The Ozark Folk Center State Park in Mountain View is losing $2 million a year but can be turned around and will not close. The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports this is the report the state Parks and Tourism Commission received late last week.The center was built to preserve and showcase Ozark Mountain culture. It opened in 1973. Park department administrators told the commission the culture intended to be preserved is no longer endangered.
Administrators said acts getting their start at the folk center now play on Spotify, the popular internet music site, and perform at the Walmart Arkansas Music Pavilion in Rogers and other popular venues.
At the other venues an audience member can get a beer or wine. Commission members were told shows at the 1,000-seat auditorium at the state park average 125 attendees, while free shows in the Mountain View town center are crowded.
State Parks Operations Manager Mile Wilson told the commission, “I think if we had alcohol sales there, it would do fine.”
Grady Spann, Parks Department director, mentioned other challenges the center faces, such as how the park’s cabin no longer has a near-monopoly on lodging in the area.
Spann said, “We used to be the only game in town.” He said the department has already tried a wide range of marketing campaigns. None worked.
Mayor Roger Gardner of Mountain View said he doubts beer and wine sales would make much of a dent in losses as large as $2 million. Mayor Gardner said, “That’s a lot of beer and wine.”
The issue of allowing such sales at the park has come up before, and the city council has been quite clear in its opposition to the plan. Stone County, where Mountain View is located, prohibits liquor sales. Private clubs permits for such sales would require council approval.
Spann told the commission a possible compromise on the alcohol issue might be allowing craft beers and wines at the park. He said beyond that one issue the music concerts could be moved to a smaller, 150-seat venue at the park, but that will require some renovation. He said his department is exploring alternatives.
Gardner, who said he was a harmonica musician who performed at the park for more than 20 years, told the commissioners the core problem was a lack of appeal to a younger audience. He said a theme park for kids on the site’s acreage would be an good option if an investor could be found.
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