Shacksdale ~ A Story in The Making
Editor’s note: This is an article I recently wrote for CheapOAir at Cheap Tickets, and a companion article to an Interview with Erin Lee.
Clarksdale, MS Crossroads
Visiting Clarksdale, MS for the first time, you get the feeling there is a story residing. Blues is the main attraction. Enthusiasts flock to Clarksdale to celebrate, honor and experience the blues. To sing the Blues, the legend has it that Robert Johnson sold his soul to the devil at the Crossroads of 61 & 49. Decades later a growing number of people find themselves at a crossroad in life and are choosing to contribute to the story.
The Shacksdale Motel is a story in the making.
Erin Lee from Memphis first visited Clarksdale on New Years Eve 2004, celebrating at Ground Zero Blues Club and staying at the Shackup Inn. Since then, she has made New Year’s Eve in Clarksdale an annual event. Erin soon began to envision building her own “shack-o-miniums”, complete with dogtrots (sleeping porch). In 2009 had a random discussion with Barry Thornhill. Barry and his wife Sally wanted to organize a Blues Festival. Erin’s friend Jim Field had just purchased six acres across from the Shackup Inn. Erin knew Jim and Barry needed to connect. Within two weeks of the introductions, the shareshack concept was given birth, which became the Shacksdale Motel. Erin likes to say that Barry is the gasoline to a project. By September 2009 construction was underway.
Erin's Shack
Reminiscing over the past year, Erin gets choked up. Her shack is perfectly decked out with treasures from a lifetime of collecting. Always the gracious hostess, Erin enjoys telling the story of each detail in her shack. “Barry Thornhill, Roy Thornhill and Jim Field have my upmost respect and made my shack happen,” Erin says. She also credits her son Josh and the kindness of family and friends. Now open for business, reservations can be made at the Shackup Inn. The partners regularly pinch themselves over the story they find themselves in.
The Characters of Clarksdale
The fascinating part of travel for me is not necessarily the destination, but the people you meet. Staying at the Shacksdale Motel, the people will welcome and entertain you. Bill Talbot, one of the owners of the Shackup Inn, is hilarious with a constant flow of original content. Another owner, Guy Malvesi has a legendary attitude. Erin fondly says, ” He is a kermudgeon that doles out the charm and abuse equally.” The locals who were born and raised in the Delta are as sweet as pie and will serve up a healthy portion of their famous southern hospitality.
Many of the new characters of Clarksdale have chunked corporate America and international careers. Mainly associated with the Blues and art, they originate from all over the world. A couple from Florida owns the Hambone Art Gallery. Another couple, one from Holland and the other from New York, created the Rock-n-Roll & Blues Herritage Museum. Randall Andrews, the chef at Rust, was born in the Delta, moved to Las Vegas to pursue a career as a chef to LA celebrities and returned to give back to his community. John Henshall from Australia passed through on a whim and now comes back regularly. Although not a permanent resident, John was given the key to the city for his work on an economic report he completed to help in the revitalization of Clarksdale.
Whether it’s the Blues at the juke joints or the art that brings you to Clarkdale, once you uncover the stories you will fall in love with the culture and the people. Be sure to cop a squat at The Shacksdale Motel! And while you kick back on the porch listening to the Blues, dream up your own place in the Clarksdale lure.
