Carden Bottoms is situated in the Arkansas River Valley nestled between Petit Jean State Park and Holla Bend National Wildlife Refuge. This once-farming community was named after James Carden who settled the region in the early 19th century. However, the land was inhabited for thousands of years by thriving Native American tribes, who also farmed the area and left behind artifacts from their rich heritage. Today, Carden Bottoms located in Yell County is perhaps most commonly known for the abandoned school that was also left behind.

Yell County is a prominent county in the Arkansas River Valley region with approximately 20,000 residents. It boasts six lakes, three rivers, national forests, a state park, and a wildlife refuge.

Brandonrush, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons So, the county sees lots of outdoor enthusiasts who flock to the region for hiking, fishing, camping, water recreation, and more.

But what many of those visitors don’t know is that Yell County is home to an abandoned school that is shrouded in mystery.

ThisIsArkansas/YouTube The laughter of innocent children once filled the hallways of the Carden Bottoms School. The school was meticulously built between the 1920s and 1930s using the finest masonry stones from the region.

It is said the school was abandoned around the 1970s. Very little is left from the community around the school and if you didn’t know about it, it is easily missed while traveling through the area.

Abandoned Arkansas/Facebook However, it’s evident that the building was structurally sound because after being built almost 100 years ago, abandoned for over 40 years, and after suffering a major fire, the majestic walls of the school are still standing today.

But as you can see from the picture below, the fire destroyed what timeless treasures were left inside the abandoned school building.

Abandoned Arkansas/Facebook

And of course, nature has also crept in and has beautifully lined the walls as well as the surrounding area with its thick foliage.

ThisIsArkansas/YouTube Some locals believe that the buildings are haunted, but no evidence has been presented to support this theory. Regardless, the abandoned school does attract curious visitors from time to time.

And a handful of them has filmed the area. One of whom is a YouTube creator who operates under the name “ThisIsArkansas” and he has shared grim and eerie footage of the remnants of Carden Bottoms School. 

Brandonrush, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

So, the county sees lots of outdoor enthusiasts who flock to the region for hiking, fishing, camping, water recreation, and more.

ThisIsArkansas/YouTube

The laughter of innocent children once filled the hallways of the Carden Bottoms School. The school was meticulously built between the 1920s and 1930s using the finest masonry stones from the region.

Abandoned Arkansas/Facebook

However, it’s evident that the building was structurally sound because after being built almost 100 years ago, abandoned for over 40 years, and after suffering a major fire, the majestic walls of the school are still standing today.

Some locals believe that the buildings are haunted, but no evidence has been presented to support this theory. Regardless, the abandoned school does attract curious visitors from time to time.

And even the strokes of the piano playing in the background will send chills down your spine. Interesting fact: the piano was one of the items that were left behind inside the school. And the YouTube creator’s daughter, who is also seen in the video, was responsible for the eerie background music. The grim video footage that was filmed prior to the fire is worth watching, so do enjoy it!

While it can be fascinating to dive into the past, we urge you to be respectful of the property and not cause any additional damage to it. It’s quite evident that Carden Bottoms’ school was built to surpass the hands of time, but mysterious and unknown forces interfered with the intention.

If you would like to find out more about the abandoned school in Arkansas, visit the Abandoned Arkansas website or Facebook page.  

Have you ever heard of Carden Bottoms School? Would you visit this abandoned school in Arkansas? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below. 

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Address: Carden Bottoms, AR 72823, USA