Bentonville, Arkansas
A fever dream journey through the surreal heart of the Ozarks.
This travel memoir by Dane D. Blaze isn't your typical guidebook. It's a deep dive into the strange, wonderful, and often contradictory soul of a town remade by the world's largest retailer. Explore the world-class art, the hidden trails, and the local flavor that make Bentonville a truly offbeat destination.
Chapter 1: An Excerpt
I rolled into Bentonville like a kid smuggling fireworks into Sunday school. Equal parts contraband and curiosity. The sun was a yellow sourball roasting the trailhead parking lot at Coler Mountain Bike Preserve. Lycra-clad adrenaline disciples zipped around on bikes that probably cost more than a kidney on the black market. I borrowed a hardtail that rattled like a coffee can full of bolts, then strapped on my helmet with the solemnity of a man about to do something very stupid. They call the Dragon Scales trail beginner-friendly, which is mountain biker code for "we hope you brought health insurance." My lungs were already filing a lawsuit by the time I hit the first incline. I reached the top sweaty, wheezing, and spiritually detached. Then I saw the Scales. A slatted wooden ribbon with just enough wobble to whisper, this is where you die. I hit it too fast, misjudged a curve, and flew off like a sack of disgraced meat. Landed in a bed of mulch and shame, Dragon Scales. Not by a long shot.