ARKANSAS MAY NOT BE ASSOCIATED WITH ALLIGATORS LIKE LOUISIANA IS BUT THEY ARE HERE.

AND QUITE ABUNDANCE, ACTUALLY.

EVEN PERMITS ARE GIVEN OUT FOR GATOR HUNTING.

OUR OUTING IS STRICTLY FOR VIEWING.

TO HOPEFULLY SPOT A FEW GATORS DURING DAYLIGHT WHICH IS A LITTLE BIT MORE DIFFICULT TO DO VERSUS THE NIGHTTIME, WE VENTURED OFF WITH MIKE HARRIS WHO WAS THE SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS ALLIGATOR COORDINATOR WITH THE GAME AND FISH COMMISSION.

HE GUIDED US INTO A SWAMPY LAKE NORTHEAST OF ARCANA WHICH IS LOCATED ONLY ABOUT HALF A MILE SOUTH OF INTERSTATE 30.

I QUICKLY LEARNED HOW WELL GATORS CAN CAMOUFLAGE THEMSELVES.

EXTREMELY WELL.

LOOKING JUST LIKE ANY OTHER CLUMP OF SWAMP OR MOCK.

>> HE IS PROBABLY ABOUTSEVEN FEET .

WHEN THE REINTRODUCTION OF ALLIGATORS BEGAN IN ARKANSAS DURING THE EARLY 1980S, THERE WAS AT LEAST TWO LOCATIONS WERE GATORS ALREADY EXISTED.

THERE WAS A COUPLE OF SIDES AND ARKANSAS THAT STILL HAVE REMNANTS OF THE NATIVE POPULATION OF THE GATOR.

ONE IN SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS AND THE HUNTING CLUB PROTECTED FOR OVER 100 YEARS.

ANOTHER ONE IN EASTERN ARKANSAS THAT I AM NOT SURE SOMEWHERE IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD OVER THERE.IT STILL HAD SOME REMNANTS OF THE NATIVE POPULATION THERE.

I THINK IT WAS IN THE EARLY 80 , PROBABLY 1981 OR 1982 WHERE THE FISH CAME UP WITH A PLAN TO REINTRODUCE ALLIGATORS INTO ARKANSAS.

>> WHY WAS THAT?

WHY WOULDN'T THEY JUST SAY LEAVE IT THE WAY IT IS.

WE HAVE SOMEHERE OR HERE .

WHY INTRODUCE MORE?

>> ONE OF THE THOUGHT PROCESSES BEHIND IT WAS TO HELP POSSIBLY TO HELP CURVE SOME OF THE BEAVER DAMAGE.

I DON'T THINK IT WAS ACTUALLY VERY EFFECTIVE BUT THEY REALLY HAD A PLACE IN ARKANSAS BECAUSE THEY WERE NATIVES OF THIS.

THEY WERE HERE LONG BEFORE THE EUROPEANS CAME IN TO EXISTENCE AND ARKANSAS.

THEY HAD BEEN HERE FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS.

I THINK IT IS REALLY A GOOD THING TO HAVE AS A VIABLE POPULATION AND ARKANSAS.>> I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE LIKE TO GO OUT AND GET THE HUNTING PERMITS FOR THEM BUT JUST LIKE WE ARE DOING TODAY PHOTOGRAPHING THEM AND VIEWING THEM.

PROBABLY IT'S A LOT MORE ENJOYABLE.

IF YOU'VE NEVER SCANNED AN ALLIGATOR THIS IS A LOT MORE FUN THAN SCANNING ONE.

I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN SKINNING A FEW AND IT'S QUITE A CHORE.

ALTHOUGH ALLIGATOR GUMBO IS GOOD.

>> IF SOMEONE ELSE SCANS IT AND MAKES IT GUMBO I AM WITH YOU.

>> IT REMINDS ME OF A SONG JERRY REED ONCE REPORTED.

ALLIGATOR GUMBO.

YOU KNOW, IT TASTES LIKE CHICKEN.

[MUSIC] WHAT BEGAN AS A LABOR OF LOVE FOR ONE EAST ARKANSAS FAMILY HAS TURNED INTO A RE-CREATED 19TH-CENTURY VILLAGE WHERE HISTORY COMES TO LIFE.

WELCOME TO THE PARKER PIONEER HOMESTEAD IN WHITEHALL.

[MUSIC] WELCOME TO THEHOMESTEAD.

WE LIKE TO WELCOME EVERYONE HERE TO THE HOMESTEAD.

