Article and photos by Bob Pest
There are restaurants in caves, restaurants on rafts, restaurants in churches, restaurants in bank vaults, and restaurants in tents. But only a handful of cities and towns in the world can boast of having a restaurant in an airplane. Fortunately for Walnut Ridge, Arkansas, it is one of those towns.
The Parachute Inn, located at the Walnut Ridge Regional Airport, has transformed the fuselage of a Southwest Airlines Boeing 737, into a unique and comfortable dining room. The dining room is connected to the main building by a walkway that replicates the boarding experience and sets the tone for an unforgettable meal. The restaurant was opened as the Parachute Inn in 2001 by Donna Robertson. Her niece, Rhonda Higginbotham, took over about a year ago when Donna retired. Rhonda is extremely energetic and friendly. Her days include everything from shampooing the carpets in the aircraft, talking with visitors full of questions, and serving lunches during the lunchtime rush. The Parachute has been “adopted” by Southwest and other pilots, whose signatures and messages adorn the areas above the seats. The inside of the aircraft has been painstakingly refurbished to capture the Southwest Airlines “look” and to give diners ample space.
The restaurant is open Tuesday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. for breakfast and lunch and Friday and Saturday evenings from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. for dinner. It is closed Sunday and Monday. Fridays are known as “Catfish Fridays” and Saturday features an impressive Seafood Buffet offering both breaded and peel’n’eat shrimp, stuffed crabs, and crawfish. Prices at the Parachute are low across the menu, but the Saturday Buffet is an incredible bargain at $10.49.
Lunchtime offers a choice between the buffet and ordering from the menu. The buffet is heavy on popular comfort foods, mac and cheese, meatloaf, spaghetti with meat sauce, and desserts like banana pudding like your mother used to make. The menu gives diners burgers, BLTs, chicken strips, hamburger steak, and an outstanding Grilled Chicken to choose from, along with tater tots, fries, and onion rings. Perfectly battered and breaded, the golden onion rings are as good as they get, period.
A map of the U.S. with pins identifying visitors’ home towns provides a good indication of the growing awareness and popularity of this whimsical attraction; only a handful of states are not represented by a pin on the map. Tourists to the Parachute are quickly made to feel like regulars by the well-trained staff; service is exemplary.
The Wings of Honor Walnut Ridge Army Flying School Museum is located across the street from the restaurant and well worth your time. The airport itself has a rich history, having been a WWII Army Air Field. For more information about the museum, visit www.wingsofhonor.org.
The airport also holds the distinction of having been “visited” by the Beatles during their first American tour and is the only place Arkansas ever visited by the band. During a short break in their demanding tour schedule, the group was invited to spend a few days at a private getaway in Southern Missouri. Attempting to avoid their fervent fans, the group planned to fly into the relatively quiet airport and then be driven to their Missouri destination. Thanks to a talkative pilot, word got out around town and when the Fab Four returned for the flight out the runways were crowded with shrieking teenage girls and their curious parents.
The Walnut Ridge Regional Airport is located just off of Highway 67 north of Walnut Ridge. The Parachute is located next to the FBO at 10 Skywatch. Just look for the distinctive red and tan Southwest Airlines colors. For information or detailed directions call 870-886-5918.
Additional information about attractions, parks, lodging, and museums in the region, as well as more restaurant reviews by Bob Pest, can be found at www.ozarkgateway.com or call 800-264-0376.
