Seek and see
Things to check out in White County
With beautiful parks, scenic hideaways and much more, there are plenty of places in White County to explore the indoors and the outdoors. From wildlife refuges to cool rivers, here are a few places to visit.
BALD KNOB NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
Located on 15,000 acres of forested wetlands and croplands, the Bald Knob National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1993 to protect and provide feeding and resting areas for migrating waterfowl. In the winter, this area is home to large concentrations of ducks and geese. The refuge is filled with oxbow lakes and a variety of natural habitats that help these birds thrive. It’s also the largest staging area in the state for Northern Pintails. For more information, visit www.fws.gov.
PIONEER VILLAGE
Take a trip back in time at Pioneer Village in Searcy. This collection of 19th-century buildings, farm equipment and other items of interest gives visitors a chance to see what life was like at that time. Guests can see the Little Red School, an old post office, a smokehouse and much more. The grounds are beautifully maintained by the White County Master Gardeners.
SEARCY ART GALLERY
Located in downtown Searcy, the Searcy Art Gallery is housed in the historic Black House at 300 Race Ave. The gallery has a variety of temporary exhibits throughout the year, along with its permanent collection. The Searcy Art Gallery also highlights selections by local artists. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/ searcyartgallery.
ASU-BEEBE
Each semester, students in the theater department at Arkansas State UniversityBeebe put on wonderful performances that show off a variety of skills, including stage design, prop making, lighting and sound and, of course, acting. For more information, visit www.asub.edu.
WHITE COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEM
With locations in Bald Knob, Beebe, Bradford, El Paso, Judsonia, Pangburn, Rose Bud and Searcy, the White County Library System offers more than just books. The libraries are a one-stop shop for books, DVDs, magazines, computer access and much more. The library’s digital services offer e-books and audio-book downloads. Patrons can even stream thousands of movies, television shows, music and much more. The libraries also host a variety of events for kids and adults throughout the year. For additional information, visit whitecounty libraries.org.
LITTLE RED RIVER
The Little Red River, formed by the outflow from the Greers Ferry Lake Dam, is one of the most popular fishing spots in Arkansas. It’s known for its cool waters and record-breaking trout. Fisherman can find a variety of species of fish in the river, and it is great for kayaking and canoeing.
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HARDING UNIVERSITY
With activities that range from sporting events to concerts, Harding University isn’t just for students. The school hosts a variety of events each semester that can enrich the heart, spirit and mind. Whether you want to cheer on the home team, attend a thoughtful lecture or see a wonderful performance,HardingUniversityhasplenty to offer. For more information, visit www. harding.edu.
CENTER ON THE SQUARE
Searcy’s premier dinner theater, Center on the Square, presents performances put on by locals in the community. The theater holds auditions for each play. Future performances include Mary Poppins and The Chemistry Club. For more information, visit www.centeronthesquare.org.
ARKANSAS TRAVELER HOBBIES & MUSEUM
With 60,000 items of interest for railroad and model-railroad enthusiasts, this museum explores the railroad history of White County. The museum is housed in two historic rail cars, and meeting rooms are available for special events.