We got 2000 plants from a hot greenhouse. Julie said she credits their customers with being the main reason their business has remained successful. Visit www.ozarkgateway.com for more area information. In addition to coffee, you can munch on breakfast and lunch selections as you head through town. Evening Shade Farmers Market Stock up on some locally grown fruits, veggies and handmade goods at the farmers market held every Saturday morning. "Grew better than I've probably ever seen watermelons grow.". Many other milestones occurred in the early years of the history of Cave City. YP - The Real Yellow PagesSM - helps you find the right local businesses to meet your specific needs. We have confidence in our picking. CAVE CITY, Ark. "Whenever people buy the watermelon, they need to make sure it has the registered trademark sticker, because if it doesn't, it's not the real . 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. W South St. . The Watermelon Growers Games will take place at 3 p.m. at the Orilla Vallie Stage followed by the Free Watermelon Feast at 4 p.m. behind the Orilla Valley Stage. He promptly refused. The 41st Cave City Watermelon Festival is set for July 29-31th. Watermelon Festival - The 2022 Cave City Watermelon Festival is sure to delight. They host weekly rodeos with events for everyone in the family every Friday night. We thought we were going to be about three weeks late.". Click here to return to The Takeouts 2023 Eats Calendar. It will include games, auctions, seed spitting contests, free watermelon feasts, a family wet zone park, and live entertainment, including headliner Tracy Byrd. Johnson Brothers Watermelons | Cave City AR My grower of choice is Johnson Brothers and I can find all of the latest information regarding availability right on their Facebook page. But one common seed is the craving for the fruit of summer the watermelon. Johnson Brothers Watermelons is a family operated business consisting of Gary & Becky & Phillip & Julie. Designed to emulate the nostalgia of a beloved homecoming weekend, the Cave City Watermelon Festival offers the traditional festival schedule from eating contests . Note the stickers on the melons in the photo. Peck hosts SiriusXMs Y2Kountry and is an accomplished recording artist and performer. But this is an issue they deal with and overcome by having loyal customers and some of the sweetest melons in the state. 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 August of 1958, Burnis Brown was the manager of the Cave City Watermelon Growers' Association, which consisted of 127 members with 1,000 acres planted in watermelons. 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. "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?'". That is what is so amazing, the last few years, people come to us and we dont take that for granted. Phillip Johnson. There is always one question most people want to know about watermelons. | Privacy Policy This site is paid for with a combination of state funds and private regional association funds. They are located 2 1/2 miles north of Cave City. In the early 1890s, what was apparently the second church established in town was the Methodist Episcopal (or North Methodist) Church. 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. Cave City School - All School Reunion Time: 12:00 p.m. Place: Cave City Middle School Cafeteria Watermelon Games - for the public Time: 1:00 p.m. Place: In front of the Melon Stage Watermelon Growers Games Time: 3:00 p.m. Place: In Front of the Melon Stage Free Watermelon Feast Time: 4:00 p.m. Place: Behind the Melon Stage Johnson Brothers Watermelons is a family operated business consisting of Gary & Becky & Phillip &. They were placed nine feet apart then, today, they are only three feet apart. We appreciate the volunteer work already underway around town to prepare for the festival, Cave City Mayor Jonas Anderson said. Whether they are from Cave City or not, the . He first spent a short time working on a construction crew that built the current highway that runs through the city the family has called home since before the early 1920s. Travel east/northeast out of Cave City along AR-230 and AR-25. The town of Cave City was started around 1890 when two brothers, James Andrew (Jim) and John William (Jack) Laman, moved to the present site of Cave City. The park includes the Courthouse which was constructed in 1888 after the original courthouse burned down along with several historic structures. Held each year since 1980, Charles and Anita Landers spearheaded the one-of-a-kind event for decades. Johnson attributes the success and love for Cave City's festival to this very aspect: the dedication and family tie that watermelon growers bring to the classic summer treat. 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. John S. Gibson began hosting a competition for the largest melons in 1916. Cave City watermelons are so unparalleled that there is a list of registered growers who put stickers on their products so buyers know their watermelons are official Cave City Watermelons. Town and family lore have it that the post office was secretly spirited out of Loyal and rolled on logs to Cave City after the presidential election of 1892 placed more friendly Democrats in charge of the postal department! She now serves as their co-election coordinator, helping with behind-the-scenes management of voting equipment, day-to-day election deadlines, and poll worker training. "A sure way to know that you're getting a genuine Cave City watermelon is to look for that label, the trademark label, and look for the grower's name on there," Johnson said. Family LP Farms (870) 368-7495 New foods, new places, new experiences. Phillip spoke of his grandfathers stubborn nature, a trait that at least, in part, led to the success and longevity of his business being carried through to his son and grandsons. Usually the famous watermelons are ready to go by July 4th but this year the crop is a little behind. All rights reserved. She was born in downtown Batesville in the late 60s, located in one of the eight counties she now enjoys encouraging people to visit. Since 1980, they've. One of the most favorite and anticipated of these camp meetings was the holiness camp meeting held every year at Calamine by ministers of the Nazarene Church. The remaining one foot section could only be done with manual labor. For a hillbilly like us to see all those hundreds of acres of beautiful watermelons all exactly the same size because they had all been