Johnson suggests you could always make the trip to Sharp County to visit one of the grower's own stands as well. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Visit www.ozarkgateway.com for more area information. They are going to take it home to family, to the river, the lake. People dont have to have watermelons to live. J.W. This involves discing, cultivating, fertilizing and planting that typically begins in April. He said, I will let them sit there and rot before I take that. Phillip laughed, recalling the story, And thats exactly what happened. Their grandmothers family also grew melons and peddled them door to door after hauling them by wagon to Batesville. This often makes others think all Cave City melons are priced as high as that of the resellers who are selling them out of town. Digital Marketing and Design - The Richland Group. The first ones out of the field bring families out of the backroads and cities alike to be among the first to experience the fruits of the farmers labors around the first to middle of July. "I think there were three people on the chamber of commerce that got [the festival] going," said. We worked our tails off all day, did it in cold ground, poured cold water in it, packed them in. The towns population began to be drawn to the larger area of Walnut Ridge and further declined when the highway was built 2 miles outside of town. In March of 2018, Drew was honored with induction into the Arkansas Tourism Hall of Fame for her many years of dedicated service to the tourism industry. Drew became associated with the Ozark Gateway Region in 1990 while working at the ad agency (The Media Market Inc.). 167 North of Cave City. They orderedplants from a greenhouse. There is always one question most people want to know about watermelons. The machine is equipped with a spike in the center that makes a hole in the plastic. Cave City Watermelon Festival | Cave City AR Pioneer Lane Greenhouse Fill up your garden with beautiful plants and trees from the Pioneer Lane Greenhouse. We have confidence in our picking. Held each year since 1980, Charles and Anita Landers spearheaded the one-of-a-kind event for decades. Copyright 2018KAIT. One of the earliest churches was the Flat Rock Methodist Church, established in 1858. Were proud of what we do and we try to put the best that we can out there, Woolridge said. The festival is Aug. 6-8, and Crystal said it is the biggest event in Sharp County. It wasnt always successful, but with each step, they learned and improved or changed their growing methods. In 2016, she assisted in creating the first Ozark Gateway Region Golf Classic. "Sometimes they do and they have for as long as I can remember," he said. Usually the famous watermelons are ready to go by July 4th but this year the crop is a little behind. About Arkansas Tourism As one of Chicagos largest summer attractions since its founding in 1980, The Taste consistently draws over 1 million people, though at its peak it has drawn nearly 4 million, all of them there to sample food from a variety of restaurants from across the city. The fact is, growers begin working to bring the melons to the area months before with preparations long before the plants even go into the green-houses and eventually into the earth where they will grow. You can even take a short side trip to check out their furniture and appliance store in Glencoe. Last night, I had a Facebook message from a guy driving four hours to get watermelons. Be sure to stop by on a Friday and order the catfish. Sadly, their father passed away in June before seeing the first of what is now the 46th harvest of his sons melons and the establishment of Johnson Brothers Watermelons. The building for that church was completed in 1898 and existed until the Methodist Church was united in 1939. Only genuine Cave City Watermelons have our registered trademark sticker. That Spring, Lester taught his sons the ins and outs of watermelon production that he learned from his own father. While watermelons are at the center of the celebration, the people and businesses that make the Cave City area one of the greatest places in Arkansas are also celebrated. Growers put a registered trademark stick on the watermelons that reads "Genuine Cave City Watermelon". The first step of this epic watermelon road trip is to select a registered grower and make certain that they have melons available. For decades, Cave City has been known nationwide for its claim to fame, the sweetest watermelons. 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. If they have banana pudding on the menu, order extra to go! In those days, an average grower planted about 30 acres. Woods Riverbend Restaurant If you love waterfront dining you are in for a treat at Woods. Johnson said that's a great thing because residents are always patiently waiting for that first watermelon of the season. Watermelons and other various produce such as. Only genuine Cave City Watermelons have the registered trademark sticker. Cave City growers just want you to know, it's important to look for the sticker. Since 1980, they've. That year, the Johnsons attended field days in watermelon fields in Southeast Missouri from Leechville to Hocum, areas where watermelons also grow well. Drew stays busy at Ozark Gateway as the ad sales manager, magazine editor, day-to-day office operations, trade show representative, and magazine distribution representative, all while ensuring that the region is represented all over Arkansas and southern Missouri. Watermelon Festival The 2022 Cave City Watermelon Festival is sure to delight. Gary laughed at his tenacity, admitting sometimes stubborn streaks arent all good. D & S Rodeo If you love rodeo and music, you will want to head to the D & S Arena. "We thought that we were going to be really late. The watermelon growers work hard all year long to produce the festival watermelons and proudly stand behind every melon they sell. "Then you can always contact that grower with the information that's on there and give a call and say 'hey, we picked this up at this place is this legitimate?'". Calico Rock Arkansas Main Street Network will be hosting a Fundraiser for The Sean Hunt Memorial on March 11th from 11 am to 4 pm. Cave City watermelons are