♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ >> IN BETWEEN ALL THE MOUNTAIN CLIMBING, MOUNTAIN BIKING, WILD CAVING AND WHATNOT, WE LIKE TO TAKE A LITTLE BREATHER EVERY NOW AND THEN AND DO A LITTLE TROUT FISHING JUST BECAUSE.

AND SO, SHANE GOODNER HEREIN VETED US OUT ON AN OUTING TO A PLACE I NEVER EVEN KNEW TROUT EXISTED.

CARPENTER EXAM AT THE OUACHITA RIVER IN SOUTH HOT SPRINGS.

WHAT'S AVAILABLE HERE IS PRETTY MUCH A WELL KEPT SECRET.

JUST SOUTH OF ONE OF THE STATE'S TOP TOURIST DESTINATIONS, YOU ALSO HAVE ONE OF ARKANSAS'S TOP TROUT FISHERIES.

♪♪ ♪♪ >> THIS REALLY IS A FANTASTIC TROUT FISHERY.

WE'VE GOT QUALITY FISH UP HERE AND WE'VE GOT A BUNCH OF THEM.

IT'S A PERFECT PLACE -- IT'S A PERFECT PLACE TO CATCH TROUT.

AND ONE OF THE MOST UNIQUE THINGS ABOUT IT, WE'RE RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF HOT SPRINGS, ARKANSAS.

OVER THE TOP OF THAT DAM ONE MILE AWAY IS OAKLAWN RACETRACK.

♪♪ ♪♪ >> OUR FISHING TECHNIQUE THIS PARTICULAR DAY WAS ACTUALLY SOMETHING BAD FANGLERS USE CALLED A CAROLINA RIG.

>> BASICALLY ALL A CAROLINA RIG IS, IS A SINKER, A SWIVEL, AND A HAND-TIED LEADER.

NOW, DEPENDING WHAT AREA YOU'RE FISHING IN, THE WATER WE'RE PRIMARILY FISHING IN TODAY IS 3 TO 5 FEET DEEP WHICH MEANS YOU DON'T NEED A HEAVY SINKER.

WE'RE USING A QUARTER-OUNCE SLIP SINKER.

THESE ARE MADE OUT OF TUNGSTEN AND IT'S A TYPE OF STEEL THAT'S EXTREMELY DURABLE.

YOU CAN'T HARDLY FISH WITH A SINKER UP HERE ON THE ROCKEY BOTTOM.

IT WILL INDENT THE HOSE WHERE YOUR LINE RUNS THROUGH AND YOU'LL HAVE LINE DAMAGE.

IT'S BRUTAL ON THE BOTTOM UP HERE.

THE ONLY THING I FOUND THAT WILL HOLD UP ARE THESE SINKERS.

THIS IS THE SIZE 14 SWIVEL, THE PRO STRYKER SWIVEL.

IT'S NOT A BALL BEARING SWIVELS.

THESE BALL BEARING SWIVELS HAVE A TIE SNAP WHERE THE METAL IS.

THE PROBLEM IS IT CATCHES MOSS.

YOU NEED TO HAVE YOUR SWIVEL COMPLETELY STRAIGHT.

THESE PRO STRIKE R SWIVELS WORK REALLY WELL.

YOU CAN'T BUY A LEADER THE RIGHT LENGTH.

YOU GO INTO WAL-MART, STORES THAT HAVE LEADERS, BUT THEY HAVE THE WRONG SIZE HOOK, THE LINE IS TOO BIG AND IT'S TOO SHORT.

IF YOU WANT TO HAVE THE RIGHT COMPONENTS, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO TIE THEM YOURSELF.

BUT OUR FRONT LINE ON THESE ROD AND REELS ARE 6 POUND CLEAR-BLUE FLUORESCENT WHICH MEANS YOU CAN SEE THE LINE ABOVE THE WATER WHICH IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE YOU WANT TO SAY SQUARED UP WITH WHERE YOUR PRESENTATION IS IN THE WATER.

VISIBLE LINES ON THE MAIN SET-UP HERE IS VERY IMPORTANT.

THE LOW-VISIBILITY GREEN COMES IN WHERE WE TIE OUR LEADERS HERE WHERE THEY DISAPPEAR UNDER WATER WHERE THE FISH CAN'T SEE THEM.

NOW, NORMALLY A LEADER WOULD BE A LIGHTER POUND CAST THAN YOUR MAIN LINE.

