55 miles per hour for over 200 miles through the forests of Arkansas; talk about a long morning. The road did continue over the hill.
Lake Village is a small community outside of Greenville, Mississippi. Situated on Lake Chicot adjacent to the Mississippi River. It is not only the largest oxbow lake in North America, but the largest natural lake in Arkansas, formed 300 years ago by the meandering of the Mississippi River. (Thanks, Google.)
Here are some of the sites around Lake Village. The first is a mink that ducked around the rip rap along the lake. The two cypresses were just amazing. How do they grow so tall with such an open root system? The Lake Shore Hotel sits on the shore of Lake Chicot. Quite a view of the lake.
Did you know Charles Lindbergh first flew at night in Lake Village, Arkansas? Lindbergh had engine trouble and landed on what was then a golf course in Lake Village. As a gift to his host, Lindbergh gave him a ride at night over Lake Chicot.
Lake Village was also proud of its Civil War heritage.
Rhoda's Famous Hot Tamales is located in Lake Village. Acknowledged by many as the best, Rhoda's is independent, opening when she wants, closing when she wants. Besides a lunch assortment, Rhoda is noted for her tamales. Said to combine an Italian and Hispanic recipe, people drive miles to buy them. Also known for her pies, we were either too late, too early, or she had sold out.
Lake Village is also the home of New Hope Baptist Church, which claims to be the oldest Black church in Arkansas. A cemetery lies around the church building. The majority of the headstones had been whitewashed to the point the inscriptions were nearly unreadable.
Many of the headstones mentioned an organization called The International Order of Twelve Knights and Daughters of Tabor. Originally an anti-slavery organization, it later became a fraternal African-American organization devoted to the founding and maintenance of a hospital staffed by and for, African-Americans. The hospital existed from the mid-40s to mid-60s.
We also drove around the end of the ox bow lake to Lake Chicot State Park. Leo got a POTA.
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