The Top 10 Activities You Must Do in Fort Smith, Arkansas
The city of Fort Smith, Arkansas is truly a place of convergence. There are many things to do in this city at any time of day or night! Whether you're visiting the Janet Huckabee Nature Center or the hanging gallows, Fort Smith has something to offer everyone.
Though life may look a little different right now, Fort Smith is still very much open to locals and tourists alike. Remember to support local businesses by utilizing online shopping carts, drive-thru/curbside pickup, and local delivery services. But for this guide, we’re not focusing on the things you can buy; we’re focusing on the things you can do.
Keep in mind that these attractions and venues are subject to local, state, and federal rules and restrictions. Hours/availability may have changed.
1. Fort Smith National Historic Site
301 Parker Ave, Fort Smith, AR 72901
Operating Hours & Admission Prices
Fort Smith National Historic Site is located on the banks of the Arkansas River and contains two American military forts, a jail, and a courthouse. Several exhibits highlight the role played by Fort Smith in the American westward expansion during the 19th century.
Take a break at the old-fashioned soda fountain and discover a pharmacy from the 1920s–1940s. A working exhibit offers ice cream, sundaes, floats, and handmade ice cream sodas. For locally produced pottery, baskets, and art, visit the museum's gift shop.
Fort Smith is steeped in history, most of it surrounding Judge Isaac Parker. During his life, he secured pensions for veterans, sponsored a bill to help allow women to hold public office, and worked on policies for the fair treatment of the tribes that resided within “Indian Territory.”
During his tenure, Judge Parker sentenced 160 guilty men and women guilty of serious crimes. Of these, 79 men were executed on the gallows, which you can visit at the Fort Smith site to learn more about the infamous “Hanging Judge.”
This attraction, also known as Miss Laura's Social Club, is located along the Arkansas River in Fort Smith's historic downtown area. It is now the official Visitors Center of Fort Smith, Arkansas, as well as a historic site and local heritage museum.
The former bordello, which is the only one out of seven-row houses from the area’s old red-light district that has stood the test of time despite its ill-repute. Miss Laura’s was considered to be the “grandest bordello in The West” and was also the most upscale of the row houses in Fort Smith. It has even become the first former bordello to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Visitors to Fort Smith are encouraged to stop by Miss Laura's for a free guided tour of the immaculately restored Victorian mansion.
The Clayton House is often described as a living history book of Fort Smith’s Victorian period. Inside the Italianate-style mansion in the Belle Grove Historic District, you will find a law museum where you’ll learn the story of William H.H. Clayton’s efforts to bring solitude to Western Arkansas and rid the area of criminal outlaws alongside Judge Parker.
During a guided tour, you will get to explore the antebellum home with an immaculately preserved collection of 19th-century furnishings and original features, such as coal-burning fireplaces.
4. Creekmore Park
3301 S 31st Street, Fort Smith, AR 72903
Spend the day with the family exploring Creekmore Park in Fort Smith’s downtown area. Walk the trail and let your kids' imagination run wild while they burn off some energy on the playground. Seasonal activities include the Creekmore Express Train and Creekmore Holiday Express, an 18-hole miniature golf course, fitness trail, tennis center and courts, community center, and the region’s largest outdoor Olympic-sized swim and dive facility.
During the summer, there are a variety of indoor and outdoor activities to take in. In the winter, the park serves as the western terminus of the Arkansas statewide Trail of Lights!
The park and community center can also be rented for birthday parties, reunions, meetings, and other types of events.
5. The Park at West End
115 Garrison Ave, Fort Smith, AR 72901
Historic downtown Fort Smith is a great place to walk around in the afternoon and early evening, catch a bite to eat, or explore the local history. While you’re there, don’t forget to check out The Park at West End!
The Park at West End is one of the most charming parks you’ll come across, with many features that park-goers young and old will enjoy. Take a ride on the vintage carousel, which was hand-painted in Treviso, Italy. Don’t forget to get a snack from the Double Decker Bus concession stand, or dine in the refurbished Pullman railcar Diner.
No trip to West End is complete without taking a spin on the Ferris Wheel, a remnant from the 1935 San Diego World’s Fair which only costs $1 to ride.
* The park is currently closed.
6. Parrot Island Waterpark
7300 Zero St, Fort Smith, AR 72903
Operating Hours & Admission Prices
Cool off with friends and family at Parrot Island Waterpark. This attraction is a must-visit for any local or tourist with its two-lane FlowRider and wave pool. For a little more action, jump on any of their four, twisting and turning water slides, or chill out on the river for a more relaxing day. Those with children will find the activity pool and themed children’s aquatic play area a must.
No matter what you choose, Parrot Island has over 400,000 gallons of aquatic fun, along with a variety of amenities, including party pavilions, cabana rentals, food and beverages, a gift shop, a complimentary deck, and lounge chairs, complimentary inner tubes, and expansive grass lawns for relaxing.
7. Janet Huckabee Arkansas River Valley Nature Center
8300 Wells Lake Rd, Fort Smith, AR 72916
The Janet Huckabee Arkansas River Valley Center (say that five times fast) sits on 170 acres of land. The building overlooks Wells Lake, a popular local fishing and picnic destination.
In addition to Canada geese, small mammals, and turtles that reside at the center, a wide range of colorful songbirds stop by on their way to and from wintering grounds further south. Several visitors come to the center for the exhibits inside, but many also enjoy the trails, native plants on the grounds, and fishing or canoeing in the lake.
8. Saint Scholastica Monastery
1301 S Albert Pike Ave, Fort Smith, AR 72903
Formerly known as the Saint Scholastica Convent, this monastery is one of Fort Smith’s most iconic religious facilities. Built in 1923 and designed by Oklahoma City architect, F.W. Redlick, the monastery is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
If you go at the right time, the Franciscan nuns that run the Saint Scholastica Monastery may have the building open to visit, but since it’s an active cloister, there may be times when it's closed to the public.
Regardless, the grounds are worth a look, as is the building’s stunning architecture. There is also a pond with a grotto, statues, and a gift shop waiting if you make it inside.
9. Fort Smith Brewing Company
7500 Fort Chaffee Boulevard, Fort Smith, AR 72916
Fort Smith Brewing Company is a local brewery dedicated to bringing delicious craft beer to the locals, and—according to many Fort Smith natives—truly one of a kind.
These simple, yet delicious flavors are crafted in small batches, and some in-house brews include the 1817 Pale Ale, Dat Nguyen Stout, and Trailblazer IPA, which was the first beer for the Fort Smith region. Don't forget to pair your beers with the delicious dishes their kitchen prepares, such as pizza, sandwiches, and homemade sides.
10. Fort Smith Trolley Museum
100 S 4th St, Fort Smith, AR 72901
Located downtown, the Fort Smith Trolley Museum is within walking distance of many of the locations we have already suggested, which makes it a convenient place to visit if you’ve got a few spare hours.
Visitors of all ages enjoy seeing the gorgeous streetcars, such as the Fort Smith Light & Power #10 and a Fort Smith Light and Traction #205. You will also find a rail collection that includes combustion locomotives and railway speeders in addition to trolleys.
Even if you don’t get a chance to go during operating hours, you can walk around the grounds to take a look at the antique trolleys on display. You may even catch a glimpse of some friendly neighborhood cats!
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