Ozark Magic

We spent two nights in Mountain View, AR, Folk Music Capital of the World. This small town is really very quiet and totally amazing. With a population of 2,910 we could walk in the middle of the streets as we climbed the hill from our campsite to the town square. 

We came to Mountain View to meet, in person, two people Gary sold musical instruments, over the phone, when he worked for SHS in Indianapolis. They own Mountain View Music. We spent over an hour chatting on the porch with Shay and Scott and learned about the many festivals that take place in this small town every year. All, of course, involve music. I think my favorite is the Bean and Outhouse Race. Pinto bean cooking contest and outhouse races! How can you go wrong?

Photo: Shay, the music store owner relaxing on the porch after teaching a lesson.

On Wednesday night we walked up to the town square to see if there would be any “pick’in” going on. We were told you could almost always find the locals gathered there to play Ozark Mountain music. After buying some ice cream we headed to the park where 15-20 people, were gathered in a circle under a gazebo, playing banjos, guitars, dulcimers, and fiddles. We watched as they went around the circle and each person in turn called out the next tune and started to play. Those who knew the song played along.  

The sun was shinning but a light rain started to fall. You’ve see those sort of early evening rain showers; the sun low in the sky making the rain sparkle as it fell straight to the ground. Then someone said, “Look a rainbow.” It was truly an Ozark Mountains magical moment. 

Photos: Top left to right – Inside the store, the locals “pick’in” under the gazebo in the town square, an outhouse contestant from years gone by and some serious “pickers”.