The daughter of an Air Force pilot, Judy Cox was born in Evansville, Ind. but lived in Virginia, New Jersey, Alaska, England and Texas before she made Batesville, Ark. her home in 1999 — when her husband Bob answered the call to become a Presbyterian minister. In no time at all, Arkansas had stolen her heart. “I fell in love with Arkansas’s hills, trees, rivers and lakes,” she said.

At the time of their move to Arkansas, the couple’s two sons, Andrew and David, were 8 and 4, respectively. Judy settled into a full-time job as a certified public accountant and a part-time dance instructor at Batesville Ballet, Bob into his ministry at Batesville’s First Presbyterian Church and Andrew and David into school.

“Our sons, now 21 and 17, have received and continue to receive an outstanding education here in Arkansas,” she said. “Andrew is a student at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville; David will graduate from Batesville High School in 2013. I’ve lived in many places, and I am so very happy with our choice to raise our boys here. We continue to delight and soak in the beauty of this state and love the many cultural, educational, business and entertainment opportunities it offers,” not the least of which is the couple’s Loco Ropes, an all-ages zip line adventure park they opened in nearby Mountain View in 2010.

“As a mother, I envisioned Loco Ropes to be an opportunity to develop active lifestyles, provide a unique family adventure and an educational tour of our forest treetops. I welcome all to Loco Ropes for what is an unforgettable journey, with Tarzan swings, zip lines, suspended bridges, smiles, laughter and time spent with family and friends.”

Learn more about Loco Ropes here.

Local Flavor
Some of Cox’s favorites

Where to eat:
Mountain View: Woods Pharmacy - Try the Reuben sandwiches and milkshakes.

What to do:
Mountain View: Loco Ropes!

Bean Fest —October:
Don’t miss the championship outhouse races!

Batesville: Batesville Ballet

Scottish Festival at Lyon College — April:
Bagpipes, dancing, displays and exhibitions