WHAT WE DO AT THIS STATION IS MAKE ROPE .

WHAT YOU WILL SEE HERE TODAY AT THE WHOLE HOMESTEAD IS YOUR FOREFATHERS AND YOUR FOREFATHERS FOREFATHERS USED.

YOU HAVE NO ELECTRICITY.THAT MEANS NO STOVE, NOREFRIGERATOR, NO MICROWAVE .

NO VIDEO GAMES.

NO PHONES.

>> THIS THING HERE LOOKS LIKE A BIG PORK CHOP.

IT'S CALLED A CARRIAGE.

THEY WOULD TAKE THE CARRIAGE AND INSERTED INTO THE TWINE.

THEY WOULD GO TO RETURN IT AND HERE YOU GO.

YOU SEE THE KNOTS COMING IN.

IT COMES INTO THE LINE AND YOU HAVE TO COUNTERWEIGHT IT HERE HOLDING BACK.

IT STARTS PUSHING AND IT PUSHES THIS CARRIAGE DOWN THE LINE AND YOU CAN SEE THE ROPE COMING TOGETHER RIGHT HERE BEHIND IT.

ALL RIGHT.

SO, I WANT TO TELL YOU ABOUT THIS.

IT'S CALLED THE JOHNSON HOUSE.

THE REASON IT'S CALLED THE JOHNSON HOUSE IS BECOME THE FAMILY NAME JOHNSON LIVED HERE 200 YEARS AGOON A FARM CLOSE TO HERE .

>> EACH FAMILY WOULD GROW THEIR OWN AND CUT IT AND LOADED UP INTO THE WAGON AND BRING IT TO THE MAN WITH A MILL.

HE WOULD SQUEEZE IT DOWN AND COOK IT FOR THEM.

HE WOULD KEEP PART OF THEIR SWORDS THERE.

>> AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, FOR SCHOOL KIDS VISITING THE PIONEER HOMESTEAD IT'S ONE AMERICAN HISTORY LESSON NOT SOON TO BE FORGOTTEN.

>> I REALLY LIKE SEEING THE SCHOOLHOUSE.

THE SCHOOLHOUSE IS REALLY COOL.

IT'S REALLY HARD TO IMAGINE HOW A BIG SCHOOL FITS AND ONE TINY HOUSE.

I LEARNED THAT MAKING BRIMS.

THEY ARE REALLY PRETTY.

THEY REMINDED YOU OF THE RAINBOW A LOT.

>> ABOUT THE SORGHUM MAKING.

IT SOUNDS REALLY GOOD.

THE DONKEY LOOKS REALLY HAPPY.

IT'S REALLY COOL JUST WATCHING THE MAKE IT AND HOW THE DONKEY TURNS AROUND WITH THE WOOD, TURNING ALL THE JEWS AND WATCHING IT POUR INTO THE BOWL.

IT SMELLS REALLY GOOD.

IT'S A LITTLE BIT STRONG ONCE YOU TASTE IT.

>> I FIRST GOT HERE, I SAW THE MAKING ROPE AND I WILL MAKE ONE WHEN I GO HOME.

IT LOOKS REALLY COOL.

IT'S A ROPE.

THE SECOND GENERATION PARKER HERE AT THE HOMESTEAD IS HELPING OUT WITH THE BROOM MAKING.

WELL, AS A KID, IT'S A GREAT PLACE.

THERE IS PIECES TO PLAY AND IT'S FANTASTIC.

I HAVE A LITTLE BOY THAT'S NINE AND IT'S MORE FOR HIM THAN IT WAS FOR ME.

MOM AND DAD STARTED AT FIVE OR SIX YEARS OLD.

FURTHER ON IN HIGH SCHOOL ME AND MY BUDDIES WERE ON AND IN COLLEGE WE DID TWO.

WE WOULD TEAR THEM DOWN AND BRING IT HOME EVERY WEEKEND.

IT'S A LABOR OF LOVE AND THINGS YOU DO.

FOR US, IT'S WHAT YOU DID.

LIKE ANY OTHER FAMILY HAS SOMETHING THEY DO.

SOME PEOPLE GO TO FOOTBALL GAMES AND WE WORK OUT HERE.

THERE IS NOT REALLY ANYWHERE ELSE THAT WE KNOW OF THE IT'S LIKE THIS.

OTHER PLACES HAVE THESE KINDS OF THINGS AND THEY ARE MORE MUSEUMS KIND OF THINGS.

