BELLA VISTA — Blue Crane, a company owned by Walmart heirs Tom and Steuart Walton, bought 2,700 undeveloped acres in the city and Benton County and development rights from Cooper Communities, Inc., it announced Thursday.
While plans for the land have not been shared, previous Blue Crane acquisitions point to a focus on outdoor, recreational development.
“We understand that this is a big announcement for many people,” said Tom Walton, co-owner and chief executive officer of Runway Group, the parent company of Blue Crane.
“It is for us, too. As we consider our developments, we plan to bring in the community as part of that process. We believe deeply in Bella Vista’s tradition of connecting people to nature through cycling, golf, and outdoor recreation, and we are confident our investments will reflect that,” he said.
A Blue Crane spokesperson, who asked not to be named, said the company needs to assess infrastructure before deciding plans. He declined to disclose the price. He said the land sits south of the Missouri border west of Interstate 49.
“We’re going to spend probably the next six months digging into what we mean when we say access to outdoor recreation,” the spokesperson said. “We know we care about golf, cycling, nature, hiking and all the things that already exist in Bella Vista. We just need to figure out what those development plans look like based on what’s possible.”
The undeveloped land purchased is equal to a little more than 4 square miles.
The spokesperson said the company will share details about the acquisition further into the development process, but wants people to know the company is focused on working with the community.
The company is also hosting a meet and greet at the Bella Vista Country Club at 9 a.m. Friday, according to social media posts. Residents will be able to ask the company questions and share concerns.
Runway Group drew criticism last fall when it commissioned a poll to gauge people’s interest in changing the Buffalo National River’s designation to that of a national park and preserve. The polling calls were received by people in Baxter, Madison, Marion, Newton and Searcy counties and didn’t identify Runway Group. The idea was later dropped, but not before more than 1,000 people showed up at a town hall meeting in Jasper to oppose it.
Tom and Steuart Walton are grandsons of Walmart founder Sam Walton.
“It’s considered a very attractive area,” said Bella Vista Mayor John Flynn. “To me, this is a case of where we have entrepreneurs showing an interest in Bella Vista, and it’s a very positive thing.”
He said he feels that Blue Crane will prioritize environmental protection and any development will increase the city’s commercial offerings and eventual tax base.
He said he understands residents may have concerns, but believes the overall reaction will be positive, especially once the developments are completed.
“They’re not really against growth and development,” Flynn said about concerned citizens. “I think they just want to see it in a certain way.”
Cooper Communities began developing in Bella Vista in 1965, according to its website. It began as a “graduated retirement community,” meaning those who purchased homes would have it paid off by the time they retired.
John A. Cooper Sr. developed the community and sold over 37,060 home sites, according to the Bella Vista Historical Museum’s website. By the end of 2006, when the town incorporated, there were roughly 38,000 home sites, of which 12,600 lots were developed, according to the museum.
Two emails and two voice messages to Cooper Communities seeking comment Thursday were unanswered as of 1:30 p.m.
Bella Vista, with 31,733 residents as of 2022, is the third largest city in Benton County by population and largest by land area.
RESIDENT REACTION
Residents had mixed reactions to the news Thursday morning.
Chad Pearson, a Bella Vista resident, was at Allen’s Food Market at the Sugar Creek Shopping Center. Pearson said he likes the thought of expanding outdoor recreation opportunities in the city, but added, “If they’re going to get into the owning — buying up people’s homes and making it difficult for people to buy a home because the prices have gone up, and then they rent it out to people to make a profit, I’m concerned. I’m a capitalist but I’m not the kind of person that wants the rich taking over the world.”
Robert Frizzell, who was at the Bella Vista Recreation Center on Thursday, said he thinks overall it will be a good thing for the city — as long as they keep Allen’s Food Market around, because Allen’s carries items you can’t get at other stores.
“I think Cooper [Communities] is kind of at a standstill right now as far as development,” Frizzell added. “I think we’ll get more development from the Walton family than from Cooper.”
Julie Hull — owner of Neighbors Real Estate Group, which has an office just outside Bella Vista — said it’s a great move for the community.
“They are going to bring in, hopefully, more commercial, which will bring in more tourism, bring in more dollars to our community, which will benefit many programs in the community,” Hull said. “And it’s also going to benefit real estate, because it’s going to help our property values. More commerce is going to be a good thing for Bella Vista.”
Sue Rae Cramer was walking her dog outside the Recreation Center on Thursday morning.
“I want to know how that is going to impact me,” Cramer said, after reading the news release on the land purchase. “I don’t do cycling. I don’t do golf. I do enjoy walking my dog around here. But is this going to be a value to me?”
Tom Judson, CEO of the Bella Vista Property Owners Association, emailed a statement to the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.
“Over the last ten years, Bella Vista has benefited tremendously from the Walton donation of over 100 miles of walking, hiking, and biking paths,” Judson wrote. “They have also donated a kid’s bike skills park, and most recently a tree house playground. With the recent business acquisition, I look forward to working collaboratively with Blue Crane to further enhance the lives of our members. I am excited for what the next ten years brings Bella Vista.”
