Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders joined officials from the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism on Tuesday for a special open house celebrating a series of investments that honor the history of Petit Jean State Park while preparing Arkansas’ first state park for its next century. The event highlighted the reopening of the newly renovated historic Mather Lodge, expanded outdoor recreation opportunities, and the unveiling of an Arkansas 250 historical marker recognizing Petit Jean’s important place in Arkansas history…
Guests toured the newly renovated Mather Lodge, where improvements to the historic guest rooms, led by Arkansas State Parks and Arkansas Historic Preservation Program, enhance the visitor experience while preserving the character and craftsmanship that have made the lodge a defining part of Petit Jean State Park…
The celebration also showcased the park’s growing outdoor recreation offerings. The new Petit Jean Via Ferrata, offered in partnership with Frontier Climbing Company, creates a new way for visitors of varying experience levels to engage with Petit Jean’s iconic terrain and experience the park from a different perspective. Later this fall, in partnership with Arkansas Parks and Recreation Foundation, new mountain biking experiences will begin opening at Petit Jean State Park, offering trails and opportunities for riders of varying skill levels……