arkansas department of parks heritage and tourism

An upper portion of the Buffalo River with Big Bluff in the background. (National Park Service photo)

Panel approves Buffalo River water-quality project over trail connectivity proposal

BY: - November 1, 2023

A state panel on Tuesday rejected a proposal to create a recreation master plan for the Buffalo National River in favor of a project that aims to improve water quality through community engagement.  The Buffalo River Conservation Committee approved the disbursement of its remaining funds, $69,676, to support H2Ozarks’ proposal to hold landowner workshops and […]

Sunset in early April 2022 on Lake DeGray in Bismarck, AR.

Interim Arkansas Parks Secretary Shea Lewis picked to continue leading agency

BY: - August 11, 2023

Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders on Friday made interim state Parks Secretary Shea Lewis her permanent pick to lead the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism. Lewis, who is also the director of state parks, was tapped to lead the agency temporarily in June following the resignation of Sanders’ first Parks Secretary Mike Mills. Lewis […]

Sarah Huckabee Sanders appoints Buffalo resort founder and owner as Arkansas Parks secretary

BY: - December 6, 2022

Arkansas Gov.-elect Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced Tuesday that she will nominate Mike Mills, the founder and owner of the state’s first log cabin resort, to run the Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism. Mills is Sanders’ second cabinet appointee after Capt. Mike Hagar, the State Police’s Troop A commander, whom Sanders announced Monday as her […]