Marble Falls, Arkansas -
Dogpatch U.S.A.

Dogpatch, U.S.A

I travel Hwy. 7 often. I live in Harrison and my family lives in Clarksville. Over the past several months, there has been quite a lot of activity at the old Dogpatch, U.S.A. location. There is a lot of cleaning up and renovating of all of the existing structures and property. So, what's up with this? Reopening? [Sara Collins, 01/02/2006]

[RA: We've had a few recent reports of construction dust and noise emanating from Dogpatch, though it seems unlikely it will re-emerge as the classic tourist attraction. ]

Dogpatch U.S.A.

New owner has started major clean-up of the property. They have heavy equipment clearing all the brush and trees that have grown up, and now is easily viewed from the road. The rumor is that they are going to open the building to craft shops and reopen the trout hatchery. The buildings above the park have been bought by another group and they have reopened the restaurant, convention center, motel, and concert area. It's a popular motorcyclists gathering place for riders traveling senic Hwy 7. [Irk, 09/05/2005]

Dogpatch U.S.A.

A group of us stopped by what remains of Dogpatch USA between Harrison, AR and Jasper, AR in September 2004. The "No Trespassing" signs are now gone. There is a Souvenir Realty sign up as the property is for sale -- $5 million dollars in case anyone is interested. It was creepy fun to go through the property. The locals tell us that many people go through the property daily and no one is harassed for doing so. We met 3 other people going through the property while we were there. It will be interesting to see if it sells and what someone does with the place. [AK Majors, 12/15/2004]

Dogpatch USA grounds auctioned on eBay
The owner of the property where Dogpatch USA sits is attempting a sale on eBay this week. The Arkansas theme park, designed around Al Capp's Lil' Abner comic strip characters, closed in 1993.... [10/20/2002] Complete News Story

Dogpatch U.S.A.

There are new signs, posted in May, with a notice that "trespassers will be prosecuted." The owner has his name and phone number listed. There was no answer when I called for permission to visit the decaying park. But no one bothered me while I was there. You decide what to do if you find yourself down this hollow along Hwy 7. The abandoned theme park has a surreal feel. Scooby and the gang would feel right at home here solving a mystery. The large statue of the colonel and his horse, toppled and broken on the town square, resembles some Leninist icon of stone that fell with the Soviet Union. Vegetation is forever reclaiming the place. Most of the cabins, actual homes plucked out the hills and planted in Dogpatch when it opened in the late sixties, are still weathering the elements. If you take the old entrance road leading up the hillside, you'll find a large parking lot of weeds and an empty ticket building where you could start the day at Mammy's pancake house. [Ron, 07/12/2002]

[RA: Remember kids, always ask permission before entering private property!]