Hi. It’s Beth. Thanks for visiting, let’s chat.
Right now, our world is upside down, topsy turvy, charged, tumultuous and down right uncertain. Feel like you’ve lost control? Me too. Want to do something to feel like you’re making a positive difference in someone's life? Me too.
I reached out to my buddy Justin Bates with the River Valley Regional Food Bank to see how we can help. Every year, Belle Starr Antiques hosts a food drive for them during the month of September for Hunger Action Month. This year is no different. Except for the fact that we plan on keeping this going for longer than 30 days. Belle Starr Antiques will now be a drop off site for donations during the remainder of this pandemic.
While there is always a global war against hunger, it's only heightened during the Covid pandemic. In the River Valley alone, 65,000 residents suffer from food insecurity. The demand has already increased by 50 percent, leaving the RVRFB on pace to distribute more than 15 million pounds of food to the public this year.
This vintage Piggly Wiggly cart now has a permanent home in our lobby, right as you enter, easy to bring a couple cans with you to drop off as you come to shop. I got us started off right adding extra to my latest online grocery order. Here’s a closer look at list of their 40 In-Need Items, take note and see what you’ve already got in your pantry.
Don’t feel like bringing cans in with you? Donate your spare change! We’ll have a jar for monetary donations as well. For every dollar the RVRFB receives, it feeds six. One dollar. Feeds. Six. People. Let that sink in.
There’s lots of other ways to get involved, take action, and help! They need it more than ever. Head over to their website to see how to set up monthly donations, read up on this amazing organization that our community is blessed to have thanks to the hard work, ingenuity, and dedication of their staff and volunteers.
It’s our turn to reward them. Be the blessing, be the gift. In turn, give yourself the gift of comfort that, despite our current climate when everything feels the worst, you helped do a little thing to make a big problem better.
So, let's fill this cart! Again and again!!!!!
Volunteer. Engage. Advocate. Donate.
479-785-0582
]]>Read on for a pointless musing on to why *I* thrift! And what joy it brings to me,
]]>I was late in the game of Potter fandom only picking the series up about six years ago. It was never a series I thought I’d take to, never watched the movies, it just somehow missed me.
But when special people come into your life at just the right time and share the journey of the books with you, it (and they) hold special memories and comfort. Note my shirt from an old friend, 'I'd Rather Be Reading Harry Potter'. I still treasure that gift. And his influence and encouragement for absorbing this series.
These books taught me. They have been my company. The characters became friends, helping me get through some very dark times. After reading the complete series, I passed them along to a cherished comrade who was, at the time, going through her own battle with breast cancer. Hermione, her favorite, helped lead the charge and helped her WIN.
My very best friend Veronica of 28 years had not read them either. After a tearful soapbox explanation of what these books meant to me, she read them. She loved them. And on a particular day on the Kings River a few years ago, we were knee deep in a heart to heart discussion on life's next step, a deer appeared from the forest's edge and just stood there watching us. Yeah, we both cried. Hashtag patronus realness.
Fast forward to January of 2020, I’m so thankful we splurged and took the opportunity to treat ourselves to Potter World. We originally went to Orlando for a health retreat, but hey, if I’m that close, you bet your golden snitch I’m going. It blew my mind. It was absolute magic, the fullest escape to a Hogwarts experience.
Looking back through the photos from that day gives me crazy anxiety because just look at those crowds, no masks! Who knew!? How the world has changed in just seven short months. And at this stage, it changes in mere days. I am very thankful we splurged on the trip and got that vestie time together in a pre-Covid world.
Since I mentioned Covid, might as well confess I haven’t been able to pick up a book since March. The last book I finished was Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugendies (which was FANTASTIC and highly recommend) but I can’t even finish the next book on our list. I've tried. I even had to bow out of my beloved Book Clerb because I was holding them back due to having to focus on our Covid crisis business implosion.
And still, even with getting a handle on Covid in business, (I mean sort of, do ANY of us really have a handle on anything?) I still can’t read. It doesn’t hold my attention, just sentences over and over. Instead, I’ve had to watch videos or frankly just stare at the wall. I have no brain space left by the end of the day. Every day.
My friend RayRay, founder of said Book Clerb, suggested going back to something familiar, revisiting old books I know and love. Genius! That’s her. Typical Ravenclaw.
I have wanted the illustrated copies so badly but have not pulled the trigger due to tighter purse strings. Already having my own married set of worn used paperbacks, I haven’t splurged. But the very next day this illustrated version comes in the shop for only $12, you better believe I snatched and grabbed. Little did she know how much it’d be making my day when Hello Vintage restocked and slipped this one past me.
Happiness can be found in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to keep their eyes peeled at Belle Starr and snags what it is meant to be theirs.
Wands up for our former lives, friends. We are all collectively grieving a world we have lost. No matter what you can do, can’t do, conjure up, or space out, allow yourselves a little extra grace. “What’s comin will come. An’ we’ll meet it when it does.” - Hagrid
I know this blog is relatively pointless except bragging rights for scoring awesome thrifted deals at Belle Starr, but right now, we do whatever we need to to bring us joy, seeking our peace. And today, for me, it comes in this form. So, if you've made it this long, thanks for reading. And whatever it is you're dealing with today, I'm proud of you.
Now, don’t mind me, I’ll be quietly slipping away to visit with my old friends, surrounding myself with love, friendship, honor, challenges and being prepared for whatever may come. Always.
Waaaaay back when, what feels like a million years ago, in February 2020, my husband and I made a Sunday trip to Clarksville to some of the area antique shops to promote our Spring Fling event that was to go down April 27, 2020. Clearly, by now, we all know that the event celebrating our ten year anniversary in business was cancelled due to Covid19.
But! Before everything collapsed, that was the purpose for our day trip and I love day trips with the hubs, especially when we go junkin’ together! This was a really fun day.
We stopped by Antiques Plus, a darling little shop tucked away on Main Street in downtown Clarksville and that’s where I found the subject of this blog. After ten years in business and being a junker for life, my eyes are well trained for the hunt. I dart around and that’s when my eyes fell upon….
This.
My heart immediately skipped a beat spying a McCoy jardiniere in one of my favorite patterns, the quilted leaf. Simultaneously, my thoughts exploded WHO IN THEIR RIGHT MIND WOULD HAVE PAINTED IT HOLLY JOLLY CHRISTMAS COLORS at some point over the years?!?! In shock, I pointed it out to Aaron and walked away, shaking my head.
As I kept shopping throughout the store, it just kept talking to me.
I just absolutely couldn’t let this be its last life. I had to save it.
