Central Arkansas

Clinton Presidential Library and Center - Grand opening ceremonies are planned for Nov. 14-18, 2004, for America�s 12th Presidential Library. Currently under construction on the banks of the Arkansas River in the River Market District of downtown Little Rock, the $160-million-dollar structure will contain 20,000 square feet of library and museum space. When completed, the library, which will be located within a 28-acre city park, will contain the largest collection of presidential papers and artifacts in U.S. history. The University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service will also be located within the park in the renovated 1899 Choctaw Station. It is estimated that the facility will attract 300,000 visitors in its first year of operation. (501) 370-8000; www.clintonpresidentialcenter.com.

Heifer International Global Headquarters & Village � A new four-story world headquarters building, semicircular in design and adjacent to the Clinton Presidential Library, will occupy 27 acres. Energy at the facility will be recycled and rainwater will be made suitable for drinking. Huts and houses from all corners of the world will compose the village where visitors will learn about living conditions and solutions to world hunger and poverty. The headquarters are scheduled for completion in 2004, with the global village one to two years later. Heifer International is a nonprofit organization whose purpose is to alleviate hunger and poverty by teaching people to be self-sustaining. 800-422-0474; www.heifer.org.

New, Improved Hotels in Central Ark. � Joining the Peabody, the Doubletree and the historic Capital Hotel in downtown Little Rock are three newly renovated hotels. The 92-room Legacy Hotel, a 1913 historic property listed on the National Register of Historic Places, has undergone a $1.5-million overhaul. The Comfort Inn & Suites Downtown at The Clinton Library with 150 rooms has been totally redone, as has the 150-room Holiday Inn Downtown Presidential Center just across I-30. The Radisson Hotel City Center on Broadway has 262 completely refurbished rooms, and just a few minutes away via I-630 is the 263-room Little Rock Hilton, which will reopen in Spring �04 after a total make-over. The First Security Center Marriott Courtyard in the River Market, a 14-story mixed-use building featuring a 120-room hotel, office space and 24 luxury condominiums, is scheduled to open in 2004. And in North Little Rock, the 227-room Wyndham Riverfront has been recently revamped.

On-going Improvements at the River Market District � Both the Clinton Presidential Library and Heifer�s Global Village will be located in what�s known as Little Rock�s River Market District, a portion of the city that a decade ago consisted of mostly abandoned warehouses. Today, the scenic riverfront property is home to numerous restaurants, businesses, museums, shops and galleries, a riverside park and amphitheater, vibrant nightlife, and - most importantly - new apartments housing residents, a necessary factor in the sense of �community.� The lifeblood of the district is the River Market itself. The Ottenheimer Market Hall is home to 16 specialty food shops and hosts a Farmers Market from May through October. �Big Downtown Thursdays,� a weekly after-work event of food and live music is held here in the spring and fall. Another popular seasonal event is �Art at the Market� held from May through October. The program, held in the River Market�s ARKLA Tower Plaza, is designed to promote the works of local artists and crafters. Since 1996, Little Rock and North Little Rock have seen combined development in their downtown areas exceeding $145 million and the announcement of the Clinton Presidential Library has spurred further downtown development commitments totaling $700 million.

River Rail Project � By mid- to late-2004 the downtown areas of Little Rock and North Little Rock will be linked by replicas of vintage trolleys. Phase one includes 2.1 miles of track and three operating streetcars. Attractions being serviced include Alltel Arena, the Statehouse Convention Center, the River Market, hotels, restaurants, the Historic Arkansas and Discovery Museums, Robinson Center Music Hall and Riverfront Park and Amphitheater. When finished, phase two will connect the route to the Clinton Presidential Center and Heifer International Global Village. (501) 375-6717.

Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World Retail Store � The store, which bills itself as The World�s Leading Supplier of Premium Outdoor Gear, will offer huge selections of the latest in fishing, hunting and camping gear. It will serve as the anchor of The Shoppes at North Hills and will be located next to a 70-acre wetland conservation park. Retail outlets, restaurants, a multi-screen theatre complex, and a visitors information center will be included in the development. Phase one is scheduled to be completed by Spring 2005. Located at the junction of I-40 & I-30 in North Little Rock.

