document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Only in Arkansas. The second school was located about two blocks off Main Street on what is now East Center Street, with the finally campus at its present site. The Watermelon Growers Games begin at 3 p.m. with a free watermelon feast at 4 p.m. Only genuine Cave City Watermelons have the registered trademark sticker. Chambers, Schools, Towns, Counties, Groups and Tourism, Auto & Motorcycle Sales, Service, Tires & More, Chambers, Schools, Towns, Counties, Groups & Tourism. Johnson Brothers Watermelons | Cave City AR Besides producing quality melons, Julie said the trademark sticker for registered users that brands the melons has helped bring customers to their stand. . BREAKING: Student arrested for crime involving explosives, Growers prepare for Cave City Watermelon Festival, Trip to Mr. Ts pays off for lucky lottery winner, Jonesboro police investigating 2 reported shootings, Plans for new Sikeston fire station moving forward, Buddhist monks to create mandala sand painting at Lyon College. In the early 1890s, what was apparently the second church established in town was the Methodist Episcopal (or North Methodist) Church. Although Im perfectly content to drive two hours just to buy a $15 watermelon, you may need some convincing. Black Rock Museum Although the museum has no set hours, contact the city to schedule a visit and learn about the history of this small town that sits in the gateway to the Ozarks. Also, be sure to grab a piece of carrot cake if its on the menu. The World's Sweetest Watermelons. Plan your visit to Cave City and make sure to attend their Watermelon Festival in July! Stop in for lunch or dinner and you will know why. She now serves as their co-election coordinator, helping with behind-the-scenes management of voting equipment, day-to-day election deadlines, and poll worker training. CAVE CITY, Ark. County Music Legion Tracy Byrd, will be headlining this years festival on Saturday Night. Updated: Aug. 13, 2020 at 3:19 PM PDT. The best way to see the river is through one of the local outfitters such as 3 Rivers Outfitters or Spring River Camp and Canoe. Thankfully for the organizers of the wildly popular Windy City Smokeout, fans of barbecue and fans of country music are often one in the same. Growers put a registered trademark stick on the watermelons that reads "Genuine Cave City Watermelon". Phillip - 870-307-9632Gary - 870-283-2854. YP advertisers receive higher placement in the default ordering of search results and may appear in sponsored listings on the top, side, or bottom of the search results page. We have very loyal people. For decades, Cave City has been known nationwide for its claim to fame, the sweetest watermelons. Renees Cafe This down-home country restaurant is where you will find the locals hanging out. The watermelon growers work hard all year long to produce the festival watermelons and proudly stand behind every melon they sell. You can even take a short side trip to check out their furniture and appliance store in Glencoe. Between the time Arkansas became a state in 1836 and the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861, a migration of families moved into the area that was later to become Cave City. Flickr/kitchener.lord. Garrett Duncan walking a growers' Cave City Watermelon . The park is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. Filed Under . At. About Arkansas Tourism No one will ever argue that watermelon blood doesn't run deeply in Cave City. And Cave City, Arkansas, has rightfully earned recognition for being the home of the worlds sweetest watermelons. Powhatan Historic State Park Powhatan State Park celebrates the once-thriving community of Powhatan from its heyday as a port on the Black River. Usually the famous watermelons are ready to go by July 4th but this year the crop is a . The memorial is being built near the city hall, under the big welcome sign. Drew was featured in several local and statewide publications over the years, as well as the 1997 cover of the Ozark Gateway Region tabloid, along with her then 4-year-old son, Jon. She helped open a visitor center for the Ozark Gateway, allowing visitors to pick up information from the entire state 24/7. Voters again reject proposed Highland School millage increase, Cave City athlete sets school and state indoor track record, Nashville Songwriter with local roots inks new songwriting contract, Arkansas States new Digital Technology and Design Program offers new emphasis areas, West Plains resident reflects on life-saving heart care received at Ozarks Healthcare. But, in reality, it was a pivotal moment when, for the sake of their marriage, they were forced to realize they had to find a better way to cultivate near the plants. This is unfair to the growers who, like the Johnsons, put hundreds of hours of work into their harvest, not to mention tens of thousands of dollars they have invested in the crops. Our watermelon growers work hard all year long to produce "The World's Sweetest" watermelons! She began working as the Ozark Gateway Region director in June 2000. This three-day event will include entertainment, a 5K run, pancake breakfast, parade, activities for kids and adults, and of course, a free melon feast, courtesy of the registered watermelon growers. Phillip added, We are not just selling a product. Gary laughed at his tenacity, admitting sometimes stubborn streaks arent all good. Our goal is to pick them at the perfect stage before they go into the over ripe stage. The Cave City Watermelon Festival, on which Julie serves with a committee since 2015, will be held at the Cave City Park July 28-30. (Courtesy Joshua Fitzwater) "That was neat,". The couple laughed at the recollection of the memory. 