IT'S ROPED OFF AND YOU CAN'T TOUCH IT OR PLAY WITH IT.

THE INTENTION OF MY PARENTS AND THEY DID THIS AND WHAT THEY WERE TRYING TO BUILD AND WHAT WILL ULTIMATELY BE I STILL DON'T KNOW.

WE STARTED HERE AND WE WENT THAT WAY.

EVERY YEAR IT CONTINUES TO GO THAT WAY.

WE BUILD SOMETHING EVERY YEAR.

SOMETHING AS WE GO.

THE KIDS WILL COME ON AN AVERAGE YEAR AROUND 4000.

WE ARE OPEN FOR 10 DAYS AND WE DO SIX DAYS OF SCHOOL KIDS AND FOUR DAYS OF FESTIVALS.

OUR PLACE AS OPPOSED TO OTHERS YOU CAN TOUCH IT, FEEL IT AND IT'S NOT LIKE YOU LOOK AT AN EXHIBIT IT'S QUIET AND YOU MOVE ON.

>> SIGH AND HIS MOTHER THERESA KEEP ALIVE AN AGE-OLD CRAFT THAT YOU RARELY SEE THESE DAYS.

>> IT'S AN INTERESTING THING TO BE ABLE TO DO.

I'VE MET A LOT OF INTERESTING PEOPLE LOOKING FOR SUPPLIES.

IT'S A DIFFICULT THING WHEN YOU START OUT TO DO WHAT WE DO.

YOU DON'T GO TO THE ARTS AND CRAFT STORE TO FIND THE PEOPLE WHO COULD GIVE YOU THE GUIDE ROOM.

WHERE YOU FIND ALL THE PEOPLE?

PEOPLE OUT IN ALABAMA NOW IN THE COLLEGE AND WE HAVE SOMETHING AS WELL.

IT'S SOMETHING TO LEARN HOW TO DO.

IT'S LIKE RIDING A BIKE.YOU START OFF AND YOU KNOW HOW TO DO IT BUT YOU DO IT VERY POORLY.

AFTER A WHILE IT'S NOT SO BAD THEY ARE ALL A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.

WE MAKE IT BY HAND.

THEY ARE ALL DIFFERENT COLORS.

WE DON'T MAKE THEM TO SIT ON THE WALL AND LOOK AT.

THEY ARE NOT TRINKETS OR DECORATIVE THINGS.

ONCE WE MAKE IT, WE MAKE IT TO USE.

IT'S A WASTE OF MONEY FOR DON'T USE IT.

NO POINT.

THEY HOLD UP A LONG TIME.

>> THE TRUE TEST OF EQUALITY ROOM IS WHEN IT STANDS ALONE.

THERE IS ONE MORE LESSON LEARNED BY THE SCHOOL KIDS.

>> IF YOU GOT IN TROUBLE THE TEACHER WOULD WHIP YOU WITH A LEVER LEATHER STRAP OR A WOODEN PADDLE OR RULER?

>> ON THE PALM OF YOUR HAND OR YOUR KNUCKLE.

THAT DOESN'T SOUND VERY GOOD.

>> WHEN YOU WENT OUTSIDE YOU WOULD ONLY GET A FEW MINUTES.

WHEN PEOPLE HAVE LUNCH THERE, THEY WOULD HAVE THINGS LIKE PIG FAT OR BACON.

>> DOES THAT SOUND GOOD?

[LAUGHTER] PIG FAT NOT SO MUCH.

>> I AM THE SAME WAY.

SCHOOL FIELD TRIPS AT PARKER PINES ARE HELD THE THIRD AND FOURTH WEEK IN SEPTEMBER.

HOMESTEAD FESTIVAL IS THE SECOND AND THIRD WEEKEND IN OCTOBER.

>> DID YOU KNOW THAT ONE OF THE LARGEST NATIVE AMERICAN SHELTERS HAPPENS TO BE ON A GOLFCOURSE?

THAT IS RIGHT .ALONG THE 17 FAIRWAY HERE AT FAIRFIELD BAY.

ETCHED INTO THE CEILING WITH PETROGLYPHS WHO OCCUPIED THE SHELTER FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS.

NUMBERS BY THE PETROGLYPHS RESPOND TO NUMBERS ON A PLAQUE TO LOCATE AND DESCRIBE THE INDIVIDUAL PETROGLYPHS.

IN 1542 THE SHELTER WAS ALSO A DOCUMENTED STOPOVER FOR HERNANDO DESOTO WHILE SEEKING THE FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH.

