Mission
The purpose of the True Grit Trail is to bring tourists to communities in the seven counties—Yell, Pope, Logan, Johnson, Franklin, Crawford and Sebastian—that span the Arkansas River Valley. The True Grit Trail “Posse” works to create partnerships among businesses and communities to achieve that purpose.
Origin
In the words of Mattie Ross, “Here is what happened.” In 2019, constituents approached Mary Bentley, State Representative for district 73 (which included Dardanelle), about designating State Highway 22 as "True Grit Trail" as an homage to the world-renowned novelist and Arkansas son, Charles Portis. Portis is the author of True Grit, a story about the Ross family from "near Dardanelle in Yell County."
Representative Bentley filed House Bill 1628 to create the True Grit Trail on February 28, 2019. HB1628 was co-sponsored by State senators Gary Stubblefield and Matthew Pitsch, State Representatives Justin Boyd, Cindy Crawford, Jay Richardson, Jon Eubanks, and Lee Johnson. The Bill passed through both chambers 135-0, on March 14, 2019. Governor Asa Hutchinson signed the act on March 20.
True Grit Trail became a project of the Yell County Historical Society on September 21, 2020 which is registered as a 501c3 organization in Arkansas.
Photo 1— State Senator Gary Stubblefield; State Representative Mary Bentley; Volunteer Tom Berryhill.—Photographer, unknown. Photo 2—L-R: Len Cotton, Avis Cotton (Parents of US Senator Tom Cotton); State Senator Gary Stubblefield; House Representative Mary Bentley; Governor Asa Hutchinson; John T. Wayne; State Representative Lee Johnson.—Photograph, Courtesy of the Governor's Office.
Media
The trademarked True Grit Trail logo is available for usage without cost by companies and organizations along the True Grit Trail (AR highway 22) and Interstate 40 in the seven counties—Yell, Pope, Logan, Johnson, Franklin, Crawford and Sebastian—that span the Arkansas River Valley. We welcome your participation and will provide the necessary details when you contact us.
Write-Call Us
PO BOX 622
Dardanelle, AR 72834
479-699-5246