Welcome to Eureka Springs

The I-Sh*t-You-Not History of America’s Quirkiest Town

Truth is quirkier than fiction in this romp through the history of one unforgettable town.

Millions of tourists know Eureka Springs, Arkansas, as a charming Victorian village. Far fewer have heard these sixty too-crazy-to-make-up tales of colorful characters who have trodden its wildly uneven streets.

How did a skin rash lead to the town’s founding?
Why did local saloons post signs saying “All Nations Welcome Except Carrie”?
Did the Crescent Hotel really have a morgue in its basement?
What local farm product put the city on outlaw country musicians’ tour schedules?
And how did a remote backwoods hamlet become a haven for hippies, bikers, the gay community, and a seven-story Jesus statue?

Find out as you discover the other side of the Ozarks!

Available August 29, 2026

Ebook, audiobook, and paperback editions will be available August 29 at all the usual online sellers, including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, the Apple Bookstore, Google Play, and many others.

The paperback can easily be ordered by your favorite local bookstore via their usual channels.

A special edition paperback with color photographs and premium paper quality will be available only from Eureka Springs shops.

Meet the audiobook narrators

The overall audiobook narrator is Ken Rundel, co-host of the syndicated radio program The Flower Power Hour with Ken & MJ. Individual chapters are narrated by Eureka Springs area residents, shown here in the studio:

1. Black dog’s father: **Jeff Danos** is director of the Eureka Springs Historical Museum.

2. Uncle Johnny: **Andrew Schwerin** is co-owner of Sycamore Bend Farm.

3. Dr. Jackson: **Dr. John House** is a physician with Health First Clinic.

4. Judge and Buck Saunders: **Dann Richardson** is co-owner of Helios Graphics.

5. Jennie Cowan: **Nate White** is a mystic.

6. Major Armstrong: **Anji Johnson** believes life is our canvas and experiences are our paints.

7. Franciska Massmann: **Hilka Irvin** is an artist and writer.

8. Thomas Campbell, Henry Johnson, and John Hallum: **Jonathan Teigen** is an insurance agent and zipline guide.

9. Lizzie Fyler: **Rachael Moyer** is a University of Arkansas professor, Eureka Springs city council member, and co-owner of Loblolly Pines Adventure Camp.

Caden Pruitt and Abbey Foster — 10. The James Gang: **Caden Pruitt** and **Abbey Foster** are residents of Eureka Springs’ Oddball Hollow neighborhood.

11. Powell Clayton: The late, great **Bill Ott** was a former marketing director for the Crescent Hotel and bore a striking resemblance to the Santa Claus who delighted kids of all ages at Eureka Springs holiday events for many years.

12. Michael: **Diane Newcomb** is a ghost tour guide and paranormal investigator for the Crescent and Basin Park hotels.

13. Major Penn: **W. Keith Brenton** is a retired minister and author of the sci-fi novel series, The People-of-the-Water Cycle. He served as docent for Penn Castle when it was on the Christmas Tour of Homes.

14. J. W. Newport: While driving through Eureka Springs in 1984, **Carrie Marry** was captivated. Two decades later, she moved to the town of art, architecture, interesting people, and natural beauty that grabbed her heart.

15. Bill Doolin: **Reillot Weston** is a Realtor.

16. Richard Kerens: **Sharon Keck Parker** is a vocal consultant and music director of St. Elizabeth of Hungary Catholic Church.

17. Dr. Ellis: **Simon Wiley** is director of the Eureka Springs Public Works Department and a Chamber of Commerce board member.

18. W. J. Moore: **Megan Henry** is a ceremonial singer and storyteller.

19. William Duncan: **David Geneson** is a singer/songwriter.

20. Carry A. Nation: **Shiloh Grace** is executive director of The Purple Flower, a support center for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking.