The Arkansas River Trail � When completed, the 24-mile trail system, which already spans more than 12 miles on the shores of the Arkansas River in Little Rock and North Little Rock, will allow walkers, runners, cyclists and skaters to enjoy a looping trail with a five-mile extension to Pinnacle Mountain State Park, where it will connect with the 224-mile Ouachita Trail. Currently, Little Rock has more than five miles of completed trail, which extend from Rebsamen Park and Golf Course to Murray Lock and Dam and Interstate 430. Downtown sections from the Clinton Library Center to Baring Cross are under construction should be completed by mid-2005. Next to the Clinton Library Center, the Rock Island Bridge over the Arkansas River is being converted for non-vehicular traffic; this project, which will link the Little Rock and North Little Rock trails on the east side of the trail system, is expected to be completed by November of 2004. North Little Rock has seven miles of completed trail, which extend from the downtown area to Murray Lock and Dam and I-430 on the north side of the Arkansas River. In North Little Rock, existing portions of the North Shore River Walk pass underneath tall bluffs and through Burns Park, one of the largest municipal parks in the nation. A pedestrian bridge crossing the Arkansas River at Murray Lock and Dam and connecting the North Little Rock and Little Rock trails on the west side of the system is planned as well.

Winrock International Headquarters � Winrock International�s new $3.5-million headquarters will sit a few hundred yards from the Arkansas River on Riverfront Drive in the Riverdale section of downtown Little Rock. The headquarters of the nonprofit aid organization will serve as a model of sustainable development and was designed by the New York office of Hellmuth, Obata + Kassabaum (HOK), an architectural firm known for sustainable design and building environments. The structure will be built with reusable materials and is designed to be energy efficient, relying on natural light. The V-shaped metal roof is designed to reflect solar energy, cut down on heat absorption, and channel rainwater to a cistern to water the complex�s landscaping of native grasses and wildflowers, which will cut maintenance costs and water usage. Winrock International is a nonprofit organization that works with people around the world to increase economic opportunity, sustain natural resources, and protect the environment. Completion is projected for the summer of 2004. (501) 727-5435; www.winrock.org.

Museum of Discovery � The Museum of Discovery and the Children�s Museum of Arkansas combined the best of both museums, merged and became one facility in 2003. The programs and services originally planned and delivered by both museums will be administered at the Museum of Discovery (MOD) which is located at 500 President Clinton Avenue in downtown Little Rock. Programs serving school children from across the state will continue as scheduled for the 2003-2004 school year, and exhibits and services for children of all ages are now available at the MOD location. The fully interactive science and history museum in the River Market District has hands-on, high energy interactive exhibits. (501) 396-7050; www.amod.org.

Little Rock Tours � Guided tours of Little Rock and North Little Rock are conducted daily aboard a state-of-the-art motorcoach that features DVD monitors showing video clips of various attractions around the area. Tour highlights include the Old State House, Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site, the Quapaw Quarter Historic District, the Arkansas State Capitol, and the Clinton Presidential Library and Center in Little Rock and the Old Mill in North Little Rock. The two-hour tours depart each day from Little Rock�s River Market District at 400 East Markham. (501) 868-7287; www.littlerocktours.com.

USS Razorback � The USS Razorback, a World War II-vintage submarine, along with the USS Hoga, a 100-foot-long tugboat, will provide the foundation for the Arkansas Inland Maritime Museum to be built on the Arkansas River in North Little Rock. The 311-foot Razorback is one of only two surviving submarines that were present at the 1945 Japanese surrender signing ceremony which officially ended the war. It was also the longest serving sub in history, with more than 58 years of active duty in WWII, the Cold War and Vietnam. The Hoga won a special citation from Admiral Chester Nimitz for its rescue work during the December 7, 1941, Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and later served as a firefighting boat for Oakland, Calif., from 1948 to 1996. Plans call for additional vessels to be added to the museum. Mid-to-late 2004 is the projected completion date. (501) 758-1424.

Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame & Museum � Construction is underway for the 14,000-square-foot museum, which will display memorabilia chronicling the legends of sports from Arkansas. Exhibits will highlight the three major sports � football, baseball and basketball � plus golf, tennis, the Olympics and more. The highly interactive exhibits are designed to appeal to youth. One unique area will be the Alltel-Pat Summerall Broadcast Booth, which allows museum-goers to view a tape, then pop on a headset, record their own play-by-play calls and then take the tape home. Past inductees include such notables as Pat Summerall, Steve Atwater and Cliff Harris (football); Brooks Robinson, George Kell and Bill Dickey (baseball); Pat Day and Larry Snyder (horseracing); Mike Conley and Clyde Scott (track and field); and Joe Kleine and Reece �Goose� Tatum (basketball). The $3.5-million showplace will be a two-tier concourse, located inside North Little Rock�s Alltel Arena, bordered with displays and anchored by a 100-seat theater which will show a history of sports in Arkansas. (501) 663-4328; www.arksportshalloffame.com.

