Gentry, Arkansas is a small railroad-and-poultry town in the southwest corner of Benton County, tucked between Siloam Springs and Gravette. For decades it was best known as the home of a beloved drive-through animal safari; today its standout attraction is a quiet, free nature trail where bald eagles spend the winter. Here’s your guide to visiting Gentry: what to see, a little history, and how to get there.
Home to roughly 3,800 people and anchored by the McKee Foods (Little Debbie) bakery, Gentry is more of a working small town than a tourist hub. But its Eagle Watch trail is a genuine, unhurried draw — especially from late fall through early spring.
Things to do in Gentry
Eagle Watch Nature Trail at SWEPCO Lake
Gentry’s best attraction is the Eagle Watch Nature Trail, a free public trail on the grounds of the AEP/SWEPCO Flint Creek Power Plant just outside town. Built in 1999 along the shore of the 500-acre SWEPCO Lake, the trail runs about half a mile and is easy and flat. Because the plant’s warm-water discharge keeps the lake from freezing, it draws an abundance of fish — and the bald eagles that follow them. The eagles typically arrive in October and stay through about March before heading north to nest.
Know before you go: the site has been designated an Important Bird Area by Audubon Arkansas, with well over 100 bird species recorded — so even outside eagle season it rewards birdwatchers with waterfowl and shorebirds. It is free and open to the public, but as an active power-plant property it can close for operational reasons, so it’s worth confirming access before a long drive. Bring binoculars, dress for open, breezy lakeside weather, and go early for the best eagle activity. Winter is peak season.
What happened to the Wild Wilderness Drive-Through Safari
For generations of Arkansas families, Gentry meant the Wild Wilderness Drive-Through Safari — a sprawling park where you drove your own car past free-roaming herds of zebra, buffalo, camels, and more, with walk-through petting areas alongside. It is important to be clear: the safari announced its closure in 2022 and has not reopened. The gates are locked, and it is no longer open to the public. We mention it because you’ll still see it in old listings and travel articles — but don’t plan a trip around it. Always verify before driving out.
Downtown Gentry and city parks
Gentry keeps a small, walkable core with a handful of local shops and eateries, plus a few historic properties listed on the National Register. City parks offer playgrounds, ball fields, and picnic space for an easy stop with kids. It is a pleasant place to stretch your legs before or after the Eagle Watch trail.
A quick history of Gentry
Gentry was founded in 1894 along the Kansas City Southern Railroad and incorporated in 1898, taking its name from the railroad’s president. Like its neighbors, it began as a shipping point for the region’s apple orchards and timber, then shifted toward poultry, with hatcheries appearing in the 1920s. The arrival of McKee Foods in 1983 made the Little Debbie bakery the city’s largest employer, and it remains so today. Passenger trains stopped serving the town in 1964, but Gentry has kept its small-town rail-era character.
Where to eat, drink, and stay
Gentry has a few hometown restaurants, but dining, breweries, and hotels are limited here. Siloam Springs is only about 10 minutes south, and you’re roughly 30 minutes from the fuller lineup in Bentonville. For where to eat and drink nearby, browse our sister sites NWA Food and NWA Brew, or dive into our full guides to Siloam Springs and Bentonville.
Location & getting there
- Where: Southwest Benton County, near the junction of Highways 59 and 12.
- County: Benton County, Northwest Arkansas.
- From the airport: about 25–30 minutes from Northwest Arkansas National Airport (XNA).
- Nearby cities: roughly 10 minutes to Siloam Springs, about 30 to Bentonville.
- Eagle Watch trail: on the SWEPCO Flint Creek Power Plant property; free, best October–March — confirm access before you go.
Get directions to the Eagle Watch Nature Trail »
Gentry FAQ
Is the Wild Wilderness Drive-Through Safari in Gentry still open?
No. The Wild Wilderness Drive-Through Safari announced its closure in 2022 and has not reopened. It is no longer open to the public, even though it still appears in older travel listings. Do not plan a trip around it.
What is there to do in Gentry, Arkansas now?
Gentry’s main attraction is the free Eagle Watch Nature Trail at SWEPCO Lake, a half-mile lakeside trail known for wintering bald eagles and abundant birdlife. The town also has a small walkable downtown and city parks. Most visitors combine it with nearby Siloam Springs.
When is the best time to see eagles at SWEPCO Lake?
Bald eagles typically arrive at SWEPCO Lake in October and stay through about March, when the warm-water lake keeps fish plentiful. Winter mornings are the best time to visit the Eagle Watch Nature Trail. The trail is free, but because it sits on active power-plant property, confirm it is open before making the drive.
How far is Gentry from Siloam Springs and Bentonville?
Gentry is about 10 minutes north of Siloam Springs and roughly 30 minutes southwest of Bentonville, in the southwest corner of Benton County. Northwest Arkansas National Airport (XNA) is about 25 to 30 minutes away.
Explore more of Northwest Arkansas
Gentry pairs naturally with the towns just around it. Keep exploring with our guides to Siloam Springs, Bentonville, and the Northwest Arkansas outdoors, or head back to the WeKnowNWA home page to browse every town.