Gateway to Ground Zero

HK Golfer publisher Charles McLaughlin continues his journey through the southern states, leaving Memphis for an exploratory tour of the Mississippi delta region 

The legendary Hollywood Café

Tunica Riverpark

A 10-minute drive away on the banks of the Mississippi is the huge Tunica Riverpark facility, comprising an Ecopark (with over three miles of trails through acres of land), a riverboat (the “Tunica Queen”) and a huge building housing the Mississippi River Museum.

With the “Tunica Queen” out of commission, we focused on the museum and it was time well spent. The sheer scale of the Mississippi is hard to comprehend and the exhibits brought home not only the history, beauty and utility but also the devastating destructive power of this occasionally uncontrollable force. A particular highlight was a claustrophobic simulated diving bell exhibit. We finished up by the roof, leading out to a vertigo-inducing observation deck which has a see-through mesh floor. Stunning views but not one for the faint hearted!

The local prevailing winds have been deliberately incorporated into the design of the futuristic building, with eerily mournful tunes emanating from the perforated north wing as the winds blow.

Hollywood Cafe

The songwriter Mark Cohn devoted a verse of “Walking in Memphis” to the Hollywood Café and we were keen to experience this legendary watering hole and eatery in nearby Robinsonville. Famed author of legal thrillers John Grisham was also a regular here and mentioned the bar in his novel, “A Time to Kill”. The sign proclaims it to be “The Home of the Deep Fried Dill Pickle” and Scots and other lovers of deep-fried delicacies will be in their element here. Everything from pickles, onion rings, fries, chicken, green tomatoes, catfish and even frogs legs go into the boiling oil. The end result is delicious, although perhaps not to be enjoyed more than once or twice per week! Add in the history and unique atmosphere of this little gem and it’s an experience not to be missed.

The Hollywood Café is the ‘Home of the Deep- Fried Pickle’

Pages

Click here to see the published article.