Norrell Lock and Dam, a cultural feature dam in Tichnor, Arkansas is another one of the 17 locks and dams of the Arkansas River. Norrell Lock and Dam is located 50 miles south of Stuttgart. While Norrell Lock and Dam may not have the popular recreational opportunities of some of its counterparts, it still has a lot to offer and is a great getaway opportunity that keeps you sane and sated.
The only recreation area found in the premises of Norrell Lock and Dam, and under the management of COE, is Wild Goose Recreation Area. You can find a boat ramp there so you can float the day away in these serene and calm waters.
Fishing opportunities are also abundant in Norrell Lock and Dam, and anglers can try their luck for some crappie, and bass, whether from the docks or the boat.
Like most locks and dams of Arkansas River, this one too is named after a renowned personality of the area. William Frank Norrell was a U.S. Representative from Arkansas former 6th congressional district. Even after his death in 1961, his name and family continued to stay prominent in American history when his widow Catherine Dorris Norrell succeeded him in Congress.
It takes over an hour to drive from Stuttgart to Norrell Lock and Dam with moderate traffic taken into account. When driving your RVs or camping vehicles from Stuttgart, take the E 2nd street to US-165 S/S Park Avenue. Follow the US-165 to AR-44 in Point Deluce Township.
Stay at the AR-44 and Tichnor Blacktop Road and follow it to Benzal Road in Chester Township, and you will arrive at your destination.
From the Village Creek State Park, Norrell Lock and Dam is a 2-hour drive northwest.
Wild Goose Recreation Site does not provide any camping opportunities of its own, so the nearest Army Corps campground is about a two-hour drive away at Wilbur D Mills Park. This park is situated just downstream of the Wilbur D. Mills Dam on the right lower bank of the Arkansas River.
Wilbur D. Mills offers a small campground, with quiet and private campgrounds. The maximum length of the RV you can bring to Wilbur D. Mills is 60 ft. The campground has 21 campsites with electric and water hookups in each of them.
17 of these sites can be reserved in advance, and one is a designated Disabled Access site. You’ll find a boat launch at this campground too. The campground also offers a chance to catch sight of many species of shorebirds that call this area their nesting grounds.
You’ll also find good access to fishing, hunting, hiking, and boating experience here. If you are in the mood for some Blue, Channel, Flathead catfish, striped bass, white bass, and crappie along with some hybrids, then staying at this campground will make it all the more possible.
Since there are no hiking opportunities at Norrell Lock and Dam, you can travel one hour to have access to some of the best trails in the area. Buck Island, located just half a mile from Helene River Park, offers a taste of outdoor activities you can only find in the stories of Mark Twain.
The natural setting of Buck Island is mesmerizing, to say the least, and propels you towards five miles of hiking trails so that you can walk past the hardwood forests, sand bars, and views that put some of the best photographs to shame. You’ll have to grab a boat to make it to this island.
A two-hour journey from Norrell to the Old Mill is worth every second. The Old Mill is the historic recreation of the water-powered grist mill that mimics the ones used during the 1880s. The same mill appeared in the opening scene of the famous movie, Gone With The Wind. It also has many sculptures created by some of the best sculptors of Arkansas. In addition to imparting historical vibes, the location is also ridiculously beautiful, making it a hotspot for photographers.
Two hours away from the Norrell Lock and Dam, you’ll find the Old State House Museum, which was the original state capitol of Arkansas. Since its inception in 1833, the Old State House Museum has also been a part of many historical events, including a fatal knife fight between two legislators. The museum also has a store with numerous collections for you to bring a little bit of history back home.
Arkansas National Memorial is located about 40 minutes away from the Norrell Lock and Dam, at the confluence of two rivers. This place is a reminder of the numerous cultural gatherings that have taken place here throughout human history. This place was also the first semi-permanent French settlement in the lower Mississippi. You can enjoy the wealth of information at the Visitor Center and Museum here, stroll the many paved and unpaved trails, go on guided tours, watch the historic weapon demonstration, and even enjoy fishing.
Located about a two hours drive away from Norrell pool, and an hour away from Petit Jean State Park, is the Little Rock Central High School, which is not just a regular school but a National Historic Site. This school is acclaimed for the crucial role it played in the desegregation of public schools in the United States.
On May 17th, 1954, nine African-American students persistently attended this school, formerly an all-white central high school and changed American history for the good of all.
Two essential recreational opportunities offered by the Wild Goose Recreation area is angling and boating. A public boat ramp makes sure everyone has access to water if they’d like to boat. Another popular activity offered here is angling. Whether you choose the banks of the river or the boat as your base to toss in a line, you’d be sure to find some bass, crappie, bream, catfish, and several other species as a reward for your patience.
