The Talimena Scenic Byway travels along the top of Rich Mountain and cuts across a corner of Queen Wilhelmina State Park. It is the only scenic drive located in Mid-America. This fifty-four miles road stretches from Talihina, Oklahoma to Mena, Arkansas. Its name comes from the combination of both towns. There are visitor centers located at the beginning and end of the byway. There are more than two dozen historical sights and overlooks along Talimena Drive. These include the remains of Roy St. John's homestead, Orchard Trail, Earthquake Ridge, Blue Haze Vista, Eagleton Vista, Rich Mountain Fire Tower Queen Wilhelmina Lodge and State Park, the Wonder House, Pioneer Cemetery, Winding Stair Mountain, Kiamichi Mountains, Pioneer Rock Fence, and the Old Military Road.
When the first Queen Wilhelmina Lodge was built there was no road traveling up Rich Mountain. In order for easier passage for guest a road was created. This was the beginning of Talimena Drive. During the 1930s another better road was created due to the work of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). During this period the drive was known as "Skyline Drive" due to the flowers that were planted along the road by the CCC.
The road was later added onto during the sixties. The Arkansas Gazette stated that the theme of the Talimena Scenic Drive was "no billboards, no auto junk yards, no honky-tonks, no big trucks, no high-speed traffic, no man made blight on nature's beauties." It was designated as a National Forest Scenic Byway in 1989 by Forest Service Chief F. Robertson.
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