Visitors have been coming to Eureka Springs for a long, long time. Although this Ozark town is known today for its incredible Victorian architecture, arts, antiques and natural beauty, the original attraction was the water.

Legend has it that the Native American tribes of the area believed that the cold spring water could cure many ailments, and the surrounding land was considered sacred ground. Victorian-age health-seekers deemed the hills full of miracle cures, and flocked to the area by the thousands, creating a stylish retreat amid the grand, green curves of nature.

Eureka Springs has remained sacred ground on several levels. Gurus and merchants alike feel that soul-deep pull toward the rejuvenating springs below the downtown Historic District, and know they've found something special.

In the 1960s, The Great Passion Play and the Christ of the Ozarks statue became a touchstone for Christian visitors; in the same decade, the flower-driven counter-culture spun into town searching for true art and inner peace.

Today, bits and pieces of all sides create the eccentric kaleidoscope of Eureka Springs; it has been called the place where the misfits fit, but actually, it's a colorful, creative village where anyone can fit in, no matter your politics or preference.

Conferences and festivals celebrate the diversity of the area: hot rods, gospel music, UFOs and opera all have a place here.

People are still drawn to the healing power of this small community tucked in the mountains, but relaxation has replaced the miracles found in water. From day spas and Victorian bed and breakfasts to music shows and bumper boats, Eureka Springs has it all.

And even though more than a million people walk along the winding streets each year, the town is still sacred to anyone who has stopped, smiled, and realized that their heart has come home.