The Riverfront Restaurant Hours:
Fridays: 5pm-8pm, Saturdays: 8am-8pm, Sundays: 8am-5pm
Fly The Backcountry Right Here In Arkansas!
All pilots and aircraft are welcome at Byrd’s. Located on the wild and scenic Mulberry River in Arkansas, Byrd’s Adventure Center features two grass runways on 800 private acres surrounded by the Ozark National Forest. Our primary 1900′ airstrip is suitable for many single-engine airplanes, while our secondary 1000′ strip is open to ultralight aircraft such as powered parachutes and trikes. Pilots are encouraged to monitor channel 122.9.
Restaurant dining is available from March-December at our new Riverfront Restaurant (open weekly Friday-Sunday). Bring gear for non-flying activities along the Mulberry River including fishing, canoeing, trail hikes, and campfire cookouts. Snacks, drinks, ice and handmade sandwiches are available year-round at Byrd’s on-site store. Aviation fuel is available at the Ozark (7M5) and Clarksville (H35) municipal airports. Call us at 479-667-4066 or 479-667-4199.
Flying at Byrd’s Adventure Center is free! Primitive underwing camping is $12 per person per night with access to our large heated shower house. Cabins and RV camping are available on-site (call 479-667-4066 for reservations). In addition to wingtip camping and fishing, Byrd’s hosts fly-ins every spring and fall. Please check our calendar for upcoming fly-ins and events.
Byrd’s Fly-in Tips:
1. Arrive experienced. Byrd’s Backcountry Airstrip (51AR) is a challenging wilderness airfield surrounded by mountains and trees. The longest grass runway is 1900 feet with plenty of bumps and uneven sections. Winds and density altitude are factors here, and you may encounter wildlife on the runway. Byrd’s can become a relaxing fly-in destination for you and your friends, but it takes practice and most pilots are challenged on initial visits. We do not recommend Byrd’s as your first grass runway unless you have an experienced backcountry instructor with you.
2. Fly light. Extra power is a bonus in the backcountry. With tall trees and taller mountains, this is an important consideration at Byrd’s. Airplanes such as the Cessna 177, 172, 152, 150, 140, 120, etc. can be easily overloaded simply by bringing too many people, too much fuel, or too much camping gear. We recommend making your first visits as light as possible. You will gain useful information about your aircraft’s performance for planning future trips.
3. Choose mild. Conditions in the Ozarks change quickly. Winds here are variable and sometimes strong from the wrong direction. Landing and departing in gusty conditions can be difficult. And hot days here can reduce aircraft climb performance when you need it most. Sometimes it’s best to change your arrival or departure time by a few hours or even days to optimize conditions in your favor.
4. Speak up. Please monitor and announce intentions on 122.9. Byrd’s may have several aircraft in the pattern during good flying days.
5. Be polite. Please minimize overflying remote cabins and homes in the Ozarks. The best zones for continuous manuvering near Byrd’s are just to the north and west. Avoid overflying nearby structures to the southeast of the main runway. Be mindful of noise. Reduce power settings when safe to do so.
6. Enjoy yourself! Byrd’s has everything needed for your backcountry adventure. You can camp, swim, and fish right beside your airplane. We offer plenty of trees and covered pavilions for your hammock or tent. A short walk from the airfield you’ll find the restroom/showerhouse and our on-site general store stocked with ice, groceries, camping supplies, gifts, etc. Byrd’s has on-site kayak, raft, and cabin rentals by reservation and our Mulberry Riverfront Restaurant is open weekends from early March through late November (Fridays open 5pm-8pm, Saturdays 8am-8pm, and Sundays 8am-5pm) so you don’t need to bring lots of food.
We look forward to seeing you!
