Tucked neatly into the northwest corner of Benton County, Pea Ridge, Arkansas, is a charming little suburban town that is part of the Fayetteville–Springdale–Rogers metro area. It is also part of the Ozarks region, teeming with vibrant, natural expanses, wildlife, and tranquil beauty. It is home to approximately 6,000 residents who commute to the larger cities nearby for work and countless entertainment and recreational opportunities. Quiet, conservative, picturesque, and inviting, many adjectives might come to mind when you think about this town, but if you were to try to describe Pea Ridge with just one word, you would have to say historic.

Pea Ridge was settled officially in the mid-1800s by Europeans, but its roots reach much deeper into the past, centuries, in fact, to a time when many different Indigenous peoples called the area home. Several ancient artifacts have been discovered throughout the region, including pottery and tools such as arrowheads, rock hammers, and crude knives used by Bluff Dweller, Rock Shelter, and Mound Builder Indians. Pea Ridge has also been home to Osage and Quapaw tribes, the latter of which cultivated the wild peas for which the town was eventually named. The Cherokee Trail of Tears infamously passed through a part of the town now known as the Wire Road, but the most notable history of Pea Ridge is perhaps its pivotal role in the Civil War. The Battle of Pea Ridge ultimately decided the fate of Missouri, and the site remains one of the most intact Civil War battlefields in the United States. Thousands of soldiers lost their lives here, and the site is a popular tourist attraction today that is purported to be quite haunted.

Of course, plenty of other thrilling attractions in and around Pea Ridge don’t involve ghosts. Play some golf at the exceptional Big Sugar Golf Club, a challenging, scenic championship golf course that is not to be missed. If you’d rather do a different kind of driving, head over to Rush Springs Park for some ATV fun or horseback riding. With trails winding through the woods to breathtaking Ozark vistas at the bluffs, outdoor recreation doesn’t get any better than this.

The Amazeum in nearby Bentonville is a terrific place to spend an afternoon with the kids that has fun adventures and learning experiences focusing on math, art, and science. Catch a movie at the Skylight Cinema, and, of course, grab some grub. You won’t leave hungry when you visit the iconic Pea Ridge Café. Drop by the Rainbow House Asian Bistro for five-star Chinese fare, or head to Simple Simon’s for some great pizza. Lastly, how about some outrageously delicious soft-serve sorbet from Brain Freeze Sno & Whip?

There’s a lot to love about Pea Ridge but living in the Ozarks region also comes with other challenges. Wildlife invasions frequently happen here, but Natural State Wildlife Solutions is always ready to help. If you’ve had an issue with an intrusive animal, please contact us and allow us to assist you.