WE'VE ALL SEEN WHAT THE GREAT SPHINX IN EGYPT IS LIKE, BUT FEW ARE AWARE THERE IS AN ARKANSAS SPHINX NORTHEAST OF ARKANSAS.

TAKE 4840 OFF A CLEARING TO THE RIGHT.

AFTER PARKING AT THE LITTLE PULL OFF AREA ON COUNTY ROAD 4840.

YOU WILL WALK ABOUT 40 YARDS OR SO AND BE LOOKING FOR A PINE TREE HERE WITH ROCK CORNS NEXT TO IT.

THERE IS A TRAIL MARKED IN RED.

LATER, THE TRAIL BECOMES STEEPER AND STEEPER AT ABOUT A 45-DEGREE ANGLE OR MORE STRAIGHT UP THE MOUNTAIN FOR 900 FEET WHICH ACTUALLY FEELS MORE LIKE HALF A MILE.

OF COURSE, THE HIGHER UP YOU GO, THE MORE SPECTACULAR THE SCENERY.

BUT I WILL TELL YOU, THIS LAST 100 FEET OR SO, WHEW!

I WOULD NOT ADVISE DOING THIS IN THE HEAT OF THE SUMMER.

NO WAY.

WHAT DID I SAY EARLIER, FEELS MORE LIKE A HALF A MILE.

MAKE THAT A MILE.

THERE IT IS.

JUST KIDDING.

A FEW MORE FEET.

OH, MAN.

FEW MORE FEET.

AND AFTER WHAT SEEMS LIKE AN ETERNITY OF HUFFING AND PUFFING AND MORE, FINDS A CALL FOR SOME JUBILATION.

THERE SHE IS.

ONCE YOU FINALLY MAKE IT UP TO THE STAKES, YOU SEE WHY THE CLIMB UP THE MOUNTAIN WAS WELL WORTH IT.

UNBELIEVABLE.

REASSEMBLING A MUCH MORE WEATHER A WAYS SPHINX, A GIANT STONE MONOLITH ABOUT 20 MILES NORTHEAST OF CLARKSVILLE.

THIS IS DEFINITELY ONE OF THE MORE UNIQUE ROCK FORMATIONS YOU WILL EVER FIND IN ARKANSAS THAT'S FOR SURE.

WHEN YOU SEE IT FOR THE FIRST TIME ALL YOU CAN DO LIKE I DID IS JUST STAND THERE AND STARE AT IT.

SO, IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY THE GO AND SEE THE GREAT SPHINX OF EGYPT, A SMALL RESEMBLANCE CAN BE ENJOYED RIGHT HERE IN THE NATURAL STATE WITH THE ARKANSAS SPHINX.

THIS IS ONE OF THOSE GONE FISHING SEGMENTS.

WORD HAS IT THAT A FISHING HOLE IS IN LAKE ATKINS.

IN THE WATER WE CAN SEE THAT, BUT NOT ONLY THAT, THE PEOPLE COME HERE FOR THE BURGERS ALONE.

AND AT THE LUCKY LANDING BAIT SHOP/DINER IS WHERE YOU CAN ORDER UP ONE OF THOSE FAMOUS BURGERS.

WHETHER THE CRAVING IS FOR BURGERS OR CRICKETS, SHERRIE AIMS TO PLEASE.

>> IF IT WASN'T FOR THE CUSTOMER, I WOULDN'T BE HERE.

WE HAVE A LOT OF LOCALS WHO HAVE FISHED IN THIS LAKE SINCE THEY WERE LITTLE, GROWN UP, HAVE GRANDKIDS WHO COME NOW AND OF COURSE YOU CAN TELL BY ALL THE PICTURES.

SO, YEAH.

>> OKAY, SO ON A REALLY GOOD DAY, HOW MANY OF THOSE BURGERS THAT YOU MAKE?

>> ON A REALLY GOOD DAY, I PROBABLY MADE 40 BURGERS OR 50.

YEAH.

>> WOW.

>> FOR A SMALL PLACE LIKE THIS, THAT'S A LOT OF BURGERS.

>> AND A LOT OF BIG BASS AS WELL.

THE PROOF WITH ALL THE PICTURES ON THE WALLS.