New microbreweries � Diamond Bear Brewing Company is Arkansas�s only production brewery. Its craft beers include Southern Blonde Ale, Pale Ale and Irish Red. The brewery also offers seasonal beers such as a Summer Wheat, Oktoberfest, Holiday Ale and a seasonal spring beer. Diamond Bear beer is sold in Arkansas, western Tennessee and northern Louisiana. Forty-five minute tours of the brewery are offered at 2 p.m. every Saturday on a first-come, first-serve basis. Private group tours are available by special arrangement. The 6,000-square-foot brewery may also be rented for catered private parties. 323 Cross Street Ste. C, Little Rock, three blocks from the Arkansas State Capitol. (501) 708-BREW (2739); www.diamondbear.com. Bosco�s, �A restaurant for beer lovers,� is now open in Little Rock�s River Market area. It currently has eight beers on tap, including its award-winning Bombay IPA, Isle of Skye Scottish Ale, Cask Conditioned Ale and Bottle Conditioned Ale. Food offerings include appetizers such as smoked duck spring rolls, salads, sandwiches, pizzas, pasta and entrees such as black bean and goat cheese tamales. 500 President Clinton Ave., Little Rock. (501) 907-1881; www.boscosbeer.com.

Hot Springs

Hot Springs Civic and Convention Center Arena/Embassy Suites Hotel � The 6,000-seat Summit Arena at the Hot Springs Civic and Convention Center opened in December 2003. The addition brings the total square footage of the center to 360,000 square feet, making it the largest such facility in Arkansas. The arena, which has retractable seating, can be used for athletic events and concerts as well as exhibit and meeting space. The addition will also include new concession spaces and a lobby area with a ticket sales facility and hospitality/meeting rooms. (501) 321-2835; www.hotsprings.org A nine-story, 246-suite Embassy Suites Hotel opened in November across the street from the center�s expansion project. Housing shops, a restaurant, a full-service spa, bar and lounge, indoor pool and fitness center, it is connected to the convention center by a covered walkway. (501) 624-9200.

Garvan Woodland Gardens improvements � The University of Arkansas School of Architecture is continuing its development of this 210-acre botanical garden with 4.5 miles of shoreline on Lake Hamilton near Hot Springs. A 5,000-square-foot welcome center with a gift shop, orientation space and meeting rooms recently opened. Also new are landscape features such as Singing Springs Gorge, where the serpentine Canopy Bridge crosses a cascade, and Serenity Circle, which overlooks Mallard Bay and is a council circle of native stone providing a scenic space for tours to rest. The Promenade, a series of courtyards featuring small flowering trees and landscaped alcoves, is designed to host activities requiring display areas for artwork and other temporary exhibits. 540 Arkridge Road south of Hot Springs. 800-366-4664; www.garvangardens.org.

New roller coaster/amphitheatre at Magic Springs/Crystal Falls � The Gauntlet, a suspended, looping roller coaster with 2,260 feet of track reaching almost 110 feet high, will be added to the mix of attractions at the Magic Springs/Crystal Falls theme and water parks at Hot Springs beginning with the 2004 season. Manufactured by Vekoma Rides Manufacturing, B.V., of Vlodrop, The Netherlands, the ride is valued at approximately $7 million. Riders will be suspended below the track rather than riding in cars as they do on the park�s classic wooden coaster, the Arkansas Twister. The 2004 season will also see a renewal of the summer concert series in the Timberwood Amphitheater, which opened for the 2003 season and hosted such musical acts as Bo Diddley, Diamond Rio, Patty Loveless, Pat Benatar, Black Oak Arkansas and Shaggy. U.S. 70-East in Hot Springs. (501) 624-0100; www.magicsprings.com.