After carrying it up to the front counter, and much discussion on how to safely remove the paint without damaging the original delicate glaze, the worker gave me HALF OFF the 50% off price. So I walked away with this “could be” beauty for just $12! MAJOR SCORE!
By now, you guys all know I am a major McCoy collector. I have the “green gang” in my bedroom, a healthy number of bamboo, turquoise, yellows, and whites, totalling around ummm…. Let’s not go there. But let's just say we’re over 50 pieces in my collection. Here's just a few peeps of some of my pretties. Trust, it's scattered around every corner of my home.
Here’s what a normal quilted leaf jardiniere would look like, in turquoise glaze. (Back off, this one is also from my personal collection.)
Clearly, I saw the potential. I knew I had a lot of work ahead of me to restore this, so let the journey begin.
In hopes the holly jolly paint was water based, and easiest solution, my first attempt was several overnight soaks to remove. No dice. Nada. After much scrubbing, nothing budged.
Okay, let’s move on. Then someone recommended brake fluid, that’ll take the paint off anything. Sweet! Tried it. Much scrubbing. Nothing. Let’s move on.
Then Covid hit and our world shut down.
Everyone has been posting all the projects they’ve gotten to during this time of quarantine. Redecorating and reorganizing! Creating! Progress!
For me, it’s been the exact opposite. Shifting to in-store closure, zero staff, working minimum 10 hour days, seven days a week. All projects for personal enjoyment, tabled. My focus has been strictly on nothing else except trying to keep my life's work alive. This is not me complaining, this is me staying alive. I’m not special. Ask any small business owner, anyone for that matter, you’re here with me. It’s all relative.
In the past nine weeks, I have taken a total of five days “off”. But today, today was one of those days where I removed myself from everything. This crisis is affecting all of us, none more important than another. Again, it's all relative. As humans, brothers and sisters, we are all in this together. It has been a journey. And a journey with, right now, no clear end in sight.
From the depths of despair to flashes of normalcy, there is no true balance.
Today was a day where I needed to unplug, disconnect, and do something that brought ME joy.
And there sat the holly jolly jardiniere . . . staring at me.
Today, I was determined.
Last attempt and the one that actually worked, finally, ACETONE is the answer!!
Bought a bottle of Goof Off and quickly discovered that it's basically nail polish remover, and the tedious journey began of removing the gold, greens, and reds commenced. After several, several hours of scrubbing with towels and steel wool, (I definitely gained Popeye arms and cracked skin/nails) LOOK.
Just look at this beauty. Yeah, she’s chipped. Yeah, she’s still showing signs of the red, green and gold. But I scrubbed and scrubbed my troubles away and now, she’s perfect. She's perfect to me.
I am drawn to items that are flawed. Vintage condition has never deterred me, it brightens me. It comes with a story, a life previously lived. I love to honor that and add to its story and this beauty will reign in my collection amid a myriad of reminders of our current climate and condition.
In the writings of Louisa May Alcott, Jo March said it best, “ We are all hopelessly flawed”. Let us find beauty in our flaws. Let us see that, see one another. And love one another despite the differences, despite the flaws.
Always look for beauty, it's all around us. Even if it's covered under layers of hideous red, green and gold, paint.
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Well, here we are.
The purpose of this blog isn’t to take a trip down Belle’s memory lane, there will be plenty of time for reflection throughout the year. But! Ten years of building community, relationships, earning your repeat business, and establishing the Belle Starr vintage brand deserves to be celebrated in a big way. We couldn't have not only survived, but thrived all these years without our vendors providing the absolute best in our vintage community.
So, head’s up to the vintage dealers and junkers out there, all you local makers and artisans!! Applications are up on the website for our upcoming Spring Fling : An Outdoor Vintage Show. The Spring Fling is the perfect way to simultaneously celebrate our ten year businessversary and the coming vintage spring season. This is sure to be our biggest show yet.The date is set for Saturday, April 25th, 2020, and we are already confirming vendor spots; both repeat and first timers! Only fifty vendor booths are available outside, so do not delay in submitting your application. What do we want to see? Bring us your vintage best! Your rusty crusty salvage finds, your outdoor chippy goodness! Your one of a kind artisan wares, your...you get the idea. Sound like a good deal? It is!
I even dream of having an entire booth just of plants. Someone out there, make that happen. By April we’ll all be thinking Spring, ready to get our hands in the dirt.
Our little vintage show is one of a kind. Not only do shoppers and enthusiasts get to enjoy our outdoor vendor village, but get double the pleasure of also shopping our 80+ vintage vendors in store. All while enjoying free admission, live music, food trucks, even have a cold one if you feel so inclined. We’re all about providing you a relaxed, family-friendly experience, and the best curated selection of vintage and artisan goods around.
Our calendar year is already filling up with other collaborations and fun stuff that we can’t wait to announce on down the road. Having said that, The Spring Fling: An Outdoor Vintage Show may very well be the only outdoor event for the year. The verdict is still out on whether or not we’ll be able to tackle hosting a Fall Fling in September of 2020. All the more reason to go! Make haste and apply today. Don’t miss out on the vintage garden party of the decade!
Want to apply as a vendor? Sure you do!! Click Here!
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My current vintage addiction. What's yours?
]]>Lately, I have tried so hard to be good. Believe it or not, my home is very minimalist and I surround myself with only items that are functional and aesthetically pleasing, preferring clean lines and open space. I don’t really consider myself a collector, more of a curator of current whim. I don’t like multiples of stuff, I don’t like dusting, I don’t like knick knacks. For me personally, clutter equals noise and I prefer quiet.
You can imagine with my line of work, (and clear personal affection for vintage), the temptation is there on the daily. I am famous for swap outs. Items that I buy at the shop usually end up back there if I go on a new tangent of style. I legit recently sold everything in my living room just so I could start over. That’s been my rule - one new item in, one old item out. It really worked pretty well for me lately . . . until McCoy happened.
If you’re a collector of any sort, you get it. For whatever reason you’re drawn to something, be it an era of style, history, or nostalgic connection. To borrow Marie Kondo’s famous line, “it sparks joy”. You get it. I’m already a great lover of plants (my home currently has 50+ plant babies scattered throughout and that collection is growing) so I assume that’s the reason I began to zero in on McCoy planters.
I keep telling myself I’m limiting myself to only the planters, as they are growing rapidly in number. I made the dangerous mistake of looking on Etsy the other day. That’s when I knew I’d crossed a line. I prefer to find items “in the wild” so seeking them out specifically is dangerous. I recently found four in one day at an antique shop in Russellville. The junking gods were smiling on me!
