PETIT JEAN STATE PARK VACATION

Gary and I met Sancy and Johnny at Petit Jean State Park in early August for a few days of camping. They had just bought a new MANSION fifth wheel and Gary and I bought our fifth wheel a few months ago. Sancy and I are still decorating and trying to decide where to put everything. We (Sancy) decided we needed a few days of camping to see if everything was working. Sancy found the place. It was halfway for both of us. Perfect gathering place!

Petit Jean State Park is Arkansas' first state park and a well hid secret. Arkansas does not do a good job marketing Petit Jean State Park. I have never had a desire to go there...visiting...touring...or camping. That has changed. It's amazing. Hiking, sightseeing, camping, cabins secluded in the mountains, pools, bike trails...it has everything. You can even rent a tee-pee! No kidding!

Cedar Falls has the Cedar Creek Canyon which was a beautiful place to take pictures. The state deserves all the praise possible for the upkeep of the park. Cedar Falls is home to a majestic rustic style mountain lodge and winds down into Cedar Creek Canyon. The lodge is surrounded by beautiful cabins and a gorgeous pool with a waterfall.

 

The trail follows Cedar Creek to 95-foot Cedar Falls, one of the tallest continuously flowing waterfalls in the state. (It was not flowing the day we were there....no rain!) The hiking trail was labeled at moderate to strenuous. I think it would be a challenge for experienced hikers.

 

Gary and Betsy at Cedar Falls Overlook.

Standing at the mountain lodge looking at the beautiful mountains. The pool overlooks this view also. Breathtaking just standing on the edge.

 

Sancy and Johnny at Cedar Falls Overlook.

 

Gary and I brought our kayaks. Our camping area overlooked Lake Barclay. Gary and Johnny were able to fish about twice a day. Sancy and I went kayaking once. The temperature was in the 100's while we were there and the afternoons were very hot. That was when we would leave to go sightseeing.

Gary with his fish.

  

Johnny

 And, back home they return!

The Museum of Automobiles is a privately owned antique and classic autos museum, located just outside the park.

This is a car Elvis bought when he married Priscilla.

 John F. Kennedy's car.

 Mae West's car.

The mountain received its name back in the 1700's with the story of a young French Nobleman, Chavet. He requested permission to explore a part of the Louisiana Territory and was granted approval. Chavet was engaged to be married to Adrienne Dumont. When told of his plans, she asked that they be married right away so she could accompany him. Her request was denied. She disguised herself as a cabin boy and called herself Jean. The sailors called her Petit Jean, which is French for Little John. The ship ascended the Mississippi River to the Arkansas River, to the foot of the mountain. The crew spent the summer atop the mountain until winter and then got ready to leave. Petit Jean became ill. She requested that if she died she wanted to be carried back to the mountaintop and be buried at a spot overlooking the river below.

 Standing on the bluff next to Petit Jean's grave.

 This is our camper.

Watching the Olympics. The fireplace is on ONLY for the atmosphere and it did not stay on long!





My favorite room in the whole thing! The laundry room. 

It deserves two pictures because I love it so much. I love hearing the humming sound of the washer and dryer going. Even if I only have a few things I manage to run it every day while we are camping.



It would not be right to talk about our camping trip without talking about the food. Breakfast was something else. We had it all. We would take turns cooking. One day Sancy and Johnny did the cooking and the next day Gary and I would. The afternoons were so hot so that was the time we would go sightseeing. It takes more than one day to see everything. We really didn't care to go see Petit Jean's grave but Mother (Nana) told Sancy that we needed to. No one wanted to tell Mother we didn't see it so we took time out one afternoon to find it. I'm so glad we did. It really was one of the most beautiful sights to see!

Since we are still trying to figure out how everything works either Gary or Johnny would need something from town everyday. We managed to make it to the local Walmart and a few other places. There was an Amish store next to the park and Sancy and I bought fudge.

We were not ready to leave and I'm certainly ready to go back. What a beautiful park. There are seven hiking trails and none of them are for someone like myself.