Northwest Arkansas

New Convention Center, Hotels in Northwest Arkansas � Ground will be broken in Rogers for a 100,000-sqaure-foot-plus convention center and four-star, 240-room J. W. Marriott in 2004, with completion scheduled for late 2005. (479) 845-1000. Next door, the Embassy Suites, which has 248 two-room suites and more than 20,000 square feet of flexible meeting space, opened in May 2003. (479) 254-8400. The convention center, which will be situated between and connected to the two hotels, is only minutes from the Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport, Wal-Mart, JB Hunt and Tyson corporate offices. Also in Rogers, an 88-suite Marriott Residence Inn, featuring an indoor pool and spa and free high-speed Internet access, opened in December 2003, just off of I-540. (479) 636-5900. In Fayetteville, a 95-room Hampton Inn, located just off I-540, opened in early 2004. The hotel has five suites and an indoor pool, spa and sauna. All rooms have microwaves, refrigerators and free high-speed Internet access. 915 Krupa Lane. (479) 587-8300. Opened in August 2003, the Inn at Carnall Hall and Ella�s Restaurant are housed in a once-dilapidated dormitory on the University of Arkansas campus in Fayetteville. The renovated historic building now contains two 100-seat dining rooms, a 50-seat lounge and a 50-seat, private dining room, as well as 50 guestrooms. High-speed Internet access is available in every room, and the main floor is equipped for wireless access. Inn at Carnall Hall, (479) 582-0400; Ella�s, (479) 582-1400. A groundbreaking for a Marriott Courtyard located across the street from the 140,000-square-foot Fort Smith Convention Center is scheduled for 2004. And three blocks from the Fort Smith Convention Center, a 129-room Howard Johnson Inn will open in early 2004.The hotel will feature 10 home-office suites and special rooms for families. 101 North 11th St. (479) 494-7700.

Improvements to Fayetteville�s Dickson Street � Multi-million dollar construction on Dickson Street, one of the most recognizable streets in Fayetteville�s entertainment district, was completed in December 2003. The goal of revamping the street was to provide a pedestrian-friendly environment and a more attractive and cohesive appearance. Street improvements include brick-lined walkways, brick pavers at street intersections, new light poles and fixtures, new traffic lights, trees and landscaping. The infrastructure of utilities was also improved and the street was re-paved. The project will serve as a template for future renovation of streets that connect the Dickson Street entertainment district to the city�s downtown square, just a few blocks away. In 1992, the Walton Arts Center, a major performing arts facility located on Dickson Street, opened its doors. Neglected and boarded-up storefronts along Dickson Street came to life with new restaurants, entertainment, retail businesses and upscale residential space. To encourage and contribute to this growth downtown, Downtown/Dickson Enhancement Project, Inc. was established in 1997 in a unique public/private partnership with the City of Fayetteville. Working with University of Arkansas Community Design Center, a conceptual plan for streetscape improvements designed to provide a safe, unified and identifiable pedestrian pathway between the downtown Square and Dickson Street was developed. The Fayetteville MSA was ranked number one for top economic performance by the Milken Institute in 2003. www.fayettevilletourism.com.

Blue Spring Heritage Center -- Formally Eureka Springs Garden, the site is now the Blue Spring Heritage Center and still includes beautiful gardens; however, it now focuses on the heritage of the site and area. Historic Blue Spring, a stop on the Trail of Tears, pours 38 million gallons of water each day into its trout-stocked lagoon. Visitors can now view historic film of the area in addition to strolling the garden paths and visiting the bluff shelter on the National Register of Historic Places. Scenic U.S. 62 W, Eureka Springs. (479) 253-9244; www.bluespringheritage.com.

Wildlife Centers, State Parks

White River National Wildlife Refuge Visitors Center � A 10,000-square-foot visitors center for the White River National Wildlife Refuge opened in October 2003 off Ark. 1 just south of St. Charles in east Arkansas. The $2.6-million facility houses a bookstore and an environmental education classroom. Exhibits expected to be in place by spring 2004 cover such topics as an historic timeline of the area, fish and wildlife, bottomland hardwood forests, and birds and migratory flyways. An exhibit on bears is expected to open later in the year. Long-range plans call for the development of more than two miles of trails around the center. Established in 1935 and covering some 160,000 acres along the lower White, the refuge is home to the nation�s largest contiguous block of bottomland hardwood forest under a single ownership. (870) 946-1468; http://whiteriver.fws.gov.