Let’s just say I’ve had McCoy on the brain. Following fellow collectors on Instagram doesn’t help. Scrolling among fellow enthusiasts only fuels the fire, looking at you, larrye.sparks. His knowledge and collection is out of control in the best way ever.
McCoy Pottery produced a variety of items beginning in 1910, operating until the 1980’s. You can find everything from ashtrays to vases, wall pockets to lamps. They even produced dog bowls! I’m drawn to the simplistic patterns and soothing colors, choosing to limit my collection to only the pastels.
I found this aqua quilted leaf jardiniere at Belle Starr for only $23!!! How could I not? Now if only I can find the pedestal. Until then, this pencil cactus is mighty happy.
The lines to my collection are already blurring. Wasn’t I just going to stick to just the pastels? Then the 1970’s bamboo happened. In multiples. I mean, my dining room is Mid Century with a bohemian twist so they just worked perfectly.
So why do we collect? According to Invaluable.com, folks collect for a variety of reasons. A soothing hobby. The challenge and reward of finding rare, unique items. Simply creating a decorative space for their home. Whatever your reason is, whatever items you collect, there’s a collective (see what I did there) reason us kind of people exist. I’m happy to serve you, whatever your vintage collection is. Because we’re all in this together. And I mean hey, there are worse things to be addicted to.
I first met Rosie through my Momma Jane. My Mom made the decision to move to Fort Smith in August of 2017 with my Dad who was in ailing health and we subsequently lost in November of 2017. At first I was nervous that Mom would regret moving to a new town and then soon becoming widowed. I’m glad to say I was very wrong. I am blown away by her support system of the local “Betty's” rallying around in a widows’ club of sorts. Whether they’re playing water volleyball, going to concerts, pot lucking for card night, or line dancing, you want to be friends with these people. They never stop. My mom’s been on four cruises already this year. It’s not even June.
Rosie was a name I’d often heard as one of her truest friends that helped my Mom feel more at home in her new community. After meeting Rosie, I learned all the stories were true. This was a woman who had been there, done that, and had a built her own family and had done so with the unintentional intention of making others feel happy, included and loved.
Rosie first moved to Fort Smith in the 1960’s with her husband, Bill, and working as a waitress at various restaurants for the better part of twenty years. She's also very involved with local groups, weekly meetings, and has been for 40 plus years. So many in the community know and LOVE her. What’s not to love? Her wit, humor, heart, and approach to life are infectious.
Her friend of 20 plus years, Tracy Hamilton, has this to say about her.
“I'm sure we met at a yard sale because that is one of the things Rosie loves best. She loves a good bargain and is not afraid to haggle to get a better price. Rosie never meets a stranger and knows practically everyone in Fort Smith and can recall stories on each of them. I know Rosie probably made really good tips since she is so friendly and pleasant to talk to. Rosie is always in a good mood and hugs my neck when I see her and leaves me with I love you at the end of the visit. As for life lessons, Rosie says to never look back and look forward to each new day. She treats everyone the same - like a dear friend - and I am trying to learn that technique. Even when her husband, Bill, passed away - Rosie bounced back and continued to live her life. She does give in to occasional indulgences that she knows Bill would frown on, but she says Bill would want her to be happy. That is probably the best word I can use to describe Rosie Johnson - happy to be alive, happy to be my friend and happy to get to the next yard sale.”
Back in August of 2018, Rosie shared with my Mom she had never been on a cruise but had always dreamed of it. So they plan a cruise to the Caribbean. Rosie was the star of the ship, front and center for the Elton John impersonator and led the musical show every night. Temporary tattoos, wigs, and all, she truly is always the life of the party. She sincerely enjoys and invests in every moment.
After that cruise, Mom started hatching a plan to check off another of her bucket list goals. Rosie wanted to go skydiving. “If George Bush can do it at 89, why can’t I?” Preach, girl. Yes.
My Mom, knowing my husband, Aaron, had jumped before, put him in charge of organizing an epic jump trip via SkyDive Fayetteville for Rosie with all her swim friends chipping in to make it happen. By this point, Rosie and I were buds. After all, she never meets a stranger.
I was proud to have my husband escorting these girls. Here he is, with the fearless Rosie and an equally brave and beautiful Sharon, friend of Rosie’s who also jumped for her bucket list.
What’s most beautiful about this entire lesson and experience is how we can, despite age or limitations, live boldly. Yes, these are widows. Yes, they are “elderly”. But do they break mold for daily personal happiness and comradery? ABSOLUTELY. They rally. They live by example. They DO. And together, there’s incredible strength and inspiration in number.
Friendships made that are now family are a beautiful thing. I’m in awe of my Mother redefining herself. Despite recent loss, she has built a family of support here outside of blood. Despite having lost her husband five years ago and being a sprig of 86 years, Rosie is taking the bull by the horns and is geared up to embrace the day, whatever it may hold. This day just happened to hold jumping out of a plane at 10,200 feet.
The entire day and all those gathered in support was very impactful. Thanks to a secret phone call to Ch 5 News (I was told it was from her friend Mary, a viewer of 40+ years who threatened to never watch the station again if they didn’t feature Rosie’s story) Julianna Clipson 5NEWS was there waiting for us, mic in hand, ready for an unexpected adventure. By the end of the day, Rosie had both she and her cameraman wrapped around her finger, laughing, claiming adoption. She got to be Queen for a Day. She deserves to be celebrated.
In a trickle effect, one person can influence so many and this is a perfect example. Rosie teaches by DOING, not just by talking. Even though she does plenty of that (her one liners are epic!) the general consensus is, “I want to be just like Rosie when I grow up".
I wasn’t able to jump this time, but after seeing her absolute joy, fearlessness and freedom of experience, and hearing her now future plans for a 90th birthday jump, I’m going out of that plane with her. Or heck, why wait until then? When Rosie says jump, we’ll go. Why waste today.
In her words, “I thank God every morning when I rise, I thank God every night when I retire.”
Make the most of today no matter your constraints. Take a cue from Rosie. There’s nothing standing in our way. Except ourselves.
The first annual outdoor Pop Up vintage show was an overwhelming success. Our Spring Fling attracted a great mix of vintage dealers, local artisans and makers from across the state. The customer response was overwhelmingly positive and feedback was fantastic - so much so, we’re already planning the Fall show. ( We’ll get to that in a minute).
