There’s a Lot More to Walmart’s Hometown Than Walmart

One of the joys of travel, perhaps spurred on by the likes of Anthony Bourdain, swims to the surface when a destination subverts your expectations so thoroughly, it becomes foundational and rather impressive. Just when you thought your notion of a destination was set in stone, an entirely new version arrives. Lofty words though those might be, that sentiment is an apt commentary on Bentonville, Arkansas.

You know Bentonville as the birthplace of Walmart, the big-box behemoth that touches every corner of American life. But to put it simply, Bentonville is oh-so-much-more than just Walmart. Even if its quaint center square features the original Walton 5-and-10 in red-awning museum form these days. 

Downtown turns into a lively social district, buzzing with food trucks and street vendors on the first spring and summer Friday of each month. All easily accessed with a luxe stay at Bentonville’s newest boutique accommodations,  The Compton. 

A level deeper, there’s an array of jaw-dropping culture to uncover, and the Walton family has used its considerably hefty pocketbooks for good all across the city, anchored by the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art (more on that in a second).

As far as a home base is concerned for your exploration of the Ozarks, The Compton appears poised to turn into a bedrock of the town square and perhaps the city at large, as I found out during an exclusive media visit to the region earlier this summer.

The lobby centers around a gorgeous M.C. Escher-like staircase, with distinctive touches native to the region, including natural materials, Ozark-sourced limestone, layered greenery, and the use of daylight to blur the lines between the lavish indoors and the great outdoors.

“The lobby was designed to feel like a natural extension of the Ozarks and a welcoming living room for Bentonville,”  The Compton’s General Manager, Jorge Wesche, told me, adding that the 142-key hotel aims “to feel inseparable from Bentonville.”

The lobby also includes the installation Fragile Future FFC Bentonville by DRIFT, while the property’s Field Notes delivers on-trend coffee, and Sestina serves up a rich, Tuscan-inspired steakhouse menu. 

It’s no accident that spaces like these, plus rooftop bar The Eddy, are open to the public. Indeed, residents would do well to make their presence known at hotspots that have much more in common with the big city than the countryside. 

Pay close attention to the range of house-made tinctures and in-house aromatics offered across the cocktail menu at The Eddy, which provides a welcome nightcap after a long day under the blazing Arkansas sun. 

“The hotel reflects the city’s evolution as a destination for art, outdoor adventure, and culinary experiences, while retaining the warmth and accessibility that make Bentonville special,” Wesche added.

It’s the spirit for which Bentonville is known, after all. The city touts itself as the Mountain Biking Capital of the World, and travelers should revel in gorgeous biking trails (more than 70 miles throughout the city), plus a range of hiking and watersport options. 

The Compton talks the talk and walks the walk, offering an incredibly clever and useful Cycling Concierge run in partnership with local outdoor adventure company 37 North. 

From plotting your ride to leading guided group tours across the city, it’s remarkably easy to go from the lobby of the ultra-premium hotel to a sun-speckled bike trail in mere minutes with the help of this innovative concierge service. 

“Experienced riders appreciate the local knowledge, while newer riders value having someone who can confidently guide them toward routes suited to their comfort level,” Wesche said. 

Want to know how serious the city is about its biking? Global cycling outfitter and clubhouse Rapha has a shop near the hotel. 

Zipping from dirt trail to paved bike path throughout Bentonville uncovers more of the city’s range, bringing one neatly back to the influence of the Walton family—an influence that spans both modern art and the Alice L. Walton School of Medicine. 

Vastly important for its mission, what’s remarkable about the facility is that its buildings are so well-designed and futuristic as to look like something right out of a Christopher Nolan movie. Not the most important quality, but certainly not the most expected of a medical school. 

An afternoon bike ride across its campus requires a pause to gaze in wonder. Again, not the first thing one might expect to see in southern Arkansas.

And so, the multitudes of Bentonville roll on. The Walton family serves as the driving force behind the emotionally affecting Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, which boasts designs across 134 gleaming Ozark acres. 

A Frank Lloyd Wright-designed house is improbably tucked away within the museum grounds, another remarkable addition to the ledger of uncommon achievements found in Bentonville. 

There are “can’t-miss” stops on any trip, and then there’s the nearly life-changing sense of place within a Frank Lloyd Wright property. Consider a visit mandatory. 

It’s equally tough to comprehend the scope of some paintings within the recently renovated museum, including the Asher B. Durand epic “Kindred Spirits,” which serves as a mid-1800s tribute to Durand’s friend and mentor Thomas Cole. 

The scope is breathtaking, and it joins other mainstay American works from the likes of Edward Hopper across the stunning property.

“Its depiction of two figures standing in the wilderness is symbolic of man’s relationship to his environment and the essential role that nature plays in the definition of our national identity and destiny,” said Crystal Bridges board member John Wilmerding. 

Gaze upon it in wonder as you look across the vast expanse of America.

There are plentiful spaces throughout the city that feel like stepping into another world entirely, including The Momentary, a multi-hyphenate contemporary space offering live performances, modern art, visual installations, and even a rock concert from time to time.

Austin rockers West Texas Exiles brought the house down and then stuck around the venue bar on a balmy summer night, with whiskey all around. Chance The Rapper has even graced the lineup on The Momentary Green. A Chicago rap star headlining the home of Walmart? Multitudes, indeed. 

If you can imagine it, Bentonville just might have it. But keep your wits about you, because you might not expect to find New American dining in a former church. 

And yet, that’s what The Preacher’s Son offers. It’s another Arkansas-Americana delight not far from The Compton. 

A drive out into the rolling green hills of the Arkansas countryside also uncovers thoughtfully curated culinary delights aplenty. Farm-to-table dining is elevated to another dimension at Ryn, where its tasting menu experience features 8 to 10 courses and changes daily. 

Ingredients are sourced in “hyper-local” fashion, led by chef and owner Matthew Cooper, while a friendly, dedicated team offers an air of warmth, rather than the pretension of some fine-dining establishments. 

And once you’ve returned to the confines of the lively Bentonville town square, take note. The fun rolls deep into the night with cold beer and classic bourbon at The First Seat, a down-home establishment worthy of another round. 

Set your expectations to the side, or rather, raise them accordingly. From the adrenaline of the great outdoors to the icy cold of a dive bar beer, the quiet calm of a legendary work of art, or the careful curation of the perfect Old Fashioned, Bentonville has an abundance of wonders well beyond Walmart. To borrow from a recent Walmart ad campaign, Who knew?