Dumas is a country community with city pride
Dumas is a rural community with a lot of passion. The Desha County city has access to several fishing spots and duck hunting areas, yet it also has a thriving Main Street with shops, restaurants and arts centers. The area’s pride is evident in a 1928 song by Phil Baxter called “I’m a Ding Dong Daddy from Dumas,” which residents still sing today — even though the city of Dumas, Texas, also lays claim to the song. Lifelong resident Rick Reyes, who runs social media for many of the area’s events, loves the place just as much now as he did when he was young. “If you’re looking for something country and down-home that has cheaper living than other areas, this is the place,” Reyes says.
Ranch-style and traditional homes sit along grid-like streets
Ranch-style homes can range from $50,000 to $230,000, while more traditional properties often cost between $120,000 and $285,000. Homes usually have brick exteriors and come with a carport or garage. Many of the car-dependent area’s asphalt streets do not have sidewalks, though stretches of U.S. Route 65 do. The city’s streets are placed in a grid-like pattern, as are the small community of Mitchellville’s to the north. Railroad tracks run just west of Main Street.
A longstanding drive-in, a steakhouse and a produce center
Pic-Nic-Ker Drive-In has served the community for more than 50 years. K.I. BBQ & Fish offers Southern-style platters and sandwiches. Big Banjo Pizza is an old-school parlor with classic pies and more modern combinations. Just outside the region is Taylor’s, a steakhouse renowned for its shrimp and grits as well as its meat. The area has a Piggly Wiggly for groceries and a Dollar General for retail needs. Main Street is filled with small shops and other businesses. Just north of the region in Reedville is Newswanger’s Produce & Garden Center, where bulk amounts of fruits, vegetables, beans and other goods are available.
Dumas Public School District students can learn carpentry
Students are served by the Dumas Public School District. They can attend Reed Elementary School, which holds a C-minus Niche score. Dumas Middle School receives a C rating. Dumas High School has a carpentry facility where students can learn woodworking, construction and other trades. It earns a C grade.
Fishing, duck hunting and history along the Arkansas River
Outside of the Dumas Lions Club Ballpark, which hosts youth baseball and softball games, residents must venture outside the Dumas area to find green spaces. Pendleton Bend, just over 10 miles from the region, is a campground along the Arkansas River with a boat ramp, picnic tables and a playground. Hunters can find waterfowl, especially ducks, along the river, while anglers often reel in bass, crappie and catfish. A bit further north is the Arkansas Post National Memorial, the site of a Civil War battle and a former river port settlement. The visitors center has information on the site’s history. Reyes says ATV riding is also a popular activity in the region. “You can hit a country road and just disappear,” Reyes says.
Live performances and the Dumas Founder's Day celebration
Along Main Street, the Dumas Area Arts Center hosts theater performances and other events like bingo nights. The Main Street Farmers Market runs on Thursdays during the summer. Reyes is on the board of the Dumas Founder’s Day celebration, a two-day festival of music, food and games held each spring.
Access to major highways and little traffic
U.S. Routes 65 and 165 meet in the middle of Dumas. Little Rock is around 90 miles northeast, as is Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport. Reyes says the town rarely has traffic except when there is a major accident. Tornadoes often affect the area, but most are small and low power.
