For an hour or for an afternoon, Lawrence County is a stop you need to make. Rock N’ Roll Highway 67 rolls through fascinating musical history in Lawrence County, and it leads to a lot of other treasures, as well. For starters, there is a rich musical heritage celebrated in Downtown Walnut Ridge. Beatles Park, the Guitar Walk at Cavenaugh Park, and the Argenta Collection of Beatles photos and imagery are all within an easy walk of one another. A historical walk also celebrates other aspects of the town’s colorful history.
Locals remember fondly the sensation created when the Beatles visited Walnut Ridge Airport in September 1964, and Walnut Ridge has made itself a must-see stop for Beatles fans. Beatles Park is located along (where else?) Abbey Road, formerly SW 2nd Street. It’s why we say that downtown Walnut Ridge is “Where Abbey Road Meets the Rock N’ Roll Highway!” Rockabilly pioneers are memorialized at the Guitar Walk, a massive walk in the shape and color of an Epiphone Casino electric guitar. The walk is lined with interesting displays about nine rockabilly musicians who once frequented the area, including Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash and Jerry Lee Lewis.
While you’re downtown, check out the Art Alley. Local artists have lined the alley, just off of Main Street, with murals that spring to life with color. You can read all about Art Alley and the rest of downtown at
downtownwalnutridge.org.
