Hardy is a city located in Fulton and Sharp Counties in the Ozark Mountain range of Arkansas. Situated on the banks of the Spring River created by nearby Mammoth Spring, Hardy is best known for being a mecca of water-related recreation. However, the town is also popular for its antique shops, craft stores, unique restaurants, and musical venues.
In 1879, the town was founded as Township 17 but was later renamed Hardy in 1883 after local landowner, James Hardy. Hardy was one of Sharp County’s two county seats with Evening Shade being the other. Hardy was officially incorporated as a town on July 12, 1894. The St. Louis, Iron Mountain, and Southern Railroad arrived the same year and brought growth and development to the area.
By the early 1900s, Hardy became a popular tourist destination, attracting visitors across Arkansas and neighboring states with its natural springs, scenic beauty, and recreational opportunities.
Memphis doctor, George G. Buford, and his wife were temporarily stranded in Hardy in 1908 when the train they were traveling on experienced mechanical failure. They climbed Wahpeton Hill on the south bank of the Spring River and fell in love with the untouched surroundings. The Bufords bought fifty acres on Wahpeton the next year and erected a summer cottage.
Buford added to his land holdings over the next few years by purchasing land near Jordan and East Wahpeton Hills. Buford built ten cottages for summer guests on his new land which he named Wahpeton Inn in 1912. L. L. Ward of Blytheville (Mississippi County) opened a second resort he named Rio Vista in 1932. In addition to the resorts, several Memphis youth organizations established summer camps on land located near Hardy. The Kia Kima summer camp, operated by the Boy Scouts, opened in 1916. Camp Kiwani was established as a Girl Scout camp in 1920. By 1930, the town had 508 residents in 1930, but visitor numbers ballooned to around a thousand per day between July and September.
During the Great Depression, Hardy’s economy struggled, but the construction of U.S. Highway 63, which runs through the town, helped revitalize the area. In its course through the Natural State, Highway 63 runs from the Missouri state line at Mammoth Spring to connect with Interstate 55 near Gilmore. The creation of the Ozark National Forest also helped bring much-needed economic revitalization to Hardy and surrounding communities.
In the 1960s and 1970s, Hardy experienced significant growth, with new businesses, schools, and infrastructure development. However, despite all of the progress made in the city, in 1963, both Hardy and Evening Shade lost their county seat designations, as Ash Flat was named the permanent county seat of Sharp County. In 1968, the Arkansaw Traveller Folk Theater opened in Hardy to preserve the culture of the Ozarks including the story and music behind one of our state’s most historic songs, The Arkansas Traveler, written by Col. Sanford “Sandy” Faulkner.
Hardy’s most notable residents were the country music duo, The Wilburns. Comprised of brothers Doyle (b. 1930) and Teddy (b. 1931), the Wilburns were successful on the country charts in the 1950s through the 1970s. The brothers performed regularly on the Louisiana Hayride radio show in Shreveport and eventually became members of the prestigious Grand Ole Opry in Nashville. The duo was also popular due to their hit syndicated television program, The Wilburn Brothers Show, which ran from 1963 to 1974.
While Hardy is the state’s smallest town to boast a historic district, it has 41 commercial buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The entire downtown area is a treasure trove of Arkansas history and features many stores and gift shops located in pre-World War II buildings along the beautiful Spring River.
In 2014, the Discovery Channel aired a short-lived reality show, Clash of the Ozarks, whose storyline involved a legendary century-old family feud in Hardy. The show ran for one six-episode season but was not renewed.
Today, Hardy is a thriving city with a strong focus on tourism, outdoor recreation, and small-town charm. As of the 2020 census, the city has 765 residents.
From those who come for the water sports and fishing opportunities provided by nearby Mammoth Spring and the Spring River to those just passing through, Hardy offers a variety of worthwhile attractions for tourists visiting this small town in the Ozarks.
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