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Regional Boards => Mid-South => Topic started by: US71 on April 04, 2020, 03:37:33 PM

Title: Recreational Travel limited in Arkansas
Post by: US71 on April 04, 2020, 03:37:33 PM
Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson has signed an  executive order  (https://www.thv11.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/gov-hutchinson-signs-order-limiting-out-of-state-travelers/91-f3379bfc-13cd-44cd-983d-a403a4ec3bdd) prohibiting short-term stay of recreational out-of-state travelers.

Order applies to commercial lodging and short-term rentals, including hotels, motels, and vacation rentals.  I guess you could still camp in the state park, if they're still open.
Title: Re: Recreational Travel limited in Arkansas
Post by: bjrush on April 04, 2020, 06:20:46 PM
State parks are day use only right now
Title: Re: Recreational Travel limited in Arkansas
Post by: Max Rockatansky on April 04, 2020, 06:51:59 PM
There goes any short term aspirations of visiting Hot Springs National Park again...
Title: Re: Recreational Travel limited in Arkansas
Post by: ozarkman417 on April 04, 2020, 08:20:37 PM
Quote from: bjrush on April 04, 2020, 06:20:46 PM
State parks are day use only right now
and then there is Lake Ouachita. Three campers tested positive there and the whole park closed. Ozark Nat'l Forest hasn't closed down Hawksbill Crag yet, and after being there a week ago, I'm not sure why they haven't.


Only a week ago I stayed at an AirBNB near St Paul. A couple months ago I booked a stay in the Mount Magazine State Park Lodge (the trip itself will be sometime during the summer), and the Arkansas State Parks website says they are giving refunds.
Title: Re: Recreational Travel limited in Arkansas
Post by: US71 on April 04, 2020, 08:47:47 PM
Quote from: ozarkman417 on April 04, 2020, 08:20:37 PM
Quote from: bjrush on April 04, 2020, 06:20:46 PM
State parks are day use only right now
and then there is Lake Ouachita. Three campers tested positive there and the whole park closed. Ozark Nat'l Forest hasn't closed down Hawksbill Crag yet, and after being there a week ago, I'm not sure why they haven't.


Only a week ago I stayed at an AirBNB near St Paul. A couple months ago I booked a stay in the Mount Magazine State Park Lodge (the trip itself will be sometime during the summer), and the Arkansas State Parks website says they are giving refunds.

St Paul just came into the 21st Century: they now have a Casey's  ;)
Title: Re: Recreational Travel limited in Arkansas
Post by: ozarkman417 on April 04, 2020, 09:16:28 PM
Quote from: US71 on April 04, 2020, 08:47:47 PM
Quote from: ozarkman417 on April 04, 2020, 08:20:37 PM
Quote from: bjrush on April 04, 2020, 06:20:46 PM
State parks are day use only right now
and then there is Lake Ouachita. Three campers tested positive there and the whole park closed. Ozark Nat'l Forest hasn't closed down Hawksbill Crag yet, and after being there a week ago, I'm not sure why they haven't.


Only a week ago I stayed at an AirBNB near St Paul. A couple months ago I booked a stay in the Mount Magazine State Park Lodge (the trip itself will be sometime during the summer), and the Arkansas State Parks website says they are giving refunds.

St Paul just came into the 21st Century: they now have a Casey's  ;)
In my mind, 'civilization' is when a town has a Dollar General. St Paul got one a couple months ago
Title: Re: Recreational Travel limited in Arkansas
Post by: edwaleni on April 04, 2020, 10:02:31 PM
Quote from: ozarkman417 on April 04, 2020, 09:16:28 PM
Quote from: US71 on April 04, 2020, 08:47:47 PM
Quote from: ozarkman417 on April 04, 2020, 08:20:37 PM
Quote from: bjrush on April 04, 2020, 06:20:46 PM
State parks are day use only right now
and then there is Lake Ouachita. Three campers tested positive there and the whole park closed. Ozark Nat'l Forest hasn't closed down Hawksbill Crag yet, and after being there a week ago, I'm not sure why they haven't.


Only a week ago I stayed at an AirBNB near St Paul. A couple months ago I booked a stay in the Mount Magazine State Park Lodge (the trip itself will be sometime during the summer), and the Arkansas State Parks website says they are giving refunds.

St Paul just came into the 21st Century: they now have a Casey's  ;)
In my mind, 'civilization' is when a town has a Dollar General. St Paul got one a couple months ago

This is weird hearing about St Paul, Arkansas. It's on my bucket list of places I want to go to. It's so small, i didn't think anyone had heard of it except the people who live there.
Title: Re: Recreational Travel limited in Arkansas
Post by: oscar on April 04, 2020, 10:15:06 PM
Quote from: edwaleni on April 04, 2020, 10:02:31 PM
This is weird hearing about St Paul, Arkansas. It's on my bucket list of places I want to go to. It's so small, i didn't think anyone had heard of it except the people who live there.

