Sign Up  /  Login

Queen W. LbNA #64960

Owner:Wisconsin Hiker
Plant date:May 20, 2013
Location:
City:Mena
County:Polk
State:Arkansas
Boxes:1
Found by: Bandit Raccoon
Last found:Jun 27, 2020
Status:F
Last edited:Sep 15, 2015
Last checked/found: 20-MAY-13

Location: Queen W. State Park
Time/distance: 20-30 minutes, ~1 mile round trip
Terrain: Moderate descent/ascent on rocky dirt trail, mostly shaded

Do you know why this park is named after Queen W.?

In 1890s railroad expansion was booming and the KCP&G Railroad decided to build the first north-south railroad, a route from Kansas City, MO to Port Arthur, TX, to provide rail access to the Gulf of Mexico. This brought the railroad's route through Arkansas, and inevitably the Ouachita Mountains. During the routing of the tracks through the valleys of the rugged Ouachitas, a flat area near the top of Rich Mountain (Arkansas’s second highest mountain) was discovered. This windswept, mountaintop location was brought to the attention of the investors of the KCP&G, many of whom were Dutch, as a site to build a resort retreat featuring a grand hostelry to entice railroad patrons to travel the rails.

Queen W. of the Netherlands was to be crowned in September 1898 and since the railroad was largely financed by Dutch interests, the magnificent resort retreat for passengers on the line was called "W. Inn" to honor the young queen. A suite of rooms was located in the southeast corner of the second floor and named for W. in the vain hope she would visit.

Most people think she never came, but it turns out this regal young queen DID make a clandestine visit to her namesake park! She enjoyed her suite in the “Castle in the Clouds” and the sumptuous Southern cuisine in the restaurant. But she decided the best way to appreciate the spectacular mountaintop setting would be to take a hike.

After exiting the main lodge entrance, she headed south to the train platform. She lifted her skirts, carefully crossed the miniature tracks and continued down the steps to a trail.

She stopped to take in the magnificent view and then headed west on the trail. She had heard about an excellent spring that was said to have curative powers and wanted to see if she could find it. She was told that it was located near the hotel’s reservoir so she descended the many wide stone steps, passing a bench along the way.

Eventually she arrived at another bench at a trail intersection. She sat down, but then decided she might be more comfortable near the large forked tree she could see on a bearing of 220 degrees.

If you would like an audience with her, the queen awaits behind and under the rock on the west side of the tree. Please be sure you treat her in a manner that befits a royal personage. Help protect her by carefully closing her dwelling and concealing her from any spies that may be tracking her.

You can continue on the main trail a bit further if you’d like to see the old reservoir and then retrace your steps back to the lodge.

We live quite far from here, so would greatly appreciate your report on how the Queen is faring in the majestic state of Arkansas. Thank you!

Hike length: 1 mile