SO, THE ESTIMATED TIME OF WHEN THEY WERE INHABITANTS HERE AND I UNDERSTAND IT'S 1000 BC OR 4000 YEARS AGO.

SOMEWHERE AROUND THERE.

>> IT COULD GO BACK AS FAR AS 10,000 YEARS.

>> IN 1776 THERE CAME A REALLY HARD PRIEST AND A LOT OF THE INDIAN TRIBES WERE IN THE CAVE.

ABOUT SIX DAYS.

THE OSAGE CATO CHEROKEE WITH SHAWNEE THAT TOOK SHELTER IN HERE ALTOGETHER.

THAT WAS WHEN THE FIRST PETROGLYPHS CAME ABOUT QUITE A FEW THOUSAND YEARS.

>> THAT'S WHATTHE ARKANSAS ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY .

>> HE WORKS OUT OF THE FAYETTEVILLE OFFICE.

THIS IS THE LARGEST CAVE IN THE STATE OF ARKANSAS.

>> THERE IS A LOT NOT A LOT THAT HAVE THE PICTOGRAPH BUT NOT THE PETROGLYPHS WHICH IS ETCHINGS INTO THE ROCK.

>> YES.

IT'S STARTING TO GROW A LITTLE BIT BUT IF YOU LOOK CLOSE ENOUGH YOU CAN DETERMINE WHERE THEY ALL ARE.

THE SMALL CAVE UP ON THE SECOND LANDING UP THERE IS ANOTHER CAVE THAT HAS ALOT OF PETROGLYPHS AND IT .

>> TELL US ABOUT HOW THE LOG CABIN UP THERE AND THE ARTIFACTS THAT WERE FOUND HERE IN YOUR MUSEUM.

>> YES.

WE HAVE AN INDIAN PEACE PIPE AT 1600 A.D. AT A TRIBE FROM NORTHERN MINNESOTA.

IT WAS THE FIRST IN 1931.

THE ARTIFACTS ARE IN THE MUSEUM AND THE SECOND WAS MANY YEARS LATER AND THEY TOOK 20 FEET OF DIRT OUT OF THE BOTTOM TO THE CEILING HIGHER SO THE KIDS WOULD STOP DRAWING AROUND THE PETROGLYPHS.

>> THE LOG CABIN WAS BUILT IN 1850 DOWN BY A TOWN CALLED EGLIN TIMES.

THAT WAS MR. HOOTON'S HOME.

HE WENT BY THE WAY OF THE LAKE WITH THE REST OF THE TOWN SO HE TOOK IT APART PIECE BY PIECE AND NUMBERED EVERYTHING.

40 ACRES APPEARED.

HE SOLD TICKETS FOR $0.10.

HIS WIFE USED AS A CRAFT STORE.

MR. BRADBERRY WAS THE HOMESTEAD.

HE HAD A BARN IN A HOUSE IN FRONT OF THE CAVE AND HIS WIFE WAS THE FIRST SCHOOLTEACHER IN THE CAVE WAS THE FIRST SCHOOLHOUSE.

>> NOW, A GOLF COURSE OUT THERE.

>> YES.

RUMOR HAS IT THAT THE SHELTER WAS A HOOK SHOT ON THE 17TH.

YES.

ON A GENERAL STORE IN THE 1970S IT'S TURNED INTO ONE OF THE MOST EXCITING EXPERIENCES IN ITALIAN CUISINE AROUND THESE PARTS.

SOME WILL TELL YOU IT'S IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE.

WELCOME TO THE LOW CAFI YOU CAN'T JUDGE A BOOK OR A PLACE BY ITS COVER.

SO IT IS WITH LOW CAFI.

TAKE IT FROM CUSTOMERS YOU WILL BE QUITE PRESENTLY SURPRISED WITH CHEF NIX FIVE TAR STAR CUISINE.

>> IT ALL STARTED YEARS AGO WHEN I FIRST HEARD ABOUT THIS PLACE.

I'VE BEEN COMING HERE FOR YEARS.

THE SERVICE IS FANTASTIC.

SAME FACES EVERY TIMEYOU COME HERE.

THEY ARE ALWAYS VERY POLITE AND THEY TAKE CARE OF YOU.

THE FOOD IS FANTASTIC .

I CELEBRATED MY BIRTHDAY HERE.

LIVING IN CHICAGO AND COMING ALL THE WAY DOWN HERE FOR MY BIRTHDAY DINNER WAS REALLY A SPECIAL PLACE.