arguably the best watermelons in the world. & Wendell Perkey Farms 870-283-4395, 870-283-5918.Located 2 miles north of Cave City on Highway 167. When Sharp County was formed in 1868, what is now Cave City was still in Independence County, including north of present-day Cave City to almost the Maxville area. For the town that boasts. W South St. . We were all so excited. History lovers will enjoy driving past these historic homes. The prize melon auction is at 5 p.m. and benefits Arkansas Children's Hospital. For Food Vendor Inquiries call Andrea @ 870-283-5301 . In 2016, she assisted in creating the first Ozark Gateway Region Golf Classic. Big Creek Man Cave Whether you are looking for sporting goods, ammo, hunting for a rare book, or just seeking a cool find Big Creek Man Cave is the place to shop. Julie said, There are no female melons, laughing in anticipation of the question, but stating it is one so many people ask. The prize melon auction is at 5 p.m. and benefits Arkansas Childrens Hospital. The Cave City Watermelon Festival Facebook page recently posted how to know if it's a genuine Cave City watermelon versus an imposter. Grab a cooler and gas up the tank because we are heading out in search of good eats, unique treasures and scenic vistas. LITTLE ROCK (TB&P) For nearly half a century, Cave City residents in Sharp County have claimed that the sweetest watermelons are grown in and around their hometown. It doesnt quite feel like summertime in Sharp County until the Cave City watermelons hit the stands and that happened this past week. The Johnson watermelon vine continued to spread, and Phillips parents, Lester and Verba Lee, eventually inherited the seed. The agency handled marketing for the regional association, where she and her co-workers produced an annual tabloid publication. | Privacy Policy This site is paid for with a combination of state funds and private regional association funds. Roadside stands are found throughout the city. Our watermelon growers work hard all year long to produce "The World's Sweetest" watermelons! Crystal Bridges 2023 Exhibitions Unveiled, Visiting Poinsett, Cross and Mississippi Counties, Things To Do In Independence and Stone Counties, An Afternoon in Cave City - Only In Arkansas, An Afternoon in Cave City Only In Arkansas Only in Arkansas Ferry St. Some of these were Hickory Valley, Sandtown, Curia, Clarkson, Reeds Creek/Fairview, Maxville, Emery, Mobley, Flat Rock, Cedar Grove, and Loyal. Growing watermelons has run in the family for several decades. 167 and 115. Johnson said people passing off other watermelons as those from Cave City is not a new problem. Mr. Carpenter retrieved many of the Indian relics from the cave and built a museum of sorts which housed these relics on the walkway into the entrance of the cave. No one has ever been able to show where the river begins or where it eventually ends. The Hunter Brothers are located in Cave City. There were days when the brokers would buy them and we would load five or six trailer loads that would go out to Chicago and lots of other places. Gary explained. In 2015 they "retired", and a new committee of volunteers have since taken the festival to even greater success, with expanded entertainment, activities for the entire family, and record-setting crowds; from the beginning to now it's always been about celebrating the town and its rich history of producing the worlds best watermelons. 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. how to tie a cherry stem with ones tongue. Cave City bills itself as having the worlds sweetest watermelons. Find out for yourself July 29-31 during the 41st annual Watermelon Festival, which offers three days packed full of fun and entertainment for the entire family. When a watermelon is cut off the vine, it is as good as it ever will be, it wont keep ripening, Gary explained. That is what is so amazing, the last few years, people come to us and we dont take that for granted.. In 2017, the Cave City Watermelon Festival was inducted into the Arkansas Food Hall of Fame by the Department of Arkansas Heritage. 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. It will include games, auctions, seed spitting contests, free watermelon feasts, a family wet zone park, and live entertainment, including headliner Tracy Byrd. As the festival inches closer, melons are flying off of stands just as quickly as growers are putting them there. Then, in 1875, the current county line was established, moving the Independence County line to its present location and creating Cave Township. Johnson Brothers Watermelons is a family operated business consisting of Gary & Becky & Phillip & Julie. 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. Watermelon is synonymous with Cave City, and while folks in my neck of the woods go bonkers when a pickup truck with a bed-full of [], Your email address will not be published. We are excited to welcome everyone back this year.. His son, Eagle Street, later became president in 1942 and served until 1984. Phillip explained, I am trying to tell Julie how to do it right, how to do it better. This will mark the festival's 30th year. Its the perfect country supply store. The first post master at Cave City was Thomas J. Wooldridge, whose term began December 16, 1892. SHARP COUNTY'S WIDEST CIRCULATED AND ONLY LOCALLY OWNED NEWSPAPER. Be sure to fill out all the fields in order to have yours selected. Brothers, Gary and Phillip are 3rd generation watermelon growers. 5:00pm: Main stage Prize Melon Auction benefitting Arkansas Children's Hospital But one common seed is the craving for the fruit of summer the watermelon. The festival struck Gold, outshining all the other entries in the Best Video Promotion (Budget under $100,000) division. Want to head to the d & s Rodeo if you continue to this... The lake for granted johnson suggests you could always make the trip to Sharp to! Growing watermelons has run in the center that makes a hole in the family for several.! Rodeo if you love Rodeo and music, you will want to know about watermelons as I can,. Love Rodeo and music, you will want to head to the &. For the sticker a combination of state funds and private regional association.. 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