A Brief History of Toad Suck, Arkansas

 We are currently in TOAD SUCK ... for reals... I wouldn't kid you about that... 

   Leaving Red Bay in the rear view mirror after the most satisfying experience at the Bob Tiffin Service Center. We were fortunate enough to spend some quality time with our good friends, Mike and Sandy from our home base at Lonestar LSC in Hondo, TX. Subsequent week long stops in Piney Grove ACE in Booneville, MS and Wallace Creek Campground ACE in Enid, MS we arrived at Toad Suck Park  Bigelow, Arkansas.

  Toad Suck is an unincorporated community in Perry County, Arkansas, United States. It is the location of (or is the nearest community to) Bigelow Rosenwald School, which is located at the junction of Arkansas Highway 60 and Bethel AME Road and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

  The origin of the name Toad Suck is disputed. Some believe that it received the name when idle rivermen would congregate at the local tavern where they would "suck on the bottle 'til they swell up like toads", while others believe it is a corruption of a French phrase meaning "a narrow channel in the river." Toad Suck has frequently been noted on lists of Unusual Place Names. 

A Very Easy To Miss Entrance

  “A researcher for the U. S. Board on Geological Names, Reston, VA, expressed the following opinion: “The word ‘suck’ is a true generic in its own right and seems to have at least two meanings when used in place names. Its use extends from West Virginia, through Kentucky, Tennessee, to Arkansas. One appears to be used by animals for a water supply. The other meaning of the word applies generally to a constructed area of water in or on the side of a stream. Here it may be somewhat analogous to certain meanings associated with the French word ‘chute.’ The word also appears to have been used for narrow channels between an island and the river’s bank.” - from the book called “Arkansas Place Names: from Apt to Zinc” By Ernie Deane.”

  The water in these narrow channels of the Arkansas River recedes and leaves behind shallow water (or a “suck”) which is an attraction for frogs or toads.

  "The community lent its name to the Toad Suck Ferry and Dam on the Arkansas River.  The dam is also a bridge bringing AR 60, locally named Prince Street, across the river. The Bigelow Rosenwald School is inland west of the river while Toad Suck Road is east of the river." - Excerpt from www.allaboutarkansas.com

Toad Suck Park - No#6 Above

USACE - Toad Suck Park

  So, anywho... it is a very nice U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Park, lots of grass and trees... water and 50 and or 30amp electrical service but no sewer connection. We took a stroll this morning and I was able to locate the dump station next to the near-by park office. The park is located on the downstream side of the Toad Suck Ferry and Dam.

World Famous Toad Suck Ferry - Lock & Dam

   The Phantom is reposing in a very nice spot and has a really good AT&T MiFi signal... We will be exploring the nearby town of Bigelow, AR tomorrow as I have been informed that we are expecting some serious thunderstorms this afternoon.

Loop "D" 30amp & Water

   The Park is maybe 30 miles West of Little Rock and a great place to stop if you are headed West thru Arkansas. We had been at Enid Lake; South of Batesville Mississippi so we were able to avoid Memphis TN crossing the Mississippi River at Helena/West Helena where the two-lane steel bridge is in its seemingly second decade of repair and is still one lane at a time... I digress, the trip was delightful and were able to do groceries and fill a couple of prescriptions at Walmart, Refuel the Phantom at a Loves Travel Stop and made a touch and go at Camping World of Little Rock to procure black roof caulk that is compatible with the Phantom's fiberglass roof.

   If you use diesel fuel and don't already have a discount plan you are happy with or you are looking to save more, we can highly recommend TSD Open Roads thru TSD Logistics, INC.  My Open Roads.com  I would recommend setting up a separate debit account thru your banking institution and linking that account to the program. It was a painless process and we received our, 'pay at the pump', discount card in less than a week.

    We will be at Toad Suck for five days then continue on to Choctaw ACE Campground on Greers Ferry Lake, South of Clinton AR. We really appreciate the consistency of Corps parks and utilize these campgrounds as often as possible. If you posses a Recreation.gov Senior account they daily rate is 50% off.

  I will wrap up here for now... Neil and Jan, we will see you in Branson Missouri...