BUT HERE AT CARPENTER, THERE ARE SO MANY ROCKS AND SNAGS THAT THE LEADERS ARE 6-POUND LINE JUST LIKE THE SAME AS THE FRONT.

6 HERE, 6 HERE AND IT'S A BERKLEY XT WHICH IS EXTREMELY TOUGH BECAUSE THE LEADER TAKES ALL THE ABUSE.

THE HOOKS THAT WE'VE GOT ARE MUSTED AND THEY'RE SIZE 8, WHICH IS JUST NOTHING MORE THAN A VERY LIGHT WIRE HOOK.

NOW, THIS HOOK IS RED.

MAKES NO DIFFERENCE WHAT COLOR THE HOOK IS BECAUSE THEY'RE COVERED UP WITH THE POWER EGGS.

BUT WHAT'S IMPORTANT HERE IS IT'S LIGHT WIRE.

YOU CAN SHARPEN IT, AND IT'S THE RIGHT SIZE.

IT'S A SIZE 8.

NOW, THE REAL QUICKER ON THIS TECHNIQUE ARE THE POWER EGGS.

AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, THE BERKLEY COMPANY HAS COME UP WITH THE FINEST TROUT PRESENTATION OF ALL TIMES.

THE BERKLEY MAGNUM POWER EGG AND WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE ARE CHEAP COSTUME JEWELRY THAT YOU WOULD SEE.

THEY COME UP WITH THESE SEALABLE TIES WHICH IS GOOD BECAUSE THIS STUFF STINKS.

I USED TO PUT THIS STUFF IN MY CAR BEFORE THEY PUT THESE SEALS ON HERE.

MAN, IT SMELLED LIKE A DUMP.

IT HAS A BAKED-IN SCENT.

THE TROUT HAS AN EXCELLENT SENSE OF SMELL.

WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE IS, CHEAP COSTUME JEWELRY, IT'S ALL HOOKED TOGETHER.

SO, WHAT WE'RE DOING IS WE'RE TAKING THESE EGGS AND WE'RE PINCHING THEM OFF ON THE SIDE AND WE'RE USING TWO INSTEAD OF ONE.

THE FISH CAN SEE TWO EGGS BETTER AND IT FLOATS THE HOOKUP OFF THE BOTTOM BECAUSE THESE EGGS ARE HOLLOW.

THEY HAVE A BAKED-IN SCENT AND THEY FLOAT THE HOOKUP OFF THE BOTTOM WHICH IS IMPORTANT.

THE SINKER SITS ON THEV BOTTOM.

WE HAVE A 19-INCH SWIVEL -- LEADER COMING OFF THE SWIVEL WHICH FLOATS BACK AND FORTH IN THE CURRENT.

I'M GOING TO TAKE THESE OLD EGGS JOHN AND I FISHED WITH THIS MORNING, THEY'RE ALL CHEWED UP.

GOING TO PUT OUR FRESH EGGS ON HERE.

WE'LL PUT ONE EGG ON AT A TIME.

GOES RIGHT THROUGH THE MIDDLE, SEPARATE ONE EGG FROM THE OTHER.

PUSH IT UP ON THE HOOK.

TAKE THE OTHER EGG, PUT IT ON THE SAME WAY, AND WE'RE GOING TO SKIN HOOK THIS TAIL EGG, WHICH MEANS WE'RE GOING TO COVER THE BARB UP WITH A LITTLE BIT OF THE EGG.

BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT IT EXPOSED HOOK IN HERE.

AS SOON AS THIS TOUCHES A ROCK IT WILL KNOW IT.

SO, WE HAVE BOTH EGGS ON THE HOOK.

THIS WILL FLOAT UP OFF THE BOTTOM.

AND THIS AREA THAT WE'RE FISHING, THIS IS THE OLD OUACHITA RIVER CHANNEL RIGHT HERE.

YOU CAN SEE WE HAVE FLOW EVEN THOUGH THE TURBINES ARE OFF, WE HAVE ACTUAL RIVER FLOW THROUGH HERE.

THAT'S WHAT THE CHANNEL LOOKED LIKE BEFORE THEY BUILT THE DAM.

THESE TROUT ARE STACKED IN HERE RIGHT IN THE CURRENT EVEN THOUGH IT'S A VERY MINUTE AMOUNT OF CURRENT.

