Phase One Construction Begins on Mena Mountain Bike Park Project

Phase One Marks Major Milestone for Trails at Mena

Construction is officially underway on Phase One of the Mena Mountain Bike Park Project, marking a major milestone for one of the most ambitious outdoor recreation developments in Arkansas. The project, part of the broader Trails at Mena initiative, will create a lift-served mountain bike park connecting the Ward Lake area to Round Top Mountain near Queen Wilhelmina State Park.

Phase One focuses on establishing the foundational infrastructure needed to support future trail development and year-round visitation. According to Jeff King, Deputy Director of Arkansas State Parks, initial work began with clearing timber and vegetation in preparation for construction.

“We are beginning work with clearing timber and vegetation in the base portal area and along the lift line up to Round Top Mountain,” King said. “This work is beginning now and is expected to continue through March.”

Arkansas State Parks is leading the project and holds the primary construction contract. KINCO Constructors is serving as the construction manager, working in coordination with multiple partners including the City of Mena, the U.S. Forest Service, Queen Wilhelmina State Park, and the Parks and Recreation Foundation.

Ward Lake Base Portal Will Anchor Visitor Experience

The base portal for the park will be located in the Ward Lake basin and will serve as the primary access point for visitors. Planned amenities include parking, visitor services, lift ticketing, rentals, and food and beverage operations. While often compared to a ski lodge in function, the facility will not include overnight lodging.

“It is really a base portal,” King said. “It will include check-in, rentals, food and beverage, parking, lift access, ticketing, and a mountain coaster as part of this initial package.”

One of the standout features of Phase One is an alpine style mountain coaster, offering a gravity-powered ride experience similar to those found at destination mountain resorts. Other possible features include a viewing tower with possible climbing walls and zip lines.

Lift Served Mountain Biking Planned for Round Top Mountain

A signature element of the Mena Mountain Bike Park is its lift served access to Round Top Mountain. Arkansas State Parks is finalizing contract documents with Leitner-Poma for a lift system that will extend more than a mile from the Ward Lake base portal to the summit.

Delivery of the lift system is expected during the summer of 2026. King said, “The process used to secure the lift early in this project timeline is a key to the overall success of the park’s development.”

Trail Network to Include Flow Trails, Jump Lines, and Hiking Routes

Phase One encompasses approximately 1,300 acres and will ultimately include about 20 miles of trail with 1070 vertical feet between the base and the peak. The trail network is being designed to serve riders and visitors of varying skill levels, with a mix of beginner friendly flow trails, advanced jump lines, and hiking trails connecting the base portal to the summit.

“We see this as not only a world-class biking destination, but also a place people want to visit for views and other outdoor recreation experiences,” King said.

Trail construction is expected to begin in summer 2026 . While trail builders have not yet been selected, SE Group is serving as the lead design consultant, and trail flagging is already underway as part of the design process.

Utility Improvements and Environmental Planning at Ward Lake

Utility improvements are another key component of Phase One. Arkansas State Parks is coordinating with SWEPCO and the City of Mena Water Utilities to support future operations at the base portal and lift system.

Development in the Ward Lake area is being planned outside of the lake’s floodplain. Ongoing studies will determine the long-term future of the lake, including whether it becomes open water (as seen in the drawings) or transitions toward a wetland or stream feature.

“We are constructing to higher ground,” King said. “Whether the lake remains open water or becomes more of a wetland or stream feature is still being studied.”

Ward Lake Trails to Be Integrated Into New Bike Park

The closure of the Ward Lake Trails prompted questions from local riders, but State Parks officials say the closure is necessary to safely begin construction of the base portal and lift infrastructure. Existing trails in the area will be incorporated into the new park and refreshed as part of the completed development. During construction, cyclists are encouraged to use the recently built trails at Queen Wilhelmina State Park.

King said the updated trail network will maintain similar mileage while improving alignment and overall trail quality when the park opens.

Target Opening Set for Spring 2028

The target opening date for Phase One of the Mena Mountain Bike Park is spring 2028. King said the project team remains confident in that timeline, citing experienced construction management and strong coordination among partners.

Phase One is estimated to cost approximately $48 million. Funding is coming primarily from Arkansas State Parks conservation revenues (Amendment 75 revenues), capital improvement funds, and Arkansas Natural and Cultural Resources Council (ANCRC) grants. No private funding has been committed to this phase at this time. Some funds for earlier design work was provided by private funding through the Arkansas Parks and Recreation Foundation.

As work continues, Phase One represents a critical step toward establishing Trails at Mena as a premier outdoor recreation destination in western Arkansas, with long-term benefits for tourism, economic development, and quality of life in the Mena region.

More on what has led up to this point in the project can be found in this article from June 2025.

Photos for this article were provided by the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism, unless otherwise noted.

This article was originally published on ArkansasOutside.com, your trusted source for outdoor news and updates in The Natural State. Unless otherwise credited, all photos included in this piece are the property of Arkansas Outside, LLC. We take pride in sharing the beauty and adventures of Arkansas through our lens—thank you for supporting our work!