Outdoorsy, small-town living in Pope County
Access to the great outdoors draws homebuyers to Atkins, a small city in rural Pope County. “Atkins is just kind of out from everything,” says Realtor Richard Roberts of Mossy Oak Properties Field, Farm & Home, a native Arkansan with several years of real estate experience. “People do a lot of hunting, and fishing is a big part of everyday.”
The city is also close to regional employers in Russellville, such as Saint Mary’s Regional Health System and Arkansas Nuclear One, a nuclear power plant. “A lot of people move here from out of state to work at the nuclear plant,” Roberts says. But despite the influx of out-of-towners, Atkins maintains a small-town Americana vibe, with a modest downtown and a quirky annual event: Picklefest, which celebrates the city’s history as “Pickle Capital of the World.”
Lake Atkins, Holla Bend and more offer outdoor recreation
Lake Atkins, to the south, is a popular fishing spot for largemouth bass, catfish, crappie and bream. There’s a bait shop at Lucky Landing, on the lake’s south side, and public boat ramps and piers spaced around the shoreline. Camping is also available.
Atkins City Pool also features tennis courts and a playground. McLaren Park baseball fields are closer to the middle of Atkins, not far from the Matthews Civic Center. Holla Bend National Wildlife Refuge and Lake Dardanelle State Park are within 30 miles of most homes.
Roberts says Boxley, nearly 90 miles north, is a hotspot for elk hunting. “It’s not far, it’s about an hour and a half drive. We have elk, deer, bear and wild turkey all over the state, but [it] is one of the more popular places to go,” he says.
Classic single-family homes selling for under $500,000
Early 20th century cottages and Craftsman bungalows, as well as classic midcentury ranch-style homes and 2020s-era New Traditionals fill narrow avenues. Pines and post oaks shade broad, landscaped lawns. Prices start under $100,000 and can climb to just over $460,000. The median sale price is about $170,000, $50,000 below the Russellville median. Pope County is in Tornado Alley, and is vulnerable to tornadoes. Atkins sustained severe damage during what’s become known as the Super Tuesday Tornado Outbreak in 2008.
Atkins School District serves the city
The Atkins School District, which earns a B grade from Niche, serves over 900 students across four schools with an 8-to-1 student-teacher ratio. There are four schools in the district, including ABC Preschool, Atkins Elementary, Atkins Middle and Atkins High. The elementary school earns a C-plus, the middle school gets a B-plus and the high school scores a B-minus. ABC Preschool is not rated. Atkins High offers vo-tech courses in law/safety, welding, advanced manufacturing and food services, among others. While within-district open enrollment is unavailable, Arkansas allows students to transfer between districts.
Shopping/dining on Main Street, Church Street and in Russellville
Retailers like Dollar General, O’Reilly and Bill’s Cashsaver, a discount food outlet, line Main Street and Church Street, along with locally owned eateries. El Parian and Jose’s International Café are popular Mexican restaurants, not far from Pizza Pro, a family-owned favorite since the mid’-90s. Russellville has big box stores, including Walmart Supercenter and Harbour Freight. The bigger city also has a robust food scene, with a mix of national chains and homegrown spots, such as Stoby’s, a casual American diner.
Interstate 40, U.S. Route 64 connect to Russellville and Little Rock
Interstate 40 and U.S. Route 64 run roughly parallel through the area, connecting northeast to Russellville, just over 20 miles away. The drive usually takes about 20 minutes, on either highway, in light traffic. Little Rock, about 65 miles the opposite direction, is around an hour-long drive on I-40. “There’s a little traffic in Little Rock—still nothing you’d experience in a city like Dallas -- but here, not so much,” Roberts says.