Crowley�s Ridge Nature Center � The second of four nature centers being constructed by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commision, the three-story Jonesboro center is scheduled to open in late spring 2004. The $4.3-million project will include exhibits on origins and history of the Ridge, topographical models and a 30-foot-long satellite photo of the unique land mass, plus observation tower, duck hunting display, auditorium, meeting room, natural prairie preserve, and a trail looping a lake. Located off Lawson Road and Ark. 141, south of Jonesboro. (870) 933-6787; www.agfc.com/education/crowleys_ridge.html.

Lake Dardanelle State Park Visitor Center � A $2.4-million, 10,527-square-foot visitor center with exhibits on Lake Dardanelle and the Arkansas River and its tributaries, opened in the summer of 2003. The center features four large aquariums, state-of-the-art audiovisual equipment, a lab, and touch-screen kiosks that feature information on the park, the area�s water resources and history. Lake Dardanelle, a 34,000-acre reservoir, has become known as one of Arkansas�s hottest bass fishing destinations, hosting over 50 tournaments annually. The park�s facilities also include a new fishing weigh-in pavilion, designed to accommodate major fishing tournaments. Located four miles west of Russellville on Ark. 22, the park also offers 83 campsites. (479) 967-5516; www.ArkansasStateParks.com.

Cossatot River State Park/Natural Area Visitors Center � A new park visitors center, featuring an exhibit room focusing on the river, a wildlife viewing area and two classrooms, is expected to open by late 2004. Other recent park improvements include the 17-mile River Corridor Trail, which may be hiked in sections, and the 3.5-mile Harris Creek Trail. The park preserves a scenic, pristine stream that irregularly offers skilled floaters challenging whitewater. It is located in west-central Arkansas mostly between Ark. 246 and U.S. 278 near Wickes. (870) 385-2201; www.ArkansasStateParks.com.

Diamond Springs water-play area at the Crater of Diamonds State Park � Expected to open Memorial Day weekend 2004, the area will include a shallow pool topping 4,100 square feet with two water slides, waterfalls and a central water-spray playground feature designed with a mining theme. Crater of Diamonds, near Murfreesboro, is the world�s only site where the public can dig for diamonds where they naturally occur and keep any gems they find. (870) 285-3113; www.craterofdiamondsstatepark.com.

Lodge to be Constructed at Mt. Magazine State Park � Major construction projects are in the works for Mt. Magazine State Park, which sits on Arkansas�s highest peak (2,753 feet). Recapturing the glory of the mountain�s tourism days is a plan that reaches into the year 2005. The highlight of the plan is construction of a 90,000-square-foot lodge on top of the former lodge site. Groundbreaking for the lodge is expected to take place in April 2004, with the official ceremony taking place on April 9. Plans call for 60 guestrooms, a restaurant and a conference center as well as an indoor swimming pool, exercise room and gift shop. In addition, 13 cabins will be built near the lodge. An 8,000-square-foot visitor center opened in 2002 at Mt. Magazine and features a wildlife viewing area, an audio/visual room and a gift shop. The center�s exhibits include a three-dimensional map of the mountain, geology of the park and a weather station showing the difference between weather on the mountain and the surrounding valley. Kiosks enlighten visitors about the mountain�s varied ecological area, butterflies, Native Americans, early French and Spanish explorers and pioneer and resort histories. (479) 963-8502; www.ArkansasStateParks.com.

Golf Course, Lodge Planned at Village Creek � Village Creek State Park in eastern Arkansas is in the planning stages of adding a 27-hole championship golf course and a 124-room lodge, complete with a restaurant and convention center. �This course is expected to be one of the top 50 public courses in the nation when it opens,� says Forrest City Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Danny Ferguson. No timeline has been established for the new construction. Existing amenities at the 7,000-acre park include modern cabins, two fishing lakes, a small conference center, hiking trails and campgrounds. Village Creek is located along Crowley�s Ridge, off Ark. 284, between Wynne and Forrest City. (870) 238-9406; www.ArkansasStateParks.com.