IF YOU THROW MORE TOWARDS THAT BANK, YOU'LL BE IN A BETTER SCHOOL OF FISH.

THAT SINKER SITS ON THE BOTTOM AND THE FIRST HALF THAT YOU FEEL, THE TROUT IS COMING THROUGH THIS AND HE'S GOT THE EGG IN HIS MOUTH.

WHAT THOSE TAPS ARE IS, THOSE ARE HEAD SHAKES.

THE TROUT COMES UP ON THE EGGS, HE SUCKS THEM IN.

YOU SEE THEM TWITCHING THE HEAD.

THOSE ARE THE TAPS YOU FEEL.

YOU LIT HIM HIT IT THE FIRST TIME WITHOUT HITTING THE HOOK.

THE SECOND SERIES OF TAPS YOU FEEL THAT'S WHEN YOU SET THE HOOK.

♪♪ ♪♪ >> ONCE WE GOT ONTO THE RIGHT SPOT, IT DIDN'T TAKE LONG BEFORE WE STARTED CATCHING A FISH ON EVERY CAST.

♪♪ ♪♪ >> ALL RIGHT, NOW WE'RE COOKING WITH GAS.

HOLD HIM IN THE WATER RIGHT THERE.

THAT'S PRETTY COOL, ISN'T IT, WHEN YOU CAN DO THAT.

>> YEAH.

THAT'S NOT TOO BAD.

EVERY CAST.

>> MAN, I TELL YOU, LIKE I WAS TRYING TO EXPLAIN BEFORE, IT REALLY IS A SPECIAL THING TO BE ABLE TO COME TO A PLACE WHERE YOU CAN CATCH FISH ONE RIGHT AFTER ANOTHER.

IT REALLY IS.

♪♪ ♪♪ >> IN CASE YOU WERE WONDERING HOW SHANA INQUIRED HIS FISHING SKILLS... >> MY GRANDFATHER WAS A GREAT FISHERMAN.

AND I WAS FISHING WITH HIM.

I CAN VIVIDLY REMEMBER FISHING WITH HIM WHEN I WAS 4 YEARS OLD.

I REALLY CAN.

SO, I'M COMING UP ON 50 YEARS' EXPERIENCE.

YOU HEAR PEOPLE SAYING, I'VE BEEN DOING THIS 20 YEARS, 30 YEARS, WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE.

AND THAT'S A GOOD THING.

BUT WHEN YOU'VE DONE SOMETHING FOR 30 OR 40 YEARS AND YOU'RE REALLY GOOD AT IT -- I KNOW PEOPLE WHO HAVE DONE STUFF FOR A LONG TIME, NOT REALLY THAT GOOD AT IT.

IF YOU TAKE SOMEBODY THAT IS DEDICATED ALL OF THEIR LEISURE TIME TO ONE THING AND THEY'VE GOTTEN TO THE POINT WHERE THEY'RE GOOD ENOUGH TO TEACH YOU HOW TO FISH, THEN THAT'S A GREAT THING.

I'VE GOT A TEACHING DEGREE.

I'M NOT SOME HILL BILLY COMING OFF THE FARM.

NOT THAT THERE'S ANYTHING WRONG WITH BEING A HILL BILLY.

BUT I CAN USE THAT TO WORK WITH PEOPLE AND TEACH PEOPLE HOW TO CATCH FISH BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT GUIDANCE IS ALL ABOUT.

BEING ABLE TO EMPOWER SOMEBODY ELSE TO CATCH FISH.

♪♪ ♪♪ >> ALRIGHTY.

>> ALL RIGHT SKIM >> THANK YOU.

>> YES, SIR, THAT WAS COOL.

>> SOMETHING ELSE.

I TELL YOU WHAT, THIS IS EXCELLENT.

EXCELLENT.

♪♪ ♪♪ >> SHANE GOODNER'S GUIDE SERVICE "CATCH 'EM ALL" DIFFICULT -- DEFINITELY LIVED UP TO HITS NAME.

DON'T WORRY, THOUGH, WE KEPT TO OUR LIMIT.

PLENTY OF TROUT LEFT FOR EVERYBODY ELSE.

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ >> ALONG WITH THE EIGHT OR SO HIKING TRAILS AT PINNACLE MOUNTAIN STATE PARK, YOU CAN NOW TAKE ALONG YOUR MOUNTAIN BIKE WHEN VISITING THIS POPULAR PARK WEST OF LITTLE ROCK JUST AS WE DID WITH SEVERAL MOUNTAIN BIKING ENTHUSIASTS WHO ENJOY THIS NEW AREA.

