Hot Springs in Garland County, Arkansas — The American South (West South Central)
Forrest L. Wood
Outdoor Recreation
| | Hot Springs Arkansas Walk of Fame | |
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 14, 2024
1. Forrest L. Wood Marker
Father of the modern bass boat Renowned lifelong contributor to hunting & fishing recreation Co-founder of Ranger Boats with wife, friend and teammate, Nina 1972 and 1979 Bass Masters Classic qualifier Namesake of legendary FLW Outdoors Inducted into numerous fishing, boating & outdoor halls of fame
Flippin, Arkansas Inducted 2005
Erected by Hot Springs Arkansas Walk of Fame.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Sports • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1972.
Location. 34° 30.648′ N, 93° 3.232′ W. Marker is in Hot Springs, Arkansas, in Garland County. It is on Central Avenue (State Highway 7) just north of Spring Street, on the right when traveling north. The marker is embedded in the sidewalk on the north side of the Hot Springs City Visitor Center. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 629 Central Avenue, Hot Springs National Park AR 71901, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Arkansas’ Ouachita Mountains. It is also in the American South and specifically in the Upper South. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, the Louisiana Purchase, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Brooks Robinson (here, next to this marker); Sidney Moncrief (here, next to this marker); Russ Taff (here, next to this marker); Matthew H. Rothert (here, next to this marker); Marjorie Lawrence
this page online
Also see . . . Forrest L. Wood (Wikipedia).
Excerpt: Forrest Lee Wood (June 9, 1932 January 24, 2020) was the founder of Ranger Boats, and widely acknowledged as the developer of the modern bass boat. He was also the namesake of the Walmart FLW Tour for sportfishing. Born in Flippin, Arkansas, Wood began his outdoors career as a fishing guide on numerous lakes and rivers in Arkansas, while maintaining a construction business and a cattle farm. Wood began to build lake boats in 1968 behind a service station. The business moved to an old nightclub; by 1970, Ranger Boats sold 1,200 units. The boats are considered to be the prototypes of what are now called bass boats. The facility was destroyed by fire in 1971, but Wood salvaged orders from his desk in the building and restarted. That same year, Wood qualified for the first-ever Bassmaster Classic.(Submitted on January 17, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 13, 2024
2. Forrest L. Wood Marker
Looking east from Central Avenue; it is the 2nd from the right of four markers in this photo. The Hot Springs City Visitor Center parking lot is in the background.
Credits. This page was last revised on January 17, 2025. It was originally submitted on January 17, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 127 times since then and 10 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on January 17, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