Elsewhere Around The Natural State

New Arkansas Welcome Centers � The program to replace many of Arkansas�s aging Tourist Information Centers is progressing well. Four new Welcome Centers are currently under construction. Two are expected to be completed this year � El Dorado this summer and Texarkana in the fall. Native stone and large timbers will be used in the construction of the new buildings in an effort to make them recognizable to travelers as Arkansas Welcome Centers. Amenities will include more space for brochures, large restrooms, interactive exhibits, big-screen monitors, state-of-the-art computers with kiosks, and a picnic area. The new Texarkana and Fort Smith Welcome Centers will be $3 million, 6,000-square-foot structures. Texarkana�s existing building was built in 1967 and is less than 2,400 square feet. The current 1,536-square-foot Fort Smith center was built in 1970. All new Welcome Centers will feature many of the same amenities, but those not located on Interstates will be smaller. Three thousand-square-foot buildings that cost approximately $2 million each are planned for the Corning and El Dorado sites. The next three centers identified for replacement are at Blytheville, Lake Village and West Memphis. The existing facilities at Blytheville and West Memphis are located on Interstates and will be replaced by 6,000-square-foot buildings. Arkansas Tourist Information Centers are owned and maintained by the Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department and staffed by the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism. There are a total of 13 Tourist Information Centers located at strategic points of entry to the state, plus one located at the Parks and Tourism central office in Little Rock. In addition to serving as travel consultants, staff members at the centers also collect a wealth of useful research and marketing data. For more information about Arkansas�s Tourist Information Centers, visit www.arkansas.com/attractions/tourism_centers.asp. Interstate Highway Rebuilding Process � Arkansas is in the final two years of a five-year, $950 million program to rebuild the state�s Interstate highway system. Since voters approved the bond financing plan in 1999, some 35 Interstate projects, totaling 247 miles, have been completed. Just over 100 miles of rehabilitation remains on the schedule and the following areas will be construction zones during 2004: (I-40) eight miles in west Johnson and east Franklin counties, 14 miles in Johnson County, 20 miles in Crittenden County; (I-30) four miles in Saline County, starting in Benton. The 365-mile Interstate re-construction program, largest in state highway history, will be completed in 2005. The Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department�s Web site includes an interactive Interstate highway map. The official Arkansas Tourist Information Centers, located major entry points into the state, provide up-to-date highway information. (501) 569-2227; www.ArkansasInterstates.com.

Summer Whitewater on the Ouachita River � Scheduled weekend releases of water from Lake Catherine have brought to life the dream of reliable summer whitewater in Arkansas, turning the Rockport Ledge � a drop-off and boulders that span the Ouachita River a few hundred yards above Interstate 30 at Malvern � into a playground where kayakers gather to practice skills such as rolls, ferries, eddies, surfing and freestyle tricks. In addition, continuous but smaller releases have made the Ouachita between Remmel Dam and I-30 a reliable but gentle float throughout the year. Construction has begun on a park for the ledge area, with a new boat ramp, concrete trail with benches, and gravel parking area currently available. The releases occur every Saturday and Sunday between and including the Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends. (501) 620-5760; www.entergy.com/hydro.

Russellville�s Depot District -- Part of the Main Street Russellville enhancement program, the city�s old Missouri Pacific Depot is in the process of being renovated and will serve as a multi-use gathering space. The grand opening is scheduled for May 2004. The depot, together with park property across the street, includes: meeting rooms; exhibit and display space; public restrooms; an old-fashioned soda fountain/ice cream parlor/sandwich shop; a gift shop featuring local products; picnic tables; a bandstand for open-air concerts; and a theater. The entire Depot District runs about three blocks along the railroad tracks. The Mediterranean-style depot was built in 1910 to replace the original 1880 depot, which was destroyed by fire. Main Street Russellville, (479) 967-1437; www.downtownrussellville.com.

Lepanto�s �A Painted House� � The original house used in the Hallmark Hall of Fame production of John Grisham�s novel has been re-assembled in Lepanto. The CBS movie included many scenes in the area, including the historic downtown. Located on south Greenwood Ave./Ark. 135. (870) 475-2415.

Imperial Theatre at Pocahontas � After almost a decade of performing in a refurbished 1940-era movie house in the downtown area, the Imperial Theatre will move into a new $1.4 million facility at 1401 Hwy. 304, just southeast of town for their spring productions. The 18,000 sq.-ft. complex includes a 200-seat auditorium, two dance studios, shop, offices, audio-visual center, art studio and state-of-the-art stage. Prior to in-kind donations of land, labor and equipment, the project was budgeted for $2 million. (870) 892-0030; www.imperialdinnertheatre.com.

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Media Contact: Jay Harrod +1 (501) 682-7606 jay.harrod@mail.state.ar.us