Bella Vista City Guide

Wonders of Bella Vista | By Suzanne Rhodes, Special to Bella Vista City Guide Phase 1 of the Veterans Wall of Honor expansion Rendition of the new Veterans Wall of Honor 18 | 2023 Bella Vista City Guide If you spend any time in Bella Vista, either as a resident or a visitor, you know why this Northwest Arkansas town is considered the jewel of the Ozarks, and why people are drawn to its natural beauty, biking trails, golfing, fishing, and friendly neighbors. No wonder Bella Vista recently experienced a 60% surge of growth in population and building construction. And while most people know that the city's golf courses are among the most beautiful and challenging in the United States and that the abundance of recreational opportunities is legendary, there are other attractions that newcomers and even long-term residents may not be aware of. Let's take a look at some of these lesser-known Bella Vista wonders. • Veterans Wall of Honor. is beautiful monument to service members, living and dead, from all branches of the military, commemorates military events from the Revolutionary War to the Middle East conflicts. Its mission is to honor "America's veterans who have contributed so much to securing the freedoms we enjoy today," according to the Veterans Council of Northwest Arkansas. e nonprofit organization created the memorial, which was dedicated in 2004 and funded by the generous contributions of donors. Free guided tours are offered at 10 a.m. on the third Saturday of every month. Visitors enter under a huge archway and walk among 4,848 names of veterans engraved on granite bricks, which are purchased by family, friends, and veterans. Besides the names, the bricks typically include the military branch, service dates and the name of the conflict or peacetime service. With no further space for names, the council realized expansion was needed and launched phase 1, which is near completion. e expansion is made up of five circles with walls representing the five branches of the military. ere's also a common area that is a larger circle. "We're accepting names for the additional expansion," said Veterans Council President Ray Brust. e bricks cost $175 each and can be purchased online or by check mailed to NWA Veterans Council, PO Box 3085, Bella Vista, AR 72715. For more information, to buy a name brick or to give a donation, visit their website: vetwalloonor.org. e monument's address is 103 Veterans Way, Bella Vista, AR 72714. Hours are 7:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. It's fully lighted for nighttime visitors. Come and show your respect and reverence for the men and women honored on these walls. • "Wonderland Cave." What used to be the world's largest underground nightclub in Bella Vista is the subject of a film created by Bella Vista resident and actress Krista Bradley, and released in October 2022. e film covers the cave's first year of business in 1930. "'Wonderland Cave' explores life aer World War I — right in the midst of Prohibition and e Great Depression," Bradley explained. It "intertwin[es] the stories of the original owner of Wonderland Cave, a bootlegging jazz singer and her gang of brothers, and an FBI detective sent to stop the fun during the cave's first year of business." Bradley plays the part of the jazz singer, Faye Chambers, and wrote the entire script herself. "Every single scene is true or based on reality." According to the Encyclopedia of Arkansas, "Clarence Andrew (C. A.) Linebarger, general manager of the resort of Bella Vista, developed it as a tourist attraction and place for local entertainment, opening it on March 1, 1930." As many as 2,500 guests would show up at the club to dance to the music of big bands. Bradley drew heavily on information available from the Bella Vista Historical Society: "Xyta Lucas (co-president of the Bella Vista Historical Society) allowed me to borrow all her records on Wonderland Cave," she pointed out. e cave changed owners several times and closed in 1995. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on January 1, 1988. • Wishing Spring Gallery. Bella Vista is fortunate to be home to what was named the best art gallery in NWA in 2019 and 2020. It features the work of some of the finest artists and artisans in the region. Over 40 local artists, all members of the Artisan Alliance, exhibit and sell their paintings, pottery, wall décor, jewelry, handmade fabric, furniture and other unique items. "e main idea of the gallery when it opened back in the eighties was to give artists a place to sell and Photos courtesy NWA Veterans Council Photos courtesy NWA Veterans Council

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