Westside Community Guide

2021 Westside Community Guide – 9 ■ WilD WilDErnESS DrivE- tHrouGH SAfAri e Wild Wilderness Drive-rough Safari is one of the most popular attractions in the area. e family-friendly destination is more than 400 acres and features a wide variety of exotic animals. e park has a four-mile drive-through where visitors can see bears, lions, buffalo, hippos, zebras, ostriches, and many more animals. ere are also walk-through areas where people can interact with the animals. Pony and camel rides are also offered on a seasonal basis. With the picnic tables and snack bar, families will want to spend a full day learning about different animals and exploring all the safari has to offer. ■ GEntry City pArk Gentry City Park is a highlight of the city and provides an impressive outdoor area for the whole community. e park has basketball courts, soball field, playground, pavilions, skate park, volleyball court, and soccer fields. Gentry City Park also hosts a variety of city events throughout the year including the Gentry Chamber of Commerce Easter Egg Hunt and Gentry Freedom Fest. ■ W.D. AnD kAtE MCGAuGH HouSE e McGaugh House was built in the early 1900s and has been a significant property in Gentry since its original purchase by W.D. McGaugh. e house has had several owners over the years and was home to some of the town's most prominent families, mayors, fire chiefs, aldermen, school teachers, marshals, and more. e property, which is one of the oldest houses in the city, was donated to the city of Gentry in 2014 and is listed on the Arkansas Register of Historic Places. e vision for the house has been to restore the McGaugh House as a community space that is both historic and accessible to the public. e house will also serve as the future home of the Gentry City Archives. ■ flint CrEEk nAturE pArk e Flint Creek Nature Park includes more than 100 native species of trees, plants, mammals, fish, birds, and more. e Nature Park aims to educate the community and offer recreational activities free of charge. e Nature Area is also a great place to take the family to enjoy the creek and walking trails. ■ SWEpCo lAkE SWEPCO Lake is a 500-acre man- made lake that has a very unique feature: it is warm all year-round. e lake also serves as a cooling agent to the nearby Flint Creek Power Plant, which is the reason behind the lake's warm temperature. e warm water also provides an ideal fishing environment that is frequented by many locals throughout the year. ose who aren't interested in fishing can enjoy the half- mile trail that is known as the Eagle Watch Nature Trail. e lake's warmth and ample fish attracts American Bald Eagles in the winter and visitors can oen see the eagles while walking the trail. ■ GENTRY: attractions and amenities

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