♪♪ TWO MOUNTAIN BIKE TRAILS ARE LOCATED NORTH OF PINNACLE VALLEY ROAD JUST OFF THE ENTRANCE ROAD THAT LEADS UP TO THE VISITOR'S CENTER.

♪♪ ♪♪ >> WE'VE GOT ONE THAT'S INTERMEDIATE ADVANCED TRAIL CALLED THE JACK FORK.

IT'S A LITTLE OVER 7 MILES LONG, AND THESE GUYS ARE COMING DOWN RIGHT NOW THROUGH THE TRAIL HEAD.

LIKE I SAID, IT'S A LITTLE MORE ADVANCED THAN MOST PEOPLE WOULD WANT TO TRY.

IT'S A LOT OF ROCK, A LOT OF ROOTS.

YOU HAVE TO PEDAL THE WHOLE WAY.

IT'S NOT A COASTER TRAIL.

IT'S NOT A GOOD -- IT IS A PEDALING TRAIL FOR SURE.

THEN WE HAVE THE RIDGE WHICH IS DOWN AT THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL.

IT'S A FAMILY TRAIL.

IT'S THE ONE WHERE WE WANT KIDS AND BEGINERS AND WHATNOT TO TEST OUT MOUNTAIN BIKESES TO MAKE SURE THEY LIKE MOUNTAIN BAKE BIKING.

IT'S THREE QUARTERS OF A MILE LONG.

IT'S FLAT, A LITTLE ELEVATION GAME, BUT NOT MUCH.

♪♪ ♪♪ >> OF COURSE, CONSTRUCTING MOUNTAIN BIKE TRAILS LIKE THIS INVOLVES QUITE A BIT OF EXTENSIVE WORK FROM THE GET-GO.

♪♪ ♪♪ >> IN THE BEGINNING THEY CAME OUT AND WALKED THIS WHOLE TRAIL.

I CAME OUT A FEW TIMES WITH THEM.

THEY STARTED DECIDING WHERE WOULD BE A GOOD PLACE OUT HERE TO PUT THE TRAILS.

THEY HAD TO COME OUT AND FLAG THE ENTIRE TRAIL AND WATCH FOR WATER RUNOFF AND THINGS LIKE THAT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PICKED A GOOD SPOT.

AFTER THAT WE CAME OUT AND RAKED FOR MONTHS EVERY WEEKEND, SOMETIMES DURING THE WEEK AFTER WORK.

IT TOOK A VERY, VERY LONG TIME, MOVING ROCKS, DIGGING ROCKS OUT, BUILDING BRIDGES.

IT'S A SEVERAL-MONTHS PROCESS.

>> IT'S WORTHWHILE.

IT'S BEAUTIFUL.

>> IT'S A GREAT RIDE.

WE ENJOY IT A LOT.

IT WAS WORTH EVERY DROP OF SWEAT.

>> OF COURSE, THE MAINTENANCE OF IT, THAT'S STILL AN ONGOING PROCESS.

>> YEAH.

AND MOUNTAIN BIKERS ARE A PRETTY GOOD GROUP.

THEY'LL DO A LOT OF IT ON THEIR OWN.

IF SOMETHING IS FALLEN ON THE TRAIL THEY'LL PICK IT UP AND MOVE IT OUT OF THE WAY MOST OF THE TIME BECAUSE THEY WANT TO BE ABLE TO RIDE THE NEXT TIME.

THEY DON'T WANT IT TO BE IN THEIR WAY.

WE'LL COME OUT AND RAKE AND WE HAVE VOLUNTEER GROUPS THAT WILL COME OUT AND RAKE AND KEEP IT CLEAN.

AL >> TELL US, WHAT DO YOU ENJOY ABOUT THE SPORT AND COMING OUT HERE IN THE WOODS AND JUST LETTING LOOSE?

>> WELL, I REALLY LIKE BEING OUT IN THE WOODS DOING ANYTHING.

I LIKE TO TRAIL RUN, I LIKE TO -- PINNACLE MOUNTAIN IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE GEMS.

I LIKE TO COME.

MOUNTAIN BIKING, NOT JUST THE ADRENALINE RUSH, BUT IT'S A FULL-BODY WORKOUT AND IT'S A MENTAL WORKOUT AS WELL.

