Had it not been for World War II, the folk music and traditions of the Ozarks might have been  discovered long before the 1980's. In 1914, a big weekend musical was held near Blanchard Springs in the Sylamore District of the Ozark National Forest. The area, some 14 miles north of Mountain View, had been developed during the 1930's as a camp for one of President Roosevelt's Depression-era programs. Rustic log cabins, a large dining hail, beautiful stonework bridges and nature tails had been built in the remote wilderness by young men serving in Civilian Conservation Corps. Musicians, some of whom had helped build the camp or had relatives here, joined in the one-time festival of pure Ozark folk music.

In December that year, before another event could be planned, the United States was plunged into world war and, like most celebrations across the country, the musical was postponed. American GI's returned to a different world. No longer content with life on the farm, young families scattered to other parts of the nation in search of better paying jobs. More than 2300 residents, one-quarter of its population, left Stone County between 1940 and 1960. The Blanchard Springs musical was forgotten.

While the Mountain View region suffered economically due to its remoteness, the hardy residents who continued to live among its scenic mountains and along its free-flowing streams helped preserve the folk traditions that disappeared into other areas. Musicals, storytelling, and herbal medicines continued in many households as if time was standing still. After the arrival of the first paved road in the early 1950's, Stone County started to change. Television viewing started replacing neighborhood musicals and drive-in movies helped kill Saturday night dances. With the belief that their old ways were worth saving, a few musicians started playing in Mountain View for their own entertainment.

The Rachensack Folklore Society grew from these weekly sessions and soon they moved to the local school auditorium so more people could enjoy the pickin'.  Another effort was underway to revive the old traditional handicraft skills of the Ozarks. Art area Rural Development Committee, sponsored by the UA Extension Service, staged small craft shows in several north-central Arkansas counties in 1982. The Ozark Foothills Craft Guild was established as a result of public Interest shown in the regional shows.

In 1963, the musicians and craftspeople joined together with dozen of Stone County civic club, schools, Extension Homemakers Clubs, and interested individuals to stage the first Arkansas Folk Festival. Glen Hinkle, a Mountain View businessman, was the first chairman of the event and continued to be active in the festival for more than 20 years.
Traditionally held he third weekend in April, the festival grew at an alarming rate, and in the early 1970's crowds estimated at over 100,000 descended upon the little town. In more recent years, the crowds have become more friendly and more manageable, due to better highways and a dispersion of events from the downtown courthouse square.

Within a few years, it was clear that the folk musicians and mountain artisans needed a permanent home. With support from throughout the state and nation, the Ozark Folk Center was opened in 1973. Planned and built to be commercially operated, the Center was accepted into the Arkansas State Park system while under construction after private management contracts were voided and operation of the multi-million dollar project appeared in jeopardy.

Now in its 24th year, the Folk Center is nationally recognized as a major repository and living museum of native mountain culture. Sprightly sound of fiddles and dulcimers, the alluring aroma of down-home cooking, and the sight of a master craftsman explaining his work to a youngster are all common experiences at the nations most unusual state park.

Facilities include a 1084 seat auditorium where musicals are staged throughout the spring, summer and fall seasons, More than 20 'cabin crafts' are demonstrated in the adjacent forum daily from mid April through early November. A 60 unit lodge, country restaurant, conference Center, folkways archives, gift shop and visitors center are also part of the park.

While the Folk Center was under construction, another project was taking shape at the site of the 1941 music festival, Blanchard Springs Caverns, the only public cavern operated by the U.S. Forest service, also opened in 1973.

Originally known as Hal-Mile Cave, the oldest and most spectacular sections of the caverns were not discovered until 1983. Experts quickly proclaimed Blanchard Springs as the 'greatest underground discovery of this century', and ranked it among the 10 most beautiful in North America. The massive underground rooms were carefully developed with hand labor and extra measures, such as double air-lock passageways have preserved the cavern in its pristine state so that future generations may enjoy a living underground world.

Above ground facilities at Blanchard Springs include a museum, theater. camping, picnic areas, lake fishing, horseback trails, creek swimming, and hiking trails.
The caverns and Folk Center have attracted a steady flow of visitors into Stone County for two decades, making tourism its top industry. Over the years, craft shops sprang up, more motels were built, and the old town square was revived with gift and specialty shops. Other music shows including a popular country-western theater, were opened during the 1980's.
The Arkansas Folk Festival, which continues to attract thousands of visitors, and a newer fall festival, the Mountain View BeanFest and Great Outhouse Race, are the largest of several celebrations each year.