07/30/2026
Thank you so much for the shoutout River Roots! You described this wonderful town perfectly.
City of McGehee, AR… One of those small towns that reminds you why we love the back roads.
Founded in the late 1800s as a railroad town and officially incorporated in 1906, McGehee grew alongside the railroads and the rich farmland of the Arkansas Delta.
Today, agriculture is still the heartbeat of the community, with cotton, rice, and soybeans surrounding the town.
McGehee is also home to the WWII Japanese American Internment Museum which preserves an important chapter of American history, and its historic downtown reflects more than a century of Delta heritage.
For outdoor lovers, this area is hard to beat. With the nearby Mississippi River, Arkansas River backwaters, Bayou Bartholomew, and countless lakes and bayous, the Delta offers outstanding fishing for catfish, crappie, bass, and bream.
Hunters come from all over for world class duck hunting, along with excellent deer, turkey, and small game opportunities.
One thing that stood out to us wasn’t just the history or the scenery, it was the people. Everyone we met was genuinely kind and welcoming, and that’s something you never forget. McGehee is a beautiful little town that still feels like home the moment you arrive.
If you’re passing through, be sure to grab a bite at Hoots BBQ, a local favorite known for barbecue and Southern cooking. Other popular stops include Jalisco’s Mexican Restaurant and The Owl Pizza and Pub.
McGehee has also produced some notable names, including actress Gail Davis, best known for portraying Annie Oakley on television, inventor Wallace Coulter, TCBY founder Frank D. Hickingbotham, and several NBA players from the famous Jones family, including Caldwell Jones, Charles Jones, Major Jones, and Wil Jones.
Sometimes the best destinations aren’t the biggest cities, they’re the small towns with rich history, beautiful landscapes, and people who make you feel like you’ve known them forever. That’s exactly what we found in McGehee.
