I checked in at my home away from home, Cotter’s ever funky, White Sands Motel.
After a shower, I headed to KT’s, a fantastic bar b q joint.
The place had been damaged by the spring tornado but looked great.
The food was absolutely wonderful. Serious pork bar b q.
They have a great pulled pork plate with the best beans around.
After dinner I dropped in on the Cotter Trout Dock.
Business was brisk and thankfully so as the spring floods had been devastating.
The next morning, I was awakened by a coal train, as it threatened to shake the windows out of the wall.
The tracks are just under the bridge and down the little bluff from the motel.
As a former railroader I had to walk out to the Rainbow bridge and watch it go under my feet. You never get over the awe that much horse power generates. There’s just nothing like the sound of those four big tandem diesels pounding up a hill.
After the train I came back to the room and made a batch of heavy-duty railroad coffee.
Camera around my neck, coffee in hand, I began a little Cotter walking tour.
The pictures you see here are the result of that morning stroll.
I was amazed at how many of the older buildings had been fixed up.
There were lots of colorful yet tasteful paint schemes.
Strangely they were very much like what I saw in Jefferson, Texas.
Strangely they were very much like what I saw in Jefferson, Texas.
Cotter, Arkansas and Jefferson, Texas were both steamboat towns. Cotter had gone on to adapt to the railroads where Jefferson never quite made the transition.
Jefferson was cotton and trade with a much larger population while Cotter served a less affluent section of the country.
It shows in the buildings and houses over a hundred years later.
Both communities have an abundance of charm.
After my recent visit to Jefferson and now this walking tour an idea came to me. Surely, there must be a lot of these great little towns.
I would love to know about more of them. Wouldn’t that make a fun project ?.
I would love to know about more of them. Wouldn’t that make a fun project ?.
After the walking tour I made the long drive back to Dallas.
Please enjoy the pictures.
Better yet, go to Cotter and enjoy the town.
The pride is everywhere you look !
This is a very special little town.
And did I mention great trout fishing ? I almost forgot the reason we all go to Cotter. They have some of the best German Brown and Rainbow trout fishing in the world. World class fishermen, from all over the world, come to Cotter to fish the White River. Yup ! It’s that good. Guided or on your own, everybody does well.
Cotter is also very near The Buffalo National River. The Buffalo was the United States first Wild and Scenic River.
Cotter is also very near The Buffalo National River. The Buffalo was the United States first Wild and Scenic River.
Cotter, Arkansas home of Troutzilla. It was a trapper’s portage, a steamboat town and then a railroad center. Now it’s all about the fishing the river and playing on the huge lakes nearby. Great community. Go if you get a chance.
John Boykin
John Boykin
