If you’ve driven along the winding U.S. Highway 62 in Northwest Arkansas, the unique charm of Eureka Springs is hard to miss as it appears on the horizon. This town is a vibrant tapestry of roadside art galleries, enchanting dollhouse bed-and-breakfasts, and billboards enticing you to zip-line through the Ozarks. With a 70-year-old opera company and a historical Forestry Service fire tower now serving as a tourist observation deck, Eureka Springs has managed to retain its individuality, resisting the allure of chains like Walmart and Applebee’s. Instead, visitors are greeted with an abundance of jacuzzis, a bustling health food store open every day, a boutique hot sauce shop, and Hart’s Family Center grocery, a nostalgic gem celebrated by TikTok filmmaker PineAcre. The restaurant scene caters to vegan and vegetarian diets, and you’re likely to encounter servers with space buns or names like “Solstice,” giving you a taste of the town’s eclectic vibe. After a month or two, you might find yourself embracing tie-dye as a staple in your wardrobe, perhaps even deeming it appropriate for business wear. Among its gems, Eureka is home to Osage Creek Lodge, a former Best Western transformed into a motorcourt hotel featuring a medical cannabis dispensary—the only hotel lobby in the state that carries a legal, earthy aroma of marijuana. This picturesque mountain town offers a range of 420-friendly cabins and hidden treasures perfect for your next summer road trip.
A Retreat at Lazee Daze and Osage Creek Lodge
Tucked away at 5432 Arkansas Highway 23, Lazee Daze offers a serene 63-acre log cabin retreat just outside of Eureka Springs. This haven boasts spacious country cabins and intimate honeymoon accommodations featuring oversized heart-shaped bathtubs. With its red cedar cabinetry, native stone fireplaces, and country decor, Lazee Daze evokes the cozy feel of grandma’s house or a scene from “Goldilocks and the Three Bears.” Nestled amidst lush greenery, the cabins are situated far enough apart that guests can enjoy the tranquility of the forest, complete with birds and the occasional light rainfall. While smoking indoors is prohibited, the cabin porches are designated as “420-friendly,” allowing medical cannabis patients to enjoy their experience privately. Lazee Daze also partners with Ouachita Farms, offering curated hemp-derived THC edibles that can be waiting in your cabin upon arrival. Owner Charles Mowrey, who advocates for medical marijuana after witnessing its benefits for his father, has embraced this aspect of their business since Arkansas legalized cannabis. Visitors should note that cabins lack Wi-Fi, and cell service can be unreliable; however, a digital detox may be just what you need.
Osage Creek Lodge, located at 101 E. Van Buren St., is a renovated Best Western that serves as both a hotel and a dispensary, drawing visitors with its unique offerings. Its proximity to a cultivation facility in Berryville makes it an attractive spot for Osage Creek. According to CFO Matt Trulove, Eureka Springs was an ideal location for their operation since good spots often have hotels attached. Though the hotel and dispensary function as separate entities, the guest experience feels like a mid-century Southern cannabis getaway, featuring a sunlit pool and a modern dispensary where the hotel’s conference rooms used to be. With amenities like a hot tub and fitness center, guests can relax and enjoy the hotel’s easy access to downtown Eureka via the trolley or a short stroll.
Source : https://arktimes.com/arkansas-blog/2023/06/06/road-trip-eureka-springs-is-for-lovers-and-stoners
