2021 Powhatan Ghostwalks Event Revamped
(POWHATAN, Ark.) – Ghostwalks, scheduled for October 16, 2021, at Powhatan Historic State Park, has been revamped this year due to the ongoing pandemic.
Park Interpreter Geoffrey Havens noted, “The event typically sees between 400 and 800 attendees each year who crowd into small historic structures to hear our storytellers spin spooky folk tales from Powhatan’s history. To put the safety of our guests and staff first, we’re putting a socially distant ‘twist’ on the event.”
Instead of the usual storytelling event, Powhatan will host a limited number of reservations–only, lantern-lit townsite tours at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. onOctober 16. Powhatan’s spooky past will still be well represented on the guided walk, with participants experiencing things such as being locked up in the jail.
To reserve a spot for this event, call the park at 870-878-6765 or email at powhatan@arkansas.com. Tickets are $5 for adults, $3 for children ages 6-12, and free for children 5 and under.
About Powhatan Historic State Park
Established in 1970, Powhatan Historic State Park protects six historic structures along the Black River in Northeast Arkansas that were an important 19th century center of commerce and county seat. The buildings, geography, and artifacts that the park preserves help visitors bridge the past to the present.
Highlights of this day-use park include the six historic structures, all in their original locations, a visitor center in the 1888 Courthouse with exhibits about the park’s historic resources, and easy access to the Northeast Arkansas Regional Archive for those interested in historic research. Interpretive tours, programs, and workshops are offered throughout the year. The park also has a boat ramp for access to the Black River.
About Arkansas State Parks
Arkansas State Parks is a division of the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism. Arkansas state parks and museums cover 54,400 acres of forest, wetlands, fish and wildlife habitat, outdoor recreation facilities, and unique historic and cultural resources. The system includes 1,100 buildings (including 183 historic structures), six National Historic Landmarks, a National Natural Landmark, 16 sites on the National Register of Historic Places, and War Memorial Stadium.
The state parks have 1,800 campsites, 1,050 picnic sites, 208 cabins, five lodges, and 415 miles of trails. Eight million visitors annually come from all regions of the country. Park staffs provide over 42,000 education programs, activities, and special events to more than 700,000 participants each year.
Established in 1923, Arkansas State Parks preserve special places for future generations, provide quality recreation and education opportunities, enhance the state’s economy through tourism, and provide leadership in resource conservation. Connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and visit ArkansasStateParks.com and ArkansasStateParks.com/media to learn more about everything we have to offer.
Cathy Drew is a lifelong resident of the region that she loves to promote. She was born in downtown Batesville in the late ’60s, located in one of the eight counties she now enjoys encouraging people to visit.
Drew became associated with the Ozark Gateway Region in 1990 while working at the ad agency (The Media Market Inc.). The agency handled marketing for the regional association, where she and her co-workers produced an annual tabloid publication. She began working as the Ozark Gateway Region director in June 2000.
After Drew became director, she took the region to the next level by helping the tourism organization create a new website and moved it from the old newspaper paper tabloid publication to a color magazine format. She helped open a visitor center for the Ozark Gateway, allowing visitors to pick up information from the entire state 24/7. Over the years, Drew has helped the organization meet new marketing goals, such as in- and out-of-state marketing, assuring that all 100,000 copies of their magazines are distributed each year.
In 2016, she assisted in creating the first Ozark Gateway Region Golf Classic. The tournament continues to grow each year, allowing the organization to expand its co-op program and helping each county have dedicated promotion. Drew stays busy at Ozark Gateway as the ad sales manager, magazine editor, day-to-day office operations, trade show representative, and magazine distribution representative, all while ensuring that the region is represented all over Arkansas and southern Missouri.
Drew was featured in several local and statewide publications over the years, as well as the 1997 cover of the Ozark Gateway Region tabloid, along with her then 4-year-old son, Jon. She has received several awards, such as the Batesville Rotarian of the Year in 2010 and a three-time Paul Harris Fellow.
She also has served as an Independence County election commissioner for several years. She now serves as their co-election coordinator, helping with behind-the-scenes management of voting equipment, day-to-day election deadlines, and poll worker training.
Drew serves on the Arkansas Travel Council Board of Directors, is Batesville Rotary Club Past President, and is the Rotary Clubs’ current publicity chair.
In March of 2018, Drew was honored with induction into the Arkansas Tourism Hall of Fame for her many years of dedicated service to the tourism industry.