Located at the base of Petit Jean Mountain in the heart of the beautiful Arkansas River Valley, Morrilton is a haven for anyone wanting to experience the wonderful attributes of small-town living while still enjoying the amenities often associated with larger cities.
Morrilton sits along Interstate 40, making travel convenient and providing easy access to nearby Russellville, Conway, Hot Springs and Little Rock. But there’s plenty to do right here.
Play golf or tennis at Morrilton Country Club, enjoy fishing at lakes Overcup, Brewer and Bailey or hike at Petit Jean State Park, Arkansas’ most popular state park. The park features spectacular bluffs with windswept views, enchanting woodlands laced with streams and wildflowers, and the magnificent Cedar Falls waterfall. One of the state’s best known stories is that of Petit Jean, the little French girl for whom the mountain was named. For more information about the story, click here.
Petit Jean Mountain was also home to the late Gov. Winthrop Rockefeller. Less than a mile from camping areas, the Museum of Automobiles, originally built by Rockefeller, features an outstanding collection of more than 50 antique automobiles and is host to the hugely successful Antique Auto Show and Swap Meet each June. Among the cars on display is the 1951 Cadillac that Rockefeller drove to Arkansas in 1953 when he made the state his home.
Among the celebrities Rockefeller entertained at his home on Petit Jean Mountain were big names like Bob Hope, ventriloquist Edgar Bergen and his dummy sidekick Charlie McCarthy, Henry Kissinger, the king and queen of Sweden, future presidents Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton, and the Shah of Iran. Clinton used to lodge on the mountain with the governor’s late son, former Lt. Gov. Win Paul Rockefeller.
Rockefeller’s legacy lives on in the Winthrop Rockefeller Institute, which was established by the University of Arkansas System with a grant from the Winthrop Rockefeller Charitable Trust. Originally part of Rockefeller’s homestead and model cattle farm, it offers a variety of workshops, seminars, public lectures, conferences and special events. There is also a gift shop and museum on the grounds of the Institute.
Historic downtown Morrilton is rich with history, and a fine example of this is the Rialto Theatre, which opened in 1911. Today it still is home to theater performances, concerts, gallery displays and events as well as movies.
The University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton provides a strong roster of academic and vocational courses. It is a major provider of continuing education for the region’s workforce. A testament to the college’s commitment to serve is the new $14m workforce training center located on the west end of the campus.
Volunteer opportunities abound in the community. TheGeneral Federation of Women’s Clubs (GFWC) has several active clubs in Morrilton, each with a different philanthropic focus. The Conway County Care Center and Southern Christian Home are both located in Morrilton. In addition, the Lions Club, Rotary Club and various churches also offer different volunteer activities.
CHI St. Vincent Morrilton has provided quality and convenient hospital and outpatient care to Morrilton and surrounding communities for nearly a century. It offers a range of services, including emergency, urology, intensive care, laboratory, orthopedics, outpatient/same-day surgery, radiology and imaging, rehabilitation, senior day care, sleep lab and wound care.
With affordable housing and plenty of recreational opportunities, Morrilton is an idyllic setting for both retirees and vacationers.