After nine years in business, I was ready to take on a new challenge. Two years ago we purchased this old factory, did a full renovation, and turned it in to our now beautiful, forever home. The most attractive part of this property was the city block it sat on, half of it an empty, blank slate. The wheels churned immediately for outdoor events with the end goal of one day hosting a vintage show. It took some time to hit our stride here and settle in to this larger space, but my husband and I decided back in January that the time was now. Why not here?
Once again, we were excited to team up with Stacy Bee Art, local artist, muralist, design extraordinaire for event posters and, from there, the Spring Fling was born. We filled up fast, we were thrilled with our vendor selection, and the months of hard work and planning paid off. What a day! Local favorite food truck Truckin' Delicious brought their best menu. Accompanied by the beautiful sounds of live music from The Tones, the day truly came together seamlessly. Sweet affirmation after many months of wondering, “What the heck have I taken on?” Huge props to the vendors for pulling out all the stops and taking a chance of this first event. They brought their best selection for our customers and in a whirlwind 24 hours, they made set up and tear down look easy. Friendly smiles and sales all day long, I'm so grateful for the quality and variety of selection from these vintage dealers, local makers and artisans.
The most beautiful part of this experience was the sense of community. It started with our generous downtown next door neighbors, the Westphal family. They graciously offered the use of their lot, adjacent to our property, for customer parking, and we gratefully accepted. We are so thankful for their support over the years, both of our business and our community in general. A donation to the future United States Marshals Museum has been made in their name as a gesture of our very big gratitude.
That sense of community and support continued to flow through the entire process, finishing with our very hardworking, friendly, event staff who helped keep the Belle Starr vibe alive in providing our customers with the same experience outside as customers receive inside the shop. The mood was happy and fun, smiles all around, thanks to so many contributing to a greater good.
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Our state has some pretty incredible vintage shows and markets to attend. The Junk Ranch! Bella Rustina! Vintage Market Days! We support, promote, and shop them all!
But!!
We’re not trying to be any of them.
My favorite aspect of this experience is carving out our own mission. We’re an existing business that has a big ‘ol lot of land and a local community who are hungry for a quality vintage show. In addition to our local crowd, to hear from shoppers that they traveled in to attend this event from Tulsa, Little Rock and, Northwest Arkansas was a great feeling. Downtown Fort Smith has so much to offer. From our eclectic mix of local retailers to a wide array of restaurants, bars, local music and art scenes, we are proud of our home. There’s so much to love in this community. A place to truly celebrate where we live, work, and play.
Join us Saturday, September 28, 2019 for the Fall Fling. We’ll have more vendors, more food trucks, more LOVE to share! If you're interested in joining us as a vendor, applications are up on the website. Many vendors have asked to return, space is limited, and we've already had inquires! Off we go to keep planning, but mark your calendars, keep your eyes on our social media for updates. We’ll see YOU there!
Photo Love: PhotosMikeMade
]]>The path towards women's rights and the feminist movement has been forged by so many strong women in so many capacities. This is just one humble nod to our history as a whole. And to the thrill of finding a treasure that reminds you of your strongest feminist.
]]>Now rewind back to summer of 2018. There’s a shop I obsessively follow, Santa Fe Antiques, based out of - you guessed it! - Santa Fe, New Mexico. If you aren’t following them already, you should by clicking here. For months we followed each other with ‘likes’ and comments. I enjoy their style of presentation, their well-curated collection of vendors and inventory, and the quality of their selection. Their post on August 6, 2018 stopped me dead in my scroll. They featured an original 1917 Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) WWI poster, framed and in great condition. The YWCA’s intention was to garner support and awareness to the conflict, urge action and awareness to boost morale. The YWCA set the stage for the World Wars, and women's role, to follow. The coloring, iconic imagery, historical reference, and personal connection made for a quick decision. I wanted it.
Why did I want it so badly? Because, while this poster dates a little earlier than my connection, the sentimental fool (me) won out. In 1943, at an ordnance ammo plant in Jacksonville, Arkansas, a gal named Betty Brown and her best friend Laurene were workers in a factory making ammunition for the war effort. Laurene, my great aunt, had asked her beau to bring a friend along for her gal, Betty, while home on leave. Here comes my Papaw Charlie as the tag along. For once, matchmaking worked. They met, fell in love, and eloped in Beebe, Arkansas just months later on December 13, 1945. And the rest is my family history.
Regardless of my family connection, the fact that these women rose to the call of duty to their nation, their boys representing and defending our nation, is beyond inspiring. It must have felt beyond inspiring to them, too. For once, there was more they could do than tend to the family and provide a home. More than 300,000 women left their jobs as homemakers and caretakers, and went to aid the war effort serving as rivetors, nurses, drivers, and clerical workers to free up men for combat.
A quote from one of my all time favorite movies, A League of Their Own, comes to mind. “When our boys come back from war, what kind of girls will they be coming home to?” It must have been incredibly difficult to go from newfound responsibilities to back in the kitchen once the boys got home from war. Thanks to my grandmother, and the thousands of women like her, these are conditions women of my generation will never know.
Back to the poster. Every once and awhile, you’re lucky enough to stumble across those one of a kind finds, the ones that you’ll forever regret if you don’t get them when you see them. A quick phone call to Santa Fe Antiques and arrangements were made. Two weeks later, an oversized, can’t hide it from the husband, box arrived on my doorstep. I was so excited to finally open it and to display this piece of history in our home. After gingerly tearing the paper away, it was even better than I could have imagined.
We hung it in our 1940s home. This room has always been my favorite room in our home because of all the natural light, I love it even more with this beauty flanking our walls. This is my reading room and my quiet space. But now it is also filled with the reminder that these women were badass; they did what they had to do for their men, their country. And I wouldn’t be here without the likes of them. Or without the likes of Charlie and Betty Templeton.
The path towards women's rights and the feminist movement has been forged by so many strong women in so many capacities. This is just one humble nod to our history as a whole. So, it will remain a treasured relic in my home. Both serving as a reminder of what these boss women did when they were called to do it, and a reminder of love and devotion in my family.
Photos: photosmikemade
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I’m super slow to the game. Up until this point, I haven’t really followed much of the podcast culture. My only experience (and a hilarious one at that) was with a podcast called My Dad Wrote a Porno. My close buddy Ryanne talks about her favorites often. I have been hearing names like S-Town and Serial, the buzz surrounding certain ones and the culture as a whole is really impressive with very loyal listeners.
After Rusty reached out to me for Buy, Sell, Trade, I started looking online for recommended podcasts and quickly realized the sheer volume of audio content and variety of subject matter out there was overwhelming. Your choices as a listener are unlimited. However, there weren’t many focused on our business of picking/junking/antiquing. All the more reason I accepted his invite as a guest.
