“Building” pun-intended, this blog post highlights some of the latest plans and developments across the region that we can’t wait to see come to life.
An Italian-inspired Downtown Hub
Tontitown, the fastest-growing city per capita in Arkansas as of 2023, is embracing its rapid expansion with plans to create a downtown area that honors the town’s rich history. This ambitious project aims to blend modern amenities with the town’s rich Italian heritage, honoring its founding by Father Pietro Bandini, who led a group of Italian immigrants to the area in 1898. The village will feature Italian-inspired elements like a piazza, outdoor amphitheater, 12-acre lake, and multiple fountains.
With plans for residential, commercial, and potential medical and cultural facilities, the village is expected to accommodate around 5,000 new residents upon completion. As Tontitown looks to its future, city leaders are working hard to ensure the downtown area becomes a vibrant space where the town’s heritage and growing community thrive together.
There is no estimated price of the village yet, but city leaders will meet with the Tontitown Planning Commission next to discuss rezoning, design standards, and the city’s master street plan.
A first-of-its-kind adventure lodge
In partnership with Blue Crane, Campfire Ranch recently announced that Campfire Ranch Little Sugar will open next spring on the site formerly home to the Inn at Bella Vista. The property sits directly on Bella Vista’s Little Sugar trail system with backyard access to 40-miles of open network trails purposefully designed for mountain biking, trail running and hiking. Little Sugar guests will also enjoy convenient access to canoeing, kayaking, paddle boarding and fishing in the nearby lakes and creeks.
Guests can stay in one of eight individually bookable rooms, or rent out the entire space to be utilized for private events, corporate retreats, or intimate gatherings with friends and family. The remodeled & thoughtfully designed communal spaces will include a pool, fire pit, outdoor cooking space, indoor lounge, bar, and dining area. Breakfast will continue to be served for all guests on-site.
Campfire Ranch Little Sugar’s amenities will center around access to recreation in the area including our Adventure Concierge service that connects guests with local things to do, like mountain biking, hiking, and water recreation, as well as a gear library so guests can be outfitted with whatever they need for their adventures.
The Warehouse District
Johnson is a vibrant gem in Northwest Arkansas—and one of its neighborhoods, Johnson Square, has quickly emerged as one of the most appealing areas in the region. As part of an expansion of the urban neighborhood, a $55 million mixed-use development was recently announced. The new district will include seven buildings comprising 66 apartments and 79,100 square feet of retail, restaurant, office and medical space. In addition, two yet-to-be-revealed restaurants are set to become neighbors to local favorites Hail Fellow Well Met and Pizzeria Ruby. According to the developers, the Warehouse District is set to be complete by Spring 2026.
A Boutique Hotel Bonanza
According to an Axios NW Arkansas article earlier this month, at least seven new boutique hotels are in the works or newly opened across Northwest Arkansas. In addition to offering unique spaces to house visitors, many will also bring new and exciting culinary options to the region.
- Moxy Hotel — a Marriott brand — is set to open in Fayetteville’s South Yard development in fall 2025 with 131 rooms.
- Located on Markham Hill in Fayetteville, Stonebreaker will feature a 78-room hotel, a restaurant opening later this month, member’s club, and events venue, with the hotel opening in early winter.
- Earlier this year, The Motto by Hilton opened in Bentonville. The 175-room hotel features a new sushi restaurant, a coffee shop serving NWA’s own Onyx coffee and a tropical bar.
- Finally, Blue Crane is building a 142-room hotel with a restaurant at the corner of Southeast A Street and Central Avenue in Bentonville that will serve as a basecamp for adventure in the Mountain Biking Capital of the World™.
