Memorial Day Weekend Begins Swimming Pool and Boat House Operation

On May 29th, the Saturday of Memorial Day Weekend, both the Petit Jean State Park Public Swimming Pool and the historic Boathouse will begin operation for the summer camping season. 
The daily swimming pass is $4.00 for ages 6 and up, $2.00 for kids ages 2-5.  A season pass is also available.  (Inquire for rate.)
For 2010, the Boathouse will rent pedal boats, water bikes, canoes and kayaks.  Fishing boats are also available for rental, with and without outboard motor.

Mather Lodge Restaurant hours are 7:00 am until 8:00 pm.  Beginning on Friday, May 28th, the visitor center will be open from 8:00 am until 8:00 pm. 

The Clock Is Ticking to Visit the Mather Lodge Restaurant as We Know It

In December 2010, the Mather Lodge Restaurant is due for major renovation.  But before anyone worries that the historic, original lodge architecture, designed and built during the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) era, will be disturbed in any way, please be at ease.  Indeed, the original lodge structure will be left as close to the initial 1930s condition as possible.  Only post-CCC portions of the lodge are planned for a needed update.  And the new additions are planned to closely reflect the original “parkitecture” design of the original Mather Lodge.
Due to the extent of the construction, lodge rooms will be closed during renovation, and planners anticipate that the restaurant will be closed for a year and a half or more.  Cabins will still be available.
So, if you’ve been meaning to return to the Mather Lodge Restaurant, as it stands today, for a special occasion, or simply to share a good meal with friends or family, between now and December is the time to make that return visit. 

For information about lodge and cabin reservations, you may contact Mather Lodge at
(501) 727-5431, or call 1-800-264-2462.

Petit Jean State Park’s New Hike/Bike Trail

Petit Jean State Park is pleased to announce the completion of its new hike/bike trail, extending from the park’s camping areas to historic Mather Lodge.  The yet-unnamed trail is approximately 1.7 miles long and roughly parallels Highway 154 as it runs east and west through the park.  The new trail will enable people to comfortably walk or ride a bicycle off the highway when traveling from their campsites to Mather Lodge or vice versa. 

There are side trails leading to both the Cedar Creek Trailhead at the Pioneer Cabin and to the Cedar Falls Overlook parking area.  In the mid-section, the trail crosses an arch bridge made from native sandstone, built during the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC).  This CCC bridge has not been in use since the 1960s.  The hike/bike trail has a durable, hard-packed surface of varying grades of nepheline syenite gravel and offers a smooth bicycle ride as well as an easily-traveled surface for walking or running.  The trail follows a course that is mostly shaded and can be walked down-and-back at a leisurely pace within an hour and fifteen minutes. 
The trail begins near the junction of Highway 154 and Tanyard Springs Road on the eastern end and at the historic CCC Water Tower near Mather Lodge on the western end.  There is one highway crossing at 154 near Mather Lodge, another crossing on the park road leading to the public swimming pool and tennis courts, and at the trailhead on Tanyard Springs Road.  Caution should be used by pedestrians and cyclists when traveling through these crossings.  No motorized vehicles are allowed on the hike/bike trail. 
Please bring your hiking shoes or favorite bicycle to Petit Jean State Park and give the new hike/bike trail a trial run!

National Trails Day is June 5, 2010

On June 5th, Petit Jean State Park will host its annual National Trails Day celebration.  National Trails Day is a nationally-recognized event sponsored by the American Hiking Society in which participants attend educational exhibits, trail work projects, themed hikes and other activities in celebration of America’s 200,000 miles of hiking trails.  Trails allow people access to the natural world and lead to good physical and mental health, and Petit Jean State Park offers some of the most diverse and beautiful trails in the nation.

National Trails Day at Petit Jean will include a chance for participants to help improve park trails during a morning trail work project on the Cedar Falls Trail, a mid-morning trail hike, a bike tour on the hike/bike trail in the early afternoon, a “Hikers and Snakes – Sharing the Trail” program at mid-afternoon, plus a Petit Jean style softball game at 4:00 pm.  Later on, there will be an evening country music concert at the amphitheater with local musician Brandon Robertson.  Tickets will be issued at each event throughout the day for outdoor-related prize drawings during the evening concert.  All these programs are free and open to the public.
The theme for the 2010 National Trails Day is “Find Your Happy Place.”  We hope that you will come and find your happy place with us on June 5th at Petit Jean State Park.

Mountain Fishing Derby to be Held June 12, 2010

Get ready to wet a hook at the Mountain Fishing Derby at Petit Jean State Park on June 12th.  The Derby is held in conjunction with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s Free Fishing Weekend, which lasts from noon on Friday, June 11 through midnight Sunday, June 13, 2010. All kids, ages 15 and under, are invited to participate in this free derby.  Categories for awards will include biggest fish, smallest fish, longest fish, shortest fish, and even the most beautiful fish.  Awards will be given to participants who place 1st through 3rd in any category.  Other events of the day will include a casting contest for which awards will also be given. Even though adults are not eligible for awards, they may fish along with their children.

Registration for the event will begin at 8:00 am at the Boathouse at Petit Jean State Park.  Bring your favorite fishing pole, bait, and be prepared to catch some fish!  Weigh in will be completed by about 12:00 pm.  After weigh-in, at approximately 12:30 pm, we will have an award ceremony.  We hope to see you there!

Fourth of July Fun and Games Day

Thinking of a good way to spend Independence Day?  Join the staff at Petit Jean State Park for a fun-filled day of free activities during the Fourth of July Fun and Games Day!  In the morning, bring your bicycles for the 4th of July Parade through the campgrounds.  Then let the games begin with a full slate of morning activities, including a watermelon eating contest, followed by a lunch break and then more afternoon fun.    We will also offer an evening activity with cold ice cream on hand!  The day’s events are free and open to the public.

For more information on special event schedules, see our website at http://www.petitjeanstatepark.com under “Things to Do” or contact the park at (501)727-5441 or by email at petitjean@arkansas.com.