Directors Blog: January 2012

The Chamber Director, Becky Nollenberger, and all the other volunteers wish you were here to enjoy our wonderful community.  Please come into see us Monday through Friday from 9:00 A.M. till 3:00 P.M.  We are located at Dave Creek Pkwy between the Hort Fitness Center and the Senior Citizen Building.  We have a lot of information on the area and what is going on inand around the “Bay”.

Fairfield Bay is known as a resort / retirement / Wyndam time share community. We have been asked “What is there to do in and around Fairfield Bay?”. If you have looked through our web site I think we have covered what there is to do here. I will address what is there outside Fairfield Bay so when you stay a week or your family comes to visit, you will know what is available.

Within 30 miles is:

Blanchard Caverns Blanchard Springs Caverns

Blanchard Springs Caverns is the jewel in the Ozark National Forest Crown. Dubbed by Life Magazine as “one of the most extraordinary finds of the century” this living cave is constantly in the process of formation. Two paved, lighted trails, one of which is handicapped accessible with assistance, are open to visitors of all ages. Led by knowledgeable Forest Service Guides, the tour winds through water-carved passages, including an underground river and the world’s largest flowstone. The Wild Cave Tour is available by special arrangement for more adventuresome explorers.

Blanchard’s namesake spring pours out of the mountainside and into a glassy-surfaced trout pond appropriately named Mirror Lake. The lake is a great place to take the family pond fishing for rainbow trout. Nearby is a short, scenic walk to the falls where all water exits from the caverns. This is one of the prettiest spots in the Ozark National Forest and not to be missed.

Mountain View

A Wonderful Way to Enjoy Yesterday,” here’s an adventure in yesterday’s Ozark Mountain way of life that you can see, touch and enjoy today. Arkansas’s unique Ozark Folk Center State Park is America’s only facility that works at preserving the Ozark heritage and presenting it in such an entertaining way.

Tap your toes to mountain music at one of your favorite Arkansas state parks located in the Ozarks. See blacksmithing, pottery-making and over 18 other pioneer skills and crafts. Learn to play the dulcimer or autoharp, to jig dance or to grow an organic herb garden. Design your own workshop for the study of the traditional crafts demonstrated here.

For the young and young at heart try a treetop adventure at the Loco Ropes high ropes course located adjacent to the parking lot at the Ozark Folk Center. See the Ozarks from a whole new perspective and don’t miss the The Flying Pig ZipLine! Individuals and groups welcome.

White River

Go trout fishing on the White River.

Over 30 miles

Buffalo River

Float the Buffalo National Scenic River, and enjoy other nearby attractions.

Little Rock

Take a walk along the Arkansas River and visit President Clinton’s Presidential Library.

Thinking About Retiring to Fairfield Bay?

Do you dream of retiring in a small community but still want the amenities of a larger community? Fairfield Bay is the place! There are two great golf courses, tennis courts, three pools, miniature golf, parks, fitness center, bowling, volunteer opportunities, community gardening, recycling, boating and fishing…………..should I go on? Yes, well there’s also wonderful places to live in every price range. There are condos, nice homes to great homes, and everything in between and realtors who are ready to help any way they can. The sceneries can’t be beat. There are park like settings, neighborhoods, and views to die for! Don’t worry about the necessities of life either. There’s a new hospital nearby, doctors, and clinics in neighboring Clinton, the Boston Mountain Rural Health in Fairfield Bayand a full service Pharmacy.  Shopping is close by as well, Fairfield Bay has Craven’s Grocery Store and Dollar General, and in neighboring Clinton there is a Wal-Mart.  There’s no lack of places to eat in Fairfield Bay and surrounding towns. Aren’t you just dreaming about living in Fairfield Bay?

Send Us Your Photos or Videos…

The Fairfield Bay Chamber of Commerce recently launched a new section on our website for sharing seasonal photo galleries. Our current gallery is called: Life In the Bay and contains several photos of the Bay in the Spring / Summer season. If you would like to share your photos with us to use on our website and possibly in some of our future marketing campaigns, please use the form below to transmit them electronically…

Fairfield Bay Cost of Living Comparison

Sperling’s Best Places recently posted some very useful information about Fairfield Bay on their website, you can see their data by clicking on the links below. As of 2010, Fairfield Bay’s population is 2,338 people. The median home cost in Fairfield Bay is $87,980. Home appreciation the last year has been -3.00 percent. Compared to the rest of the country, Fairfield Bay’s cost of living is 27.76% Lower than the U.S. average.

For additional information about Fairfield Bay, or to do a comparison with another city, please follow these links: TML clipboard

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Familiar with Thong Trees?

Who knew that we had Thong trees in Fairfield Bay, specifically one in  Woodland Mead Park, and that they were bent for a reason.  The Fairfield Bay News featured an article by Paul Wellenberger in the July 13 issue on these trees describing how the Native American “tribes in this region ingeniously pioneed trails and avenues” that were secretly marked with “certain trees in the forest to designate areas that had water resources, caves, medicinal herebs, burial and ceremonial sites, villages, and good hunting spots.”  Hince, thong trees!

City of Fairfield Bay Established a New Community Education Center

In association with the Arkansas State University (ASU-Heber Springs), Mayor Paul Wellenberger and Dr. Christ Boyette, Vice Chancellor from ASU-Heber Springs, jointly announced plans for a new community education center to be established in Fairfield Bay.    Dr. Boyette said that they were looking forward to offering personal enrichment courses to the community. 

The school is be located in the Village Place Mall (in Bldg. #5 over Spare Time Bowling).  In addition to the non-credited enrichment courses, the computer lab is open for local students taking on-line courses when classes are not in session. Fees for the  six-week courses will remain low to just cover expenses only with a one-time admin fee of $25.   Additional information may be obtained from the City office at 501-884-6500, or Robbie Ingle at 501-884-4440. 

More news to follow.