Had breakfast at Connie’s, then spent some time wandering around Mountain Home and Cotter. Cotter is a nice little town along the White River, and I stopped at the James A. Gaston Visitor Center by Bull Shoals Dam.
I also drove through Flippin and Gassville. Those are a little more like highway towns with more going on, but the whole area clearly feels like it has gone through a major decline.
Hundreds of places are empty or abandoned. Everything is faded, signs are still up, and half the time you can’t tell if a place is open or closed until you realize the building is basically falling apart. Bull Shoals itself only seems to have a few restaurants still open.
Oddly enough, the one thing that looks like it’s prospering is Casey’s. The convenience stores are newer, clean, and not faded like everything around them.
Something obviously changed economically around here. I’ll have to look into it.
Mostly just driving around and seeing what’s happening.
I also drove through Flippin and Gassville. Those are a little more like highway towns with more going on, but the whole area clearly feels like it has gone through a major decline.
Hundreds of places are empty or abandoned. Everything is faded, signs are still up, and half the time you can’t tell if a place is open or closed until you realize the building is basically falling apart. Bull Shoals itself only seems to have a few restaurants still open.
Oddly enough, the one thing that looks like it’s prospering is Casey’s. The convenience stores are newer, clean, and not faded like everything around them.
Something obviously changed economically around here. I’ll have to look into it.
Mostly just driving around and seeing what’s happening.