After nine years in this business, I’m still learning from other vintage dealers and peddlers, so this new platform is a welcome one. Rusty himself is a dealer at Eden Antique Emporium in Bethany, Oklahoma for the past year, but he’s been a picker all his life. It’s always interesting comparing notes in our line of work, the differences in trends and pricing from market to market can be pretty extreme. It was a great opportunity to talk about the one thing I know better than anything else. I really enjoyed our conversation about my experience in this industry and hope you do, too.
Click. Listen. Subscribe! Thanks for everything, Rust Man Vintage!
This USATF-certified course is both scenic and challenging and includes historic downtown, beautiful neighborhoods, paved trails, and rolling terrain with significant climbs and descents. There’s options to do the full 26.2, a heck of a half marathon at 13.1, or gather three friends and take on the four person relay. Whether doing the full, half, or a relay, by the time you reach your finish line you definitely have earned that TRUE GRIT satisfaction by having their awesome medal placed around your neck.
Since its inception in 2015, the Fort Smith Marathon has grown bigger and better each year. This event is great for Fort Smith. Many runners travel in for the race, stay in our hotels, eat in our restaurants, visit our stores. It's a total boost for the city, not to mention our trails system.
I’ve been lucky enough to run in it and participate every year. The first two years I ran on a relay team, the last two, happily completed the half. Since I’ve essentially covered the full 26.2 due to various legs of the relay, I can attest as to what an awesome, well organized, course this is. A huge part of its momentum is community. There’s a residential neighborhood along leg two that does it up right - live band, mimosas for the runners (optional but yes, please!) and bounce-around's for the kids! It's a pretty epic block party.
The course environment is key to any great race and Fort Smith does it up right. Throughout the entire thing, the city shows up to support, cheer, and celebrate this awesome event. That strong community push is what makes this challenging race such a fun, one of a kind, experience. We're a tight-knit community, comradery among runners is key. I've loved training each year with friends, meeting strangers along the course. Even celebrities.
In January of 2017 I had just sealed the deal to purchasing our current property at 410 N B. That year lining up out front at the start line of the then blank slate, empty factory, I realized… Holy Cow, the race starts RIGHT HERE. Last year, wintry conditions shut down our roof top kick off party and kept it to the street, but to see the hundreds of runners and volunteers gathering outside of Belle Starr for the start was awe-inspiring! Running right past the shop on my way to the finish line made me giddy. Just another reason I’m so proud and thankful for our downtown investment. Our community is the best.
Enter this year. Here I am struggling. A major back problem and ongoing diagnoses has banned me from running and participating for the first time ever. To say I was bummed (I legit cried in the Doctor's office as he told me my running days were done) is an understatement. Running is my joy, my outlet, and this race, my favorite each year. I think you can tell that by my face in any of these photos. The ear to ear grin spills over from a runners joy juice brought on by all the elements and culmination of race day.
SO! While I’m forced to count myself out this year as a runner, I want to keep my glass half full and turn this negative in to a positive. I’ve never been a cheerleader at a race, but I know how important the funny signs, the high fives, the hoops and hollers are. Let's give it a go!
I invite you to join us at Belle Starr Antiques & Vintage Market on Sunday, February 10th to line B Street and cheer on the athletes as they start and finish their journey.
Weather permitting, Belle Starr will host the rooftop kick off party at 8am sharp. Emcee Daren Bobb will preside, confetti will rain, the race will begin! Starting at around 9am, we'll be lining B Street on the back side of the shop, ready to rally around the runners as they make their way to the finish line. I want a loud ruckus of cheers, bells, signs, to surround the runners as they make their final push. It's such a huge accomplishment. Also super cool to celebrate a complete strangers major achievement.
Proceeds from the Fort Smith Marathon benefit the Fort Smith Park Partners and their work to expand our incredible and ever growing Fort Smith Trail System. In the spirit of community, for every volunteer who shows up to cheer at Belle Starr that Sunday morning to cheer the runners on, I’ll donate $5 a head to our Trails System, capping at sixty cheerleaders.
I love any excuse to throw a party, so let's raise some money for the trails while raising a little hell on the border! Check out the full details via our Facebook event page.
Bring your signs, bring your kids, bring your smiles, bring yourselves. I’ll have plenty of doughnuts, mimosas, and coffee to keep you full, jolly and warm.
For more information on the Fort Smith Marathon, registration and other volunteer opportunities.
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And then there’s my job. Working retail of any kind during the holidays dampens your spirit. I felt the holiday grind by Halloween and it hasn’t let up. After our Holiday Open House - which was the first weekend in November - I had already had enough. This year, I asked my husband if we could just skip it - no tree, no presents, just get through it. Normally, I’m a glass half full kind of girl, so this Christmas struggle really left me feeling empty.
Dear Husband agreed to skipping gifts but put his foot down to the skipping Christmas. And I’m so glad he did. His heartfelt, wise words are what convinced me. You can’t let the retail monster consume you and your holiday spirit. You can’t skip out on your own traditions because you’re too busy helping others with theirs. WE can’t skip out on the opportunity to honor our past and continue building our own future just because the old gang doesn’t get together. We go on.
It hit me hard. He’s right.
So, the Sunday after Thanksgiving, the Christmas boxes came down from the attic and up went the tree.
As we opened each box, the tears came. And I allowed them. One of my favorite Christmas traditions each year was going to Mamaw’s house to help her with her little tree. Even through college and after I had moved away and married, I would still drive in to help put up that tiny tree and cover it in cheap vintage tinsel.
Here it is circa 1990. Just like my memories.
My grandparents were very modest people. There wasn’t a lot of fancy; they didn’t add to their decorations over the years, it was always the same ones “the kids made”. It makes perfect sense considering my grandmother saved and reused everything. I imagine growing up in the Depression era contributed to her yearly tradition of saving and recycling wrapping paper, boxes and bows. I can still hear the family comically yelling to “Save the bows!! Save the bows!!”
When I was younger, my least favorite trimmings were the boring cardboard cut out ornaments my Mom and Uncle made as kids. They were handcrafted from vintage wrapping paper and cut outs from Christmas Cards they’d received. They weren’t flashy, I didn’t understand why they were so special.
Now, my favorite ornaments to hang every year are those exact ones. The resourcefulness of the 1950s lives on in 2018. It was a pain every year to remove the tinsel piece by piece and store it for next Christmas. But, on Mamaw’s insistence, we did. And of course, that’s the tinsel I now use. It’s a miracle these items have stayed in tact, even the little ski pole that was meticulously cut out is still attached to this little skier.
