About Mountain View, AR

Folk Music Capital of the World

Tucked into a valley in the heart of the Ozarks, Mountain View has earned a name that reaches far beyond Stone County: the "Folk Music Capital of the World." This is a town where music isn't a tourist attraction so much as a way of life, locals and visitors alike still gather on the Stone County Courthouse square most evenings for informal "pickin's," an unbroken tradition that dates back generations.

Founded as the seat of Stone County in 1873 and officially incorporated in 1890, Mountain View grew slowly as a remote Ozark mountain town until its musical heritage put it on the map. In 1963, local residents launched the Arkansas Folk Festival, drawing thousands of visitors in its very first year, and folk musicians like Jimmy Driftwood and Grandpa Jones helped carry Mountain View's sound to a national audience. That legacy lives on today at the Ozark Folk Center State Park, which has preserved Ozark music, crafts, and heritage since 1973 through live performances, artisan demonstrations, and a 1,000-seat music theater.

Just outside of town, Blanchard Springs Caverns offers one of the most spectacular cave systems in the country, drawing spelunkers and sightseers alike, while the surrounding Ozark National Forest and White River provide outstanding trout fishing, hiking, and mountain biking. Downtown Mountain View is just as charming, with a historic stone-front commercial district built up around the 1923 Stone County Courthouse, now filled with antique shops, restaurants, and galleries.

The town's calendar stays full nearly year-round, from the Arkansas Folk Festival each April to the Iris Festival, Mountains Music & Motorcycles, and the quirky BeanFest & Outhouse Races each October — festivals that together draw tens of thousands of visitors and generate roughly $64 million a year in tourism spending for Stone County.

Beyond tourism, Mountain View's economy is supported by local government, education — including a branch campus of Ozarka College — manufacturing at Conestoga Wood Specialties and Stone County Ironworks, and a strong agricultural base. For anyone drawn to genuine small-town culture, live music, and stunning natural scenery, Mountain View offers something you simply can't find anywhere else in Arkansas.