Reviews of Louisiana Purchase Historic State Park (Park)

Christine Wallace

It is an historical landmark.It was so peaceful. Watch out for snakes and alligators especially during hot summer season. They have a walkway through the swamp/ marsh. The 2 main trees are Cypresses (trees that grows separate to join together). The Tupelos (looks like an elephant foot).

BE N

I was dissapointed of this park or at least of the part i was able to visit. Maybe it happens because I am accustomed to the Texas State parks. But this one don't have a ranger headquarters, nothing. The road ends on a loop, a set of chemical restrooms and a small display with some brochures. I'll not come back.

TAMRA KAY CULP

Good place to go to ease your mind

Erica Wyatt

It's a lovely quiet walk through a swamp. And an important piece of American history.

Franklin Poole

Neat bit of interesting history

Matthew Raborn

Very beautiful and I love how you are in the swamp.

R T

Great piece of American history!!! Really neat and calming place.

Summer Bankston

Very scenic, secluded. There are detailed informative plaques spaced throughout the boardwalk which explain facts and describe the wildlife and events pertinent to the park. Bench at the very end to rest and a safety rail provide a secure relaxing setting. Very very well worth the drive.

Melissa Eker

Educational and interesting wildlife, hidden gem

Alex Bice

Nice place to bring the family. Lots to learn and see here.

Nathan Miller

It was cool

Tracy Ragsdale

We loved it!!!!

Dave Thompson

My friend and I stopped in to the park this past week. January is a great time to visit. There was absolutely no one there except us. And it was late in the day so the late afternoon sunlight through the trees was casting shadows on the water, which was turning colors as well. One of those moments you had to be there to see, to believe. Absolutely stunning. One of those places on this earth where you can actually hear silence.

Joe Craft III

Very nice experience away from civilization. Good educational trip for the whole family.

Janie Campbell

Beautiful place. Great walkway through the swamp. A picnic table, restroom is there. Small but very interesting, especially for history lovers like me.

Cody G Baker

Great place to go for peace and quiet.

Ashley Wright

Such a cool piece of history! Beautiful scenery as well

Alan Malcolm

Easy drive & short walk to an important historical marker.

Justin Shields

Very unique place. Just bring insect repellent. Very informative. Will warn that it is literally in the middle of nowhere so don't expect lunch and lodging nearby. It's just a one of a kind place.n

Greg inConway

Totally cool place. A must for travelers...interesting history story boards along the wooden trail. Really neat experience.

mike smith

Very pretty

Dylan Morse

This is an immeasurably important piece of American history!

Kay McKinney

Really great little spot to stop!!

Tony Gschwend

Interesting place. Don't forget the mosquito repellent if you visit during the summer.

Debbie Shell

History tells the story of our heritage & how our country grew & became free & still free! Thankful for our State Parks & history being kept alive. Also, beautiful & peaceful

Craig Johnson

Very unique little park. How often can you walk out in the middle of a headwater swamp and not get wet.

Marion Mack

Great little known park

Stephen Stuart

Really enjoyed the effort it took to get there! Well maintained exhibits. Allow about 30 minutes to walk the raised boardwalk and read the exhibits. Worthwhile and significant piece of American history.

Courtney Boyett

You won't find a visitors center or hiking trails at this state park but it's definitely worth a visit! I arrived about an hour before dark and was the only visitor there at the time. The swamp was darker along the boardwalk with the canopy overhead and full of noises from birds, small splashes, and bugs. It was an eery, yet exciting experience. Be sure to bring bug spray though! The bugs will eat you alive if not. If you get the chance, you must visit this unique state park. I never expected to find something like this in Arkansas.

Teressa Hickman

I love it

Eddy Hill

Worth the trip

Liz L

Louisiana Purchase State Park, sits a Monument in the Black Water Swamp that marks the Louisiana Purchase, the "Initial Survey Point" site. Two Gum Trees were notched to mark the site, the Gum Trees, are referred to as the "Witness Tree". 1815c. The Louisiana Purchase more than doubled the size of the U.S. & are present State of Arkansas. After the War of 1812, the veterans where demanding some kind of compensation. Land we had....but it had to be survey...before distribution was in order. President Madison ordered a survey. The initial survey point laid forgotten until 1921, when a re-survey for the boundaries of Lee & Phillips Counties were being conducted, the "Witness Trees" were rediscovered. A monument was placed by the Daughters of the American Revolution & it was designed a National Hstoric Landmark & has the status as an Undeveloped Wilderness. A must not missed site, surrounded by native trees and plants, a raised wooden plank bridge takes you to the "Survey Point", plenty of interpretation signs, a portal potty, ample parking.

