Keith Lusher 12.16.25
Arkansas officials have begun the formal process of designating Blanchard Springs Caverns as the state’s newest state park.
Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders and Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism Secretary Shea Lewis signed a memorandum of understanding with the U.S. Forest Service that would bring the Blanchard Springs Caverns Complex into the Arkansas State Parks system as the state’s 53rd park. Once finalized, the site will be known as Blanchard Springs State Park.
Located in Stone County near the community of Fifty-Six, the cavern complex sits within the Sylamore District of the Ozark National Forest. The site includes eight and a half miles of explored caverns, the only Forest Service Major Visitor Center in Arkansas, as well as a campground, swim beach, picnic areas and multiple trails.
Sanders said the move reflects the goals of the Natural State Initiative, a statewide effort launched in 2023 to grow Arkansas’ outdoor economy while protecting its natural resources.
“Blanchard Springs Caverns is a jewel of the Ozarks, and by kickstarting the process to designate it as a state park, we’re preserving its cultural and environmental legacy while creating new opportunities for tourism, jobs and year-round adventure,” Sanders said.
Lewis said the agreement establishes a joint management framework between Arkansas State Parks and the Ozark-St. Francis National Forests. The partnership is designed to enhance visitor services, strengthen environmental protections, and align federal and state investments in staffing and facilities.
Blanchard Springs Caverns is one of only a handful of federally managed “living” caves in the United States, meaning active mineral formations continue to grow. The cave system has been open to the public since 1973 and offers guided tours, including the Dripstone Tour and the Discovery Trail, as well as seasonal Wild Cave Tours in undeveloped sections of the system.
The complex draws nearly 70,000 visitors each year and plays a significant role in the local tourism economy. State officials said incorporating the site into the state park system would allow for expanded programming, unified branding, and year-round visitation while connecting nearby recreation opportunities such as hiking, biking, camping, and trout fishing on the White River.
State Sen. Missy Irvin, whose district includes the site, said the redesignation secures the long-term future of one of north Arkansas’ most important tourism assets.
Officials also said state park management would help address conservation concerns as visitation continues to rise. The caverns are home to endangered gray bats, rare salamanders, and a fragile cave ecosystem that geologists estimate has remained structurally unchanged for more than 10,000 years.
Arkansas tourism officials reported that more than 50.7 million people visited the state in 2023, generating $9.9 billion in travel spending and supporting more than 100,000 jobs statewide. Stone County alone recorded $74.1 million in visitor spending last year, much of it tied to outdoor recreation and Blanchard Springs Caverns.
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