Harrison Attracting Motorcycle Riders

6:37 PM, Nov 15, 2008   |    comments
  • Motorcycle riders love the hills and curves around the Harrison area.
  • The 1929 Hotel Seville has just re-opened in downtown Harrison.
  • Terry Cook is with the Harrison Convention and Visitor's Bureau.
  • Riders come from all over the country.
    
  • Share
  • Email
  • Print
  • - A A A +

"Past two years I'd say has been a big influx of people coming in just for a ride", says Motorcycle rider James Coats.

Around the Boone County community of Harrison hog fans of a different sort roam the woods, motorcycle riders from all over the country.

Terry Cook, Executive Director of the Harrison Convention and Visitor's Bureau elaborates, "For the longest we've been a negative has been our roads. It's been the curvy roads. It takes longer to get here. Well, the motorcyclists love the roads. They love the curves. They call them the sweepers. And they love all the scenic overlooks and views of the area. So it's becoming very popular."

"I've rode motorcycles in Florida, Louisiana, and California. I've ridden from coast to coast. I've got a map of all the states that I've ridden in. and I love it", Steve Short's been riding almost 40 years.

He prefers these winding Arkansas roads to the interstate any day.

Short says, "You're battling the wind. You're battling the trucks. You're battling the cars. The high speed is numbing after a while. This way here you get on a bike if it's a bad day and just like 30 minutes later you're relaxed and the stress is gone."

(19:53)
Bikers and other visitors to Harrison can now stay in the historic downtown Hotel Seville.
It first opened in 1929 but in recent years had fallen into disrepair.
Eureka Springs resident Don Alberson and his partners have breathed new life into the Seville, complete with a new restaurant and a modern makeover of all the rooms.

The Seville re-opened in October. Alberson says he's learned a lot about the old building from dozens of locals with vivid memories., "Because they have a history here at the hotel. Whether they were a bellman, a front desk clerk, a waitress, it's just amazing to us how many people have got stories to tell about their experiences at this hotel. We always welcome them to come in and visit with us. We saw it as an opportunity to reclaim an historic structure in a thriving community like Harrison."

Riders come to Harrison because you can take off in any direction and find an interesting destination.

Terry Cook explains, "They can ride south and go on our moonshine run route. They can go north over the Peele's Ferry Route and go north to Branson. Then they can also go west over highway 62 and down highway 23 over to Eureka Springs and enjoy those areas. And then go over Bull Shoals Dam and over towards Mountain Home. So we're kind of a central location.

A location drawing riders from all over America, and leaving them Amazed by Arkansas.