Trips

Arkansas Eats: Mather Lodge Restaurant

Looking for a remarkable place for dinner with sensational views? Head to Mather Lodge restaurant at Petit Jean State Park.

Outside view of Mather Lodge restaurant at sunset. Stone building with large windows on the hillside

Mather Lodge is located atop the mountain in Petit Jean State Park, one of Arkansas’s most popular state parks. It’s a 20-mile drive from I-40 at Morrilton.

Mather Lodge, along with many other structures at Petit Jean, was built in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps. It’s beautifully hand-crafted with log and stone and is featured on the National List of Historic Places.

Inside view of Mather Lodge restaurant with log poles, rock columns, wood ceiling, and large windows
1069 Petit Jean Mountain Rd, Morrilton, AR 72110

The Mather Lodge restaurant dining room is grand yet relaxing and inviting. The lofty ceilings and expansive picture windows provide guests with panoramic views of the river valley.

Table in the foreground with large windows with a view of the sunset

Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, Mather Lodge restaurant offers comfortable and casual dining. The food is good, but the views are the real star of the show.

Front of a menu at Mather Lodge restaurant

The dinner menu includes hamburgers, sandwiches, and southern-style entrees. There are also several appetizer options.

Entree and Extras section of the Mather Lodge restaurant menu

Be sure to order the hot water cornbread with honey butter for dipping.

Hot water bread with butter

For our meal, we each selected entrees served with a choice of potato and a veggie. Entree options include hot roast beef.

Pot roast with okra and loaded baked potato

And chicken fried steak.

Chicken fried steak, roll, white gravy, mashed potatos with gravy

Before and after dinner, step outside and enjoy the sensational views!

Sunset from Petit Jean Mountain from the outside of Mather Lodge restaurant

Whether you’re rounding out a day of hiking or just looking for a pleasant meal, the Mather Lodge restaurant is more than just a place to eat. It’s a place to sit back, take a breath, and soak in the beauty of the Natural State.

View of the inside of the Mather Lodge restaurant with high ceilings, tables, and large windows.

Heading to the Natural State? Check out the Arkansas page.

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