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Crossett, Arkansas

Crossett, Arkansas

Located in southeastern Arkansas just nine miles above the state's border with Louisiana, Crossett (pop. 6,097) was named after Edward S. Crossett, a leading entrepreneur in the lumber industry's emergence in that part of the state. In May 1899, Crossett joined with three partners to form the Crossett Lumber Company, which then sought to build a lumber mill in the town of Hamburg.

Displeased with the reception the proposed mill was receiving there, the company selected a site in the forest about 12 miles southeast of Hamburg, where Crossett was born as a tent city constructing the company's mill. Lumber from initial milling operations was used to build a permanent mill, company offices and employee housing.

Crossett remained a classic "mill town" into the mid-1940s with Crossett Lumber owning all the town's homes and businesses until 1946. Though some early lumber towns were abandoned when the supply of harvestable trees was exhausted, Crossett's future was secured through improved forest management practices and through the manufacture of diverse forest-related products, including wood alcohol, turpentine, chemicals needed by soap and paint manufacturers, charcoal, food board and flakeboard. Georgia-Pacific Corporation purchased Crossett Lumber in 1962 and its manufacturing complex in Crossett now covers more than 800 acres.

The city's history is reflected in one of the three-room "mill houses" Crossett Lumber constructed for its employees that now sits in the 110-acre Crossett City Park. Built prior to 1910, the gray, wooden structure features an interior decorated to appear as it would have in the 1930s. Tours can be scheduled by phoning (870) 364-6591.

The park, which includes a 51-acre pond and a 2.8-mile walking trail, is also home to the Crossland Zoo. The zoo has an area for petting hand-tamed animals and zoo admission is free. Another of the park's features is a full-size, handmade replica of the Wiggins Cabin, an 1830s structure that had been moved to the park in 1978 but destroyed by fire in 2002.

The 65,000-acre Felsental National Wildlife Refuge, located eight miles west of Crossett, provides fishing, hunting and wildlife viewing opportunities. Twenty-two miles southeast of Crossett, the 12,247-acre Overflow National Wildlife Refuge provides habitat for migratory waterfowl, bald eagles and other birds. Excellent fishing can be found north of Crossett at Lake Georgia-Pacific, a 1,700-acre corporate impoundment served by an adjacent 47-acre park that accommodates RVs, tent campers and picnickers.

Among Crossett's major annual events are the Crossett P.R.C.A. Rodeo in August and the Wiggins Cabin Arts and Crafts Festival each October.

Attractions and Upcoming Events

Crossett City Park

Park offers a variety of pavilions that can be used for birthday parties, reunions, parties

Crossett, AR City Parks

Felsenthal National Wildlife Refuge

The world's largest green-tree reservoir consisting of the 15,000-acres Felsenthal Pool that is more than doubled to 36,000 acres during winter flooding; fishing, hunting, wildlife observation; public use areas at Crossett Harbor Recreational Park and Grand Marais; visitor center; primitive camping

Crossett, AR Wildlife Refuges

Overflow National Wildlife Refuge

Directions: Call or go to the main facility 5 miles west of Crossett on Hwy 82 W for specific directions 65,000

Crossett, AR Wildlife Refuges


Company House Museum

Directions: From Ark. 133 T; located adjacent to the City Park Three-room shotgun company house built in 1910

Crossett, AR Museums

Things to do near Crossett, AR

Pomeroy Planetarium

Directions: Located in the Neal Museum of Natural History Presents numerous requested programs to a wide variety of groups a...

Fordyce on the Cotton Belt car show

car and truck show judging on 100 point basis. Best of Show, Peoples Choice, 1st, 2nd and 3rd place trophies. Contaci Phil 87...

Rialto Theatre

During its two years in operation, the local architectural firm of Kolben, Hunter, and Boyd designed this classical revival s...

Turner Neal Museum of Natural History

Museum of natural history of South Arkansas with three collections of big game; houses the Pomeroy Planetarium which seats 40...

Camden Country Club

Course Access: PrivateHoles: 18Reserve Advance Tee Times: 3 days...