YOU HAVE TO BE THINKING ALL THE TIME OR YOU'RE GOING TO GET HURT.

SO, EVERY PART OF YOUR BODY IS WORKING, AND YOUR BRAIN IS WORKING ALL THE TIME TRYING TO AVOID ALL THE OBSTACLES.

♪♪ ♪♪ >> SO, GRAB YOUR MOUNTAIN BIKE AND TRYOUT THE NEW TRAILS FOR YOURSELF AT PINNACLE STATE PARK WEST OF LITTLE ROCK.

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ >> THROUGHOUT ARKANSAS'S VARIED WILDLIFE YOU CAN NOW ADD PELICANS.

DURING THE WARMER MONTHS OF THE YEAR THEY SPEND THEIR TIME IN THE NORTHERN GREAT PLAINS AND THE ROCKIES.

DURING THEIR WINTER MIGRATION THEY'LL PASS THROUGH ARKANSAS AND SOME ACTUALLY SPEND THEIR WINTER HERE, SUCH AS AT DARDANELLE, RIGHT HERE BY THE DAM.

♪♪ ♪♪ WHEN OBSERVING PELICANS FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME, YOU CAN'T HELP BUT WONDER, HOW ON EARTH DO THESE BIRDS FLY WITH ANY SORT OF EASE, CONSIDERING THEIR ENORMOUS BEAKS?

♪♪ ♪♪ PELICANS ARE STRONG FLYERS, DESPITE THEIR DISPROPORTIONATE BODY SIZE COMPARED TO THE HUGE BEAKS.

THEY FLY QUITE EASILY BY TUCKING THEIR HEADS AND NECKS BACK INTO THEIR BODY, AND GRANTED, SOMETIMES WHEN THEIR BEAKS ARE FULL OF FISH, THEY MIGHT EVEN HAVE TO SPIT SOME OUT TO GET AIRBORNE.

♪♪ ♪♪ THERE ARE TWO VARIETIES OF PELICANS THAT LIVE IN THE UNITED STATES.

WHITE AND BROWN.

AND ONLY THE WHITE ONES MIGRATE.

BROWN PELICANS CAN BE FOUND ON THE EAST AND GULF COASTS.

♪♪ ♪♪ ANOTHER CHARACTERISTIC OF WHITE PELICANS ARE THE BLACK-WING EDGES AND YOU MAY BE SURPRISED AT THE SIZE OF THESE BIRDS.

THEIR WING SPAN CAN BE AS MUCH AS 9-1/2 FEET AND WEIGH UP TO 25 POUNDS.

♪♪ ♪♪ BUT IT'S THOSE HUGE BEAKS THAT DO COME IN HANDY WHEN THEY DIP THEIR HEAD UNDER WATER TO SCOOP UP FISH.

ONLY BROWN PELICANS DIVE TO GRAB UP THEIR MEAL.

THE WHITE ONES ACTUALLY FORM A LINE HERDING FISH INTO SHALLOW SHORE AND THEN THEY DO THEIR SCOOPING UP.

PELICANS MAY GATHER AN IMPRESSIVE NUMBERS AT A PARTICULAR AREA ONE YEAR, BUT THAT MAY NOT BE THE CASE THE FOLLOWING YEAR.

THESE AT THE DAM BY DARDANELLE, WE JUST HAPPENED TO COME UPON.

THE YEAR BEFORE THEY WERE QUITE ABUNDANT ON LAKE CONWAY.

AND SINCE WHITE PELICANS FOLLOW RIVERS ON THEIR MIGRATIONS, THEY COULD BE SPREAD OUT JUST ABOUT ANYWHERE ALONG THE ARKANSAS RIVER.

TO GET A PRETTY GOOD IDEA OF PELICAN LOCATIONS FROM YEAR TO YEAR, YOU CAN CONTACT EITHER THE GAME AND FISH COMMISSION OR THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS.

BUT ONCE YOU DO LOCATE THEM, YOU ARE DEFINITELY IN FOR QUITE A SHOW.

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ >> IN ARKANSAS WE NORVLY FOCUS ON OUTDOOR ADVENTURE.

BUT EVERY NOW AND THEN HUNGER DOES GET THE BEST OF US.

AND WHILE IN THE OZARK NATIONAL FOREST NORTHWEST OF CLARKSVILLE, WE STUMBLED UPON THIS PLACE, THE OARK GENERAL STORE AND CAFE, WHICH HAPPENS TO BE THE OLDEST STORE IN ARKANSAS.

