Mountain View, Arkansas ~ Folk Music Capital of the World

Tuesday, September 9, 2014


We've been staying at Turkey Creek RV here in the Branson area for the past couple of weeks.

view from our rig ~ Turkey Creek

We packed up and left Branson this morning...

Turkey Creek

almost ready to go

and headed to Mountain View, Arkansas where we'll spend some time learning more about the culture of the Ozarks. Mountain View is about 116 miles southeast of Branson, in north central Arkansas.

While in Mountain View we will be staying at the Blue Sky RV Park.

It was very hot when we arrived, mid 90's, so we are very grateful for the shade. We really like this park.  Miss Tammy Smith, who owns the park, is just delightful.  She's also one of the hardest working women I know. The lots are very long and wide. We love looking out our window and seeing all of the trees...we have the "up north" feeling.

Behind and across the street from us is Mikey's Smoked Meats and Deli. Everyday the wonderful aroma from their smoker drifts over to us...Yum!

Mountain View, the Folk Music Capital of the World, was established in the late 1870's. The town is located deep in the Ozarks, surrounded by mountains and rivers in rural Stone County.  This part of Arkansas reminds us of the Appalachian Mountains.  In addition to topographical similarities, there are also similarities when it comes to the folk music they love.

the White River

the Great Blue has a lovely home on the river!

Mountain View is famous for the preservation of folkways and traditional music. Music plays a vital part of the aura of this area as, historically, Saturday nights would find locals at a "pickin" in a neighbors house or yard. The custom continues today and once the weather becomes warm, usually around April, musicians join locals and play music late into the night hours at the Square. Music is not only vital, it is the soul of the town. There is a determination to keep the tradition alive through programs such as the Music Roots Program where, via the local school system, musicians teach young people to play the old tunes on traditional string instruments.

Music is everywhere.  And the local talent is quite good.

Music on the Square...

this group is known as "Twang".  the members are all
part of the Music Roots Program

coop enjoyed the music as well

We stopped into Mellons Country Store and

in the back room was a gentlemen pickin'...

Tuesday through Saturday nights the Ozark Folk Center Theater hosts an evening program of music. The program features traditional instruments of the Ozarks such as acoustic guitar, 5-string banjo, fiddle, mandolin, autoharp, mountain dulcimer, picking bow and spoons.  Along with the music, mountain style jig dances and square dances are featured...

square dancing. notice her bare feet?

jig dancing

a family group...the boy in the chair on the far right is playing the spoons

 playing the washboard

We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.

Friday and Sunday nights will find many locals as well as out-of-towners at the...

James Corbitt Morrison, known professionally as Jimmy Driftwood, was born on June 20, 1907 in Stone County, not too far from Mountain View.  Jimmy Driftwood was a prolific American Folk music songwriter and musician.  He was most famous for his songs "Battle of New Orleans" and "Tennessee Stud".  He wrote more than 6,000 folk songs, of which more than 300 were recorded by various musicians.  Even after Driftwood had risen to fame, he continued living in rural Stone County (home of Mountain View) spending most of his time promoting and preserving the music and heritage of the Ozark Mountains...he died on July 12, 1998.

Mary Parker, nine years old. One of the best fiddle players
we have ever heard. Mary is amazing. She's been
performing at the Driftwood since she was seven.  She
is a member of the Music Roots Program.

Mary's brother making his debut at the Driftwood.  He
did just fine.

sister and brother jig dancing

performing Tennessee Stud

another member of the Music Roots Program

There is not a door charge at Jimmy Driftwood Barn; a basket is passed around asking for donations. We had a blast...there is a tremendous amount of talent here in Mountain View.  

Til next time,

Dawn, Ron & Cooper