2 talking about this. D & S Rodeo If you love rodeo and music, you will want to head to the D & S Arena. The rich, sandy soil that is exclusive to the area is what gives the melons such asweet flavor. The annual watermelon festival, which draws thousands to the town each year, is scheduled for July 26-28. The festival is Aug. 6-8, and Crystal said it is the biggest event in Sharp County. The cave supplied the drinking water for the local school, as well as serving as a veritable town refrigerator. Many families stored their milk, butter, and other produce in the cool cave to prevent them from spoiling. Our watermelon growers work hard all year long to produce "The World's Sweetest" watermelons! | Privacy Policy This site is paid for with a combination of state funds and private regional association funds. Preferred listings, or those with featured website buttons, indicate YP advertisers who directly provide information about their businesses to help consumers make more informed buying decisions. As soon as the summer sun beams down on the South, families make their way to lakes and rivers to cool off. That leaves us with a whole day to explore, and the roads out of Cave City lead to interesting locations. Every eating event you need to know about, month by month. Circle B Farm Farms 10 YEARS IN BUSINESS (870) 307-0302 403 Brewer Hill Rd Batesville, AR 72501 2. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. You want the stem to be green with a white spot on the belly. Gary added, Some of the spots are also yellow to brown depending on the variety of melon., It hasnt always been easy. Julie Johnson, the committee member of the Watermelon Festival, said she is excited, but nervous as she has seen the increase in COVID cases statewide. If they have banana pudding on the menu, order extra to go! The festival struck Gold, outshining all the other entries in the Best Video Promotion (Budget under $100,000) division. After Drew became director, she took the region to the next level by helping the tourism organization create a new website and moved it from the old newspaper paper tabloid publication to a color magazine format. You have to go back and replant and you get different sizes and the plants are at different phases, Phillip explained. From left, Tyler Parsley, Cederic Etheridge, Jonathan Fowler and Julie Johnson, members of the Cave City Watermelon Festival Committee, stand by some of the melons they will be celebrating July 27-29. Created with Sketch. After Drew became director, she took the region to the next level by helping the tourism organization create a new website and moved it from the old newspaper paper tabloid publication to a color magazine format. Spring River The Spring River is a favorite spot to fish, swim and float. In those days, an average grower planted about 30 acres. She also has served as an Independence County election commissioner for several years. That Spring, Lester taught his sons the ins and outs of watermelon production that he learned from his own father. Their first attempt at utilizing the transplanting technique over seed planting was one of the many trial and error experiences from which the Johnsons have learned. Every one of them died. But as with any type of farming, errors are what leads to improvement. You can buy the melons outside of the city, but supply is limited and there are imposters. Perkey Farms-JW & Wendell Perkey | Cave City AR Growers Cave City Watermelon Festival . They are going to take it home to family, to the river, the lake. Woodies Main Street Cafe This classic American restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner Wednesday through Saturday. The World's Sweetest Watermelons. WEATHERFORD, TEXAS - The north Texas city was once one of the state's biggest watermelon growers (not so much anymore) and once featured an oversized watermelon sculpture outside its courthouse. More than 9 million gallons of water flow from it each hour filling a 10-acre lake and flowing into the Spring River. Cave City Watermelon Festival. When you think of farming in Arkansas, you likely imagine vast soybean, [] when said friend has a full slate of activities planned that go beyond the aforementioned fruit. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. They were sold to brokers, simply by word of mouth, and transported across the nation. Brokers would stop and negotiate deals to purchase loads to sell elsewhere. They proudly stand behind every melon they sell. The preparation is always crazy, especially this time of year, just on a good year, Johnson said. Phillip said before harvesting, they first thump, pat, roll and then finally cut them off the plant. Julie explained You want that melon to sound hollow. After a while when I got done, she grabbed a hold of that hoe and threw it across the field and said, I quit. Other students moved into town and boarded with family, friends, or in boarding houses which were made available to entice more students to the school. Many of the early pioneer family names echo through the area today: Jackson, Horn, Barnett, Brewer, Laman, Gray, Meacham, Wooldridge, Shanks, Rawlings, Green, Witten, Landers, Rodgers, Ball, Crow, Wilson, Fore, Lewis, Aldridge, Montgomery, Johnson, Gilbert, Vance, Vaughn, Stewart, Story, Stout, Matlock, Baxter, Bain, Jones, Chaudoin, Martin, Felts, Burge, Albright and Ford. We did everything wrong we possibly could, Gary said. In the early 1930, Hubert Carpenter purchased the cave properties. This changed the way the Johnsons produced their melons for the first time in history. Held in the Cherry Capital of the WorldTraverse City, Michigan, that isthe National Cherry Festival runs for the entire week of July 1-8, a testament to just how celebrated this stone fruit is among locals and tourists alike (We are thrilled to put cherries on the top of everyones mind, reads the official website). And if you are coming from anywhere in Arkansas, it can be a bit of a haul. Drifters Coffee Co. 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