The Sassafras Inn is what we like to call our hidden gem in the foothills of the Ouachita Mountains. We bring a little bit of Louisiana charm and hospitality to Mena and our visitors.
About Our Mena, Arkansas Inn
The Inn
Welcome to The Sassafras Inn! We are Darren and Jillian O’Bannon, your hosts and innkeepers.
Darren hails from the historic, festival-filled streets of Natchitoches, Louisiana, and Jillian is a proud native of Springdale, Arkansas. Our journey to innkeeping began in December 2021 under the twinkling lights of the Natchitoches Christmas Festival. Standing among the holiday cheer, we realized we were ready for a new adventure and a total change of scenery.
As fate would have it, that adventure brought us right here to Mena. For years, this beautiful town was simply our favorite halfway point—the trusty spot where we always pulled over for a quick stretch and a bathroom break while traveling between Louisiana and Arkansas. But when we spotted this historic inn for sale online, that familiar pitstop suddenly felt like destiny or Devine intervention.
We fell in love with the property, took the leap, and officially took ownership in January 2022. Today, we are thrilled to open our doors and share our little slice of Ouachita Mountain paradise with you, turning a place we used to just pass through into a home where you can truly sit back and stay awhile…and feel like your home away from home.
Your Home Away From Home
We want all of our guests to feel like they’re staying in their home away from home. To date, we have hosted visitors from every US state as well as guests from 70 countries and counting. Actors, authors, conservationists, and bands have all made us a part of their travels and journeys.