JEANETTE NICHOLS REMEMBERS COMING TO FISH TO LAKE ATKINS WITH HER DAD 45 YEARS AGO.

>> I REMEMBER COMING HERE EVER SINCE THEN.

MY FAVORITE SPOT USED TO BE RIGHT OVER HERE ON THE CORNER.

I SAT THERE ABOUT 2 HOURS.

I CAUGHT 60 FISH.

I LOVE BRIM.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT ALL I HAD.

I HAD A LOT OF BRIM, I KNOW THAT.

THIS HAS BEEN ABOUT 5 YEARS AGO.

IT TOOK ME I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY HOURS TO CLEAN THEM.

>> I WILL BET.

>> I REALLY ENJOYED EATING THEM.

THIS IS A GOOD LAKE.

IT'S GOD SOME BIG FISH.

IF YOU ARE A BASS FISHER MAN, THIS IS WHERE YOU WANT TO GO.

>> THE FLORIDA STRAIN MOSS BASS HERE.

>> RIGHT.

THEY HAVE NICE CROPPY AND OF COURSE YOU SAW THE BASS.

THERE IS NICE BASS IN HERE.

OF COURSE WHAT I FISH FOR IS WHATEVER IS ON MY HOOK EXCEPT TURTLES.

BUT THIS IS A GOOD LAKE.

I LOVE IT.

I HAVE BEEN COMING HERE A LONG LONG TIME.

>> EVER SINCE YOU WERE LITTLE, YOU SAID?

>> YES.

PROBABLY SINCE I WAS 7 OR 8 YEARS OLD.

I HAVE BEEN COMING OUT HERE.

I HAVE BEEN ALL OVER THIS LAKE WITH MY DADDY.

MY DADDY TAUGHT ME HERE AND THIS IS WHAT I LIKE.

IT'S PEACEFUL.

WHETHER YOU CATCH ANYTHING OR NOT, IF YOU ARE GOING THROUGH STRESS, JUST CHILL OUT.

TAKE A BIG BREATH AND CHILL OUT.

>> YOU ARE RIGHT THERE.

THERE IS NOTHING BETTER THAN TO RELEASE STRESS THAN GOOD OLD FISHING.

THAT'S WHAT I ALWAYS TELL FOLKS, TOO.

>> YEAH.

I LIKE FISHING WITH KIDS.

I USED TO HAVE A LITTLE BUDDY THAT CAME OUT HERE WITH ME.

HE AND HIS BROTHER.

HIS BROTHER DIDN'T CARE ABOUT IT.

THAT LITTLE KID CAN PULL THEM IN.

HE LOST ONE OF MY FAVORITE REELS THERE.

THAT'S ALL RIGHT.

HE ENJOYED HIMSELF.

IT WAS FUN WATCHING HIM CATCH THEM.

OH.

>> IF I CAN LEARN HOW TO CAST I WOULD BE DOING GOOD.

THERE I GO TANGLING UP YOUR FISHING POLE.

>> I DO THAT NUMEROUS TIMES MYSELF.

THAT'S WHY I ALWAYS BRING TWO WITH ME BECAUSE IF THEY ARE BITING REAL GOOD, YOU DON'T WANT TO SPEND TIME UNWINDING IT.

>> T.K.

WILSON IS ANOTHER LAKE ADVOCATE.

HE SHOWED US THIS BEAUTY ON HIS CELLPHONE.

>> IT WAS ABOUT 7 1/2 PUSHING 8.

>> I GUESS YOU COME OUT HERE A LOT?

>> JUST ABOUT EVERY WEEK ONCE OR TWICE DURING THE SPRING, ANYWAY.

>> OF COURSE, WITH THE FLORIDA STRAIN LARGE MOUTH BASS IN THIS LAKE, I GUESS FOLKS HAVE A PRETTY GOOD CHANCE OF CATCHING 5 POUNDS PLUS.

>> YES, IT'S A REALLY GOOD LAKE.

I HAVE CAUGHT QUITE A FEW OVER 5 POUNDS THIS SPRING.

>> SO YOU ARE USING IF YOU SAY YOU USED YOUR FROG?

