Ft. Smith First Impressions (Little Rock, Fort Smith: housing, rental, hotel)

[matto]

My opinion on Fort Smith is it's a larger city in Arkansas thats ran by old timers and people stuck in their ways. A lot of nice things could come to Ft Smith but the place doesn't want to see any change. There is talk of a multi million dollar casino restuarant area by the river but a ton of people have spoken out against it. I don't understand the mentality, when you can drive 4 miles down the road in Oklahoma and gamble, where most in that area do. Why not take advantage of the revenue and making the city look nice?

Fort Smith does have its shares of hispanics and illegals, I think it's something like 15 percent or so, maybe a little less, I dunno. It's not a huge number, but if you are on the northside of town or by the midland area you can tell where most stay.

Fort Smith for some reason just seems like there is a lot of criminal activity going on there for the size of the city. I've done a ride along with a FS cop before and he stated he didn't think there were really "gangs" in FS, but there is that type of activity showing up here and there, whether it be with graffitti, drive bys, or stabbings/fights/shootings. They just had a young kid murdered in a walmart parking lot in Ft Smith not too long ago.

Personally if I were to work in Ft Smith I would choose to live elsewhere in one of the smaller cities outside. I'm partial to Van Buren, they have their own problems, but the criminal element isn't nearly as obvious and each year there is more and more business moving in.

Greenwood is another nice little town, but it's plagued with bad leadership and horrible politics.

[bchris02]

I have lived near Ft. Smith for 5 years, and I couldn't be more ready to leave the area.

The person who said Ft. Smith is the town that "time forgot" made a correct statement. If you've ever wondered what living in the 1960s was like, all you have to do is go to Ft. Smith. A lot of older people find charm in the slow pace of life and the old-fashioned traditions in Ft. Smith. We are also very slow on the tech side, as 3G cellular service has yet to make an appearance in this area. Typewriters and fax machines dominate here. I work at a local computer retailer, and I get customers all the time that have never seen a computer and even more that have never used one. And oh yeah, our TV stations still go off the air at night and end with the national anthem.

Also, Be ready to live like the National Maximum Speed Limit Act of 1973 is still relevant, because despite a 65mph speed limit on I-540 (70mph on I-40), nobody seems to want to drive faster than 55 mph.

Matto is right in that a vast majority of people in Ft. Smith oppose change. This is a town of the elderly, by the elderly, and for the elderly. Couple the old-timers wanting to preserve traditions with the extreme fundamentialist Christianity that is dominant here, and you get Ft. Smith. Things are very slowly changing, but not without fierce opposition. We did finally get a Hooter's, but even that was heavily protested (there was a time when Hooter's considered cancelling the deal).

If shopping at Wal-Mart and ONLY Wal-Mart, eating the same crappy fast food chains, going to church 3 times per week, and driving at least 15 mph under the speed limit is what makes you grin, then you'll love Ft. Smith. If you actually want to live life in 2007 and not 1957, go up the hill to Fayetteville. Its a similar sized town, but it is polar opposite in about EVERY way.

[Sam I Am]

Originally Posted by bchris02

The person who said Ft. Smith is the town that "time forgot" made a correct statement. If you've ever wondered what living in the 1960s was like, all you have to do is go to Ft. Smith. Things are very slowly changing, but not without fierce opposition. We did finally get a Hooter's, but even that was heavily protested (there was a time when Hooter's considered cancelling the deal). If shopping at Wal-Mart and ONLY Wal-Mart, eating the same crappy fast food chains, going to church 3 times per week, and driving at least 15 mph under the speed limit is what makes you grin, then you'll love Ft. Smith. If you actually want to live life in 2007 and not 1957, go up the hill to Fayetteville. Its a similar sized town, but it is polar opposite in about EVERY way.

Geez, Chris - a lot of us LOVED 1957!

I find it interesting that Hooter's is your idea of "change". I'll give you one in that if there were no Hooter's, it surely wouldn't be a reason for me not to move to Ft. Smith! And Ft. Smith isn't a dry county....so there's some progress over Pope County.

I think in any Southern rural town you are going to find a little bit of slowing of the progression of time. It's why some of us love the rural towns....but maybe I'm one of the elderly....

I can see where today's teens and younger adults not having the amenities they know are available would be frustrating......on the other hand, there's a lot of inner city kids who would love to see a tree and not have to worry about noise and feeling crowded - and a whole lot of folks who would be happy to live with a Wal Mart (and a few who wish they could afford to shop Wal Mart).

Television - well, that's interesting.....I guess the cable works all night, though? LOL!

[bchris02]

Originally Posted by Sam I Am

I find it interesting that Hooter's is your idea of "change". I'll give you one in that if there were no Hooter's, it surely wouldn't be a reason for me not to move to Ft. Smith! And Ft. Smith isn't a dry county....so there's some progress over Pope County.

Hooter's is NOT my idea of change, but its the first and only thing to come to Ft. Smith in this decade that is geared towards people under 50. In a town as backwards as Ft. Smith, this means a lot more than in a more progressive town like Fayetteville.

[matto]

Originally Posted by bchris02

I have lived near Ft. Smith for 5 years, and I couldn't be more ready to leave the area.

