These trails are great for hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding. The park also has picnic spots, a shooting range, and simple camping areas.
Contents
Park History and How It Was Saved
Roscoe C. Hobbs and His Land
Roscoe C. Hobbs was born in 1881 in Northwest Arkansas. He became very successful in the railroad business. He started a company that made railroad ties. These are the wooden beams that support train tracks. His business helped him earn enough money to buy lots of forest land. He loved the hardwood trees in the area.
In 1962, Mr. Hobbs gave 320 acres (130 ha) of land to Arkansas. This land became Withrow Springs State Park. When he passed away, his land was left to his family. But he had a special rule. If his family ever sold the land, the state of Arkansas had to be offered it first.
Saving the Land from Development
In 1977, Mr. Hobbs's land was offered to the state. The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission wanted it. But they did not have enough money. Then, a company from California wanted to buy the land. They planned to build vacation homes there.
When people in Arkansas heard about this, they were upset. They wanted to protect the beautiful land. The Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism also wanted the land for a state park. But they didn't have enough money either.
The idea of saving the park became very important. People talked to their leaders. Finally, Governor David Pryor decided the land must be bought and protected.
A Community Effort to Buy the Park
To buy the land, many groups worked together. These included the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration and The Nature Conservancy. Banks in Fayetteville also helped. Governor Pryor and others went to St. Louis, Missouri. They talked with the people in charge of the Hobbs family's land.
Eventually, all 22 banks in four counties helped. These counties were Benton, Carroll, Madison, and Washington. Important people like Sam Walton and senators Kaneaster Hodges and Dale Bumpers also played a big part.
The Arkansas General Assembly bought the land. They used money borrowed from the banks. This was a lot of money, about $3.175 million. Governor Bill Clinton made the purchase official in 1979. Because so many groups helped, the park is now owned by several state agencies. This is why it's called Hobbs State Park – Conservation Area.
Park Geology
The land where the park sits was once covered by an ancient sea. This means it has a lot of limestone. Over time, water has worn away the limestone. This creates special landforms. You can find springs, small streams that disappear, and caves. This type of landscape is called karst topography.
Park Recreation
Hobbs State Park offers many ways to have fun outdoors.
Camping in the Park
The park has five camping spots. These are along the Pigeon Roost Trail. The campsites are simple, or "primitive." Some even have views of Beaver Lake. The park does not have cabins or other types of lodging.
Shooting Range
Hobbs State Park has a special place for target shooting. It is the only shooting range in an Arkansas state park. There are four target stands. You can shoot at distances starting from 25 feet (7.6 m). The shooting area is covered. It has five stations. Only paper targets are allowed. Shotguns are not permitted.
Park Trails
The park has many trails for different activities.
- Shaddox Hollow Trail: This trail is 1.5 miles (2.4 km) long. It is in the northwest part of the park.
- Pigeon Roost Trail: This trail is 8.4 miles (13.5 km) long. It starts near the visitor center. Only walkers are allowed on this trail. No bikes or horses.
- Hidden Diversity Multi-use Trail: This is a long trail, 23 miles (37 km) in length. You can even take guided tours on this trail.
- Historic Van Winkle Trail: This trail is 0.5 miles (0.80 km) long. It is easy to use for wheelchairs. It even has a tunnel that goes under the highway.
