01 Jun 2025 501 landmark celebrates 20-year legacy
2025 marks the 20th anniversary of the Winthrop Rockefeller Institute, a milestone that invites both celebration and reflection. In just two decades, the Institute has become the singular venue for collaborative problem solving in Arkansas. It stands not only as a tribute to the legacy of former Arkansas Governor Winthrop Rockefeller but also as a thriving nonprofit organization dedicated to the power of ideas, dialogue and civic service.
The Institute was founded in 2005 on Winthrop Rockefeller’s former homestead atop Petit Jean Mountain. During the 20 years he lived there, Rockefeller hosted more than 200 meetings with leaders, thinkers, and scholars to address Arkansas’s toughest challenges.
Those convenings gave our state its first glimpse of what we call The Rockefeller Ethic, the belief that collaborative problem solving, respectful dialogue, and diversity of opinion combine to create transformational change. The Institute continues the Ethic by convening groups that reflect Rockefeller’s collaborative spirit.
Through expert facilitation, custom-designed convenings, original programming, and professional development workshops, the Institute provides a unique, pastoral setting where individuals and organizations can reflect, connect and plan for what’s next.
Conference Services
Our campus is purpose-built to encourage connection and creativity. Whether you’re a small business, nonprofit team, educator, policymaker, or corporate group, this is a space to step back and focus forward.
The Institute offers more than 17,000 square feet of flexible meeting space across six conference rooms, chef-prepared meals, and comfortable overnight lodging — all included in a single conference fee. That means there’s no need to choose between high-speed Wi-Fi and on-site IT support, as it’s all part of the experience. Our team ensures every detail is handled so your group can focus on what matters most.
Facilitation Services
Is your team on the verge of something big but needs a guiding hand to get there? Do you see great potential, but feel stuck in the decision-making process? That’s where our Facilitation Services team steps in.
Whether you want to incorporate tried-and-true techniques or create something entirely new, our expert facilitators can help navigate complex challenges, find clarity, and move from planning to implementation. You and your team are the most important components of the facilitation process, and we look forward to helping you realize your goals at every step.
Workshops
We offer six professional development workshops that deliver practical, hands-on learning in leadership, communication and team dynamics. These are not sit-and-listen lectures, but highly interactive sessions led by experienced staff specializing in group dynamics and adult learning. Whether you’re identifying your leadership style or working through a team challenge, you’ll walk away with tools you can use immediately in your organization and community.
For more details on our services, guest amenities, rates, meal plans, or retreat options, visit rockefellerinstitute.org.