IT'S BEEN IN CONTINUOUS OPERATION SINCE 1890.

♪♪ ♪♪ >> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, THE FOOD IS ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE.

AND I'VE BEEN COMING TO THIS STORE FOR ABOUT THREE YEARS NOW.

THE AMAZING THING ABOUT THE STORE IS IT IS REALLY KIND OF THE CENTER OF OARK COMMUNITY.

IT BRINGS TOGETHER AMAZING ECLECTIC GROUP OF PEOPLE, EVERYTHING FROM EDUCATORS TO BIKERS, TO TOURISTS.

AND IT JUST PROVIDES A VERY WARM ATMOSPHERE.

AND BEING THE OLDEST STORE IN THE STATE OF ARKANSAS, I THINK IT GIVES A LOT OF BALANCE.

AS SMALL AS OARK IS, IT'S A WONDERFUL THING ARKANSAS HAS TO OFFER IN SOME OF THE TUCKED AWAY PLACES.

>> SO, WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE DISHES HERE?

>> THE CHICKEN STRIPS ARE BY FAR MY FAVORITE.

YOU CANNOT FIND A BETTER BURGER THAN THIS STORE.

>> I UNDERSTAND THAT BURGER IS SOMETHING ELSE.

>> AND COCONUT CREAM PIE CAN GET YOU INTO TROUBLE.

SO, IT'S ABSOLUTELY EXCELLENT.

EVERYTHING HERE IS MADE FRESH, AND IT'S JUST -- IT'S VERY GOOD FOOD.

AND GREAT PEOPLE.

♪♪ ♪♪ >> THE CURRENT STORE OWNERS, CARLA AND JAMES MITCHELL, SAY FOR THEM FINDING THIS STORE WAS NOTHING SHORT OF FATE.

>> IT WAS SERENDIPITOUS.

MY DAD WAS LOOKING FOR A PIECE OF PROPERTY AND JUST FATE KIND OF SHINED WHEN HE WAS DOING A SEARCH.

WE SPENT -- MY FATHER AND I SPENT TWO YEARS UP HERE BUILDING A CABIN ACROSS FROM AN ORIGINAL HOMESTEAD THAT'S ON THE PROPERTY BUILT BACK IN THE 1890s.

AND JUST OVER THAT TWO YEARS KIND OF GOT TO KNOW THE COMMUNITY AND GOT TO KNOW A LOT OF THE FOLKS IN IT AND DECIDED WE WERE GOING TO STAY HERE, WE WERE ACTUALLY GOING TO BE ABLE TO KEEP OUR KIDS HERE AND RAISE OUR KIDS HERE IN THE COMMUNITY.

WE WERE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE A WAY TO MAKE A LIVING.

WE DECIDED TO LEAVE CORPORATE AMERICA.

I WAS WORKING FOR BANK OF AMERICA AT THE TIME.

DECIDED TO LEAVE CORPORATE AMERICA AND KICKBACK AND HAVE A DIFFERENT LIFE-STYLE.

>> SO, WHAT IS IT ABOUT, YOU KNOW, HERE, WHAT SOME PEOPLE WOULD SAY IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE, YOU KNOW, THAT ATTRACTED YOU?

>> THE FACT IT IS IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE.

IT'S A COMMUNITY IN THE TRUE SENSE OF THE WORD.

IT'S FAMILY, IT'S EXTENDED FAMILY, IT'S -- EVERYBODY KNOWS EVERYBODY.

I MEAN, YOU TRULY KNOW EVERYBODY.

YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO HERE IS BEING ABLE TO SIT OUT ON THE FRONT PORCH OF THE STORE IN THE MORNING, WATCHING MY KIDS WALK TO SCHOOL, SIT ON THE PORCH IN THE AFTERNOON, WATCH THEM WALK HOME.

BE ABLE TO -- EVEN IN OUR BUSIEST DAYS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SEASON, EVEN IF IT'S 90 TO NOTHING, WE CAN STILL STEP OUT BACK AND SPEND 30 MINUTES WITH THEM, SPEND 45 MINUTES WITH THEM, RAISE THEM RIGHT HERE IN THE COMMUNITY.

JUST INTERACT WITH THEM ALL DAY LONG.

