Jo Strickland, Chair

​Bull Shoals White River State Park is located west of Mountain Home on Bull Shoals Lake as the White River exits the Bull Shoals Dam. This park has some of the best fly fishing and camping facilities in the state. There are five hiking trails and some mountain bike trails throughout the park. People who come are hooked on the beauty of the river and scenic bluffs which support a large variety of wildlife and vegetation.  In 2013 and 2014, the Bull Shoals White River State Park was the State Park of the year out of 52 State Parks in Arkansas.

In the middle of the campgrounds is the Big Spring. Big Spring is unusual because the water running from it is actually warmer than the river as it starts in a cave under the lake, running under the river and then comes up at the Big Spring. In 1954, the origin of the spring was determined to be an arm of the lake called Jimmy's Creek. Dye tests from huge sinkholes in this area confirmed that the origin of Big Spring was in Jimmy's Creek, about 2 miles from the spring. The peacefulness of Big Spring has attracted humans for thousands of years. Native people established hunting camps at the river's edge.

This project was started in 1998 by Regina Gramza. In 2011, while Tamara Carl was Project Manager, the project won State Project of the Year! Master Gardeners maintain 2 major areas in the park plus 2 entrance signs to the park. At Big Spring we maintain 4 beds. Weddings are sometimes performed at the arch between 2 of the beds at Big Spring. We also maintain two beds at the Trout Dock, one of which is an herb garden. One of the Park Interpreters has cooking classes and uses these herbs in those classes.

Most of the beds are raised beds and easily maintained. Our goals are to provide education to the visitors on native plants, deer resistant plants, and low maintenance plants that will work in a natural setting.

Directions to Go to This Project

​From Mountain Home
Take Hwy. 5 North headed to Midway -  5 miles from Mountain Home to Hwy. 178.  Turn on Hwy. 178 towards Lakeview and Bull Shoals-White River State Park - 9 Miles on State Hwy 178 from Hwy. 5 and you will be in the State park. Do not cross the dam.


From Gassville
Take Hwy. 126 North out of Gassville.  About 3 miles in, Hwy 178 and 126 merge (do not turn right on 178).  Continue north headed to Midway.  At the stop sign, turn left on Hwy 5, then immediately turn left on Hwy 178 towards Lakeview and Bull Shoals-White River State Park.  Proceed about 9 Miles on State Hwy 178 from Hwy. 5, and you will be in the State park. Do not cross the dam.


Meeting Place 
Master gardener meeting place will be announced in a member message prior to a Project Enhancement Day.