Mena, Arkansas, the best-kept secret; gateway to the West
Serenity and beauty in the heart of the Ouachitas
When
you visit Mena, Arkansas, make one of our
romantic, private cabins your perfect mountain getaway ...
visit downtown Mena (just 2 miles away) at your leisure, or enjoy
the best of Ouachita Mountain outdoor attractions...
and then return to your very own "cabin in the woods."
The Willowbrook Cottage and cabins are located in the beautiful 1.6 million acre Ouachita mountain National Forest (pronounced 'Washita'), on a paved road just two miles from the county seat town of Mena (a Mayberry-like town!), with lots of antiques, art gallery, movie and live theater (seasonal), golfing, tennis, and all the Ouachita Mountain outdoor attractions of the clear rivers and beautiful mountain trails and overlooks. Tourism and outdoor activity thrive with nature, bike, and ATV trails, and there are several beautiful lakes within an hour drive. See activities calendar at www.gomenaarkansas.com .
ATV enthusiasts find our facilities ideal while
riding the nearby
Wolf Pen Gap ATV Trails, only 10 minutes away by car. 
Wolf
Pen Gap is one of the most beautiful of the Arkansas ATV trails, leading the
rider through an array of areas featuring a large forest of pine and hardwoods,
mountain vistas and an abandoned mine shaft. The 41 miles of trail loops are
interconnected to accommodate riders who want to vary the length of their trip
and, intersections are conveniently marked for all levels of rider experience.
Experienced hikers will rise to the challenge of the Athens-Big Fork Trail which is a historic, 125-year-old wagon trail that crests eight mountains and features spectacular views of the Ouachita Mountains from high points such as Eagle Rock Vista, Brushheap Mountain and Hurricane Knob. A mystical cave and geologic outcroppings along the way adds to the allure. Other hiking trails include the Buckeye Trail, Valuable Forest Interpretive Trail, Tall Peak Trail and Caney Creek Wilderness Trail.
The friendly people and the mild weather make Mena an ideal place to retreat any time of the year. We have four seasons, but the winters are short and mild; the springs and autumns are long and ideal weather; summer are sunny and warm, with great swimming, water-skiing, etc., and air conditioning makes the relaxing at the end of a day refreshing.
Just ten minutes from the Rich Mountain overlooks, 10 minutes to Wolfpen Gap trails, 30 minutes from Cossatot River state park. Mountains, rivers, fishing, hunting, rv-ing, horseback riding--all within driving distance from your hideaway. Central homebase for visiting all of central and western and northwestern Arkansas. Enjoy the many natural sites.
Centrally located between Hot Springs, Fort Smith, historic Van Buren, and Texarkana, Mena is a cute little old-fashioned county seat town, with antique stores with authentic and well-priced finds from yesteryear, good locally-owned restaurants, a Super Walmart, live theater in season, art gallery, movies, golf, tennis, hospital, veterinary clinic and boarding, public pool only 5 minutes away by car.
Beautiful Rich Mountain with its hiking trails and amazing vistas looks down on the town, and is easy to access by paved highway. The Ouachita Mountains are a wonderful outdoor recreation area, with crystal clear river (the Cossatot) and many hidden clear streams in the National Forest. There are lakes for swimming and water skiing, trails for hiking.
People say Mena is the best-kept secret in the 4-state area, a real jewel. Come visit, and you will return often!
Scroll to bottom of page for current events in Mena--live theater, art gallery, etc.
Some info provided by Hidden Vacations.
View from Rich Mountain--you can see two states!
Local
Outdoor Attractions
The Ouachita
National Forest offers beautiful mountainous scenery and
breathtaking vistas overlooking tranquil, forested valleys. In addition to the Wolf
Pen Gap ATV Trails and various hiking trails mentioned on our
home page, you will also find the following attractions tempting.
Mountain biking is accommodated by Eagle Rock Loop which is the longest loop trail in Arkansas. This trail was developed along a 100-year-old postal route and old wagon roads; it crosses the Little Missouri River, numerous creek crossings and travels over nine mountains.
The Viles Branch Equestrian Trail will be of interest to trail riders as it provides a view of the wild and scenic Little Missouri River through the Winding Stairs area which is known for its unique geological formations and outstanding water features.
Rock climbing in the area is abundant and can be specifically found at Albert Pike (Window Rock) and along the Little Missouri Hiking Trail.
Leader Mountain Walk-In Turkey Hunting Area, Caney Creek Wildlife Management Area and the Ouachita National Forest provide a haven to hunters as they pursue a variety of wild critters. Little Missouri River, Cossatot River and Shady Lake allow for fishing.
While Shady Lake permits motorless fishing boats, lakes for boating and water skiing activities are not conducive to our location. However, Little Missouri Falls is right around the corner from us and must be experienced during your stay. This exceptionally beautiful area offers serene waterfalls, fishing, swimming, hiking trails and a picnic area.
The Talimena scenic drive and Craters of Diamonds are a short car ride away and well worth including in your travel plans. Please take some time to explore the official web site of the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism and learn more about our State's diverse destinations. Click to go to Arkansas.com, the website for Arkansas Parks and Tourism.
Current events in Mena
LIVE THEATER: Click on calendar events at GoMenaArkansas.com for current productions.
Call for more information or cabin or cottage reservations:
Carolyn MacMahon
479 883-5492
carolyn@willowbrookcottage.com