Park Information

6/22/1898
With the construction of the Kansas City, Pittsburg and Gulf Railroad (now the Kansas City Southern) through the Ouachita Mountains of west-central Arkansas, railroad officials sought to increase passenger traffic by opening a thirty-five-room hostelry on Rich Mountain on June 22, 1898.

1/24/1957
Commission action to create Queen Wilhelmina State Park.

2/21/1957
Act 76 signed to create the park.

3/21/1957
Queen Wilhelmina State Park was dedicated at the Louise Durham School in Mena, Arkansas. Gov. Orval Faubus and Winthrop Rockefeller were key-note speakers.

6/19/1957
Initial land acquired for the park.

6/2/1959
The state of Arkansas worked towards building a new inn at the site where the 1898 Queen Wilhelmina Inn once stood.

5/8/1960
Scenic railroad made its first run.

6/9/1961
Café at the State Park opened.

6/22/1963
Queen Wilhelmina Inn built by Arkansas State Parks opened and was dedicated.

1/13/1966
New scenic drive atop Winding Stair and Rich Mountains was officially named the "Talimena Scenic Drive."

9/1969
The first Hamfest was held at Queen Wilhelmina State Park.

6/7/1970
Mrs. Lucy Johnson Nugent spoke at the dedication of the Talimena Scenic Drive.

11/10/1973
A fire destroyed Queen Wilhelmina Inn.

11/23/1975
The second Arkansas State Parks lodge built at this site was dedicated.

7/13/1981
Queen Wilhelmina State Park Lodge reopened after renovation.

5/1989
The first MountainFest was held at Queen Wilhelmina State Park.

4/7/1993
The historic, (formally privately-owned) vacation house near Lovers Leap known as "Cloudloft" that later served as the park superintendent's residence) burned.

11/18/2005
Talimena Scenic Drive designated as a national scenic byway.

6/16/2007
Queen Wilhelmina State Park celebrates 50 years of service to the public.

7/1/2015
Queen Wilhelmina State Park Lodge reopened to public after $9.6 million renovation and expansion.