Visiting Mena, Arkansas - A Small Town with Big Fun

Mena is a small town at the foot of Rich Mountain in western Arkansas. With a variety of fairs, festivals and other events throughout the year, Mena is rich with activities for visitors. Mena is known for its outdoor activities, including hiking and cycling. Visitors can go sightseeing and even visit a few monuments sprinkled throughout the town, taking note of their historical roots.

Janssen Park
Created in 1906, Janssen Park is a ten acre park with an intriguing history. In the center of the park stands a log cabin built in 1851, which was used as a private home, hospital, City Hall (for Mena), office, civic center, inn, club house and museum. The cabin is rumored to have been used by Jesse James as a hideout as well. The roof of the cabin was ripped off during a tornado in 1993, but was immediately restored. Visitors can also see a fountain featuring a boy and girl from 1914 as well as two Mountain Howitzer Cannons. Jannsen Park is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Queen Wilhelmina State Park
Queen Wilhelmina State Park is located on the top of Rich Mountain. Due to its location, the Queen Wilhelmina Inn is known as "the Castle in the Sky". This mountaintop inn was named for Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands, who was supposed to be crowned in September of 1898, in hopes that she would one day visit. It was rebuilt in 1975, and is the main attraction of Queen Wilhelmina State Park. Guests can learn about its history through displays in the main lobby as well as from the guides that work there.

Lum 'n Abner General Store
During the 1930s and1940s, Chester Lauck and Norris "Tuffy" Goff had the Lum 'n Abner radio show. The show was based out of this general store, known as the "Jot 'Em Down Store" on the radio show. It is the only commercial building in Mena and houses the Lum 'n Abner museum, general store and post office. Visitors can learn about the show and the men behind it through the many exhibits in the small museum.

This is just a taste of the different activities and locations that Mena, Arkansas has to offer. It is a small, beautiful town that offers a nice getaway from the hustle and bustle of city life.