The Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System (CAVHS) will break ground on a new permanent veterans clinic in Mountain Home on Friday, Oct. 2, at 11 a.m. The clinic will be located on West End Way, part of the West End development off Highway 62 West. CAVHS announced the ceremony earlier this week.
The new facility comes more than a year after local veterans filled a Baxter County courtroom in March 2025 advocating for a permanent Veterans Affairs (VA) clinic in the region. At that meeting, frustrations overflowed as veterans voiced concerns over the current contract-based Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) at Twin Lakes Plaza on Highway 62 East, citing issues with space, staffing, and wait times.
“This area needs a permanent VA facility, not a contract,” one veteran said during the 2025 town hall at the Baxter County Courthouse. Michael Moore, medical center director for CAVHS, acknowledged the community's concerns at the time but said the process would take time due to federal leasing and construction procedures.
The planned clinic in the West End development will offer expanded services for veterans in the Twin Lakes area, providing advanced clinical care that was not previously available in the region. The new building will also significantly increase space for both patients and staff, addressing many of the complaints about the existing facility.
The development of the clinic began to take shape in July, when the Mountain Home City Council approved the rezoning of Lot 2D in the West End Phase I subdivision. The property, owned by Gregory and Magness Properties LLC, was rezoned from Commercial C-2 to Commercial C-2(C) with an emergency clause added to expedite the process and allow construction to begin without delay. The council’s unanimous vote ensured the sale of the land to the VA could proceed.
Attorney Ted Sanders, representing the property owner, told the city council that the move to a permanent clinic was specifically intended to better serve veterans. Planning Director Arnold Knox added that the facility would cover “30 or 40 rooms” and noted that the C-2(C) commercial designation would allow for future expansion without requiring additional rezoning approvals. The rezoning decision followed a recommendation from the city’s Planning Commission, which held a public hearing with no formal objections recorded.
The West End development also houses a Harps grocery store, banks, and other establishments. A car wash is currently under construction nearby as well.
CAVHS has not yet announced a construction timeline or the anticipated opening of the new clinic. Parking for the groundbreaking ceremony will be clearly marked for attendees.
The new Mountain Home clinic is expected to be a significant addition to the community, providing vital healthcare services to area veterans and addressing longstanding calls for a modern, permanent VA facility in the Twin Lakes region.