transplanted on plastic was just amazing to us. Pickled foods are, of course, the highlight here, but its comedy-focused too, featuring stand-up shows and touring performers throughout the weekend. The boys did as any good sons would and began to take on the responsibilities of the farm. "Pull up a chair, sit and visit for a while, and have a good time," he suggested. Many people played a part in creating Arkansas as we know it today. The division manages 14 Arkansas Welcome Centers and employs more than 60 staff members across The Natural State. The prize melon auction is at 5 p.m. and benefits Arkansas Childrens Hospital. First Security Bank, Member FDIC. Cathy Drew is a lifelong resident of the region that she loves to promote. That year, the Johnsons attended field days in watermelon fields in Southeast Missouri from Leechville to Hocum, areas where watermelons also grow well. Published: Jul. While watermelons are still at the center of our celebration, we also celebrate the people and businesses that make the Cave City area one of the greatest places in Arkansas! This and resellers marking the melons up to make so large of profit that the cost of their fruit is much higher than the Johnsons melons at their stand. A cross-section of the Crookneck heirloom watermelon, an indigenous watermelon whose seeds were recovered from an abandoned cave in Arizona. 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. From left, Tyler Parsley, Cederic Etheridge, Jonathan Fowler and Julie Johnson, members of the Cave City Watermelon Festival Committee, stand by some of the melons they will be celebrating July 27-29. "They thrive really well in hot weather so the hot May was really good for growth," Johnson said. So many interesting treasures are held within these walls. By 1955, the Melon Growers Association met and elected a Board of Directors, consisting of Hassel Ford (President), Silas James, Coy Crow, Verl Ball, and Ernest Landers (who, by the way, was Charles Landers father). Cin-sations Flea Market This hidden treasure isnt found on social media, but you will find loads of treasures inside this quaint antique/junk shop! Celebrating the world's sweetest Watermelons since 1980! Johnson suggests you could always make the trip to Sharp County to visit one of the grower's own stands as well. The World's Sweetest Watermelons. CAVE CITY, Ark. Growers Cave City Watermelon Festival . Live musicians such as Luke Stroud, the Farris Family Quartet, Legacy Five, Shane Thornton, and others will perform Thursday and Friday. Ruthel Laman Heasley, a granddaughter of Jim Laman, stated that her grandfather and his brother were determined to create a new town when they moved their families there in 1889. Sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused! Patterson Brothers Farms 501-412-3819.Patterson's stand is located in Cave City, across from Double B's. Another point of interest was the cave which was located in the center of town, and from which the town received its name. Drew became associated with the Ozark Gateway Region in 1990 while working at the ad agency (The Media Market Inc.). The cave supplied the drinking water for the local school, as well as serving as a veritable town refrigerator. Many families stored their milk, butter, and other produce in the cool cave to prevent them from spoiling. So I prefer to go right to the source. Millies From fried catfish to grilled steak to a homemade casserole, you never know what you will find at Millies, but its guaranteed to be good eating! 1930's. In 2017, the Cave City Watermelon Festival was inducted into the Arkansas Food Hall of Fame by the Department of Arkansas Heritage. This changed the way the Johnsons produced their melons for the first time in history. The men and women who work all year long to make the festival the largest in the area with some of the best food, entertainment and fellowship. The seeds are started in the greenhouse in March. There are several outfitters in the area that will provide gear and shuttle service so you can enjoy a fun day in the cool waters of the Spring River. Apparently the Laman brothers bought large tracts of land in the Cave City area, built their business and encouraged other merchants to relocate at that place. Copyright 2020 Newsup. Brokers would stop and negotiate deals to purchase loads to sell elsewhere. This meant a garden hoe. Preferred listings, or those with featured website buttons, indicate YP advertisers who directly provide information about their businesses to help consumers make more informed buying decisions. Watermelon Farms in Cave City, AR About Search Results 1. Brian, Kimberly & Bricen Carter, 870-283-2147.Carter's stand is located on Highway 167, next to Buttercup's Restaurant. A melon growers' association was formed at Cave City in 1938. You want the stem to be green with a white spot on the belly. Gary added, Some of the spots are also yellow to brown depending on the variety of melon., It hasnt always been easy. But, in reality, it was a pivotal moment when, for the sake of their marriage, they were forced to realize they had to find a better way to cultivate near the plants. Cave City's registered growers plan to keep the town's tradition alive, and start preparing for the 41st Watermelon festival. Heritage Bake Shoppe If you are looking for flavorful baked goods and deli sandwiches piled high with meat, cheese and all the toppings, swing by the Heritage Bake Shoppe. Our goal is to pick them at the perfect stage before they go into the over ripe stage. This year County Music Legend Tracy Byrd will be headlining the Free festival on Saturday Night. All rights reserved. The prize melon auction is at 5 p.m. and benefits Arkansas Children's Hospital. Cave City also has multiple banks, medical offices and pharmacy, a grocery store, several convenience stores government offices and Cave City Nursing Home. Saturday kicks off with the Melon Dash 5K at 7 a.m. at the city park and a Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast at First Baptist Church. Little Rock, Conway, Searcy, Benton, Heber Springs, Fayetteville, Bentonville, Springdale, Fort Smith, Jonesboro, West Memphis, Batesville, Mountain View, Hot Springs, Pine Bluff, Texarkana, Arkadelphia. Record collectors dont miss a chance to browse their vintage selections! There should be enough melons for the 36th annual Cave City Watermelon Festival. It had been known for years that local Indians had used the cave for dwellings. 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