Arkansas Blarney Stone

The Arkansas Blarney Stone, a 7,000 pound piece of Arkansas sandstone, was given to Hot Springs by Butch Bennett of Bennett Brothers Stone Company after he said he discovered it while wandering on a local mountain before a big out-of-town speech. Butch said he saw a little man who stuck his tongue out and called to him, then, after he leaned against a large rock to catch his breath, he looked up and saw a leprechaun staring at him. According to Butch, the leprechaun said he loved Hot Springs and Arkansas and told him that the stone he was leaning on was a descendent of the original Blarney Stone in Ireland and that kissing it would bring the gift of gab. Butch kissed the stone, gave what he called the best speech of his life, and donated the stone to Hot Springs, where kissing the Arkansas Blarney Stone is said to bring eloquence, or blarney.

Hot Springs, Arkansas · United States