Ghost Town With A Water Slide?

[GloryDaze]

So heading to the Pruitt put in from the north on HWY 7- about 3 miles up on the left side of the windy roads sits an old rundown "ghost town" loking place complete with a waterslide and what looks like to be a large natural spring . I kind of imagined it was another Ozark business venture gone bad, but the thing just intrigues me for some reason.

Does anyone know what it is or was??

The wife and I headed to Kyle's Landing this weekend- did some floating and hiking so I will post a trip report in a few days!!

[Zack Hoyt]

omg!!!!! I cant believe you dont know that place!!!! I spent a few drunken nights there in high school.

It was the former location known as Dogpatch USA. This a white trash version of Silver Dollar City(not so much in the beginning, but near close it was pretty nasty).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dogpatch_USA

http://www.undergroundozarks.com/dogpatch.html

[GloryDaze]

Z- thanks for the info! I had no idea it even existed, but enjoyed reading about it. I can only imagine what a prime drinkin' spot it must have been in high school.

It's too bad it's such an eyesore now days next to such a pretty area.

Next time I drive by it, it just won't be as exciting.....Oh well.

[mhall02]

Dogpatch, wow that brings back some memories. I was there with my folks in the late 70s, only thing I remember there was a trout hatchery there and there were some nice big trout in some of the pools. Hummmm.......wonder if there are any remaining there today?

[Zack Hoyt]

Hummmm.......wonder if there are any remaining there today?

They have been gone since the closing of the park. Locals took care of that and pretty well looted the place. A long, long time ago(ok maybe like 7 yrs) when I was in high schoool in Harrison, we would wander through the park just for the fun of it. There was an old man on the property who would chase you off.......guess I am lucky he was such a bad shot with his shotgun.

I remember going as a kiddo in the early 90's right before it closed. I really do think Silver Dollar city was its undoing. That and when the "big roads" were built, there was not alot of need to take the backroads. The area by the highline that is semi cleared was a ski slope and on top of the mountain above the park used to be a nice ski lodge and vacation spot. A friend owns all the stuff on the top of the hill.

[Danoinark]

The creek that feeds the lake at Dogpatch and runs past the old mill is called Mill Creek. It was believed to be the mythical Starlight Creek in Harry Middleton's The Earth is Enough. Mostly discounted now.

Dano

[Al Agnew]

The creek that feeds the lake at Dogpatch and runs past the old mill is called Mill Creek. It was believed to be the mythical Starlight Creek in Harry Middleton's The Earth is Enough. Mostly discounted now.

Dano

Yeah, Dano, I always thought Mill Creek was Starlight Creek ever since I read the book. Lots of things in the book that fit...and I don't know of any other real possibilities in the Arkansas Ozarks. If the book wasn't pure fiction, of course.

[Danoinark]

Yeah, Dano, I always thought Mill Creek was Starlight Creek ever since I read the book. Lots of things in the book that fit...and I don't know of any other real possibilities in the Arkansas Ozarks. If the book wasn't pure fiction, of course.

Al, living only about 7 miles North of Dogpatch a friend an I spent some time trying to track down any Newton County links to Middleton. We were never able to find anyone who knew a young Harry or any relatives associated. I believe Harry probably visited the area, maybe even the theme park, and used his experiences and people he met to illustrate the book. I do believe it was just fictional and Starlight Creek was just a compilation of the many places he had wet a line, which takes nothing away from the book as it's one of my all time favorites.

Dano

[rubicon31]

Yeah, Dano, I always thought Mill Creek was Starlight Creek ever since I read the book. Lots of things in the book that fit...and I don't know of any other real possibilities in the Arkansas Ozarks. If the book wasn't pure fiction, of course.

I've always thought the same. It's been a few years since I've read the book but doesn't the author mention going to hospital in Jonesboro? Could be the Spring River, Mammoth Springs or Hardy kind of fit the description of the small town close to the homestead. I agree with ya, probably some fiction but based off of somewhere in AR. Good read though, might pick it up again this winter.

[Gavin]

Dogpatch...havent heard that place discussed in a long time..I'm not sure that it has any Middleton connection....Starlight Creek seems to be a work of fiction, unless you change the word trout to smallmouth ;>)! Then it could be one of many places.