News

Heber Springs, January 23, 2015:  An historic Heber Springs landmark is changing.  After almost 70 years in at their current location Red River Dodge is preparing to move to their new facilities.  Built in the 1940’s, the original building is one of the oldest in town and the oldest operating car dealership in the state.  The new facility will be one of the most modern car dealerships in the area with 23 service bays overlooking the beautiful scenery of Heber Springs and Greers Ferry Lake.  The new address is 1060 Heber Springs Road.  Located on a mountaintop along Arkansas Highway 16 entering the city, Red River Dodge will greet visitors to city with over 800 vehicles lined up along over 1200 feet of highway frontage.

The new facilities come at the same time the owners are celebrating 10 years in business.  Mitch Ward and his wife Jessica along with Denny and Marsha Ward, Mitch’s parents, purchased the dealership in 2005 when Mitch was only 25 years old.  The dealership opened for business for the first time in 1948, owned by L.S. Kelly.  About a year later Kelly’s son in law Ritchie Lee came to work and eventually owned the dealership until it was sold to Larry Bradford in 1980.  Bradford stayed with the dealership until his passing last year and his wife, Linda, still works there today.

In the 10 years of ownership Red River Dodge has posted impressive sales totals making them the number one Ram dealer in the state of Arkansas the last seven consecutive years.  Heber Springs has embraced the Ward family with open arms.  As the dealership has experienced very quick growth their current facilities did not provide enough space for such a high volume dealership so vehicles have been parked and stored all over town.  Residents have grown accustomed to seeing a row of new Ram trucks parked at flooring stores, vacant lots, and other places where one would not expect to see new vehicles on display.

Red River Dodge will celebrate the 10 year anniversary with an event that is open to the public on Saturday February 7th.  Everyone is invited to tour the new facility and enjoy food and refreshments.  The cast of the hit TV show Swamp People will be on hand for autographs and pictures.  Red River Dodge will also be giving away prizes.  The dealership will open at 9 am on Saturday February 7th and the celebration will begin around 10 am and last until each customer is served.