Land dedicated to honor former Walmart officials

Preserving nature is paramount

GARFIELD -- More than 400 acres of Ozarks hills and valleys bordering Beaver Lake , the Devil's Eyebrow and Garfield city limits were dedicated Friday for a nature preserve.

"This is extremely important for Garfield," Garfield Mayor Gary Blackburn said. "Before, people were passing through Garfield going to Pea Ridge, to Rogers, Bentonville and Beaver Lake. Now, Garfield will be a destination."

The 410-acre tract off Ford Road just outside of Garfield was named the Rob and Melani Walton Nature Preserve. It is bordered by the Devil's Eyebrow and Beaver Lake.

Nearly 1,000 acres in the two undeveloped Ozarks tracts were dedicated Friday by state officials and named in honor of former Walmart officials.

The Lee and Linda Scott tract at the Kings River Preserve contains 608 acres and adds to the 5,200 acres of Nature Conservancy land on 10 miles of the Kings River south of Eureka Springs.

Standing on a wooded hillside overlooking Beaver Lake, Blackburn, Gateway Mayor Frank Hackler, Garfield City Council member Malania Carter and Planning Commission chairman Bill McClain joined officials from the The Nature Conservancy, Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Walmart on Friday in a private ceremony to honor Rob and Melani Walton and Lee and Linda Scott as hundreds of acres in the Ozarks were dedicated for conservation.

Rob Walton, eldest son of Walmart founder Sam Walton, retired earlier this year from his post as chairman of the Walmart board of directors. Melani Walton is his wife.

Lee Scott is the former president and CEO of Walmart. Linda Scott is his wife.

The 410 acres were purchased in 2001 by Guy McCollum of Fort Worth, Texas. McCollum, present Friday, said he purchased the land from several different landowners. McCollum sold the land to The Nature Conservancy.

The entrance to the secluded, undeveloped forested area is bounded by two huge rock columns and barred by a gate. The flat land near the entrance is covered with berry patches. McCollum said blackberries, raspberries and huckleberries were planted there years earlier.

"Working through the historic Acres for America Conservation program, Walmart and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation recently awarded a grant to The Nature Conservancy to create the Rob and Melani Walton Nature Preserve," according to a brochure presented at the event.

Scott Simon, director of the The Nature Conservancy's Arkansas Chapter, lauded Rob Walton's dedication to preservation and conservation of nature for future generations.

Theo Witsell, botanist/ecologist with the Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission said there are many endangered species of plants and trees on the site of Walton preserve including a species of orchid previously not found in Arkansas.

On a deck overlooking the King's River valley, Simon said: "The Kings River is one of the most beloved rivers ... for canoeing and smallmouth bass fishing." He praised Lee Scott for his dedication to preserving the river and surrounding lands. The 608 acres in Carroll County south of Eureka Springs includes 10 miles of river.

During the ceremony, a mature male bald eagle flew over the gathering at Kings River Deck House, drawing the attention of Mark Clippinger, park superintendent for Hobbs State Park-Conservation Area. The deck house was constructed in 1970 by the Liedtke family of Houston, according to Nature Conservancy literature. The house is surrounded by 5,200 acres of land owned by the Conservancy, which established the Kings River Preserve in 2010. The 608-acre addition to the property was made in 2013 and added two miles of river to the preserve.

"Funding for the acquisition was significantly supported by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and Walmart's Acres for America Program," according to The Nature Conservancy literature. "Lee Scott was president of Walmart at the time (which is why the ) tract (is) being named the Lee and Linda Scott Tract at the Kings River Preserve."

General News on 11/04/2015