Community, Culture, and Nature: What Makes Northwest Arkansas Special
November 5, 2024
Alice L. Walton School of Medicine is proud to call Bentonville, Arkansas, the home of its state-of-the-art medical education facility. Along with Fayetteville, Rogers, Siloam Springs, and Springdale, Bentonville is one of the five primary cities in Northwest Arkansas, a thriving community located in the Ozark Mountains.
Northwest Arkansas is one of the fastest-growing regions in the country with three Fortune 500 companies, a flourishing arts and culture scene, and an entrepreneurial spirit that embraces innovation. The region has been ranked as one of the Best Places for Business and Careers in Forbes and named one of U.S. News & World Report’s Best Places to Live.
Northwest Arkansas’ meteoric growth in recent decades has increased the demand for health care professionals and presented exciting opportunities for existing residents and newcomers to the area. The School, founded by philanthropist Alice Walton in 2021, plans to meet this growing need by educating high-quality medical talent and creating a pipeline of physician leaders trained in a whole health approach to care.
Other efforts to make Northwest Arkansas a health care hub are underway, such as the recent 30-year, $700 million affiliation agreement between the Alice L. Walton Foundation, and Heartland Whole Health Institute to expand access to health care, reduce costs, and improve health outcomes. This investment includes a collaboration with Cleveland Clinic to enhance cardiovascular care in the Heartland.
While these developments are exciting, they only scratch the surface of what Northwest Arkansas has to offer residents. Read on to discover more about what makes this region a special place to call home.
Outdoor Adventures
Arkansas is known as The Natural State for a reason. Hiking, rock-climbing, mountain biking, camping, and swimming spots abound, with gorgeous natural locations such as:
- Devil’s Den State Park (1 hour from AWSOM)
- White Rock Mountain (2 hours from AWSOM)
- Hawksbill Crag (2 hours from AWSOM)
- Buffalo National River Park (2 hours and 30 minutes from AWSOM)
“Relocating from Texas to Northwest Arkansas has proven the region to be a hidden gem. I love the outdoors and nature, and this area has an impressive network of well-maintained walking trails, with my favorites being Osage Park, Lake Atalanta, and Coler Mountain Bike Preserve,” said Ian Murray, PhD, Professor of Physiology, “Overall, the blend of professional opportunities, friendly atmosphere, quality of life, and access to nature has made this move quite rewarding.”
A Cyclist’s Paradise
Bentonville has been named the “Mountain Biking Capital of the World” and is connected to the 322 miles of natural surface trails for mountain biking throughout Northwest Arkansas. One of Bentonville’s most striking buildings is Ledger, the world’s first bikeable building and home to USA Cycling’s satellite office.
The Razorback Greenway is a shared-use trail system spans over 40 miles and connects seven Northwest Arkansas cities including Fayetteville, Rogers, and Bentonville. With lighting and well-marked road crossings, the trails provide cyclists, walkers, joggers, and wheelchair users safe access to some of the most notable destinations in Northwest Arkansas – all without stepping foot inside a car.
Here are just some of the locations that can be found along the Razorback Greenway:
- 23 schools
- Three major hospitals
- Seven downtown areas
- Parks and playgrounds
- Historic sites
- The University of Arkansas campus
- The corporate headquarters of Walmart, Tyson Foods, and J.B. Hunt Transport Services
- Shopping destinations like Northwest Arkansas Mall and Pinnacle Hills Promenade
Access to Art and Culture
Northwest Arkansas has a strong cultural landscape, with countless opportunities to experience art, live music, theatrical performances, and more. The Momentary provides modern art
The School will share a campus with Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, a world-class art museum with free general admission, a stunning building and landscape, and frequent community events.
Johnny Cash is just one of many musicians who hailed from Arkansas, and those musical roots continue today through the state’s rich music scene. There are talented local artists across a range of genres to discover. Venues like the Walmart Amp and the Momentary Green regularly book larger touring acts like Snoop Dogg, Pixies, Beck, John Legend, and Lana Del Rey.
Performing arts venues such as the Walton Arts Center, TheatreSquared, and Faulkner Performing Arts Center bring nationally acclaimed theater productions to the region.
The state also has an active film scene, serving as the location for films such as the romantic comedy “What Happens Later” (2023) starring Meg Ryan and David Duchovny, which was shot at Crystal Bridges and Northwest Arkansas National Airport (XNA). The Bentonville Film Festival, which partners with the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media to champion diverse emerging filmmakers, celebrated its 10-year anniversary in June 2024.
“After living in Detroit and Indianapolis, I envisioned Northwest Arkansas as being more of a sleepy community and not having my family’s favorite types of restaurants, shops, and entertainment,” said Dan Kallenberger, MS, Assistant Dean for Recruitment, Admissions, and Whole Health Initiation, “Instead, we found a vibrant, growing community that offers restaurants with award-winning chefs and lots of entertainment options like theatre, dance, athletics, breweries, and so much more. We love living here and are so happy to be part of this place.”
Community Connection
A July 2024 Quality of Life Report found that the majority of Northwest Arkansas residents experience strong connections to their community, with more than half reporting that they feel “completely” or “mostly” a part of the community and over 70% reporting feeling hopeful about the future of the region.
“Northwest Arkansas is a great place to live because of the people and organizations that choose to call this place home,” said James Hopper, Director of Outreach, “As a region, we are committed to encouraging others to be involved their community, helping others, and investing in the future. Our focus on education is perhaps the most important of our commitments to the future of Northwest Arkansas.”
“As an Arkansas native, I’ve had the pleasure of working in multiple educational and public service institutions in Northwest Arkansas and I’ve found that the people here genuinely care about others. Whether residents are supporting library expansions, rallying together after natural disasters, or celebrating the variety of communities and cultures, there is a lot of energy for creating positive change,” said Amanda Johnson, MA, MEd, Standardized Patient Program Manager, “Northwest Arkansas just feels like home.”
Interested in joining Alice L. Walton School of Medicine’s dedicated team in Bentonville, Arkansas? Browse all open positions on the Careers page.