>> YES, I WAS USING THE FROG AND SETTING IT ACROSS AND LETTING IT SIT.

THEY HAVE BEEN EXPLODING ON IT.

>> I GUESS THE SPINNER BAIT IS GOOD OUT HERE, WHAT ELSE?

>> SPINNER BAIT, WORMS.

YOU CAN START THROWING A BIG WORM.

>> AFTER WE WENT OUT ON T.K.

'S BOAT, IT DIDN'T TAKE LONG FOR HIM TO LAND ANOTHER.

>> OH YEAH.

NOT THE ONE WE COME AFTER.

>> BIGGER ONES IN THERE FOR SURE.

>> LITTLE, SEE HOW FAT AND SHORT THEY ARE.

JUST LIKE LITTLE FOOTBALLS.

>> WHEN I FIRST STARTED COMING OUT HERE ABOUT 8 OR 9 YEARS AGO AFTER THEY PUT THE FLORIDA STRAND IN THERE, ABOUT A 4-5 POUNDER.

THEY HAVE BEEN IN HERE FOR A FEW YEARS.

EVERY YEAR THEY GET A LITTLE BIT BIGGER, THE ONES THAT YOU ARE CATCHING.

THEY ARE A LITTLE BIT BIGGER NOW.

>> NOW, YOU KNOW, FOR THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT FISH THE LAKE, COMPARED TO THE AMOUNT OF 10-POUND BASS THAT ARE CAUGHT ON THIS LAKE IS PRETTY ASTOUNDING BECAUSE WHAT YOU SEE FROM THE PARKING LOT THERE IS NOT MUCH PRESSURE PUT ON THE LAKE.

AS YOU HAVE SEEN IN THE FISH BEING CAUGHT.

>> OH YEAH.

>> BANK FISHING ON LAKE ATKINS ISN'T TOO SHABBY EITHER.

JUST ASK CLAUDE EVERETTE.

>> I HAVE COME HERE FOR FISHING.

YOU CAN CATCH SOME NICE CATFISH.

YOU CAN GET A GOOD 25-30 ON A GOOD DAY.

>> WOW.

YOU COME OUT HERE OFTEN?

>> YES, IT'S CLOSE TO MY TOWN.

I COME OUT AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK.

>> AND JUST ABOUT ON ANY GIVEN DAY HERE, A NEW GENERATION OF FISHER MEN GET INSTRUCTIONS FROM DAD FOR A LIFETIME OF MEMORIES.

NOW, IF YOU COME OUT HERE TO LAKE ATKINS AND BY ANY CHANCE YOU DON'T GET ANY BITES ON YOUR FISHING POLE, WELL, THEN, THERE IS ONLY ONE THING LEFT TO DO AND THAT IS TO BITE THIS BURGER.

OH, YES.

THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT RIGHT THERE.

UM UM.

MIGHTY FINE.

ISN'T THAT RIGHT, CLAUDE?

[ LAUGHTER ] >> IT WAS FOUNDED IN 1878 BY BENEDICT.

THE BUILDING YOU SEE BEHIND ME IS QUITE IMPRESSIVE.

IT'S SOMETHING YOU WOULD SEE IN EUROPE.

YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED IT DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY 62 IN SUBIACO.

IF YOU NEVER STOPPED, YOU ARE MISSING QUITE A STORY.

SUBIACO ABBEY IS NAMED AFTER SUBIACO, ITALY WHERE ST. BENEDICT BEGAN.

THEY BEGAN THE RULE OF LIFE WRITTEN BY ST. BENEDICT.

>> THE LAND GRANT THEY CHOSE AND THEY COULD HAVE CHOSEN FROM HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF ACRES.

THEY CHOSE THIS QUITE POSSIBLY BECAUSE THEY WERE SWISS AND MAYBE WERE HOMESICK FOR THE ALPS AND SO FORTH BUT AGAINST THESE RIDGES HERE.

>> WITHIN ABOUT A MILE OR SO FROM THE LOCATION, AFTER THE ORIGINAL LOG STRUCTURES, FRAMED BUILDINGS WERE LATER CONSTRUCT IN THE 1880s WHICH MADE UP THE FIRST MONASTERY INCLUDING THIS CHAPEL ON A HILL.

