Northwest Arkansas is quickly emerging as a hub of development and innovation. With a growing economy and vibrant community, the area has become a hotspot for businesses and individuals looking to make their mark in the world. So, what are some big things happening in NWA right now?
The 5 big things happening in Northwest Arkansas are the opening of Alamo Drafthouse, the Listening Forest making a comeback, and CarMax opening up a new location in NWA. Also, The Daily Beet is opening a new store in Fayetteville, and Wilson Park is getting a facelift.
In this article, I’ll explore 5 exciting developments in NWA, so you can see why it’s becoming one of the most sought-after places to live, work, and play in the United States. Let’s get started!
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1. Alamo Drafthouse
So, the first thing we’re kicking off with is a new thing that happened in Fayetteville, which has been in the works for a while. The 112 Drive-In movie theater got decommissioned about two years ago. It was a long-lasting drive-in movie theater in Fayetteville. It got sold, and there was a big send-off where they also showed the last movie.
After that, everyone was wondering what would happen to the old 112 Drive-In movie theater. And just a while ago, everything about what’s happening there was released. So, we have a brand new movie theater coming to Fayetteville, Northwest Arkansas. It’s called the Alamo Drafthouse.
A little side note: There are not many Alamo Drafthouses in America. I was familiar with the actual theater itself, so it’s really cool that they’re moving here.
But that’s not all — not only are they doing a massive cinema there with 4K screens etc., but they’re also doing a drive-in theater. It will be so cool to have the entire combo right there, whether you want to be in the drive-in theater or the main theater itself.
And there’s more! They’re doing a 200, almost 300, townhouse/condo development around the movie theater. Now, I have a dream about living above a pizza shop, which probably isn’t good for me since I love pizza. But another dream is living next to a movie theater.
So, these are all going to be rental homes. Obviously, they’re banking on university students, as the university is growing exponentially, and students need a place to rent
It’s going to be amazing to see these new developments happening in NWA. And NWA is all about doing things differently than how it was done in the past in other cities.
So, it’s interesting to see new homes being developed around movie theaters, of all things. And it’s just the tip of the iceberg for Northwest Arkansas.
If you want to live in a townhouse, why not check out Bella Vista? Bella Vista is located north of Bentonville and Rogers, and it offers affordable housing if you’re looking to move to NWA. For more information, check out my post about the perks of living in Bella Vista.
2. Listening Forest
And now we’re going back to the past. The Listening Forest is coming back to Crystal Bridges.
So, last year I thought the Listening Forest was fantastic — you can check out my other posts and videos where I go into more detail about it.
But it’s an auditory experience that’s super interesting. I didn’t know you could turn a forest into a full experience with lights. For example, you could touch a heart sensor in the middle of the forest, and it actually feels your heartbeat, and the forest beats with your heart. It’s really no surprise that they’re bringing the Listening Forest back.
It was so cool in the last quarter of 2022, so they had to make a comeback, and you definitely must check it out if you’re in Bentonville. It does cost a little to get in, but Crystal Bridges is free, and so are The Momentary and many other art museums.
3. CarMax
This is weird for me to mention, but I wanted to talk about this because of the business side of things.
CarMax is setting up a new location in Northwest Arkansas. The reason I’m super curious about this is because CarMax doesn’t have many locations in America. And it costs a lot of money for them to buy land, set up a facility, etc.
It’s a significant investment, and when businesses invest a lot of money into an area, it means they’ve done a lot of research to ensure they will be successful.
So, CarMax is being very strategic about where they’re putting their next location, and it’s going to be in Northwest Arkansas.
It’s always cool to see larger businesses like CarMax moving to the area because that means they believe in the growth of NWA and know that it’s the best for their business.
Also, I have a 3-day itinerary that can help you decide what activities to do if you’re overwhelmed by everything Northwest Arkansas has to offer.
It doesn’t matter if you’re a foodie, a sports person, a sightseer, or want to spend quality time with your kids; I have something for you. Check out the link below to learn more:
https://www.allthingsnwa.com/3-day-itinerary-northwest-arkansas
4. The Daily Beet
We have a new restaurant opening in Downtown Fayetteville, right off West Street, and it’s called The Daily Beet. So, The Daily Beet has two locations in and around New Orleans. And they’re putting their next location in Fayetteville, Arkansas. So, I’m really excited because they lean more towards the breakfast side of stuff and the healthier side of food.
They will be opening here very shortly in the next couple of months. So, if you’re in Fayetteville, check out The Daily Beet if you want healthier meals like shakes, smoothies, etc.
A side note about The Daily Beet: It leans more towards vegetarian meals. So, if you’re vegetarian or want to kick out meat, check them out.
5. Wilson Park
And lastly, we’re staying in Fayetteville for this one — I’m talking about Wilson Park.
Wilson Park is getting a makeover this year in Fayetteville. Now, if you don’t know Wilson Park, it’s almost in the center of town, and everything runs down to Wilson Park.
It’s one of the most beloved parks in Fayetteville. There are trail systems around there, a pool, and so many other amazing things. It’s just well used during all seasons, including winter.
Now, it’s getting a facelift, not that it looks old, but they just want to add more facilities. It’s always cool to see Fayetteville, Bentonville, Springdale, and Rogers adding new parks or redeveloping them and making them even better with new equipment and facilities.
I’m excited to see this redevelopment, and I’m sure there will be a ribbon cutting sometime next summer or late fall.
Final Thoughts
Northwest Arkansas is a region on the rise, and impressive developments will continue to take place over the next few years.
In summary, the 5 interesting things happening in NWA right now are:
- Alamo Drafthouse is opening up a new theater and plans to develop housing.
- The Listening Forest is making a comeback to Bentonville.
- CarMax is opening a new location in Fayetteville after seeing the growth opportunities in NWA.
- The Daily Beet, a healthy breakfast restaurant, is starting a new location in Fayetteville.
- Wilson Park is getting a makeover.