Our tree is up. Our home is cozy. My heart is full. Blessings are counted.
These items tell our family story. The characters and narrative may have changed, but that's what stories do. The great thing is, we can always revisit them, knowing it doesn’t have an end. They are the fabric of our traditions and the threads that bind our hearts. We are what keep them alive.
Wherever your heart lies, if there is anything keeping you from observing, I challenge you to open yourself up the new. Even if the season has changed for you, fighting it only makes it harder. This realization is what truly renewed my Christmas spirit. I’m so thankful that, with the help of my husband, my Grinch heart softened.
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For the first time since our start in 2010, I’m able to step back a bit from our day to day operations of actually manning the register, spending more time working on the business instead of working for it. It’s been fantastically stimulating to be creative again and explore more ways to grow. Case in point, this relatively new blog. I’m definitely not a writer, but after leasing office space to the very talented ladies at Tipsy Mockingbird, they convinced me that I could and should take a stab at it. That doesn’t mean anyone is actually reading this, but that’s okay! It’s fun for me, another creative outlet. And if there’s one thing I know a little something about, it’s this culture. After only eight years in our industry, my voice may be a small one, but I do have something to say about our collective vintage lifestyle.
With a background in interior design, it’s been a blast playing on my strengths again. All the items you see advertised on our social media talk to me in one way or another. Sometimes, pictures don’t do a piece justice. Or perhaps an individual can’t see the potential for it when it’s sitting in a booth. One of my main goals is attempting to show clients how to spy great deals and how to put them to use. I’ll sing it all day, thrifting is the best. You can save so much dough by hunting at your local antique/vintage and thrift shops to obtain that flavorful perfect piece to fuse in to your modern home.
For example, when I recently advertised our friend Tammy’s booth, the first thing I honed in on was that semi circle desk. Here’s the original picture.
Her booth looks amazing, this is not a bad picture at all. But again, sometimes in photos, items don’t translate as well without a supporting cast. This piece is so funky, definitely handmade, and one of a kind. And in the photo it looks like a bar. When, in reality, it’s only 30“ tall.
Since I was shocked it hasn’t sold for the incredibly thrifty price of just $49, I thought I’d take a stab at staging it to show our clients how to see it in a different light. To me, it would be a perfect fit in a child's bedroom or playroom. So, like all our staged vignettes, it starts with one piece of inspiration. Here we go.
And there you are. Now, imagine using some of your child's art work, certificates, etc in those frames hanging on the wall. That little desk shines and it is given a clear function. Find a piece as inspiration and then fill in your own blanks as it unfolds.
This entire grouping for a kids room cost less than $200. Mixing your old and new is easy enough. Depending on what room you’re decorating for, it’s simple to find base pieces and then accentuate the positive from there with your own already acquired items.
I’ve had several customers lately ask who the photographer and stylist is for these type shoots. Hi. It’s me. There’s no magic of fancy cameras or lenses. Just great items that are styled with a piece of inspiration and by someone who loves doing it.
The long and short of it, thrifting/junking/antiquing is where it’s at. When you go, take the time to find inspiration with function. You’re saving money plus creating something awesome by shopping sustainably. And that, in the words of Martha Stewart, is a good thing.
And now someone please buy this damn table desk. Because truly, it’s amazing!
]]>For me, Thanksgiving memories are tops. They revolve around family, food, and gratitude. Three of my favorite things. My Papaw Charlie always led a different prayer than his standard, and we all observed. My Mamaw Betty’s homemade rolls would triumph over even her stuffing. And the grand prize was, of course, her pecan pies, which were always filled with pecans from her own trees.
Here’s a picture of the incomparable Betty T, her pecans, and her adoring grandaughter (me) back in 2014.
It wasn’t just about the food, though. It was the traditions themselves. I come from a small family, so our customs are pretty tight knit. After the annual family feast, washing dishes, and dividing leftovers, the tradition was going out to help pick up pecans. Some years were leaner than others, if the squirrels beat us to them, but I loved racing around as a kid in the leaves, hunting, trying to gather more than my cousins. And then the older I got, it became more about helping Mamaw and Papaw, sharing that time all of us spent gathering, talking, walking off the meal we had just enjoyed. Pecans are in our blood.
Here’s the crop I gathered from 2012.
Related Side stories. I’ll never forget the year at Christmas after my grandfather had started to lose his eyesight. My family and my Uncle’s side each bought him one of those metal pecan picker-upper doohickeys, my grandmother had as well. It was hilarious him being presented all three at once on Christmas Day. And, to be honest, one of the main reasons I really wanted the house my husband and I now have is because of the mature pecan trees in our backyard. And I now also own two (vintage) metal pecan picker upper doohickeys. Nostalgia always wins with me.
What better way to celebrate this week’s holiday than with a vintage recipe with a twist. You’ve got plenty of time to grab the ingredients, if you don’t already have them in your pantry.
Check out the recipe here for all the particulars.
This is not just your traditional pecan pie, y’all. It’s got cheesecake in it!! My beloved grandmother Betty would be skeptically observing me right now, eyebrow raised, but open to the interpretation.
I found this gem in a 1964 Pillsbury Bake Off Cookbook. Mystery Pecan Pie. And funny enough, the lady who submitted this recipe back in the day was from Little Rock, Arkansas! We're bringing it back home! This guy contains the very last of the pecans I had from my Mamaw’s trees. They’ve been in my freezer patiently waiting, but it finally feels like the right time to cash them in. Now, I’m not a baker, but it sounded so easy, I thought I’d give it a go. In the words of my favorite PBS Show, The Great British Bake Off, Ready, Set, Bake!
The fun part of this recipe is the layers reverse. First the cheesecake portion.
Then the pecans.
Then the all mighty Karo Syrup concoction.
Bake for 35 minutes. Then share with friends. I was lucky to have one of our workers - and one of my favorite people- Elga and her husband, Michael, join us for a test run. After a hearty meal of turkey chili, we tested and tasted.
I have to say, this vintage recipe stands the test of time. Two thumbs way up from the four of us. It worked deliciously well and was super easy. Unlike the time Mamaw first tried an avocado at the age of 90 and politely reacted with, “I could do without”, I think this is one spin off she would applaud and even have another bite.
Happy Thanksgiving! Make pie! Make memories! Make haste and test this vintage recipe!