Cyndi Marley

Nothing but history which is most important however this day in age its all about amenities.

Samuel Harrison

Such a historical site - this place started the western expansion with the Louisiana Purchase.

Darrell Sheffield

First, thanks to Arkansas for saving this piece of history. We made the slight detour from our route to see this on our spring break trip and it was well worth the time. It helped my kids to connect a piece of history they were recently studying in school about America's westward expansion. Also, learned the difference between a headwater and a floodwater swamp! Very educational!

Chris

This was great place to stop for lunch and walk along a boardwalk out into the swamp where a pivotal piece of American history occurred. It is a short hike with interesting information about the lousania purchase. There are no facilities here just porta potties.

Grant Hunt

For a swamp, it's definitely 5 stars. Lots of swamp stuff to do out there. And read about some swamp history too. Let me tell ya, this tops any swamp stuff the Discovery or History channel can ever do! Swamp Yeah!

Serena Wilson

Very cool. If you're in the area, a must see.

Craig's mom

So glad I went. It's worth visiting

Raymond Molden

A swamp oasis in the middle of the delta.

Tunie Breaux

Unique place to visit to learn a bit and experience a beautiful swamp setting.

Jeannie Belew

Love this place...beautiful swamp...lots of good info and history

Colleen Tarver

Don't forget the bug spray!!

Miguel A. Alvarez

Very interesting story and the boardwalk thru the swamp is awesome

Amy Brumley

Fun to be in nature and it’s beautiful

Jarrod Marshall Cook

was cool

Down The Road with Brian Mallard

If you get a chance to go here, do it! You wont find a fancy visitor center and the bathrooms are porta toilets, but its gorgeous! This is one of the most peaceful places we've visited.

Bryan Patrick

An interesting lowland swamp area that's part of an Arkansas State Natural Area. There's a long boardwalk that leads to the historic survey market. Almost cathedral like among all the towing tupelo trees.

Jo Boger

Showed up at dusk, 1 hr before gate closed. Very creepy but worth the trek into the swamp. Dont forget your bug spray though as mosquitos will eat you alive. Will go back in daytime.

Sajjad Khan

Not a major park, but a treat to see

Robert Wood

THIS IS IN A SWAMP!!!! Best time to go is in the late fall around thanksgiving. when the water as subsided and the bugs are gone. Also at this time of year the leaves are changing colors and falling so it is perfect for a small nature walk. There is no facilities and it is only open in the daytime. The closest anything is 20 miles so make sure you fuel up and use the restroom before you go there.

Sara Plante

Nice little surprise park with a walking bridge through a Swamp

Matt Ziegler

Cool experience!

joseph frank

Worst place I ever seen on Earth mosquitoes are worse than Louisiana please do not ever visit this state park

shelly davis

Very neat. Take a can or 2 of Off Spray.

Sarah Liby

We went in April and it was absolutely beautiful!

Crystal O'Brien

100% wheelchair accessible!! This was a 30 minute drive from our hotel so we were not sure we wanted to make the drive, but it was worth it. We visited in late May and the trees were in full bloom and beautiful. Take bug spray. There are lots of bugs but thankfully we did not encounter any snakes.

Devin Thurgood

Pretty cool place, great history! I and another missionary went down here to check it out for our P-day!

Hal Miller

A pleasant little park with wooden walkways over the swamp from which cypress trees grow. The L'Anguille Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution in Marianna, Arkansas, placed a monument on the site in 1926 to mark the point from which the Louisiana Purchase (1803) was surveyed. Chemical toilets and picnic table. Good parking. Shaded easy level walkways.

Keith K

It is brief.

Derek Chambers

Swampy!

Jessica Steinke

My mom and I had the unique opportunity to visit when snow covered the boardwalk, and the swamp was entirely frozen over. I’ve been to many swamps but never one frozen solid. The cold made the park incredibly peaceful. Only met one couple on the short boardwalk. Otherwise, no life forms to be seen. The animals must have been too cold to make an appearance. We arrived late in the day and got to witness the sun setting through the pretty trees. The Water Tupelo trees (and a few bald cypress) were stunning and reminded me why I love the South so much. It was neat to imagine the people from days past who erected the monument in such a interesting location. (Seriously right in the middle of a swamp?!) No facilities or fees to enter. Two porta potties by the boardwalk entrance are the only services. The road getting there was narrow and a little rough. We saw literally thousands of snow geese, a possum, and an armadillo on the drive in.

Ben Baker

We stumbled across the wonderful piece of American history cutting through the countryside. Stop and take it in if you are close by!