Log Home Destinations: Eureka Springs, Arkansas

Photos courtesy of Eureka Springs CAPC

Eureka Springs, Arkansas is a small town driven mostly by tourism, and for log home lovers, there is something for all interests. People who love the outdoors will appreciate the 2 lakes and 3 rivers nearby with great fishing, smooth water for canoe or kayak float trips, boating, jet skiing and paddle boarding! Plus our 1600-acre city park—one of the largest in the nation--is crisscrossed with 25 miles of hiking and biking trails.

For art lovers, there are dozens of art galleries and an art school. Eureka Springs has always been a vacation destination, so most visitors find themselves pleasantly surprised by the clean safe and beautiful environment that surrounds the town. Those who have made Eureka Springs their home were totally captivated by a feeling of peacefulness and attention to the beautiful surroundings that they had never felt in other places they had visited. And it is much more affordable than other places they had visited.

Log Homes in Eureka Springs

Log homes are scattered throughout the Ozark Mountains and especially around the lake areas such as Beaver Lake near Historical Eureka Springs, Arkansas. The majestic mountain vistas combined with looking down on Beaver Lake make the perfect setting for a log home. One of the historic log cabins is now located next to the Historical Museum in downtown Eureka Springs. This cabin belonged to Cora Pinkley Call, a historian and writer, built around 1930. But most our log homes, as opposed to log cabins, have been built around the area starting in the mid 1970s and today have become a better option than a traditional home on the lake.

The log home owner in Eureka Springs has more often created their own log dream home than bought someone else's dream. Construction cost on a solid wood home can often be more costly than conventional homes, therefore, taking longer to build equity in their log home. Should that log home owner choose to put their home back on the market not long after construction, they find it will take longer to find a buyer willing to pay their price, unless the home owner has discounted the price to encourage a faster sale. A potential buyer would rather spend that same money on creating their own dream home.

Land is available in the area of all sizes and locations to fit everyone’s budget when thinking of building a log home. Most people like to build in spring and summer, but winter delivery discounts are often offered by log home dealers to encourage year round construction. Log homes aren't for everyone, but those who build their own tend never to go back to conventional style homes. A good log home will save you money in utility bills, acting like a thermos bottle with heating and cooling. The large window wall gable ends overlooking the mountain and lake vistas are a total plus to all those who enter today's log home styles.

The fantasy of owning a log cabin in the Ozarks, overlooking beautiful Beaver Lake and with only a 20 min drive to historical Eureka, or a quick scenic drive to popular shopping near the home of Walmart, has many second home owners looking for that special place to get away from their everyday routine with the idea this vacation home will someday become their full time residence or retirement home.

Life in Eureka Springs

There are four distinct seasons in Eureka Springs, but none are too extreme. The best time to visit depends on what you want to do.

Spring and fall are particularly mild and great for outdoor activities and sightseeing. The fall foliage is usually quite spectacular across the Ozark mountainsides.

Winter is a quieter time, and some businesses close or take a short winter break, there aren’t as many visitors to town, but it’s the perfect time to enjoy the peacefulness and relax.

Summer is hot and humid, particularly July and August, which makes it perfect for watersports and lake activities. Our historic city auditorium hosts dozens of concerts each year with every genre imaginable including Blues, Jazz, Folk, Bluegrass, Classical and more! Second Saturdays of the month feature free concerts in Basin Park. And every summer we have an outdoor opera performance for six weeks.

The attractions in Eureka Springs include: Blue Spring Heritage Center, Crescent Hotel Ghost Tours, Aviation Cadet Museum, Eureka Springs & North Arkansas Railway, Quigley’s Castle, Melonlight Ballroom Dance, Riverside, Canoe Service, Stand Up Paddleboard, Belle of the Ozarks (lake tours by boat), HoeDown Music Theater, Ozark Mountain Ziplines, Great Passion Play, Keels Creek Winery, Onyx Cave, Cosmic Cavern, War Eagle Cavern, Opera in the Ozarks, Starkey Marina, Promised Land Zoo, Razorback Tower, Eureka Springs Paranormal Tours, Pivot Rock, Eureka Van Tours, Eureka Springs Historical Tours, Spirits of the Basin, Eureka Springs Historical Museum, momandpop (kids' musical show), Cuisine Karen Culinary Classes, Beaver Bridge (one lane swinging bridge), Pea Ridge National Military Park, St. Elizabeth Catholic Church, Thorncrown Chapel, and more!

With the world of electronics and working from home, those who are still in the work force but can work via Internet from home, full or part time, choose living In the safe and clean environment of the Ozark Mountains where there is a quality of lifestyle much more important than quantity of lifestyle of the past.

Eureka Springs information provided by Gina Rambo, of Eureka Springs City Advertising & Promotion Commission. Real Estate/Log Home Questions answered by Karen Kinsel, long time realtor, log home owner on Beaver Lake, and log home dealer for Real Log Homes, the oldest log home company in the nation.