Walnut Ridge Guitar Walk - Walnut Ridge, Arkansas

The town of Walnut Ridge sits on a portion of Highway 67 that has been designated the Rock 'n' Roll Highway, and for good reason. In the fifties and sixties, this stretch of a little over a hundred miles was dotted with nightclubs that showcased performances by future legends of Rock and Roll and Rockabilly including Elvis Presley, Roy Orbison, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, Fats Domino and Conway Twitty. The last of these clubs burned down in 2010, but Walnut Ridge has constructed a Guitar Walk, a 100 by 40 foot park with the pavement designed in detail to resemble an Epiphone guitar. Along the walkway are stations at which you can hear an audio history of Rock 'n' Roll Highway and the stars who performed here. Ironically, Walnut Ridge itself didn't get any of the nightclub action because it's located in a dry county.

If you go:
The walk is always open, and admission is free. Be sure to push each audio button more than once, because each plays more than one recording. A block away is a mini-park celebrating another local connection to pop music history. In 1964, The Beatles caused a stir when they made two unannounced stopovers in Walnut Ridge on the way to and from concerts. Beatles Park features a life-size silhouette sculpture of the Fab Four, a mural, and an exhibit of photos and information. The whole downtown area has gotten in on the act with murals, psychedelic window painting and peace symbols. There's even an Abbey Road.

admin@imbodenlive.com

Phone Numbers:

Walnut Ridge Chamber Of Commerce
+1 (870) 886-3232