21. Richard Ryan Thompson: **John-Michael Scurio** is the author of the I Love Eureka blog.

22. Mary Breckinridge: **Wendi La Fey** is an artist, musician, dancer, and operator of The Gypsy Camp lodging.

23. Emil Seidel: **MJ Nolen** cohosts the Flower Power Hour with Ken & MJ.

24. Festus Orestes Butt: **Shawn Fouste** is a US Army veteran and co-owner of Evening Shade Inn.

25. Sam Leath: **Devin Henderson** is marketing coordinator for the Eureka Springs Chamber of Commerce.

26. C. H. Harrison: Longtime Eurekan **Ivy McBride** is a shop clerk at Nelson’s.

27. Robert Bowman, Homer Brittain, G. E. Burson, Sam Harmon, Ernest Jordan, Jesse Littrell, and Joe McKimmey: **David Abrams** is an author and watercolorist.

28. Ben Kynard: **Anitra Jay** is an acoustic soul singer/songwriter whose music weaves together the rich tapestries of jazz, pop, and gospel.

29. Claude Fuller: **Ida Meyer** is a former City Clerk/Treasurer of Eureka Springs.

30. By Golly: **Jana Robison** is an internationally collected pop surrealist artist.

31. Thoro Harris: **Marcus Tate-Greene** is co-owner of Sugar and Crumbs Cafe.

Coltan Scrivner in the sound booth — 32. Norman Baker: **Coltan Scrivner** is the author of Morbidly Curious: A Scientist Explains Why We Can’t Look Away and organizer of the Eureka Springs Zombie Crawl and Nightmare in the Ozarks Film Festival.

33. Elise Quigley: **Kricket Gaillot** is an artist and the author’s wife.

34. Louis and Elsie Freund: **Zeek Taylor** is an artist, author, storyteller, and recipient of the Arkansas Governor’s Arts Award for Lifetime Achievement.

35. Richard Banks: **Destaney Marie** is singer for folk duo Huckleberry Jam and residency and events coordinator for The Writers’ Colony at Dairy Hollow.

36. Cora Pinkley Call: **Rebecca Wineinger** is a classically trained pianist.

37. Joe Parkhill: **Arjay Josephine** is a radio deejay.

38. Irene Castle: **Emily Ulibarri** is a stage actor, dancer, playwright, and co-owner of Melonlight Theater.

39. Virginia Tyler: **Emily Cumming** is a chef at So Good Kitchen.

40. Gerald L. K. Smith: **Lisa Lockwood** is a poet, downtown walking tour guide, and this book’s copy editor.

41. Edd Jeffords: **Dan Morris** is an artist, sculptor, writer, and musician.

42. Lowana Feagins: **Julie Cutter** is a guide at Graveface Museum.

43. Bettina De Vescovi Whitman: **Melissa Clare** is executive director of the Heart of Many Ways spiritual center.

44. Gary Eagan: **John Rankine** is an artist and stage actor.

45. John Fuller Cross: **Jim Nelson** is an artist and founder of Nelson’s.

46. E. Fay Jones and Jim Reed: **Butch Berry** is mayor of Eureka Springs and an architect who studied under Jones.

47. Crescent Dragonwagon: **Lynn Berry** is a Eureka Springs Chamber of Commerce ambassador.

48. Cap’n Don McGuire: **Wendy Taylor Carlisle** is an award-winning poet and former investor in Cap’n Don’s bar.

49. Morris: **Cole Wakefield** is executive director of Good Shepherd Humane Society.

50. Schoe: **Jane Tucker** is a founding member of the Greasy Greens band and a caterer who makes the delicious desserts at Ermilio’s Italian Home Cooking.

51. Lou Farish: **Phyllis Moraga** is an artist and owner of Wonderland Antiques.

52. Clary Perez: **Ethan Avanzino** is vice president of Diversity Weekends organizer Out in Eureka and co-owner of Wanderoo Lodge and Gravel Bar.

54. Bigfoot: **James Duke** is the town greeter.

56. Eleanor Lux, Doug Stowe, and Mary Springer: **Kelly McDonough** is executive director of the Eureka Springs School of Art.

57. Dan and Suzie Bell: **Tricia Evans** is a retired educator who volunteered with Suzie Bell’s unsuccessful run for state representative.

58. Cheryl Maples: **Bill King** is an entrepreneur who was a plaintiff in Maples’ same-sex marriage lawsuit.

59. Jon Walker: **Tracy Johnson** is an event organizer and promoter.

60. Sam, Helen, Alice, Tom, and Steuart Walton: **Mary Gentle** is an artist, poet, and educator.