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If you’ve visited Beaver Lake via Highway 12 in Northwest Arkansas, you’ve likely driven through Prairie Creek as you wound your way to the lake. Prairie Creek is a farming community turned lakeside planned community with easy access to Beaver Lake and the rest of Northwest Arkansas.
Though small, Prairie Creek has long been a part of the Northwest Arkansas area. It existed first as a tiny farming community, home to three families on this small tributary of the White River. The river provided water, shady areas, wildlife and hunting opportunities, and Prairie Creek was just one of many small communities like it in Northwest Arkansas. In 1859, it was established as a township. Farming continued and the community grew slowly through the latter half of the nineteenth century. It wasn’t until the Army Corps of Engineers decided to dam the White River in the 1950s that change came to the area.
The Flood Control Act of 1938 paved the way for Arkansas to build dams along the White River and provide much-needed flood control. Before the dams, the White River flooded periodically, most notably in 1927 in the Great Flood, which devastated parts of the state. Beaver Dam was the last of four dams built on the White River in Arkansas (Bull Shoals, Norfolk and Greers Ferry) and one in Missouri (Tablerock). These dams tame the White River and the lakes created bring tourism and recreation to the area.
The Army Corps of Engineers began acquiring the needed land for Beaver Lake in 1958. Though the new lake would cover some former communities in the area, like the former resort town Monte Ne, Prairie Creek was well-positioned to become a lakeside community. The Prairie Creek Development Company was formed to build lakeside homes and businesses, which began before Beaver Lake reached its full depth in 1968. It is now a community of over 2,000 people with a focus on lake recreation.
Prairie Creek Marina
Prairie Creek Marina is one of Prairie Creek’s main attractions and businesses. In operation since 1966, the marina is a popular destination offering 750 boat slips ranging from 10’ by 20’ up to 18’ by 60’. The marina maintains an active waitlist as the boat slips are rented yearly and are in high demand. Prairie Creek Marina also rents boats for day use and sells marine fuel. It has a well-stocked store for visitors and a popular floating restaurant – The Captain’s Seat, where diners can enjoy the lake atmosphere right on the water while munching on burgers, wraps and more.
Prairie Creek Recreation Area
Another popular stop in Prairie Creek is the Prairie Creek Recreation Area. The park and campground is one of 11 Corps of Engineers recreational areas around Beaver Lake. Prairie Creek has 112 campsites, which can be reserved at recreation.gov, and it offers visitors a swim beach, bathhouse, electricity, picnic tables and fire rings. A playground and sand volleyball court are also inside the park, and a five-lane boat ramp allows boaters easy access to Beaver Lake. The tornados and strong storms that hit Northwest Arkansas in May 2024 affected Prairie Creek and the recreation area. Currently, the campground and swim beach are closed as debris is cleared. The Corps of Engineers doesn’t list an opening date, but reserving campsites for future dates is still possible, and picnic pavilions may still be reserved. The boat ramp is open. Once the park is cleaned up, it will return to the shady lakeside campground and day-use area that so many visitors love and enjoy.
Photo courtesy of Arkansas Department of Heritage, Parks and Tourism.
Local Prairie Creek Businesses and Beyond
While lakeside is where it’s at in Prairie Creek, the community also has an active business community. Located on Highway 12 just east of Rogers and on the way to Beaver Lake, stop in for coffee and treats at Reverie Coffee & Teahouse before hitting the lake. If you’re looking for dinner after a day out, The Fat Chef offers a premium dining experience. Jaclyn’s Kitchen has a hearty homestyle breakfast menu for those on their way to the lake or returning from an early morning fishing trip. El Pueblito rounds out the dining options with traditional Mexican food.
Photo courtesy of Arkansas Department of Heritage, Parks and Tourism.
For those looking for more options for lunch or who want to take a break from the lake to see what else Northwest Arkansas has to offer, Prairie Creek is less than ten minutes to Historic Downtown Rogers, where the Rogers Historical Museum and Daisy Airgun Museum are located, many local eateries, shopping, and a children’s park and splash pad. Lake Atalanta is also nearby, with picnic pavilions, children’s playgrounds and a paved trail encircling the lake. Heading east across Prairie Creek Bridge and Beaver Lake, Hobbs State Park is just minutes away with several mountain biking and hiking trails, a shooting range and the Hobbs State Park Visitor’s Center.
From humble beginnings as a small farming community, Prairie Creek has become a favorite stopping point for many visiting Beaver Lake and a home to those in the Prairie Creek community, with lakeside life and outdoor recreation at its fingertips.
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