South Arkansas has few public amenities, but Logoly State Park near Magnolia is a delightful place to visit.
I usually hunt ducks or fish in late January, but my duck season has been uninspiring. A friend said one of her goals is to visit all 52 state parks in Arkansas in one year. When she suggested an “adventure” last Sunday, we looked at a wide range of options. The weather forecast called for rain in central Arkansas and the northern areas where we were headed, but the forecast was clear and mild in southern Arkansas. Logoly State Park and White Oak Lake State Park were the only options. We tossed a coin and Logoly won.
The name is a made-up word from three family names – Longino, Goode and Lyle – LogoLy. They owned the land that served as a large Boy Scouts of America camp from the 1940s, similar to the defunct Camp Quapaw near Benton. The Conservation Agency bought the land in 1974. The state of Arkansas bought it later that year and turned it into the state’s first environmental education park.
The park covers 345 acres and contains some, if not most, of the last old growth forest in South Arkansas. It is a mix of solid pine, oak, hickory and beech. It also has 11 springs that greatly affect the topography and flora of the park.
In the past, the springs were said to have a healing effect. They were some of the best sources in the state. People came from all over, even Texas, to drink and bathe in its mineralized waters. Two hotels catered to spa clientele seeking relaxation and rejuvenation in a large spring-water pool. Analogous to the Biblical Pool of Siloam, it was also a popular spot for revivals and church camp meetings.
Over time people stopped coming and these facilities fell into disrepair. The pool has been excavated and restored, but as the water table is much lower than it was in the early 20th century, it rarely contains much water anymore.
As with all Arkansas State Parks, the visitor center is very nice, with some lovely interactive exhibits. A live beehive has plexiglass sides so you can watch the bees at work. Sitting next to it has a calming effect, similar to sitting next to a fish tank. I searched in vain for the queen. There are also aquariums with native fish. There is also an enclosure with a black rat snake and a diorama interpreting the mysteries of tree rings.
Three paths traverse almost the entire park. The Spring Branch Trail is the longest. It makes a 2 mile circle through the forest and over an electric right of way. You can sit in a photo blind at the edge of the power line to see deer, turkey and anything else that comes up. The “dead tree at work” is a curious exhibit. It’s a rotting log, and the exhibit shows how a dead tree replenishes the soil and provides a habitat for beetles and other invertebrates.
The Crane’s Fly Trail is about 3/4 mile long. It visits the park pond and explores some creek areas.
The Magnesia Springs Trail connects the other two trails and visits the Salt Springs area. The springs are working well and it’s nice to see the water bubbling up from the ground.
It doesn’t take long to cover all the trail miles, and honestly I had a suspicion that the trail lengths were too generous. However, the odometer on my iPhone Health app showed they were accurate.
Fishing is allowed in the pond. Judging by the lines and floats hanging from the trees, people fish there.
Only tent camping is possible at six group campsites. There is also a heated bathhouse with showers and flush toilets and a gazebo. Park literature states that reservations are preferred for groups who have planned activities in the park.
The park brochure needs to be updated. A section describing the park’s role in environmental education refers to a world population of 4.5 billion people, which would have been around 1986-87. We are now just over 8 billion. This number underscores the need for more protected green spaces and a greater emphasis on conserving our fish, forest, plant and wildlife resources.
This is an overlooked benefit of the 1/8 percent preservation sales tax enacted by Amendment 75 to the Arkansas Constitution. It funds Arkansas State Parks equally with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, and that’s why we have one of the best state park systems in America.
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