The person who said Ft. Smith is the town that "time forgot" made a correct statement. If you've ever wondered what living in the 1960s was like, all you have to do is go to Ft. Smith. A lot of older people find charm in the slow pace of life and the old-fashioned traditions in Ft. Smith. We are also very slow on the tech side, as 3G cellular service has yet to make an appearance in this area. Typewriters and fax machines dominate here. I work at a local computer retailer, and I get customers all the time that have never seen a computer and even more that have never used one. And oh yeah, our TV stations still go off the air at night and end with the national anthem.

Also, Be ready to live like the National Maximum Speed Limit Act of 1973 is still relevant, because despite a 65mph speed limit on I-540 (70mph on I-40), nobody seems to want to drive faster than 55 mph.

Matto is right in that a vast majority of people in Ft. Smith oppose change. This is a town of the elderly, by the elderly, and for the elderly. Couple the old-timers wanting to preserve traditions with the extreme fundamentialist Christianity that is dominant here, and you get Ft. Smith. Things are very slowly changing, but not without fierce opposition. We did finally get a Hooter's, but even that was heavily protested (there was a time when Hooter's considered cancelling the deal).

If shopping at Wal-Mart and ONLY Wal-Mart, eating the same crappy fast food chains, going to church 3 times per week, and driving at least 15 mph under the speed limit is what makes you grin, then you'll love Ft. Smith. If you actually want to live life in 2007 and not 1957, go up the hill to Fayetteville. Its a similar sized town, but it is polar opposite in about EVERY way.

Eh, you're a little rough, chris. There is a lot of things I dont like about Fort Smith, but having the impression there is a vast amount of people out there that haven't used computers I find hard to believe. And the only tv station I'm aware that does what you say is channel 55 I think which is an all day re run of news. Could be wrong though.

It's just a slower paced area, all around. It's funny because it seems like Fort Smith would be so laid back and old timey, but the place is plagued with crime and drugs.

[bchris02]

Originally Posted by matto

Eh, you're a little rough, chris. There is a lot of things I dont like about Fort Smith, but having the impression there is a vast amount of people out there that haven't used computers I find hard to believe.

I wouldn't really say its a vast amount, but it is enough to be signifficant. I know because I deal with them every day.

Originally Posted by matto

And the only tv station I'm aware that does what you say is channel 55 I think which is an all day re run of news. Could be wrong though.

Channel 5 and Channel 40 do also, not sure what their numbers are on cable right off the top of my head. Channel 5 goes to a test pattern and channel 40 just goes to all-night repeat of the 10pm newscast after the closedown. And the FOX station is a simulcast of NBC except during primetime.

Originally Posted by matto

but the place is plagued with crime and drugs.

This is because of the influx of illegal immigrants as well as bored youth because the town offers nothing for them.

[doodoo3]

Come on now...Fort Smith has plenty of technologically advanced people who use computers. Even the crack heads down on Midland have a myspace account.

Also, Hooters isn't the only thing that has came in a decade. Over the past 5 years, or maybe a little more, we have gotten Home Depot, Kholes, Starbucks, Hot Topic, Bath Junkie, Linens and Things, IHOP and so on. I agree we pretty much were living in the stone age before they decided to add all of those places that the rest of the world had. And now they are working on construction for a Target right down town, which I'm sure will bring in it's own little businesses that want to build around it.

The speed limits in Fort Smith are better than in Austin, TX where I live now! You get pulled over for going 3 miles over the speed limit. Fort Smith cops are so spread thin that I haven't gotten pulled over in Fort Smith for the past 5 years and I tend to go 5 - 10 over.

There is an abundance of people who aren't set in their ways and held back in the "old days" if you just look around. Unless you are hanging out at the Village Inn every Sunday Morning.

But there IS alot of churches and don't forget you are in the Bible Belt
and I hate to say it, but where there is alot of churches there is usually a LACK of change.

To answer your question on neat places to visit. Well, if you live in Arkansas you MUST go to a Razorback game, that is just a given. Hog Pride is big in Arkansas. Our stadium is giant and they are alot of fun. It is also fairly inexpensive compared to a Longhorns game.

You have to drive North on 540 toward Fayetteville in the Fall and see the leaves changing in the mountains. You can google this also and get an idea of what I'm talking about. Just type in Fall in the Boston Mountains...or Ozarks, either one will give you a general idea.

Eureka Springs is a Must and if you go there I would suggest going around Halloween and staying at the Crescent Hotel, preferrably in the Haunted room. They also have a ghost tour. Look up the Crescent Hotel on google. It is an Awesome place to stay at and such a beautiful town with TONS of stuff to do. And if you are into ghosts and such you can look up Haunted Arkansas for the massive list of places that are in driving distance... This is something my mother and I do every fall, it's alot of fun.

The Fair comes to Fort Smith every fall as well and it is pretty decent as a fair goes. Of course it is smelly and there are alot of weirdo's, but that's what makes a fair so fun right?

Van Buren has a nice Old Timers Day and Fall Festival every year with lots of vendors that set up on the old main street, where there is also tons of antique shops. There is also a cafe called Main Street Cafe that has awesome HUGE hamburgers for like $3 which includes fries and a drink.

