In the far northwest of Scott County, the terrain ranges from rugged to rolling. The county is in Arkansas’s Ouachita Mountain region. At the same time, school buildings, churches, a museum and historic functional structures tell of different chapters in its history.
Scenery and Fishing at Lake Hinkle
Lake Hinkle is one of three lakes in Scott County where fishing is possible. Little Pines provides access to Lake Hinkle via a boat ramp right next to the campground. This identifies two distinct aspects of the same body of water: the opportunity to fish and access via a boat ramp.
School History and Local Culture
Parks School has ten rooms and operated as a public school from 1940 into the 1960s. It has remained an architectural showcase for the community. Its period of use and architectural significance give the building two tangible dimensions: it represents school life over several decades and is also an architectural style that continues to be appreciated today. Bates School, in turn, is considered an outstanding example of an early 20th-century school building. Bates School House was added to the National Register of Historic Places on February 21, 2006.
The Scott County Museum of History also connects several historical eras. Its extensive collection of local artifacts spans from the time of the area’s early Indigenous inhabitants through World War II. Community events, workshops, fundraisers and special exhibition tours are also among the museum’s activities. Thus, artifacts from a long span of time sit alongside a program that includes community events and exhibition visits.
Mount Pleasant Methodist Church was built in 1891; the congregation continues to meet there in the 21st century. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on June 5, 1986. The year it was built, its continued use by the congregation and its listing date are distinct periods in its history. The listing date marks its addition to the register, not the construction of the building.
Historic Buildings and Their Dates
Other listing dates mark separate points in time: Old Scott County Courthouse was added on November 13, 1989, Cold Spring on October 21, 1993, and Old Scott County Jail on May 16, 2002. Cold Spring was built to protect the springhead from contamination. This connection between the structure and its protective function gives the site a distinct relationship to the spring landscape. The Powder Magazine shows a different architectural style: it is a rustic structure made of hewn stone and concrete.
Poteau Work Center is located east of Waldron on Highway 80. It was built around 1939 by the Civilian Conservation Corps and served as a repair and maintenance shop for the Poteau Ranger District of the Ouachita National Forest. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on October 20, 1993. Its location, original purpose and construction date connect the building with the work history of the Ranger District and the National Forest.
Discover more destinations: Waldron, Lonoke County, Franklin County, White County, Drew, Phillips County, Columbia County, Greene County.
For the main travel overview: Arkansas.
