Attractions

An Ozark town, dimensional in its offerings and diverse in its heritage, Van Buren is a place of beauty and bounty. Civil War soldiers, river boat captains, Native American chiefs, proper Victorian ladies, pioneers, cowboys… All have played a role in the making of this cozy community perched on the Arkansas River. Named in honor of President Andrew Jackson’s Secretary of State, Martin Van Buren, the citizens of this river community continue to create pieces of history and bounty.

All Aboard the Scenic Rail!!!
Step Back into the 1920's & Tour the Ozarks

Arkansas reveals her inner beauty from the Arkansas and Missouri Railroad’s route through the bluffs and valleys of the Boston Mountains. Impeccably restored and polished, the passenger train is a ride back in time and a journey forward as the wonders of Ozark wildlife and 1920s opulence merge during this two-hour excursion.

Begin your afternoon adventure at The Old Frisco Station, a Van Buren landmark and welcome center for over a century. Settle in to the plush grandeur of the comfortable passenger cars and hold your breath as the tracks take you over the Arkansas River, through a quarter mile tunnel and over a series of trestles overlooking the rugged and spectacular forestland. Laugh and wonder with the conductor, who will share his tales of lore and his knowledge of this beautiful and bountiful part of the world.

Excursion Train Reservations
For the latest schedules and to purchase tickets visit the Arkansas-Missouri Railroad website
or call 800-687-8600 ext. 116, or 479-750-7291.

 

Historic Mainstreet
Victorian Charm and Unique Treasures

Arts, Antiques and Whimsy capture those who stroll down the Victorian-bred architecture of a Main Street teeming with a bounty of treasures. Musical instruments, stoneware, antique furnishings, all one- of- a- kind reasons to linger away an afternoon. Complete the pleasures with a presentation of honest food, Ozark cuisine… homemade and fresh with ingredients of the Natural State. Calling this “Easy Street,” locals refer to the ease with which one can come and go on Main Street as well as its accessibility to both interstate and back roads travel.

Download Our Visitor's Guide!

The many shops and restaurants that share in the preservation of this Main Street promise a memory and a glimpse into the pride and heritage of a once rough- and- tumble river town. Typical year-round sunny days beckon the curious to leisurely take in the sights and flavors of a town defined by its own diversity.

Learn more by visiting the Old Town Merchants Association website. [Visit...]

 

Festivals & Events
Van Buren Celebrates its Heritage with Events for All Seasons

Spring beckons the lovers of hand-created treasures to the annual Lake Lou Emma Arts and Crafts Fair. Old Timer’s Day and the Pioneer Days Parade are welcomed celebrations of a past and a future, with Main Street the gathering spot for hundreds of participants and visitors.
Summer is a celebration of fireworks, biking and other sporting events and outdoor adventure.

Fall kicks off seasonal color with a calendar which includes an Antique Car Show, Fall Festival Arts & Crafts Show and the Veteran’s Day Parade.

Christmas is a twinkle in everyone’s eye with the all-encompassing Living Windows on Main Street, the Main Street Open House and of course, the annual Christmas Parade.

Please take our brief visitor survey.

 

Historical Significance
History Abounds in this River Town

Gracing Main Street for well over a hundred years, the beautifully-restored King Opera House sets the stage with its vibrant theatrical offerings and whispers the presence of a once earnest and intrepid actor, now haunting the backstage and still looking for work.

The King Opera House
Van Buren’s Public Square presents its Italian-inspired county courthouse and rugged one-room school house in the midst of a gracefully landscaped garden setting. For more information call: (479) 474-2426.
See the King Opera House in person at 427 Main Street.

 

Drennen-Scott House
150 years of History in a Working Laboratory.

Overlooking the Arkansas River, the commanding Drennen-Scott House, initially the home of the Revolutionary War descendant, John Drennen and his family, is now a “working laboratory” for university students as they recreate the century- and- a- half- old home linked to The Trail of Tears, the Underground railroad and the Civil War.

The Drennen-Scott House is not yet open to the public on a regular basis. Plans are being developed to open the working laboratory from time to time and more elaborate tours are planned in the future. Please continue to check with us about this magnificent sprawling single -story home and its contents that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Center for Art & Education - www.Art-Ed.org