Rush, Arkansas

I got a "rush" out of Rush, Arkansas

January 17, 2008
by floracycle

Saturday I decided to take advantage of the unseasonably warm weather and take a ride in the Arkansas Ozarks.  My goal was to travel from Yellville to Blanchard Springs on Highway 14.  Arkansas is really blessed with some great motorcycling roads and Highway 14 is one of those hidden secrets often overlooked because of all the national publicity given to Highway 7.

As any great explorer knows the first order of business is provisions.  By provisions I mean food.  You see I like to eat and you can’t explore on an empty stomach.  To that end I began my afternoon excursion at the Front Porch Café. Located in the quaint little town of (don’t chuckle) Yellville.  Yes, I know, only in Arkansas.

The town got its name not from loud residents but from Arkansas’s second governor, Archibald Yell.  Apparently Mr. Yell offered $50 dollars to the first town named after him.  The townsfolk took his offer seriously changing the name from Shawnee to Yellville.  Unfortunately Mr. Yell never fulfilled his end of the bargain.  Hmmm… could it be that politicians of days gone by weren’t always honest as those today?  Some things never change.  The word is, a few years ago some of his descendants “ceremoniously” paid the $50 debt to clear the Yell name.  To the Yell family, I apologize for my part in proliferating this story.

I opted for the buffet as I was in a hurry and I feel it is my duty to force restaurant owners to question the profitability of such business ventures.  To date I think this has had a stronger effect on my waistline.  Somebody help me. 

After topping off my tank and the bike’s, I headed south on 14.  Just before reaching the Buffalo River I saw a sign which read, Buffalo National River – Rush.  I decided to take a little detour and pay Rush a visit. 

Three miles down I was delighted to see these signs.

Doable on a Harley, better on a dual sport.

First Stop

The sign says it all:

“The Ghost Town of Rush stands as mute testimony to the activities of a bygone era.  Zinc carbonate ore was discovered in this valley in the late 1880’s and the “rush” was on.  Soon the hillsides were dotted with mines sprouting colorful names such as Morning Star, White Eagle, Monte Cristo, Red Cloud, Buelah, MacIntosh, Edith and Yellow Rose.  The population of the valley rose and fell with the demands of the zinc market.  The peak came during the period 1914-1917 when more than 5000 people were said to have lived and worked here.  At the end of World War 1 the bottom fell out of the zinc market and mines were abandoned. These buildings date from the early 1900’s and were inhabited until the 1960’s serving as homes and a general store and post office.

Walking in or near the buildings could be hazardous to you and accelerate their demise.  Please help to preserve these historic structures by viewing them from a distance.”

I’ll bet this was a happening place at one time.  I wonder if they had a buffet.

As I was taking these pictures an old man and his dog passed by in a beat up truck and I couldn’t help but wonder, “did he live here as a child?”  “What kind of memories did this place hold for him?”

The Buffalo National River

Scenes from the movie Deliverance were made on this river.  If a hillbilly had come out of the woods and said, “you sure have a perdy motorcycle,”  I would not have been surprised.  Of course I wouldn’t have tarried either.

While in the Rush area I found this perdy, excuse me, pretty little creek which ran along side the road.

One of a handful of Rush low water bridges.

I enjoyed my short time in Rush.  Enough to see a return trip in my future.  There are many hiking trails and roads I didn’t have time to explore.  Maybe next time but now on to Blanchard Springs.

Daylight was giving away by the time I reached Blanchard Springs but I did manage to explore a little and take a few shots like this one near the camping area.  Just like the Terminator, “I’ll be back.”

Tags: Motorcycle