Fort Smith puts on a decent river front Blues Festival each year, and our airshow is pretty good too.

Speaking of restaurants...if you like Mexican food I would suggest El Lorito in Fort Smith or El Super Taco, biggest portions for the cheapest amount of money! If you like Vietnamese (sp?) food then I would suggest Pho Vietnam, it is scary looking, but their food is WONDERFUL! For Japanese I would suggest Shoguns, but I think bigger cities have that as well. Chinese buffet? China Jade by a mile!! Others I would suggest is Doe's eat place for steaks. Rib eye steak house also, they have private dining...little horse stalls that have been converted into individual dining rooms. My family used to own it, but it was sold. Still good food though and a unique atmosphere. Calico County has won awards for it's breakfast and down home cooking. Pig N Pepper has great BBQ and so does Jerry Neals, their twice baked potato is the absolute BEST!. Ed Walkers Drive in is a CLASSIC in Fort Smith. They have curb side BEER!!!! Taliono's is a cool place for Italian food. It is in a nice big historic house and they have great food. If you are into seafood Catfish Cove and the Ole Feed House are staples. My good friends Dori and Natalie own Landry's New Orleans Cafe and they have live music there all the time, awesome food!! That is just to name a "few". There is alot of good places to munch on in and around Fort Smith.

Other places you HAVE to visit is the King Opera House in Van Buren, Miss Laura's Brothel in Fort Smith, There are downtown horse carriage tours every weekend night, of course the Fort Smith National Historic Site, The Hanging Gallows, The Fort Smith Little Theater puts on plays all the time with local artists, The Fort Smith Art Museum, which is in a big old house in the historic district, The National Cemetery with something like 10,000 graves, and of course Fort Chaffee. Just to name a few

Within driving distance is Tulsa, Little Rock and Hot Springs. And within a 5 hour drive is Kansas City, Dallas and Memphis.

Also there are several golf courses if you like that sort of thing.

Wow, this got longer than expected, guess I miss the place.

A good website is Old West Towns – Arkansas Ozark Mountains – Fort Smith Arkansas, has most of the information I lended above with pics and even more information.

[Cooxie]

HI! I need help in finding a safe decent area to rent a house. My sweetie is gone a lot and I will be alone alot. I'm relocating from Las Vegas probably 1st of October and I'm scared to death! I did a quick car tour last week, I was told anywhere above 66th st will start the nice residential area's. I'm not seeing to many listings in the newspaper. I really don't want an apartment but may have to..How is HarborTown, The fairways and Chapelridge? Any input is greatly appriciated! I also wil have to expand my Swiss Skin Care business, so I need to start connecting with some networking groups, Chamber etc. Thanks to all

[matto]

Originally Posted by Cooxie

HI! I need help in finding a safe decent area to rent a house. My sweetie is gone a lot and I will be alone alot. I'm relocating from Las Vegas probably 1st of October and I'm scared to death! I did a quick car tour last week, I was told anywhere above 66th st will start the nice residential area's. I'm not seeing to many listings in the newspaper. I really don't want an apartment but may have to..How is HarborTown, The fairways and Chapelridge? Any input is greatly appriciated! I also wil have to expand my Swiss Skin Care business, so I need to start connecting with some networking groups, Chamber etc. Thanks to all

Not familiar with Fort Smith, besides general areas. I know in Van Buren I would stay north of atleast popular.

good post, doodoo.

[nativehog]

Originally Posted by Cooxie

HI! I need help in finding a safe decent area to rent a house. My sweetie is gone a lot and I will be alone alot. I'm relocating from Las Vegas probably 1st of October and I'm scared to death! I did a quick car tour last week, I was told anywhere above 66th st will start the nice residential area's. I'm not seeing to many listings in the newspaper. I really don't want an apartment but may have to..How is HarborTown, The fairways and Chapelridge? Any input is greatly appriciated! I also wil have to expand my Swiss Skin Care business, so I need to start connecting with some networking groups, Chamber etc. Thanks to all

Let me start by saying that I have lived in the Fort Smith area all my life and do not like it here.

Looking at housing only above 66th street is a bit of over-kill. There are lots of nice areas spread all over town. A pretty good rule to follow is to stay south of Grand Ave and east of 50th street. There are lots of exceptions to this rule, but you have to know the areas. Some examples would be: the area around Creekmore Park is nice, anything on Free Ferry is nice especially near the main library, Eastwood addition north of Grand Ave and Waldron Road is old but appealing. There are some nice apartments near Creekmore Park and the baseball fields.

Keep in mind that there are nice rentals in smaller towns outside Fort Smith, Barling and Greenwood are good options. If you choose to live in Crawford County (Van Buren, Alma, etc) you will have to commute across the 540 bridge. At 7:30-8AM it is crazy bumper-to-bumper traffic. There are some nice places in Oklahoma too, but I've always heard to stay away from Moffit and Muldrow. A large community of Travelers(gypsies) live in Spiro. Kind of interesting.

Don't know much about apartments, sorry. Hope this info helps.