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I am a brand ambassador for Central Arkansas McDonalds. While I am being compensated for this post all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Remember last August when I posted about the Groundbreaking of the brand new Ronald McDonald House Charities of Arkansas? Well it is finally complete and now it is time for the grand opening!! The official grand opening date is November 16 but I got a sneak peek tour with my fellow Central Arkansas McDonald Ambassadors a couple weekends ago! It was the weekend before Halloween so that explains the costumes…LOL!
We actually went to the current Ronald McDonald House and got to tour that before heading down the street to the new house. There is no comparison between the two. The old house is good but the new house is simply amazing.
When you walk in the front door of the new Ronald McDonald House two things immediately stand out. the first thing is a doggy door for Mac! Mac is the Director of Smiles and is the most precious Goldendoodle you will ever meet. Currently Mac only spends his days at the house but once the new house is complete he will be there 24 hours a day.
The second thing you see when you walk in the door is the Welcome Center. The Welcome Center is a place that families can check in when they get the house. And if they want a more private check in they can use a private room that is located behind the big desk.
There are also a lot of administrative offices in the new house. I didn’t get a photo of any of those rooms but they are important to mention because the old house has zero administrative offices. That’s a big deal!!
There is also a gorgeous chihuly inspired chandelier that was donated by James Hayes. I love these chandeliers, they are gorgeous!!
Walking down the hall away from the Welcome Center you will see a large living room perfect for families who have come in after a long day. Families will be able to relax on the La-Z-Boy furniture, watch TV, and get online at a computer specially designated for this area. La-Z-Boy is a huge sponsor of Ronald McDonald Houses across the nation and so all of the furniture in this new house was either given for free or was deeply discounted.
Across from the living room is an indoor place space for kids to play video games. There is also an area set up with small tables for younger kids to play with toys and read books. I love this room because it’s so bright and inviting!
Going down the hall again brings you to the enormous kitchen/dining area. You can cook enough food for an army here!!
There is also a play are set up just off the kitchen so parents can watch their kids while they cook.
The kitchen also opens up onto a huge outdoor play area. This area is now full of playground equipment but it wasn’t there when I was. You can also access this area from the Tree House. I love the tree house!!!
All of that is on the bottom floor. There also more rooms such as laundry rooms and offices. The top four floors contain rooms for families. Each floor is equipped with it’s own living room and each individual room has it’s own bathroom. Again, this is a big deal because in the old house there were shared bathrooms.
Among the many rooms in the house for families to stay in there are a few that have their own kitchen ares in the rooms for people with medically fragile children who can’t be around other kids while they stay. This is so so so awesome!
On the top floor of the house there is a gigantic media room that has a stage area for kids to perform on and is full of seating that is perfect for movie nights!! You can also see the Beacon of Light from this floor. So cool!!
A local hairdresser also set up a room on the top floor that serves as a hair salon for both patients and families. This hairdresser that set it up raised all the money for it and got other local hairdressers to volunteer their time so that it will always be staffed! How awesome is that?
There is also a huge conference room on the top floor that local businesses can use. It has a fantastic view of the state capital!
And that my friends is the sneak peek of the brand spanking new Ronald McDonald House of Arkansas. I can’t wait for the ribbon cutting next week!!
This is so beautiful. I love that Mc Donald’s continue to build houses to help the families of sick children. I also love the funky chandelier.
That looks so great. I love the work Ronald McDonald house does. When kids are so sick, the last thing parents need to be worried about is money.
That is such a nice place. I think that atmosphere will help take a bit of the edge and worry off of parents who find themselves staying there.
This is amazing and I love all the options that they thought of for families. Having a sick child is a worry enough without having to think about where you are going to sleep and eat.
This place is such a beautiful spot for family. My kids will surely have fun.
I love places like this, family-friendly! I hope that I can bring my family to see this someday.
Wow the Ronald McDonald house looks amazing. I remember when my daughter had surgery several hours from home. There was a Ronald McDonald house there but I didn’t know about it until we were already up there in a hotel.
The house looks super inviting and will be perfect for families who have to stay in the area for an extended period of time while a family member is in the hospital.
This had to be a wonderful experience to see the new Ronald McDonald House in Arkansas. The doggie door is so cute and a great idea along with that beautiful chandelier. The play area off the kitchen is an awesome added addition too. Thanks for sharing the new house. This house will be so welcoming to those with loved one in the hospital and will take at least some stress off those needing it.
I absolutely love this organization and all they stand for! Love the new house!
The new Ronald McDonald house looks great. I especially love that chihuly inspired chandelier
Wow, that’s really awesome. The Ronald McDonald house really helped my sister and her family when my niece was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis.
What a lovely house! I love the interior, so gorgeous! The chihuly inspired chandelier is absolutely amazing!
They did an amazing job on this Ronald McDonald house. It is an amazing resource to have when you need it.
It looks amazing! I love that they will have Mac living there.
That is such a beautiful house! And that kitchen is huge! I would certainly love to visit that house someday.
This place looks incredible! I am so happy there is this charity available – we have used them a while ago back in Montreal when we were hospitalized with our daughter. Families really need this support while at a hospital, and this place looks just phenomenal – thank you for this post – I am impressed with the generosity, and how helpful this place will be for those families who need this!
This definitely a great cause they support. I enjoyed the tour inside.
The Ronald McDonald House Charities continues to amaze me. They are a godsend to so many families. The new house looks amazing! Love the big kitchen and play area.
That is so gorgeous! I’ve always been such a fan of the Ronald McDonald houses, what an amazing gift to families <3 Makes me teary!
Ronald MacDonald houses have helped so many families that I personally know. They really are a life saver for many families. This one looks fantastic and I know will provide a small relief in an extremely stressful time for families.
What a wonderful thing! That’s so great that there are now private restrooms, too! I have never lived anywhere I had to share one, but I always thought it would not be fun to do so. So nice to read about good people doing good!
Oh wow what a lovely looking house, glad for the wonderful work they are doing. Such a great thing for the families and the communities around.
I always donate to the Ronald McDonald House when I can/ It is such a good cause and supports so many families and childrne.
your costume was amaze! I can’t wait to see the new Ronald McDonald house. McDonald’s does so much good in our state and others!
It’s great that this charity is still helping families in need. When I was a little girl in the hospital Ronald McDonald house put my mother and brother up in housing until I recovered enough to go home Its such a great organization.
I would love to visit the new Ronald McDonald house. The chandelier looks so cool!
What an amazing house! I’m sure the families in need will find the house perfect for anything they might need. I really like the Tree House!
Omg how beautiful!!!!! I love how fancy it looks!!!!! Glad all the families in need have a fab place to stay now while their little ones are being taken care of!!
Wow this tuned out amazing looking. I love these things the Ronald McDonald house does for people. Just a great cause.
Wow! Surely it looks amazing and I love that there are so many areas for the kids to do activities in especially the kitchen! It would be awesome to take the kids here!
Wow it’s beautiful I love the opening photo of the kids in costume.
We have been staying at a Ronald McDonald House in Northeastern Tennessee for the past two months while our little one has been in the NICU. My husband goes back home during the week to work. He knows not to worry about me because the ladies look out for all of the families staying at the house. The charity and staff are truly a blessing! We can honestly say that the money they get goes to help the families.
I’m so glad you got the help you needed at a Ronald McDonald House!!! They really are great!!!
That is such a beautiful place for such a sad situation. I think it will make family feel more at home. So great that McDonald organization does something like this
Oh my goodness, that chandelier!!! I want that in my home, how fun. What a wonderful Ronald McDonald house!!