From Battlefields to Bayous: An August Day Trip South

On August 19, Theresa and I headed south from our home in Alexander for a full day of Arkansas exploring. It turned into a trip that blended Civil War history, quiet backwaters, small-town charm and plenty of good food along the way. We left at 7:00 a.m. and returned home around 7:00 p.m., tired but satisfied after covering almost 300 miles.

Our first stop was Jenkins Ferry Battleground State Park, a quiet, shaded memorial to one of the bloodiest Civil War battles fought in Arkansas. Interpretive signs told the story of Union and Confederate troops clashing in April 1864, with the Saline River bottomlands as their backdrop.

From there, we continued to Marks Mill Battleground State Park, another poignant site tied to the Red River Campaign. Standing beneath the tall pines, it was easy to imagine the chaos that unfolded when Confederate forces ambushed a Union supply train there.

Next, we turned west to Moro Bay State Park. Here, the Ouachita River and Moro Bay come together in a setting of swampy beauty and fishing waters. We stretched our legs, enjoyed a walk through the visitor center and snapped a few photos of the old ferry once used to carry people from one side of the river to the other..

Our route then took us to South Arkansas Arboretum State Park in El Dorado, a lovely oasis of shaded walking trails and native plants. By then we were ready for lunch, so we stopped at Johnny B’s Grill, a local favorite in El Dorado. Theresa had one of their delicious patty melts and I stuffed myself on a huge taco saad, fuel for the afternoon ahead.

After lunch, we stopped by the Arkansas Museum of Natural Resources in Smackover. This museum is built around the state’s oil boom history, with exhibits ranging from vintage drilling rigs to restored main street storefronts.Unfortunately, we failed to check the hours and days they were open before we got there, and found it was closed..

Back on the road, we detoured to Poison Springs Battleground State Park, yet another site where Arkansas’ Civil War history lingers. The quiet woods made a stark contrast to the violence remembered here. Not far away, our final state park stop was White Oak Lake State Park, a peaceful fishing destination surrounded by pine forest.

The day wouldn’t have been complete without a sweet treat. On the way home we stopped at the Yellow Jacket Drive Inn in Sheridan for ice cream—a welcome cool-down after hours on the road. Before finishing our drive, we also pulled over at the American Legion B-17 Memorial Park on Highway 35 north. The memorial site honors the nine-man crew of a B-17F Flying Fortress that perished in 1943 from an explosion mid-air in a wooded area five miles northwest of Sheridan. A replica of a B-17 airplane sits front and center, and to the rear of the plane is a black granite wall containing names and information about each of the airmen who perished that day during World War II. This hidden treasure is well worth a visit for history buffs.

We rolled back into Alexander with 297 miles on the odometer, a camera full of photos, and another story to add to our Arkansas State Park adventures.