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I first met Meagan Rogers with My Other Half back in 2016. I found her on Instagram and quickly became obsessed with her original style and offerings. The more research I did, the more I realized I was just as hooked on the person and her standards as I was on the quality of her creations. And say whaaaa? She’s a local? The level of craftsmanship and professionalism suggested big city, big prices. I was thrilled to find out she was actually in the Fort and the prices were incredibly reasonable considering ALL that goes in to creating each piece. I messaged her and ordered my first custom Belle Starr flannel and a friendship was born out of a business deal.
Here’s a picture of the very first one, in front of our old mural. You guys remember that place? Awe! The old store.
Originally from the Natural State, Meagan moved to San Francisco to attend The Art Institute after graduating from the University of Arkansas. She eventually launched her own line, My Other Half, in 2011. After a few successful years in and around L.A., she moved back home in 2015. And I’m so glad she did.
So what’s My Other Half?
My Other Half is a clothing line made from unwanted items to help unwanted animals find love. She refurbishes flannels, Hawaiian shirts, and denim jackets and brings them back to life. All of her pieces are one of a kind. They have been carefully chosen, mended, and designed. She then donates 10% of every piece sold to local animal shelters. What? Yes. Heart of Gold.
Check out her website for more info on her custom orders, other products, and general awesomeness that is the Bee Squad, but let's get to why we’re here.
Like I said above, a friendship was born out of that very first order. Our visions match. Shopping sustainably is important and a priority to both our brands. It only made sense to team up to create a fun line, exclusive to Belle Starr Antiques, for our customers. Over a breezy Sunday lunch date, here’s what we came up with for our fellow junkers, antiquers, thrifters, and vintage voyagers.
These cozy, super soft flannels make a perfect companion to your junkin’ trips. If there’s not one in stock at the shop in your size with your preferred saying, no worries. We can get one ordered for you! And, at $35 a piece, I’ll take one of each please.
I really can’t pick a favorite.
What’s yours?
Major photo love to Ashley B. Lewis Photography. And our lovely models.
]]>Belle Starr Antiques opened for business in 2010. Eight years later, I still don’t believe I’m lucky enough to work here; it's such a blast. Last year, Belle Starr made a big move and expanded, staking her claim in downtown Fort Smith. I took a risk and purchased a small slice of land and an old factory at 410 North B. The risk has paid off; Belle Starr now houses over ninety vendors and we operate a seven day a week establishment.
In the eight years I’ve been open, I have been fortunate enough to see a wide variety of antique and vintage items come through our doors. I love hearing the stories behind the items, collecting knowledge and anecdotes along the way.
There is a shared sense of nostalgia with vintage items. We all have memories tied to eras and the style it represented to us. I cannot tell you how often I hear, “My grandma had one of these!” If you’re drawn to something, whether it remind you of your childhood or just call to you in some way, buy it. These items aren't in multiples and readily available. That's the beauty of it. It's the luck of the draw, the thrill of the hunt. Not to mention the fact that you're paying absolute respect to it by recycling it back through, giving it new life.
Quality vintage is getting harder to find, becoming more obsolete. The products were made to last. They weren't created to be disposable, the materials and craftsmanship are what stand the test of time.The act and art of buying vintage is the ultimate recycling. A sustainable lifestyle better achieved by fusing these type items can only enrich the world of the environmentally conscientious person. For example, this amazing set of dessert dishes were found in store for just $9. Not only is the product itself more durable, the price itself is easier on the home budget. Quality vintage glassware blends right in with your modern table setting.
Perusing the aisles of big box department stores, you can see nods to vintage eras everywhere. Mid Century, one of my personal favorites, is known for beautiful clean lines, fitting in seamlessly with modern, minimalist style. While I love the influence Mid Century is having on today’s designs, it breaks my heart a little to see these items mass produced at triple the price and a fraction of the quality.
If you want to get into vintage, and you should, shopping your local market is the way to do it. With a little searching, you can find quality items that were produced in the 1950s; made of solid wood and built to last. For example, this incredible Mid Century collection came in the shop not long ago from Modern Vintage Company. That Heywood Wakefield hutch is now in my dining room. I called dibs as soon as it came in. Because I know better than to pass up an incredible piece by an incredible maker for an incredible price.
Most people, when they hear the word vintage, automatically think expensive. But, that isn’t necessarily the case. Shopping vintage offers a unique selection, allowing shoppers to add vintage elements to meld with their modern lifestyle as they come across them. It's incredible the deals you can find, and often negotiate. Something you certainly can’t do at a department store.
I practice what I preach. My home, built in 1947, has such a unique charm, uneven cabinets and all. My store is housed in an old factory. Built in the 1960s, it is the perfect location for our vintage market with ample opportunity for future growth. Investing in something that existed and sat, seemingly forgotten, has allowed business to flourish and bring joy and nostalgia to a lot of people.
When you shop for items in a vintage store, you are giving yourself the opportunity to piece together your own one of a kind vibe, a charm you create for yourself. The pieces in my home range from my favorite eras in style, 1920s - 1960s; an eclectic cohesion of Art Deco to Mid Century Modern that works well together because they all reflect my passions.
Don’t be afraid to mix patterns, eras, or styles. You are what really ties the whole room together. Though, you can never go wrong with a well-placed rug.
I got the thrill of a lifetime and another notch in my Arkansas Experience belt the day I was was able to thoroughly explore Dogpatch USA. It was all happenstance, which makes it even better, and now I finally have my own personal memories at Dogpatch USA.
Growing up, I’d heard of it. The theme park based off the Li’l Abner comic strip, Dogpatch USA operated from 1968-1993. I never went as a child, but the pictures of it in its height of popularity made it clear that this place was amazing. There's tons of footage online, check it out.
I remember being in college back in early 2000s and heading to the Buffalo River for a float trip and seeing signs of the park through the trees off Hwy 7. Hearing the rumors of its demise, the folklore surrounding some of the circumstances; rumors of trespassers and what locals did to protect the park from vandals, and the previous owners involvement in a lawsuit only added to my intrigue. And then finding out from locals that rumors were actually true. Throw in some boobie traps and a near decapitation and my interest was peaked. That’s never stopped. There’s something incredibly spooky about an abandoned theme park in the hills and, like many, I’ve held an odd fascination with Dogpatch and its sordid past.
After running our vintage shop for the past eight years, I’ve seen countless Dogatch souvenirs come through. Everything from cardboard KickAPoo Juice cartons to Schmoo pennants and bumper stickers. These items are highly collectible; they sell fast and always hold value. More often than not, the original owners kept them in pristine condition, indicating how valuable their collection, and the memories attached to their collection, was to them. Every time a customer purchased one of these items, I’d hear more stories of their childhood, happy memories, all trying to have a tangible reminder of their time at Dogpatch USA. All the factors combined over all these years really made me want to see this special place nestled in the northwest corner of the state for myself.
