In the early 19th century, settlers formed the village "Head of the River" and prospered.
Not until the railroad came into the village did they finnaly change the name to Mammoth Springs. In 1925, the Missouri - Arkansas
Power Company constructed the hydro electric plant that still stands today. The plant provided electricity till 1972. In 1957,
legislation established Mammoth Springs State Park.
Mammoth Spring is the largest spring in Arkansas and the 10th largest in the world. Flowing at a average rate of 9.78 million gallons per hour and a constant water temperature of 58 degrees fahrenheit, Mammoth Springs runs through what is today Mammoth Springs State Park. The actual spring can not be seen at the site because it emerges more than 80 feet below the water level of the spring pool. The water from the spring forms the Spring River. The constant flow of the water from the spring makes it a good float stream year round. There is good fishing as well with bass and walleye in the lower reaches and rainbow trout in the upper reaches. The hydro electric plant is open to the public.
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