Johnny Morris, founder and CEO of Bass Pro Shops, has purchased the former Dogpatch USA theme park.
The sale of the property was announced early June with a sales price of $1.12 million. Media reports showed that Down By the Falls, a limited liability corporation with a Springfield, Mo. street address, purchased the property. Bass Pro Shops is headquartered in Springfield, where Morris also resides.
Morris has reportedly not finalized his plans for the former Dogpatch property but does plan to “restore, preserve and share” the property.
“We are very excited to have the opportunity to restore, preserve and share this crown jewel of Arkansas and the Ozarks so everyone can further enjoy the wonderful region we call home,” Morris said in a statement.
Located in Newton County, Dogpatch USA was developed as a theme park based on the Li’l Abner comic strip and operated from 1968-1993, according to the Encyclopedia of Arkansas. Throughout its history, it has changed hands multiple times with Charles “Bud” Pelsor being the most recent owner.
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