The Mary Margaret in Eureka Springs, Arkansas
If you’re a regular visitor to this site, you might know that I LOVE visiting Eureka Springs, Arkansas. It’s only about an hour away from me but feels like it’s worlds away. Downtown Eureka Springs lodging is so much fun – it’s mostly either Victorian-era homes or historic hotels built in the early 1900s. When I started my search for a Eureka Springs Airbnb I came across one called the Mary Margaret guest house, which totally delighted me because that’s my mom’s name! And then by total coincidence, I was chatting with the PR manager for the Crescent Hotel and she said, “You should check out my coworker’s place, it’s called the Mary Margaret.” Seems like I was meant to stay here!
One of the biggest selling points of the Mary Margaret is that it’s within walking distance of downtown! A two-minute walk downhill will bring you to The Grand Central Hotel & Spa and Eureka Live on Main Street, while about four minutes along a side street and down several flights of stairs will bring you to public parking area between the Eureka Springs Coffee House and Mud Street Cafe. (Can you tell coffee is my priority?) Both trips are a little longer coming back uphill – I’m in decent shape but there’s a reason Eureka Springs is known as “The Alps of the Ozarks”!
You also get A PARKING SPACE!
Eureka Springs is one of those towns where finding parking can be a challenge and pretty much all of the public parking downtown is paid. Even some of the most popular Eureka Springs historic hotels have parking that’s either a bit of a walk from the building or that you take a shuttle to and from. Being able to park for free just a few steps from the room and just leave my car there for most of my stay was SO NICE! If you’re visiting during a special event or on a weekend during the busier months (pretty much everything except winter), I highly suggest finding a place like this that includes a good parking spot!
The outdoor areas are the second best part of the Mary Margaret.
The Fox Den and the Guest Suite each have an outdoor space but if you go down the stairs, you’ll find a fun little outdoor area with a great woods view, pictured above. It also has swings! And you know I tested them out.
I stayed in The Fox Den which is a separate building from the main house – they think was originally a carriage house. It’s a cozy studio-style room with everything you need for a comfortable stay.
It rained for an entire day when I was in town, so I really appreciated that the little walkway between the main house and Fox Den is covered!
Entrance to the Fox Den
Personally, I *love* having a door code instead of a key when I’m staying in a vacation rental. I worked front desk in hotels for almost a decade, and people coming down to request a new key because they left theirs in the room was probably in the top 3 things that kept us busy. Locking yourself out of your room when you’re in a hotel with a 24-hour front desk is one thing, but I’m always SO paranoid that I’ll lose or forget the key when I’m staying at an Airbnb or VRBO!
The Fox Den’s loft is perfect if you have a child big enough to climb up and down the ladder but small enough to be comfortable with the lower ceiling and small mattress.
While being from the late 1800s is definitely part of this property’s charm, it does mean the Fox Den is not soundproof. There’s very little traffic on the street outside, but if a motorcycle or a loud truck goes by, you hear it. You also hear the rain and the birds, which is really nice, especially if you’re falling asleep on a rainy night. But you also hear the screen doors of the main house and anyone who might be outside. If you’re a light sleeper, you might want earplugs or a headband with built-in headphones designed for sleep like this one that I use, but if you’re a heavier sleeper or used to more sounds than I am, you’re probably fine.
Having a microwave, Keurig, and mini-fridge is obviously super convenient but I loved that there were also thoughtful little extras like a little selection of books, a bottle opener, and a snack box perfect for those late-night cravings!
Some of the dresser drawers had little extras like binoculars and a board game. There are also plenty of electric outlets, including USB outlets built into the lights over the bed for easy charging. The only thing I missed having was a bedside table.
A few of the fun decor details inside the Fox Den:
View this post on Instagram
And a very quick video tour of the room!
View this post on Instagram
The Fox Den has its own little balcony with a nice woods view:
I also had the opportunity to peek into The Guest Suite at the Mary Margaret. It’s a bit smaller than the Fox Den, but the bathroom is larger and it has a closet!
Overall, the Mary Margaret is a great choice if you are looking for a vacation rental close to downtown Eureka Springs. Being able to walk to town and have an assigned parking spot felt almost priceless, and having peaceful outdoor areas to hang out in was a huge bonus!
You can find the Mary Margaret Eureka Springs guest house on Instagram or check prices and availability on VRBO for the Fox Den and Guest Suite! Feel free to drop any questions in the comments and I’ll do my best to answer.