A Quick 48 Hours: Rolling Fork, Mississippi
More than an Asset, acrylic and tempera on wood panel, 12” x 12”, 2022.
In early November 2019, I spent a lovely afternoon with Julia Rodgers Clark and Drick Rodgers on their family farm outside of Rolling Fork in Sharkey County, Mississippi. I loved on horses, rode in a cotton picker, peeked into Mont Helena, and listened to remarkable family stories and histories.
At 15 people per square mile, Sharkey County is the second most rural county in Mississippi and one of the most southern spots in the Mississippi Delta, nestled between Yazoo and Issaquena counties. The county remains both very agrarian and intensely wild, as it houses both the Delta National Forest, the only bottomland hardwood national forest in the US, and the Theodore Roosevelt National Wildlife Refuge Complex.
You’ve heard of Sharkey County even if you haven’t heard of Sharkey County.
First, it’s said to be the birthplace of McKinley Morganfield (or Muddy Waters).
Secondly, it’s why teddy bears exist.
In 1902, President Theodore Roosevelt traveled to Sharkey County for a famed black bear hunt (Back in the day, Mississippi was home to black bears and panthers).
Local-legend and bear-hunter-extraordinaire Holt Collier, a formerly enslaved man, was hired to help Roosevelt. Collier allegedly clubbed a 250-lb bear over the head with his rifle, knocking him out, lassoed him, and tied him to a tree, so Roosevelt could shoot it. Fortunately (IMO), Roosevelt ultimately couldn’t bring himself to shoot the animal, whether at Collier’s request or his own conscience. Regardless, the Teddy Bear was born.
And for the last twenty years, Sharkey County has hosted the Annual Great Bear Affair, a weekend of festivities. Each year, a chainsaw artist creates a new giant wood bear, which are scattered around Rolling Fork.
If you frantically added the Great Delta Bear Affair to your calendar and wanna know what else to do in the area, I got you covered.
Read on to discover where to stay, what to eat, where to visit, and what to do.
Where to Stay
Chuck’s Motel, Rolling Fork
Lollipop Bed and Breakfast, Hollandale
Hampton Inn, Yazoo City
Main Street Hotel, Yazoo city
Camp at the Delta National Forest, Rolling Fork
Rolling Fork Motel, Rolling Fork
Where to Dine
Chuck’s Dairy Bar, Rolling fork
The Onward Store, Onward (this is located near TR and HC’s great bear hunt)
Von & BJ’s, Rolling Fork
Lake George Grocery, Holly Bluff
Maranto’s Corner, Anguilla (Check out Episode 46 of Stafford Shurden’s Tailgate Review - you won’t be sorry.)
El Mariachi Dos, Rolling Fork
Rick’s Express, Hollandale
View from a cotton picker. Rolling Fork, Mississippi.
What to Do
Attend the Great Delta Bear Affair, October 22, 2022 in Rolling Fork
Go to the Deep Delta Blues Heritage Festival, early May, Rolling Fork
Scout out the carved bear sculptures around Rolling Fork
Paddle in Panther Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, Yazoo City
Attend the Annual World Catfish Festival, April, Belzoni
Attend the Eli-Pride of the Yazoo River Festival, Satartia (pop. 41)
Where to Visit
Muddy Waters Birthplace, Rolling fork
Theodore Roosevelt National Wildlife Refuge Complex, Rolling Fork
Delta National Forest, Rolling Fork
Mont Helana, Rolling Fork
Rolling Fork Visitors Center and Museum, Rolling Fork
Deep Delta Drugs, Rolling Fork
Farmer Jim’s Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze, October, Rolling Fork
Holt Collier National Wildlife Refuge, Hollandale
The Onward Store, Onward
Mississippi folks: What’d I miss? Please leave me a comment below to fill in the gaps!!
Cotton in bloom, Rolling Fork.
Want the condensed list? Download a free PDF of great ways to spend A Quick 48 Hours in Rolling Fork, Mississippi.