I don't travel much in Arkansas, but I was familiar with the place. I got stuck there overnight, after driving south on a particularly treacherous part of the "Pig Trail" in an unexpected ice storm.
Title: Re: Recreational Travel limited in Arkansas
Post by: US71 on April 05, 2020, 09:58:25 AM
Quote from: oscar on April 04, 2020, 10:15:06 PM
Quote from: edwaleni on April 04, 2020, 10:02:31 PM
This is weird hearing about St Paul, Arkansas. It's on my bucket list of places I want to go to. It's so small, i didn't think anyone had heard of it except the people who live there.

I don't travel much in Arkansas, but I was familiar with the place. I got stuck there overnight, after driving south on a particularly treacherous part of the "Pig Trail" in an unexpected ice storm.

That's not fun.
Title: Re: Recreational Travel limited in Arkansas
Post by: oscar on April 05, 2020, 10:23:32 AM
Quote from: US71 on April 05, 2020, 09:58:25 AM
Quote from: oscar on April 04, 2020, 10:15:06 PM
I don't travel much in Arkansas, but I was familiar with the place. I got stuck there overnight, after driving south on a particularly treacherous part of the "Pig Trail" in an unexpected ice storm.
That's not fun.

Right. I had to crawl my way down from Huntsville.

One of the first things I did when I got back home was to order replacements for the crap OEM tires my pickup truck came with. Later, I also got a set of tire chains (which got very little use, but were an essential backstop in case I needed them).
Title: Re: Recreational Travel limited in Arkansas
Post by: cjk374 on April 30, 2020, 05:48:05 PM
On US 79 coming into AR from Haynesville, LA, ARDOT has put up 2 electronic message signs. The first says NO REC LODGING FOR, and the 2nd says OUT OF STATE TRAVELER.
Title: Re: Recreational Travel limited in Arkansas
Post by: MikieTimT on April 30, 2020, 05:52:04 PM
Quote from: cjk374 on April 30, 2020, 05:48:05 PM
On US 79 coming into AR from Haynesville, LA, ARDOT has put up 2 electronic message signs. The first says NO REC LODGING FOR, and the 2nd says OUT OF STATE TRAVELER.

They've got that restriction posted on many of the VMS around the state. The state parks are about to open to Arkansas residents for RV camping, but with the bathroom facilities closed and the more commonly travelled hiking trails still closed.  Will give the residents a little break from their houses.
Title: Re: Recreational Travel limited in Arkansas
Post by: ozarkman417 on May 05, 2020, 03:38:43 PM
Restrictions for out of state travelers have for the most part been lifted

https://www.ky3.com/content/news/Arkansas-lifts-restrictions-for-recreational-out-of-state-travelers-aside-from-hot-spot-residents-570212781.html (https://www.ky3.com/content/news/Arkansas-lifts-restrictions-for-recreational-out-of-state-travelers-aside-from-hot-spot-residents-570212781.html)
Title: Re: Recreational Travel limited in Arkansas
Post by: US71 on May 05, 2020, 04:10:06 PM
Quote from: ozarkman417 on May 05, 2020, 03:38:43 PM
Restrictions for out of state travelers have for the most part been lifted

https://www.ky3.com/content/news/Arkansas-lifts-restrictions-for-recreational-out-of-state-travelers-aside-from-hot-spot-residents-570212781.html (https://www.ky3.com/content/news/Arkansas-lifts-restrictions-for-recreational-out-of-state-travelers-aside-from-hot-spot-residents-570212781.html)

Restaurants have reopened on a limited basis, too (10 foot intervals between tables), but many are biding their time for a few more weeks or until an "all clear" sounds from the governor.
Title: Re: Recreational Travel limited in Arkansas
Post by: ozarkman417 on May 05, 2020, 08:56:56 PM
Additionally, the Buffalo River will re-open to day use on the 15th, with exceptions (such as the Lost Valley Trail remaining closed).
Title: Re: Recreational Travel limited in Arkansas
Post by: cjk374 on May 08, 2020, 06:48:30 AM
Quote from: cjk374 on April 30, 2020, 05:48:05 PM
On US 79 coming into AR from Haynesville, LA, ARDOT has put up 2 electronic message signs. The first says NO REC LODGING FOR, and the 2nd says OUT OF STATE TRAVELER.

ARDOT removed the VMS signs from US 79 Wednesday morning.