Northwest Arkansas
DiscoverFortSmith.com; @DiscoverFortSmith
As the original gateway to the West, Fort Smith offers planners a blend of history, hospitality, and convenience, according to Ashleigh Bachert, executive director of Discover Fort Smith. “We pair a rich heritage with a vibrant public art scene and a welcoming atmosphere that makes events memorable. Attendees enjoy walkable downtown venues, unique offsite experiences like the U.S. Marshals Museum and Miss Laura’s Brothel Museum, and easy access to major highways and regional flights.”
Other attractions include Fort Smith National Historic Site, Fort Smith Museum of History, Chaffee Barbershop & Military Museum (where Elvis got his GI haircut), and Fort Smith Regional Art Museum, plus nearby state parks, including Devil’s Den, Lake Fort Smith, and Prairie Grove Battlefield. “We’re a family-friendly destination where all ages can enjoy hearing frontier stories, discover interactive historic exhibits, and enjoy the miles of trails and parks along the river,” Bachert says.
Fort Smith offers more than 2,750 guest rooms. The 255-room Wyndham Fort Smith City Center has 15,880 square feet of column-free event space and connects to the City of Fort Smith Convention Center, which features 116,800 square feet of function space, including a 1,331-seat performing arts center, a 40,000-square-foot exhibit hall, eight meeting rooms, and additional indoor and outdoor spaces. The 178-room Hampton Inn Fort Smith has two small meeting rooms, while the 138-room Courtyard by Marriott Fort Smith Downtown offers 2,565 square feet of function space for events with up to 80 people.
Adjacent to the convention center, the historic Bakery District has multiple indoor and outdoor spaces, co-working spaces, a coffee shop, and a bookstore; a children’s museum is planned for the future. The United States Marshals Museum features 14,000 square feet of function space for corporate events, dinners, galas, and receptions, including an atrium with a wall of windows overlooking the Arkansas River.