>> IT MUST BE SOMETHING TO OWN A PIECE OF HISTORY WHAT THIS STORE IS, THE OLDEST BUSINESS IN THE STATE.

>> YEAH, IT'S PRETTY -- PRETTY UNIQUE, BEING ABLE TO LAY YOUR HANDS ON A PIECE OF HISTORY.

FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, IT OPENED IN ABOUT THE 1890s, THE DOORS HAVE BEEN OPEN ABOUT 120 YEARS.

SEVERAL DIFFERENT OWNERS, OBVIOUSLY, DIFFERENT FAMILIES, BUT IT'S NEVER SHUT DOWN.

IT'S KIND OF TRANSITIONED, ADAPTED ITSELF OVER THE YEARS.

WE WERE JUST KIND OF LUCKY ENOUGH TO GET IT IN THE SHAPE -- IN THE FORM THAT IT IS NOW.

YOU KNOW, IT STARTED OUT AS A GENERAL STORE ORIGINALLY.

THERE WERE THREE STORES HERE IN TOWN WITH AN ACTIVE POST OFFICE JUST DOWN THE ROAD, A LITTLE COMMUNITY, 2300 RESIDENTS THERE.

IT'S KIND OF SAD TO SEE, YOU KNOW, COMMUNITIES LIKE THIS KIND OF DWINDLE DOWN, BUT HOPEFULLY THERE'S ENOUGH INTEREST, YOU KNOW, THAT PEOPLE OUT THERE WILL SEEK US OUT.

I MEAN, THAT'S REALLY KIND MUCH OUR FORTE NOW.

WE DEPEND ON THE LOCALS IN THE WINTER, THE HARD TIMES TO GET THROUGH.

DURING THE SUMMER WE HAVE PEOPLE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE, YOU KNOW, FROM COAST TO COAST, OVERSEAS.

WE'VE HAD THEM HERE FROM HONG KONG, FROM THAILAND.

WE'VE HAD MOVIE CREW IN HERE FILMING A PIECE OF A MOVIE.

I MEAN, WE'VE HAD RON JOHN SURF SHOP COME THROUGH FROM NEW JERSEY.

IT'S -- IT REALLY KIND OF BLOWS MY MIND THE DIFFERENT LIFE-STYLES AND THE DIFFERENT KIND OF PEOPLE THAT KIM THROUGH -- COME THROUGH THE DOOR ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS.

♪♪ >> AND IT'S THE FOOD THAT KEEPS FOLKS COMING BACK FOR MORE, MAKING SPECIAL TRIPS, EVEN FROM OUT OF STATE.

>> WE HAVE FOLKS COME OVER HERE THAT -- I MEAN, THEY RIDE FROM OKLAHOMA, RIDE FROM TEXAS IN THE AFTERNOON, JUST TO EAT A BURGER AND TAKE PIE HOME.

WE HAVE ONE GENTLEMAN FROM A LITTLE TOWN THAT I ACTUALLY GREW UP IN IN OKLAHOMA THAT IRONICALLY, WHEN WE GOT HERE, WAS MY FATHER'S BEST FRIEND IN HIGH SCHOOL.

HIS SON, HE RIDES OVER HERE ABOUT ONCE A MONTH.

HE RIDES OVER HERE.

HE'LL CALL AHEAD.

HE'LL MAKE SURE WE HAVE BUTTERMILK PIE IN THE CASE.

HE'LL EAT A PIECE HERE AND TAKE THE REST HOME ON HIS MOTORCYCLE.

[LAUGHTER] ♪♪ ♪♪ >> SO, CHECK OUT THE OLDEST STORE IN THE STATE FOR YOURSELF HERE AT OARK, AND ESPECIALLY ONE OF THE SIGNATURE BURGERS WITH THE GRILLED ONIONS, PEPPER JACK CHEESE AND THE BARBECUE SAUCE.

YEAH, BUDDY.

MMM... THAT IS DELISH, ABSOLUTELY.

AND FOR MORE ON THIS DESTINATION PLUS MANY OF OUR OTHERS AND TO CHECK OUT OUR VIDEOS, OR TO ORDER A COPY OF AN EPISODE, VISIT OUR WEBSITE, AETN.ORG/EXPLORING ARKANSAS.

AND WE'LL SEE YOU AGAIN THE NEXT TIME FOR ANOTHER EXCITING ADVENTURE ON EXPLORING ARKANSAS.

M, M, M. ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