Driving
up from Fort Smith to Rogers Ark, I took the 'scenic' Boston
Mountain Loop. One of my stops was at Artist Point, about
8 miles north of Mountainburg (home of the dinosaurs in the park).
Artist Point is a gift shop, small museum and a coin operated
telescope -- and one terrific view!
I
had planned on stopping there to see the view, however, paying more
attention to the two-lane steep grade, curvey road, I drove right by
it. No place to turn around, so no traffic coming, I lined my dually
right up on the yellow center lines and back back down the hill and
around the curve. WHEW!! There was very little shoulder and I was
not sure I could back up in my lane – but the yellow line is a
really great guide!
The
overlook gives you a spectacular vista of the mountains and valleys
with the White Rock Mountain in the distance.
In addition to its spectacular view of the mountains, it is a great place to see an outstanding crop of kudzu. Sometimes called the "vine that ate the South," kudzu is a remarkable non-native plant that was introduced into the United States in 1876. If you have done much traveling thru the south, you have probably seen vast expanses of kudzu!
In addition to its spectacular view of the mountains, it is a great place to see an outstanding crop of kudzu. Sometimes called the "vine that ate the South," kudzu is a remarkable non-native plant that was introduced into the United States in 1876. If you have done much traveling thru the south, you have probably seen vast expanses of kudzu!
The
Boston Mountains are part of the Ozarks and hold an important place
in Arkansas history. Confederate troops used the mountains as a
natural fortification during the Civil War. The rough terrain made it
difficult for the Union army to locate and track the movements of
Southern forces as they made their way back and forth through the
mountains. The area provided both security and an opportunity to
advance without detection. The mountains played key roles in the
battles at Pea Ridge and Prairie Grove in 1862.
THE
STORY OF KUDZU A nursery in Chipley, Florida, became interested in
the plant because of its potential use as cattle feed. It is high in
nitrogen. The rest of the Kudzu story is history! It now covers
more than 7 million acres of the South and it continues to spread. It
has been discovered as far north as the Great Lakes.
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