“You cannot believe the outpouring of love for this festival from the people of this community,” said Bill Ott, Eureka Gras’ first king in 2006. “Each year local enthusiasm has grown exponentially for Eureka Gras like a heart opening up for a first love.

“Besides it being a great festival unto itself, it sort of marks the awakening of our resort community from its winter slumber that began shortly after New Year’s Day. Once awoken, our merchants, lodging providers and restaurateurs open their arms wide to welcome Eureka’s lifeblood, our out-of-town visitors.”

Highlights for Eureka Gras 2010 include the Coronation Ball on Thursday, February 4; Hookers and Jokers Ball on Friday, February 5; Eureka Gras Parade through Downtown Eureka Springs on Saturday, February 6. Second Line strutting with open and twirling decorated umbrellas will be a special part of each scheduled event.
“Mondo kudos go out to Krazo Captain and Katrina refugee Dan Ellis,” concluded Ott. “It has been his enthusiasm and incomparable product knowledge that has grown this festival into the one of prominence that it is today. He embodies “laissez les bon temps rouler!”

Imagine a building nestled in the Ozark Mountains that is 425 feet tall with over 6,000 sq. ft. of glass and has dimensions of 24 feet by 60 feet.  That is exactly what you will find when you visit the Thorncrown Chapel.  Thorncrown Chapel was designed by world renowned architect E. Fay Jones.  His inspiration for Thorncrown Chapel was Sainte Chappelle, Paris’ light filled gothic chapel. Fay affectionately labeled Thorncrown’s style as “Ozark Gothic.” The chapel is made with all organic materials to fit its natural setting. The only steel in the structure forms a diamond shaped pattern in its wooden trusses. The building has a native flagstone floor surrounded with a rock wall which gives the feeling that the chapel is part of its Ozark hillside. Chosen 4th on the AIA’s top designs of the 20th century.

Since the chapel opened in 1980, over five million people have visited this woodland sanctuary. It has won numerous architectural awards such as the American Institute of Architecture’s Design of the Year Award for 1981 and the American Institute of Architecture’s Design of the Decade Award for the 1980′s. Recently, members of the American Institute of Architects placed Thorncrown Chapel fourth on its list of the top buildings of the twentieth century. 

Make sure to put it on your list when you visit!

Eureka Springs has long been a haven for artists.  In 2005 one of those artists gave the town a new claim to fame.  Wind chime artist, Ranaga Farbiarz, erected the “World’s Largest Tuned Musical Wind Chime” in honor of his late father Ignatz Farbiarz, a survivor of the Holocaust.  It is located in the parking area of Celestial Windz Harmonic Bizaar, just south of Eureka Springs, and was erected with the help of a bucket truck and a 100-foot-tall oak tree. Its dimensions are 8 feet tall by 6 feet across.  As the centerpiece of the Harmonic Bizaar, it is available for free public viewing and hearing during regular gallery hours.  The chime was listed in the 2006 Guinnes Book of Records.  Definitely not to be missed!

After viewing these chimes, you will be ready to take some home with you! 

• Two nights stay in the Chantilly Rose; Monet or Library Rooms
• Bottle of champagne or sparkling cider
• 2 Arsenic & Old Lace champagne flutes
• 1 hour massage for 2 (can be a couples massage)
• A $65.00 voucher good towards Dinner for 2 at one of five of Eureka’s finest restaurants.

October weekends $609 plus tax // $589 plus tax Weekends, October & Holidays //

$559 plus tax Monday – Thursday

• Options:
  • Upgrade to the Tree Top Suite add $120.00 plus tax
  • Subtract $80.00 plus tax for the Patio Suite
  • Get an additional discount on the cost of lodging for adding one or more nights.