Arkansas’ priciest house is on the market in the same city where Walmart has its headquarters, and agents say it offers a special balance of nature with urban living.
The 58-acre property known as Wildflower Ridge at Sugar Creek in Bentonville was put up for sale last month at $8 million, according to a listing on Homes.com and a release from listing brokerage The Agency. Though the land last traded hands for $533,000 in 2016, a new main house was custom-built on the property in 2021.
That new house is more than 8,000 square feet and contains five bedrooms and four bathrooms. It also includes luxury amenities such as a Lacanche French range, fireplaces, vaulted ceilings and a library.
The rest of the property offers access to a forest, a fruit orchard, an equestrian arena and riding trails.
Development opportunity
More than that, listing agent Calah Andelman said, Wildflower Ridge offers a rare opportunity to own a rural escape while still in proximity to the bustle of Bentonville. The city is home to the headquarters of retail giant Walmart and about 20 minutes from Rogers, Arkansas, where the late Sam Walton opened the first Walmart store on July 2, 1962.
“The layout of the land itself and just the national park life setting is something you cannot get any more so close to the conveniences and the attraction of Bentonville,” she said in an interview. “You’re really right in the middle of it. It’s almost deceiving how close you are to everything.”
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While the property’s listing price sets a new benchmark for the thriving Bentonville area, it’s difficult to compare Wildflower Ridge to other listings because the opportunity it presents to buyers is so unique, according to Andelman. For example, a developer could purchase the property and then sell some of its parcels for a new subdivision.
There’s been a surge in development in the Bentonville area, according to Homes.com. The once-rural alcove is morphing into a bedroom community that offers an escape from the bustle of the neighboring cities.
At the same time, the area has maintained a median single-family home price that is below the national average, offering some affordable options for prospective buyers.
“It’s hard to compare the pricing of the property to the entirety of Bentonville,” Andelman said. “Bentonville is a little utopia, so the pricing of Bentonville is going to stay really, really strong.”
Ultimately, the estate offers its next buyer either a peaceful residence in proximity to city living, or it could be an avenue for a new stream of income, according to Andelman.
“The thing with this property is that it has so many positive features to it that it’s beyond a home with land,” she said.
Kaala House, Jeremy Eastman and Tyler Burns of the Agency Northwest Arkansas are co-listing agents of the property.