Rumors have swirled in recent years over the intentions of different owners, bold proclamations made to restore and reopen, have been left unanswered or unattended. What really is going on in this ghost town that was once an Arkansas institution?
Enter a gentleman named Bud Pelsor who came along on his white wolf (for real, he has a beautiful pet wolf named Ms. Arkansas Diamond, Dia for short) and saved the day. Bud happened upon Dogpatch when it was open and thriving in its early years as he was traveling through. He was amazed by it. By the time he returned to Arkansas to actually visit the park, it had closed for good. And there it sat.
Then, by wind of his business associate Jim, he found out the park was up for sale. Neither wanted to see it bulldozed and both were given promises of grant money and support if they purchased, so they took a leap of faith and did. In 2014, Dogpatch USA had a new owner! Volunteers came in droves to help clean it up, spending every bit of one hundred days cleaning and doing patchwork repair before opening it on special occasions to the public. They hosted two Riverwalk weekends, folks showed up by the thousands to explore, huge crowds had HWY 7 backed up for miles. Last year they hosted artisan and craft shows, live music. Clearly, the love was still there from the general public and Dogpatch fans.
Unfortunately, those promises of grant monies and big name support were empty ones and it “left me with my pants down and exposed to chiggers,” Bud said. Realizing they were in over their heads, Jim and Bud made the tough decision to sell.
That's when David Hare came along. It was announced in late 2017 that a company called Heritage USA, INC had big plans to renovate, rejuvenate, and protect the park. The public was, once again, delighted. Jim and Bud did their financial due diligence, but not personal. By all appearances, David’s team was well managed with a solid lease to purchase option. No sooner were they in to it, Bud saw the writing on the wall.
Huge promises were made by Heritage. But the only successful thing Mr. Hare managed to do was burn bridges with everyone around him. All his constituents left him. Once his entourage left, he was done. Past due bills piled up, he got further behind on his lease, and never delivered on any of the promises from his YouTube Heritage videos. According to Bud, he left town about a month ago. David Hare is back in California, he no longer has anything to do with Dogpatch USA. Even though, according to Wikipedia, he was continuing to “make videos advertising the park, and vacationers had paid and left deposits on hotel rooms, the hotel was vacant and utilities were cut off, while Hare and Heritage USA had become unreachable”.
The day I got to explore Dogpatch, we started out early morning in the portion of the park that is currently back up for sale. In person, it was obvious Heritage USA, INC had folded on its leased portion of the park; their plans to revitalize at a devastating standstill. It is maintained for walkability in landscaping but otherwise neglected. You could still follow some of the tracks of the West Po'k Chop Speshul Railroad guiding you around the park, the abandoned water slide looming at the center of it all. We toured each building, combing through cobwebs, shattered glass, the dusty remnants left behind. It was fun piecing together what was left in the buildings, trying to determine what its original purpose was. We saw evidence of the trout fishing area and the restaurant that would cook what you caught. The River Bend theater still with original theater seats inside; I wanted to purchase all of them, they were amazing. The giant fiberglass Arkansas Razorback nestled in the trees. In the four hours we were there, we covered a large majority of the park. The place has been picked completely clean of all signage, anything Dogpatch related has been stolen or vandalized. On top of that, when left in the elements, there were areas not safe to traverse. Seeing missing wooden planks on the swinging bridge and gaps of stairs climbing the tower of the slide made it clear some boundaries were not made to be pushed. Still, the iconic Dogpatch shone through the dilapidated conditions. The moment we stumbled across the iconic kissing stones, I was like a kid in a candy store.
And what did shine through, despite all the dusty dirt, the smildew, the neglect, was the attention to detail. If you wiped through layers of dust, you found beautiful textured Victorian style wallpaper peeking behind the old shooting range arcade game. The fiberglass comb as an entrance to the honey hut. The amazing rough cut lumber and log beams still with bark attached. You could see the details everywhere in creating this authentic rustic vibe for the fictional town in the hills. What surprised us most was how structurally sound many of the buildings were, including some that preexist Dogpatch. For example, the water wheel powered Grist Mill that dates to the 1840's and Ozark mountain sourced cabins with hand hewn logs. In my mind’s eye I began to imagine it in pristine condition, full of people and laughter and chatter, food and cheer. I wish I could have seen this place in the seventies. In spite of the vandals and thieves, in spite of the ravages of time and elements, the buildings that remain stand strong and proud as a testimony to the craftsmanship and materials used to create Dogpatch.
As eerie as it was strolling through empty streets, you really could feel the magic this place once held. Surrounded by the natural beauty of Newton County, it came from a simpler time. Comic strips of days gone by may not have the staying power of Disney, but it did for this part of the country during its time. The simplicity of that is something that is lost on today's population. The thrills of Dogpatch wouldn’t hold a candle to today’s theme parks, but that’s the beauty of it. It was never meant to. It truly is a one of a kind kind of place.
Now Dogpatch USA is 100% back in Bud’s hands; the park itself is back up for sale. Bud welcomes patrons to Dogpatch. He has asked for folks to reach out to him via Facebook to make arrangements at the Dogpatch Official Event Page. All he asks is for patrons to sign a waiver and pay him a $5 fee per person. This allows visitors to explore the park, fish, (catch and release) bring a picnic, that simplicity tickles him, “Anything plus is a plus. Little adds up to big.” He’s even planning a Halloween party on Oct 26th with live music, food trucks, and ghost tours with local paranormal groups.
Tell your friends.
Until the park finds a new owner, Bud plans to “clean it up, turn the lights on, the music up loud and party until it says SOLD on the sign.”
“Nothing in my life has ever been mediocre, nothing has ever been easy.” Bud is the right man for the job. His heart is in the right place, further encouraging the spirit of Dogpatch through his dedication to the park and now finding the new owner to carry the torch. It’s been an absolute pleasure getting to meet him through this process. To say he’s now a friend is very awesome. I’m already planning a return trip to see him and check out his collections. And meet Dia.
The history of Dogpatch is a fascinating one. From it originally drawing audiences with its fictional world of Li’L Abner, to its rumors and unfortunate demise, there is no denying Dogpatch USA still holds us all captive. I highly encourage you to go and explore the beauty of Newton County and make your own new memories in Dogpatch USA. I did and it was the best day I’ve had in a long, long time.