Collins Creek

It's finally prime waterfall season here in Arkansas. But there's just one problem - we've barely had any rain this year. Most of the state has been classified as being under a drought, which isn't ideal for waterfalls. But luckily there is a place that is guaranteed to have water running year-round, even in the most driest of conditions. So a few weeks ago, I headed up for a quick visit to Collins Creek.

Along the way there were some neat barns, so of course I had to pull over and try to get a few pictures:









And then I finally made it to Collins Creek, which runs year-round because water is piped in from nearby Greers Ferry Lake. The constant flow of water helps serve as a habitat for trout, and as a playground for landscape photographers.







One the way out, I stopped by the overlook by the dam that creates the lake. The concrete dam was completed in 1962 and was dedicated by President Kennedy in October of 1963, one of his last major public appearances. The park here is named in his honor.



And one last shot, of a bridge passing over the Little Red River. There were a few people out fishing in the river nearby.

Judsonia

There are two old bridges that cross the Little Red River in Judsonia. One is an old train bridge, which was built in 1912 by the St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern Railroad.



The other is an old vehicle bridge, built in 1924.



And both are still in use. As I was out there for nearly two hours while the camera was taking enough pictures for these star trails, the quiet night was punctuated by the doleful wail of a train whistle, followed by the thunderous avalanche of sound as a train crossed over the creaky metal bridge. That was joined by the bang and clatter of the occasional car driving over the weathered wooden beams of the bridge, the sound echoing across the river.

Judsonia and Bald Knob

I was driving through the small town of Judsonia the other day (as one does), and stopped to get a few pictures. There is a very photogenic old bridge here, which was built in 1924 across the Little Red River.



It is a cantilever swing bridge, and it used to swing out across the river for boats to float by.



Judsonia sits along Hwy. 367, which used to be designated as Route 67. Like old Route 66, Route 67 was once a busy road for travelers and there used to be several old motels here. Most of them are abandoned or torn down now, like this old motel. Nothing exists of it anymore, except for this weathered and faded sign.





And down the road is another old motel, the Texas Ill Motel. It was built in the 1940s, and was in operation up until the 1990s.



The motel probably got its name because it sat at the midway point of Hwy. 67 (which ran from Texas to Illinois).



Near the old motel was this gas station, which has also been abandoned.



And a quick peek inside:





And next to it is this old abandoned building:



Not sure what it was used for, except that it was an office for something.



I headed over to the small and amusingly-named town of Bald Knob. Along the railroad tracks, by the old train station, is this abandoned hotel.



The hotel was built in 1910. According to the "Abandoned Arkansas" website, this was one of three hotels along Bald Knob's Skid Row. Back then, "'Skid Row' was a famous strip of bars, brothels, and boarding houses in the area around 1920 to about 1970...These hotels were notorious for prostitution and hide-outs for passing through criminals."



There was nothing that nefarious going on this day, just some guy walking around taking pictures.