Columbus

At the time of purchase, Rick Evans Grandview Prairie had an excellent White-tailed deer herd, a small flock of Eastern wild turkeys, a remnant bobwhite quail population, and other common game species.

Rick Evans Grandview Prairie is currently a home to a variety of game and non-game animals as well, including small mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and insects.

After purchasing Rick Evans Grandview Prairie, an ecological assessment was initiated and is presently being conducted by personnel from the AGFC, The Nature Conservancy (TNC), and the Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission (ANHC). To date, there are working species lists for mammals, reptiles, amphibians, birds, insects, snails, and arachnids.

At the time of purchase, Rick Evans Grandview Prairie WMA had two watershed lakes that now serve as excellent public fisheries. They contain many different game fish species such as largemouth bass, bluegill, redear, crappie, and channel catfish.

Rick Evans Grandview Prairie Nature Center’s Conservation Pond located in front of the Nature Center Office, was enlarged to accommodate fishing derbies, and also allows for angler education and provides family-friendly fishing opportunities. The daily limit on this pond is 5 largemouth bass, 5 catfish and 10 crappie. Be sure to bring your rods and reels. More fishing information can be found in the most current Arkansas Fishing Guidebook. Each area pond also serves as habitat for migratory birds and aquatic species.

Rick Evans Grandview Prairie represents the most significant example of blackland prairie existing for management and restoration in Arkansas.

It is comprised of open prairie, woodlands, savanna, and non-native grasslands. The diversity of habitat types accounts for the subsequent variety of animals such as songbirds, deer, butterflies, small mammals and reptiles year-round.

View a working plant species list for Grandview that includes rare plant species tracked by the ANHC.

An area office, two lodges, an educational building with classroom space, public restrooms, several miles of hiking trails, a three field shotgun range, and a 25-target 3-D archery range are located on the center’s grounds. The shotgun range is equipped for trap and skeet. The archery range and hiking trails are always open. Bring your own gear. The shotgun range is open by appointment only. Please schedule appointments well in advance; next day appointments will not be considered. For more information about the ranges and hiking trails, check the Facility Documents and Flyers tab.

A covered fishing pier and the area check-station are located on the WMA.

Nature center staff host thousands of school children and teachers each year with programs about the area’s cultural and natural resources and history. Two buildings accommodate overnight visitors and special programs can be offered by reservation.

Archeology is defined as the scientific study of material remains of past human life and activities. Rick Evans Grandview offers study of Caddo existence and early settlers on the prairie.

Paleontology is the science dealing with the life of past geological periods as known from fossil remains. Rick Evans Grandview offers the study of fossil remains from the cretaceous period found on the site. They include several species of exogyra, short and long-necked plesiosaur, mosasaur, and shark. Fossils of prehistoric marine life have been found on the grounds, some as ancient as 73 million years old.