Mt. Nebo Chicken Fry

Mt. Nebo Chicken Fry Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Mt. Nebo Chicken Fry, Community Organization, 16728 State Highway 155, Dardanelle, AR.

Since 1948, the Mt Nebo Chicken Fry has been a fun-filled day of chicken, pickin', and politickin' to raise money for organizations that contribute to the River Valley Community

Here’s to 78 years of chicken pickin’ and politicking—and many more to come.
09/24/2025

Here’s to 78 years of chicken pickin’ and politicking—and many more to come.

For many, the Chicken Fry is more than a festival—it’s proof of what happens when a community comes together. As Chamber...
09/24/2025

For many, the Chicken Fry is more than a festival—it’s proof of what happens when a community comes together. As Chamber President Mark Thone recalled with a smile, even the late Senator Gary Stubblefield loved joining in on the Chicken Dance years ago. “That’s exactly how Saturday felt—laughter, unity, and pride.”
With 78 years now in the books, the Mount Nebo Chicken Fry remains a shining example of Dardanelle spirit. Plans are already underway for next year, and the Chamber is inviting community members, booster clubs, and civic groups to get involved in making year 79 even better.

The pageantry continued with the crowning of Little Miss Pullet, Maisie Bramlett, and Little Mister Rooster, Abel Haney,...
09/24/2025

The pageantry continued with the crowning of Little Miss Pullet, Maisie Bramlett, and Little Mister Rooster, Abel Haney, who will appear in the Dardanelle Christmas Parade on December 5.

No Chicken Fry is complete without a little friendly competition, and the River Valley Runners’ Chicken Fried 10K didn’t...
09/24/2025

No Chicken Fry is complete without a little friendly competition, and the River Valley Runners’ Chicken Fried 10K didn’t disappoint. With more than 150 participants, the race saw history made as Arkansas Tech cross country coach Gabe Sams of Russellville set a new course record at 40:05.73, breaking Tom Aspel’s 1985 mark. Sams was followed by Bret O’Meara of Fayetteville (49:38.92) and Worth Willsee of Little Rock (51:51.21). The top female finisher was Natalie Moreland of Greenbrier at 58:56.75. In a poignant moment, longtime record-holder Tom Aspel, who has faced health challenges, crossed the finish line last, cheered on by a crowd that honored his legacy.

The Chicken Fry also gives back. Partnering organizations used the festival to raise funds and awareness: River Valley A...
09/24/2025

The Chicken Fry also gives back. Partnering organizations used the festival to raise funds and awareness: River Valley Adult Learning Alliance hosted chicken p**p bingo, River Valley Food for Kids ran the annual pie auction with True Grit Auction Services—raising a record-breaking $4,000 for summer meals—and the Dardanelle Library, Take a Hike group, and Clary Sisters filled the kids’ zone with crafts, games, and the always-popular chicken scramble.

This year, more than 700 chicken dinners were served, thanks to the support of Tyson Foods and a small army of Chamber v...
09/24/2025

This year, more than 700 chicken dinners were served, thanks to the support of Tyson Foods and a small army of Chamber volunteers. “It was such a good day,” said Chamber Executive Director Stacy Daughtrey. “The Chicken Fry is some of the best of small-town America! Even political opponents were dancing together—it reminded us all how important community is, especially with the challenges we’ve faced lately.”
And dance they did—everything from the Chicken Dance to toe-tapping along with live performances by Taylor Folsom, Tyler Kendrick, and Diane Barry with Joe Wade. Local favorite traditions, from the chicken-calling contest to carriage rides, Model T tours, and the Masonic Lodge dunking booth, kept the day lively from start to finish.

The 78th Annual Mount Nebo Chicken Fry is in the books, and what a day it was. Since 1948, families, friends, and visito...
09/24/2025

The 78th Annual Mount Nebo Chicken Fry is in the books, and what a day it was. Since 1948, families, friends, and visitors have made the trip up Mount Nebo State Park for this one-of-a-kind tradition. What began as a way to honor the chicken industry has grown into something much bigger—a celebration of community, friendship, and small-town pride that belongs to Dardanelle and all of Yell County.

