In a series of Sunday columns, I explored the acceleration of the northwest Arkansas economic boom--efforts by Tyson Foods and Walmart to relocate white-collar employees from across the country to Arkansas; Alice Walton's massive move into the health-care field; Walmart's corporate campus, which is being built at a cost of more than $1 billion; a major expansion of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art; and more.

Any one of these developments would be amazing for a state the size of Arkansas. To have them all happening at the same time almost defies explanation.

Add to the mix the efforts of brothers Steuart and Tom Walton to transform the region into an outdoor recreational paradise.

We know of their plans to make Arkansas the mountain biking capital of America. But it goes far beyond that. For instance, a company associated with the brothers recently purchased Horseshoe Canyon Ranch in Newton County, one of the leading places in the country for rock climbing.

Earlier this year, Steuart Walton spoke about his vision for the region during the Midcontinent Venture Capital Summit in Bentonville. He explained that he and his brother formed Runway Group to invest in real estate, outdoor initiatives and hospitality. The brothers are the sons of Arvest Bank's Jim Walton and grandsons of Walmart founder Sam Walton.

Steuart Walton said he was heavily influenced by urbanist Richard Florida's 2002 book "The Rise........

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