Best Places to Retire in Arkansas
Profile
Fayetteville (population 61,000) is located on the White River, near the Oklahoma border, in the northwest part of the state. It is at the foothills of the scenic Ozark Mountains and home to the University of Arkansas. http://www.accessfayetteville.org/
The city is in a very scenic and environmentally rich location, with beautiful streams and lakes nearby, scenic vistas, mountain trails, and outstanding recreational opportunities. It has the resources and advantages of a much larger city, yet retains its small college town atmosphere.
At the same time it has a solid economic base, supported by industry giants like Wal-Mart, J.B. Hunt, Superior Industries and Tyson Foods. And it enjoys a reasonable cost of living. The University of Arkansas contributes a great deal to the richness of the community with its outstanding arts programs, athletic programs, its many talented people, its resources, and the amenities it either brings or helps to support.
It also helps to maintain a stable local economy. Fayetteville has nightlife, many dining choices, good shopping, excellent healthcare, and is only minutes from the Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport, which is served by most of the major airlines. It has been written about in a number of publications in recent years with glowing comments stating it is among the best places in America to retire.
Arts & Culture
The Walton Arts Center is the premier venue in the region, featuring symphony performances, live theater, dance, world class entertainers, Broadway shows and more. http://www.waltonartscenter.org/
North Arkansas Symphony Orchestra is a 70-piece orchestra that has performed since the 1950s. Concerts are held at the Walton Arts Center.
Washington County Library System has over a quarter million books, 11,000 audio materials, 11,500 video materials, and 643 serial subscriptions.
Arkansas Air Museum, located at Drake Field, has racing planes from the 1920s and 1930s, and an early airliner. All of the planes, which are housed in an all-wood hanger, are maintained in flying condition.
Shiloh Museum of Ozark History
Rogers Historical Museum, Rogers, AR
Arkansas Country Doctor Museum, Lincoln, AR
Prairie Grove State Park, Prairie Grove, AR, is the site of the 1862 Civil War Battle of the same name. It is one of the most intact sites from the war.
Pea Ridge National Military Park is a 4,300-acre site that preserves this Civil War Battlefield. On this site 16,000 Confederates met 10,250 Union Soldiers in March of 1862. http://www.nps.gov/peri/
Senior Housing Fayettville
Please see our Fayettville assisted living guide for a comprehensive list of assisted living facilities in the area.
Recreation
The Parks and Recreation Division manages 58 parks and over 3,300 acres. Its facilities include 20 playgounds, 31 sports fields, eight tennis courts, a large swimming pool, three lakes, trails, picnic facilities, and more. It also manages sports and recreation programs, a summer concert series, and special events. There are sports leagues for both youth and adults. http://www.accessfayetteville.org/
Withrow Springs State Park is on the War Eagle River in the Ozarks in the town of Huntsville. It offers camping, swimming, tennis, baseball, softball, canoeing, and fishing.
Lake Fort Smith State Park in Mountainburg is closed until early 2006 in order to enlarge the lake and combine it with Lake Shepherd Springs. When re-opened the park will be on the western side of the reservoir and feature campsites, cabins, a pavilion, pool and marina.
Hobbs State Park, Rogers, AR, formerly called Beaver Lake State Park, covers over 11,000 acres along the southern shore of Beaver Lake. Plans are in process to greatly expand the amenities offered at the park.
Devils Den State Park, West Fork, AR, is located in the Lee Creek Valley. It has camping sites, hiking and biking trails, and more. It also has an eight-acre lake.
Ozark-St. Francis National Forest covers 1.2 million acres, mostly in the Ozark Mountains of northwestern Arkansas. It includes the tallest mountain in the state, Mount Magazine, and a spectacular living underground cave called Blanchard Springs Caverns. There are many recreational opportunities including hiking, swimming, fishing, hunting, boating and camping
The University of Arkansas (the Razorbacks) has big-time college athletic programs for men and women, and a strong tradition of being highly competitive in all major sports. It has an 80,000-seat football stadium, state-of-the-art basketball arena, and a 3,300-seat baseball stadium, ranked as one of the best in the country.
It is a member of the Southeastern Athletics Conference in NCAA Division One, which includes Alabama, Florida, Auburn, Georgia, South Carolina, Ole Miss, Mississippi State and Louisiana State University.
There are four golf courses in Fayetteville. All are open to the public. Razorback Park – (479) 443-5862
Fayetteville Country Club – (479) 442-5112 http://www.golflink.com/golf-courses/course.aspx?course=22234
Paradise Valley – (479) 521-5841 Stonebridge Meadows Golf Course – (479) 571-3673http:www.paradisegolfac.com/
Education
The University of Arkansas is a major university with over 13,000 full-time students enrolled. It offers more than 150 fields of study. http://www.uark.edu/
Northwest Arkansas Community College in Bentonville (21 miles) has 2,200 students. http://www.nwacc.edu/
Senior Programs
There are a total of seven Senior Activity Centers in Washington County, including one in Fayetteville, that are dedicated to providing services to seniors.
The University of Arkansas Division of Continuing Education offers a wide variety of opportunities for adults and seniors.
Hospitals
Washington Regional Medical Center is a 233-bed, acute care medical center. Officially opened in August 2002, this medical facility contains state-of the-art equipment and technologies, making it one of the most modern medical facilities in the region. It is home to the Johnelle Hunt Women’s Center and the Walker Family Heart & Vascular Institute. http://www.wregional.com/
The Fayetteville VA Medical Center has 51 beds and provides both primary and secondary levels of care.
Airport
Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport, Bentonville, AR (22 miles) is a regional hub that was opened in 1998. It has an 8,800-foot runway and offers commercial service to Kansas City, St. Louis, Dallas, Little Rock, Atlanta, and Chicago.
Weather
Average temperatures for January are a high of 44 degrees and low of 24 degrees. There is an average of 2.1 inches of rainfall in that month with an average of 2.9 inches of snow. For July, the averages are a high of 89 degrees and a low of 64 degrees, with 3.1 inches of rain in the month.
Newspaper
Northwest Arkansas Times – http://www.nwarktimes.com/
Property Taxes
Washington County – http://www.co.washington.ar.us/
State Taxes
Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration –http://www.arkansas.gov/dfa/
Chamber of Commerce
http://www.fayettevillear.com/
State Aging Agency
http://www.state.ar.us/dhs/aging/
Distances
Bentonville – 26 miles Fort Smith – 58 miles Tulsa, OK – 114 miles Little Rock, AR – 190 miles Dallas, TX – 332 miles