The Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism recently held an open house for the renovated Mather Lodge at Petit Jean State Park.
The event highlighted the reopening of the historic lodge; expanded outdoor recreation opportunities, including the first via ferrata (a protected climbing path) in the U.S. that’s located within a state park; new climbing experiences and the development of a Monument Trail mountain biking system; and the unveiling of an Arkansas 250 historical marker recognizing Petit Jean’s important place in Arkansas history.
“For more than a century, generations of Arkansans have come to Petit Jean to experience the beauty of The Natural State,” said Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism Secretary Shea Lewis. “From restoring Mather Lodge to creating new ways to experience Petit Jean’s landscape, we are honoring the history of this park while preparing it for its next century.”
The new Petit Jean Via Ferrata, offered in partnership with Frontier Climbing Company, creates a new way for visitors of varying experience levels to engage with Petit Jean’s iconic terrain and experience the park from a different perspective, according to a press release. Later this fall, in partnership with the Arkansas Parks and Recreation Foundation, new mountain biking experiences will begin opening at the park, offering trails and opportunities for riders of varying skill levels.
Petit Jean State Park also welcomed its new superintendent, Will Ward, who previously served at the park as a ranger.
“It is an honor to be trusted with the role of superintendent at Petit Jean State Park,” said Ward. “I spent some of the most formative years of my career here as a park ranger, and as I worked at other state parks, my goal was always to continue growing in experience and knowledge so I could eventually make my way back to Petit Jean Mountain, which has always felt like home. I look forward to working with our team to continue elevating recreation experiences while caring for this special place.”
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