Date: April 26, 2022 | Story: Stephanie Maxwell Newton | Photography: Molly Anne Sandefur |
This South Arkansas city is home to a bustling downtown and a year-round calendar of events | A Special At Home in Arkansas Promotion
The Black Cat Café’s varied (and cheeky) menu offers everything from “Cat’s Meow Burgers” to “Fat Cat Steaks.”
Main Street El Dorado was founded in 1988 with the mission to improve the downtown through historic preservation, economic development, and event promotion. Its executive director, Beth Brumley, is an Arkadelphia native who moved to El Dorado right out of college. “There were great opportunities here, and I just fell in love with the town,” she says. Beth was first involved with the organization as a volunteer—with a full-time staff of only two, that is the role most who are affiliated with Main Street El Dorado take. “Everything we do is volunteer-based. It’s all people who are vested in their community and enjoy giving back,” she says. The nonprofits’ biggest festival of the year, MusicFest—which takes place October 7-8 this year and includes a lineup packed with live music and family fun—requires 300-400 such volunteers, Beth adds.
While MusicFest might be the program’s largest and most well-known, organizers coordinate a total of 24 events a year, including cook-offs, holiday-themed gatherings, and monthly First Thursday happy hours in partnership with the Downtown Business Association, among others. For example, at May on Main—held this year on May 7—revelers can enjoy live music on the square throughout the day. Airstreams on the Square, which brings dozens of the distinctive aluminum campers to downtown El Dorado in the fall, is a more recent addition to the list—and one that Beth describes as a sight to see in and of itself. “This is the only urban camping event in the state of Arkansas, and we usually have eight or nine states represented,” she says. “Once we get someone to El Dorado, they usually come back or tell someone else to make the trip. We do a lot locally for community and quality of life, but also to bring visitors to town.”
Some of these events are fundraisers, but Main Street El Dorado also receives funding from its parent programs, Main Street Arkansas and Main Street America, to provide free resources to more than 240 small businesses that fall within the nonprofit’s downtown footprint. “Main Street Arkansas provides services like consultants for store exteriors or interiors, as well as advice on starting or running your business,” Beth says. All of this makes a difference in keeping occupancy high and the area thriving. “El Dorado has always had forward thinkers. We come together to collaborate,” Beth says, citing recent additions, such as The Murphy Arts District and The Haywood Hotel, as indicators that the community continues to invest in itself and grow. Read on for some of our favorite reasons to discover El Dorado.
DINE
Magnolia eatery MuleKick opened its El Dorado location, [email protected] (mulekickatmad.com), last fall. Featuring a menu of pizza, wings, and craft beer, it’s right at home in the spot formerly occupied by Griffin Restaurant in the Murphy Arts District. In the mood for Mexican food? Head to Laredo’s Grill (laredogrill.site) for all your favorites, plus a range of salads, burgers, and chef’s specials. Don’t miss El Dorado Creamery (facebook.com/eldoradocreamery) for a sweet treat—they have 12 rotating flavors of frozen yogurt—after a day of exploring the city.
VISIT
On May 26, MAD Amphitheater (eldomad.com) plays host to country music icons Tracy Lawrence and Clay Walker with special guest Tracy Byrd. Prices start at $44 for general admission seating on the lawn, though major fans can reserve tickets for the “VIP Experience,” which includes early entry and time with the artists. Just west of the city’s downtown is the South Arkansas Arboretum (arkansasstateparks.com), a 12-acre wooded site with picturesque walking trails maintained by the South Arkansas Community College. A semi-private club with tee times available to the public, Mystic Creek Golf Club (golfmysticcreek.com) has been named the “No. 1 Course You Can Play in Arkansas” by Golfweek. Save the date for the club’s MGA Firecracker Golf Tournament July 9-10.
STAY
Whether you’re traveling in from out of town or looking for a staycation, check out The Haywood (facebook.com/thehaywoodeldorado), a boutique brand that’s part of Hilton’s Tapestry Collection and just steps from Murphy Arts District. The Union Square Guest Quarters (usgq.net) is a charming guesthouse with 32 comfortable suites, plus accommodations at the Mason House just a block away.
Several retired English phone booths in Union Square now operate as free book exchanges.
