Springdale Lodge Purchase Could Create Retreat Space

STAFF PHOTO ANTHONY REYES Sprouse looks around the inside of a barn Friday at the Rabbits Foot Lodge in Springdale. The barn is old and some think it may be one of the oldest in the state.
STAFF PHOTO ANTHONY REYES Sprouse looks around the inside of a barn Friday at the Rabbits Foot Lodge in Springdale. The barn is old and some think it may be one of the oldest in the state.

SPRINGDALE -- A beautiful view, overlooking Dancing Rabbit Creek and a spring, could become a part of the Springdale park system.

The view is from the front porch of the Rabbits Foot Lodge, a historic two-story log cabin Mayor Doug Sprouse proposed the city buy. The lodge, once the home of former Sen. J. William Fulbright, and 40 acres, could be bought for $1.05 million, Sprouse said.

At A Glance

Springdale Parks

• Murphy Park, 501 S. Pleasant St.

• J.B. Hunt Park, 1955 Fleming St.

• Randal Tyson Complex, 4303 Watkins Ave.

• Luther George Grove Street Park, corner of Grove and Park streets

• Bayyari Park, 2400 Deer Valley St.

• Bobby Hopper Park, 399 Upton St.

• unnamed park, southeast corner of the intersection of Don Tyson Parkway and Hylton Road

• unnamed park, northeast corner of the intersection of Downum and West County Line roads.

Source: Staff Report

"This is a big opportunity for the city," Sprouse said. "The house can be used for meetings and retreats, and the land can become a passive park that could be used pretty much as it sits."

The property is owned by Karen Morton who with her late husband, David Buckley, bought it in 1983, according to Washington County records. The house and 24 acres are in Washington County with the rest of the acreage in Benton County.

The property isn't listed with a real estate agency, Sprouse said. All the negotiation has been between him and Morton. Morton is considering buying another house, Sprouse said.

Morton was out of town and not available for comment Thursday and Friday.

Mike Overton, an alderman, toured the property Friday with Sprouse.

"It's a tremendous opportunity," Overton said. "It has historical significance, and it's proximity to our other park land would be a plus."

The land is south of Lake Springdale and north of J.B. Hunt Park. Both can be seen from the meadow at the top of the hill behind the lodge. To the east, the Razorback Greenway will run along Spring Creek.

"You could run a trail easily to the greenway," Sprouse said.

The greenway is a 36-mile trail between Fayetteville and Bentonville.

The property could be bought with money reserved for parks in the Capital Improvement Program fund, Sprouse said. The city has $1.59 million reserved for parks, said Wyman Morgan, city director of administration and financial services.

Just because Springdale has the money doesn't mean it should be spent, said Jack Clark, a resident.

"I've been in the house, and it's really nice," Clark said of the lodge. However, "it would be way down on my list of priorities."

The city should follow its park plan, said Charles Farmer, a businessman and former council member.

"I think you should follow the process, and make purchases that fit in with it," Farmer said.

Springdale officials have bought 180 acres for new parks with money raised through a bond program. The bonds, approved by voters in 2012, are being paid from a city sales tax.

Sometimes a plan doesn't cover everything, Sprouse said.

"When an opportunity arises, you have to go outside the plan," Sprouse said. "You don't get many opportunities like this."

Booking the lodge for meetings and retreats could be done by an outside agency, Sprouse said. Nonprofit groups, foundations and longtime benefactors to the city will be contacted to see if they have an interest helping with the property, Sprouse said.

The lodge, which is listed in the National Register of Historical Places, is more than 100 years old. It was built in 1908 of logs and stone gathered at the site, according to the register nomination form. It's called the best example of the Adirondack style in Arkansas.

The lodge includes 3,000 square feet of living space, according to county records, with a two-car garage, a basement and two covered porches, one of which wraps around the house.

Water from the spring is piped to Lake Springdale, an early source of water for the city, according to the form. It produces 2 million to 3 million gallons of water per day.

Fulbright, who lived in the house while he was a lecturer at the University of Arkansas Law School then president of the university, added stone steps to the spring. The lodge was his residence from 1934 until the family's move to Washington in 1946 after he was elected to the Senate.

Dave Chapman, a local businessman, said he visited the lodge when his grandfather, John Main, a carpenter, was working on the floors, probably in 1954 or 1955. The property was bought by H. Tate Brady in 1954, according to research by Shiloh Museum staff.

Main insisted the name of the house was Rabbit Foot Lodge. The lodge has also been referred to as Rabbit's Foot and Rabbits Foot, according to the museum research. The nomination form lists the name as Rabbits Foot.

Brady allowed Rodeo of the Ozark officials to keep the mules that pulled the rodeo stagecoach on the lodge property, Chapman said.

"I tried to buy the land about 10 years ago to develop it," Chapman said.

If the city doesn't buy the property, it could be purchased for use as a subdivision, Sprouse said.

"I think several people have looked at it," Sprouse said.

There is a need for meeting or retreat space in Springdale, said Bill Rogers, Chamber of Commerce vice president.

"Businesses like to get their managers away from phone calls and emails to work sometimes," Rogers said.

Mike Luttrell, a local businessman, belongs to several organizations which have retreats, he said, including the Springdale School Board.

"Sometimes it's appropriate to get people together so they can brainstorm without being interrupted," Luttrell said. "The lodge would be a good location. It's secluded, but still inside the city."

Many of the properties on the National Register are still in use, said Mark Christ, community outreach director for the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program. The properties usually remain in better shape with use, he said.

"You can get demolition by neglect," Christ said. "Many are built better than today's construction. It's good to keep them in use."

The purchase is on the agenda for Monday's 5:30 p.m. council committees meeting.

Officials are working on a limited timeline, and without a recent appraisal of the property, Sprouse said.

"I know all the questions can't be answered by the time we have to make a decision on this property," Sprouse said. "I do think this is something we should do."

NW News on 03/02/2014

Upcoming Events