The 78th Annual Mount Nebo Chicken Fry was a success because of YOU.Thank you for helping us carry on this treasured com...
09/24/2025

The 78th Annual Mount Nebo Chicken Fry was a success because of YOU.
Thank you for helping us carry on this treasured community tradition!
Thank you to our sponsors!!!

The Model T crew gave rides to 151 people at the Chicken Fry! That worked out to about 52 round trips from the Pavilion ...
09/24/2025

The Model T crew gave rides to 151 people at the Chicken Fry! That worked out to about 52 round trips from the Pavilion to Sunset and back. With three Model Ts running, each car averaged around 17–18 trips.
Each ride took roughly 15 minutes, which means about 4.5 hours of driving per car. (One car quit just before lunch, but I kept it in the numbers as if it had run all day to keep things consistent.)
All in all, it was a great time—and judging by the smiles, the riders did too! Thank you to Bill and Nellie Howell for all your hardwork!!!

09/15/2025

We are headed up to the the Mt. Nebo Chicken Fry and I always get inspired by this story and thought I would share. Hope to see you there!

In 1918, on top of a mountain in Yell County, Arkansas, a quiet revolution took place.

The resort community of Mount Nebo — once known for its grand hotels, summer cottages, and cool breezes — had fallen on hard times. The resort era was fading, sanitation and water systems were deteriorating, and many of the men who once held leadership positions were away serving in World War I.

Into that gap stepped the women of Mount Nebo.

That year, they organized themselves into a ticket and ran for office as a slate. The result? An all-women city government was elected — mayor, treasurer, recorder, and council members — making Mount Nebo one of the first towns in the South to be governed entirely by women.

And here’s the most remarkable part: this happened two years before the 19th Amendment gave women the right to vote nationwide. Arkansas women had only just won the right to vote in primaries in 1917, yet on Nebo, they didn’t just vote — they led.

The women’s priorities reflected their reality. They focused on:
•Public health: tackling sanitation issues and water access.
•Community upkeep: keeping the fading resort town livable.
•Order and safety: ensuring stability during wartime.

Their election drew attention in newspapers across Arkansas and beyond. Some treated it as a novelty; others as a warning. But for the people who lived on Mount Nebo, it was simple: these women stepped up when leadership was needed.

Today, the cabins and trails of Mount Nebo State Park stand as reminders of another era. But behind those stone walls is a legacy we don’t tell often enough — the story of Arkansas women who didn’t wait for permission to lead.

They showed, more than a century ago, that when women take the reins, communities find a way forward. 🌄✨

That’s a wrap on the 78th Annual Mount Nebo Chicken Fry! Since 1948, people have been making the trip up Mount Nebo Stat...
09/14/2025

That’s a wrap on the 78th Annual Mount Nebo Chicken Fry!
Since 1948, people have been making the trip up Mount Nebo State Park for this tradition. What began as a way to honor the chicken industry grew into a time to gather, visit, and dance with friends. Now, it’s a piece of who we are—a tradition we’re lucky to carry on for Dardanelle and all of Yell County.
The plate on our Chamber wall wasn’t earned in our time alone—it was won through the years of hard work, dedication, and pride from those before us. And wow… we sure are proud to keep it shining.
Thank you for being part of the Mount Nebo Chicken Fry. Over the years, we’ve cheered together, laughed together, sometimes even disagreed, and yes, cried together. But through it all, this event has been proof that community matters.
When we come together—celebrating our differences, our talents, and our traditions—that’s when others take notice. And when we build up our community, the businesses, opportunities, and pride follow.
Here’s to 78 years of Chicken Pickin and Politicking!!!

Address

16728 State Highway 155
Dardanelle, AR
72834

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

(479) 229-3328

Website

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