A REPLICA THAT HAS BEEN BUILT SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE ERA.

ONE OF THE BUILDINGS WAS DISCOVERED.

>> THIS IS THE BUILDING, THE SCHOOL.

IT'S WHAT WE DISCOVERED LATELY.

THE MONASTERY HERE IN 1880s WAS FURTHER TO THE EAST.

WE THOUGHT EVERYTHING WAS FURTHER TO THE EAST AND WE DISCOVERED THIS BY AN OLD PICTURE FOUND IN THE ARCHIVES LAST YEAR.

>> IS THERE A PLAN AS FAR AS EXPANDING THIS AND RESTORATION AND ALL THAT?

>> RIGHT NOW THE IDEAS WE ARE STILL UNCOVERING AND TRIGLYCERIDES -- TRYING TO CLEAR WHAT EXACTLY IS HERE AND THEN WE'LL POSSIBLY SET UP MARKERS AND MAYBE A LITTLE TOUR THAT PEOPLE CAN TAKE TO SEE WHERE THINGS WERE AT THE BEGINNING.

>> SOMEBODY HAD A METAL DETECTER AFTER WE GOT THIS UNCOVERED.

THEY FOUND A COIN, GERMAN, 1875 COIN.

THE SISTERS CAME FROM GERMANY.

THE MONKS CAME FROM SWITZERLAND.

SO IT WAS THE SISTERS MONEY.

>> AFTER A FIRE DESTROYED THE BUILDING IN 1901, DURING THE EARLY 1900s A NEW MONASTERY WAS BUILT AND THEN THE NEW ABBEY CHURCH COMPLETED.

THERE IS ALSO SUBIACO ACADEMY.

A SCHOOL FOR BOYS GRADES 7-12.

ALMOST HALF THE STUDENTS ARE FROM OUT OF STATE INCLUDING SEVERAL COUNTRIES.

AMONG THE MONKS WHAT WAS ESTABLISHED HERE WAS A DAIRY.

>> THE MONKS HAD A DAIRY FOR OVER 100 YEARS.

AND THEN IN '63, WE WENT INTO A REGULAR BEEF HEARD.

A COMMERCIAL TYPE BEEF HERD, REGULAR CATTLE.

AND IN 1999, A MAN UP THE ROAD, HE GOT US INTERESTED IN THE ANGUS HERD.

WE TOOK THREE COWS AND SENT THEM UP TO I DON'T KNOW WHAT STATE.

THEY WERE SURROGATE MOTHER AND STARTED OUT WITH THE EMBRYO AND STARTED WITH THAT AND FEED THEM TO THE BEST BULLS IN THE COUNTRY.

THEY WERE THE BEST.

WE RAISED EVERYTHING.

CHICKENS AND HOGS AND WE HAD RABBITS.

THE THING IS WE CAN STILL USE IT FOR OUR USE, BUT THE WAY REGULATIONS ARE NOW, YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH A PROCESS TO SERVE IT TO THE KIDS BECAUSE IT'S PUBLIC.

YOU CAN'T DO THAT.

THEN WE DON'T HAVE AS MUCH MONKS AS WE USED TO TO TAKE CARE OF THESE OPERATIONS.

BECAUSE BACK IN THOSE DAYS, THE PEOPLE THAT COME TO THE MONASTERIES CAME FROM A DIFFERENT BACKGROUND, THEY MIGHT HAVE COME FROM AN AGRICULTURAL BACKGROUND BUT NOW THE VOCATION THAT PEOPLE COME TO BECOME MONKS THEY ARE NOT FROM THAT BACKGROUND.

THEY ARE FOR EDUCATION.

THE YOUNG MONKS ARE PROBABLY GOING INTO THE SCHOOL BUSINESS.

BUT BACK IN THE DAY YOU HAD THE MONKS THAT WERE TEACHERS AND YOU HAD THE LAY BROTHERS THAT DID THE MANUAL LABOR AND MOST WERE SELF SUFFICIENT.

THEY USED TO HAVE ROGUE CROPS HERE AND WE STILL MAKE QUITE A BIT OF HEY FOR THE CATTLE.