>> THAT IS SAYING SOMETHING ABOUT THE PLACE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WONDERFUL.

>> THE BEST PRIME RIB I'VE EVER HAD.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> OF ITS PRIME RIB YOU WANT YOU BETTER GET HERE EARLY BECAUSE THEY USUALLY SELL OUT BY 6:00 PM ON FRIDAY AND SATURDAY.

THIS IS MY SECOND TIME HERE IN THREE DAYS.

WE CAME ON WEDNESDAY AND WE WILL PROBABLY COME ONCE MORE.

THE FIRST TIME I HAD SHRIMP FOR THE TEENY WHICH IS INCREDIBLE.

TODAY I DID SEAFOOD PLATTER TRIOS.

FROG LEG STRENGTH AND FIST.

FROG LEGS, SHRIMP AND CATFISH.

>> A COUPLE DAYS AGO I HAD THE CATFISH PO BOY AND I HAD A BURGER HERE TO TODAY.

IT WAS PRETTY WONDERFUL.GOOD OLD SWEET TEA.

I AM A SOUTHERN GIRL.

IT'S REALLY NICE TO HAVE WELL COOKED FOOD.

CHEF THE TEENY'S PHILOSOPHY IS SIMPLE.

>> IF YOU MAKE IT GOOD THEY WILL COME.

BOY, ARE THEY COMING.

DID YOU EVER THINK YOU WOULD HAVE A TURN OUT LIKE THIS?

>> NEVER.

WE FIGURE WE WOULD MAKE A COMFORTABLE LIVING FOR OURSELVES BUT IT'S WAY BEYOND THAT.

YOU HAVE BEEN A GOSH, NEW YORK, DENVER, MIAMI, CALIFORNIA AND HERE YOU ARE IN LOWGAP ARKANSAS .

>> I AM ENJOYING MYSELF.

THIS IS WHERE YOU AND YOUR WIFE DECIDED THIS IS WHERE YOU WILL BE.

>> YES SIR.

WE ARE HAPPY.

WE ARE TIRED BUT WE ARE HAPPY.

>> WELL, THAT IS FANTASTIC.

YOUR FAMILY IS FROM SICILY.

>> MY MOTHER'S SIDE IS FROM SICILY AND MY FATHER CYTOSINE GENERAL.>> A LOT OF YOUR CUISINE HERE THAT YOU DO IS YOUR OWN CREATION OR SOME OF YOUR OWN RECIPES.

>> ALL MINE.

>> A COUPLE OF THEM HAVE MY MOTHER'S AND GRANDFATHER'S INFLUENCE BUT 90 PERCENT ARE MINE.

>> NOW, TELL US ABOUT WITH PEOPLE , WE TALKED TO PEOPLE WHO CAME HERE FOR THEFIRST TIME AND I THINK THEY ARE PRETTY SURPRISED.

>> THEY LOOK AT THE MENU AND THEY ARE WAY SURPRISE.

WE HAVE HAD PEOPLE COME TO THE FRONT OF THE BUILDING AND SAY IT LOOKS LIKE A BAD BIKER BAR .

THEY EAT THEIR FOOD AND THEY RMA'S.

MY WIFE DOES ALL THE DESSERTS.

MY NEPHEW HELPS ME TO COOK.

PEOPLE HAVE REFERRED TO YOU AS A ROCK 'N' ROLL STAR.

>> YES, SIR.

38 YEARS NOW.

IT'S A LONG TIME.

>> TELL US WHAT IS IT THE SATISFACTION THAT YOU GET.

>> IT COMES FROM HERE.

I LOVE TO COOK.

I'VE BEEN COOKING FOR 38 YEARS.

I JUST ENJOY AND I LIKE TO SEE PEOPLE HAPPY.

IF YOU LEAVE HUNGRY, IT'S YOUR FAULT.

>> I.E.

TUNA.

NEVER HAD I.E.

TUNA.

OH, YES DELICIOUS!

DO YOU NEED TO COME DOWN TO THE LOW GAP CAFI.

TO VIEW THIS EPISODE AGAIN OR ANYONE OF THE OTHERS, VISIT THE WEBSITE AT AETN.org /EXPLORING ARKANSAS.

DON'T FORGET TO LIKE US ON FACEBOOK FAN PAGE.

WE WILL SEE YOU AGAINTHE NEXT TIME FOR ANOTHER EXCITING ADVENTURE ON EXPLORING ARKANSAS UM.

YES SIR