Mountain View is a music-focused community with lots of outdoor activities
Despite its name, the biggest draw of Mountain View is not what residents see but what they hear. The Stone County city is a folk music stronghold. It hosts large, annual festivals, and people will find casual performances around the town square on most nights. The community keeps the genre’s traditions alive, and that dedication extends into the city’s school system, restaurants and arts scene. When quiet is needed, residents can head to one of the region’s nature getaways, including the renowned Syllamo Mountain Bike Trail. “It’s a thriving little community,” says Glenda Bunch, the owner of United Country Diamond G Realty and a Mountain View resident. “There are few older towns that are this active. There’s always something to do.”
Live performances in Pickin' Park, plus fishing and biking
Ozark Folk Center State Park promotes the local arts scene. Its Craft Village is where people sell handmade goods and tools, while its Heritage Herb Garden offers workshops and is home to rosemary, mint, sage and other plants. The park hosts live music throughout the year at its Ozark Highlands Theater. Washington Street Park, also known as Pickin’ Park, is a gathering spot for local musicians with several pavilions. “People come from all over to play their music in the town square,” Bunch says. “In the summer, they’ll play some country or some Lynyrd Skynyrd-type songs, but you can always find folk music, too. You can walk from group to group, just listening.”
North of the city, the Hell Creek Natural Area has a cave containing endangered crayfish and gray bats. In the White River, across the region’s northern border, anglers can catch rainbow trout and other fish. The nearby Syllamo Mountain Bike Trail runs more than 50 miles across five interconnecting loops.
A mix of homes for prices below the national median
Homebuyers can find cabins, cottages, ranch-style homes and more traditional properties in Mountain View, which sits near the Ozark Mountains. The median sale price is around $200,000, well below the national median. Homes near the White River tend to be more expensive. Large parcels of land are available for development, often ranging from $3,000 to $30,000 per acre. Bunch says the prices of land and housing add to the community’s appeal. “The quality of life is unbelievable. Your blood pressure goes down 10 points when you get here,” Bunch jokes.
The community celebrates its music, beans and motorcycles each year
Mountain View has hosted the Arkansas Folk Festival for more than 60 years. The two-day spring event celebrates the genre’s history in the region, blending it with food vendors, antique car shows and other activities. In the fall comes the Arkansas Bean Fest and Championship Outhouse Races. More than 1,000 pounds of pinto beans are cooked in cast-iron pots around the town square as local chefs compete for the “Best Beans” crown. Later in the day, teams will race outhouse-themed vehicles for various prizes. Come summer, Mountains, Music and Motorcycles celebrates its namesake trio. The area also hosts the annual Stone County Fair.
Southern-style meals along the White River
Inside Ozark Folk Center State Park is The Skillet, which has Southern-style meals plus buffets on several holidays. P.J.’s Rainbow Cafe offers homestyle cooking in a casual environment and only accepts cash. “It’s the best country breakfast you’ll ever get,” Bunch says. JoJo’s Catfish Wharf is a renowned spot that overlooks the White River. Stone County is dry, and the only place that serves beer and wine with its food is Anglers White River Resort Restaurant. Residents can find groceries at Harps and fill retail needs at Walmart Supercenter.
Access to state highways and some effects from tornadoes
Residents can access Arkansas state highways 5 and 9, among other major roads. Little Rock is just over 100 miles south, as is Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport. The area can experience tornadoes, but most are small.
Students can learn folk instruments through the Mountain View School District
Students are served by the Mountain View School District. They can attend Mountain View Elementary School, which has a B-minus Niche grade. It offers the Music Roots program, a chance for fourth graders to learn a folk instrument with help from the Ozark Folk Center State Park. Students can stay in the program until they graduate from high school. Mountain View Middle School receives a B score, and Mountain View High School earns a B-minus.
