About Us

We are Darren and Jillian O'Bannon and we are the owners of The Sassafras Inn. We have been married for 15 years. Darren is originally from the historic town of Natchitoches, Louisiana and Jillian is from Springdale, Arkansas. In January of 2022 we decided to take a leap of faith and move to Mena - a small town that we have always loved. We are very excited to open our home to you where you enter as guests and leave as friends, and hopefully family. We love to entertain and host.

We have four fur-babies that consist of two Ragdoll cats (Buddy & Dottie), one Standard Poodle (Piper), and one rescue Miniature Schnauzer (Abigail). Don't worry - they are hypoallergenic and have their own private space if guests prefer not to interact with them. But if you wish to interact with them, they are very gentle and loving.

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The Sassafras Inn, Mena, Arkansas | Heart of the Ouachita Mountains and Gateway to the Talimena Scenic Drive

A secret gem from the owner:
You will want to make time to visit The Depot. This serves as a museum with much of the area's local history inside. It is reminiscent of 'days gone by', you can almost hear the conductor shouting "All Aboard". There is also a room showcasing Lum n' Abner memorabilia and another area showcasing the Ouachita series. It also boasts a completely restored 1939 Dodge police car.

Make The Sassafras Inn your comfortable place to relax and unwind after exploring the beautiful Ouachita Mountains, hiking numerous Ouachita Trails, kayaking the Caddo and Ouachita Rivers, taking in the breathtaking views along the Talimena Scenic Drive, exploring over 25 miles of ATV trails, riding your motorcycle along one of the top rated routes in the country, visiting Queen Wilhelmina State Park, or dining and shopping in Historic Downtown Mena.