THEY HAVE YOUR VINEYARDS AND GOES BACK TO EUROPEAN TIMES AND THEY WOULD SUPPLY WINE FOR THE MONASTERY AND WE WOULD USE IT FOR OUR CHURCH AND MASSES, ETC.

WE ONLY HAVE ABOUT AN ACRE.

AND WE MAKE ENOUGH WINE FOR OUR TABLE AND THEN FOR THE CHURCH USE.

I TAKE CARE OF THE VINEYARD, BROTHER TAKES CARE OF THE WINERY.

>> I GUESS, FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND YOU ARE ONE OF THE FEW ABBEYS THAT STILL CARRY ON THAT VINEYARD TRADITION?

>> YEAH, A LOT OF THEM DON'T HAVE MUCH OF A VINEYARD AS MUCH AS I KNOW IN THE STATES HERE.

NOW, OVER IN EUROPE, THAT'S A DIFFERENT STORY BECAUSE THEY ARE KNOWN FOR THEIR WINES AND VINEYARDS AND ETC.

>> THERE IS ALSO A SAWMILL HERE OPERATED BY 85-YEAR YOUNG FATHER BRUNO.

AND A CARPENTRY SHOP WHERE WOOD IS GRADED UTILIZED BY A COMPUTER PROGRAM.

>> WE HAVE DIFFERENT STATUTES.

>> AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, THE MONKS EVEN MAKE THEIR OWN PEANUT BRITTLE, JELLY AND FROM THE PEPPERS THAT ARE GROWN, MONKS SAUCE OF ALL THINGS.

IT'S ALL PART OF LIVING A LIFE OF PRAYER, WORK AND SERVICE TO THEIR COMMUNITY.

>> THE ROOT FOUNDER OF OUR ORDER IS ST. BENEDICT.

HIS MOTTO IS BORA WHICH MEANS PRAY AND WORK AND YOU SAW EVIDENCE OF THAT TODAY.

WE PRAY EARLY IN THE MORNING, 5:45 IS THE MORNING PRAYER AND WE HAVE MASS AND A QUIET MEDITATION PERIOD AND WE HAVE ONE AT NOON AND 5:30 AND THE LAST ONE AT 7:05.

OF COURSE ALL OF THOSE PERIODS OF PRAYER, WE WELCOME GUEST LIKE YOURSELF WHEN YOU WERE HERE.

WHEN WE HAVE RETREATS ON THE WEEKEND WHERE WE PRAYED WOULD BE FILLED PRETTY WELL.

YOU ASK WHO DO YOU PRAY FOR?

WELL, WE PRAY FOR THE WHOLE CHURCH AS REPRESENTATIVE OF CATHOLICS EVERYWHERE AND SPECIFICALLY EVERY EVENING WE HAVE PETITIONS THAT PEOPLE SEND IN AND WE PRAY SPECIFICALLY FOR GRANDMOTHER WHO DIED OR UNCLE WHO HAS CANCER.

THOSE ARE SPECIFIC THINGS.

AND SO OUR WHOLE LIFE IS CENTERED ON PRAYER AND WORK.

WE THINK THOSE ARE ACCORDING TO ST. BENEDICT AND WE FOLLOW HIS RULES WHICH ARE QUITE IMPORTANT.

YOU MET SOME OF OUR YOUNG MONKS TODAY, ONE OF THE THINGS YOUNG AND OLD ALIKE WILL TELL YOU THAT ONE OF THE ATTRACTIONS FOR THE YOUNG PEOPLE AND I AGREE WOULD SAY A COMMUNITY OF OURS IS A BALANCE OF PRAYER AND WORK, AND LIVING WITH PEOPLE THAT HAVE THE SAME IDEALS AS YOU HAVE AND ANOTHER THING THAT PEOPLE WILL TELL YOU IS WE HAVE A LOT OF VARIETY IN WHAT WE DO.

>> SO IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A TOUR OF SUBIACO, GIVE THEM A CALL AND SET UP A VISIT.

THEY WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOU.

TO SEE THIS AGAIN OR ORDER A COPY.

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WE'LL SEE YOU FOR ANOTHER ADVENTURE ON EXPLORING ARKANSAS.