Looking for a great road trip destination? Don’t discount the charming rural towns in Mississippi! The Magnolia State is full of them, so there are lots to choose from. We suggest paying a visit to Rolling Fork. A small farming town that’s big in all the right ways, it boasts culture, history, and plenty of opportunities to immerse yourself in both.
A charming little farm town, Rolling Fork is home to just over 2,000 residents. Its population is the only small thing about it, though.
Jimmy Emerson, DVM/Flickr
Rolling Fork is significant for many reasons, and not just because of the crops grown in its rich soils.
Jimmy Smith/Flickr
The small town is teeming with history – part of which involves a president and a famous bear hunt.
Mississippi’s Lower Delta Partnership/Facebook In 1902, President Theodore Roosevelt came to Sharkey County to hunt bear. As the story goes, Roosevelt was led to an injured bear, which he refused to shoot, claiming it’d be unsportsmanlike. Word of the hunt eventually spread, leading to the creation of the Teddy Bear. Today, you’ll find lots of nods to Roosevelt’s hunt in Rolling Fork.
Every fall, the famous bear hunt is commemorated with the Great Delta Bear Affair.
Great Delta Bear Affair/Facebook The annual event includes music, arts and crafts, games, activities, food, and lots of chainsaw-carved bears.
A yearly fest isn’t the only way Roosevelt’s memory is carried on in Rolling Fork, though. There’s also the Theodore Roosevelt National Wildlife Refuge.
Brett Moule/USFWS In addition to thousands of acres, the refuge features a visitor center with some amazing exhibits.
Aside from a history-making hunt, Rolling Fork is known for being the birthplace of legendary bluesman Muddy Waters.
David H./Four Square Technically, Waters was born right outside of Rolling Fork, in an area known as Jug’s Corner; however, he always claimed the town as his home. Today, his memory is honored with a Blues Trail Marker and a replica of his first home.
With so much to see and do in Rolling Fork, it’s best to start any trip to the town with a visit to the Rolling Fork Visitor Center and Museum.
Mississippi’s Lower Delta Partnership/Facebook Inside, you can explore informative exhibits and interactive videos.
But learning about the town’s history isn’t the only way you can get a taste of life in Rolling Fork.
lowerdelta.org
It’s a farming town, remember? So, it should come as no surprise that there are a couple of Rolling Fork farms you can visit.
Farmer Jim’s Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze/Facebook
Outdoor enthusiasts will also find lots to do in Rolling Fork.
Anthony DelRosario/Google Paddlers can put a boat in the water at Little Sunflower River Boat Landing, while hikers can explore the largest bottomland hardwood trees in U.S. Forest Service at the Delta National Forest.
Are you ready to head to Rolling Fork and get a taste of Mississippi rural life? Learn more about Rolling Fork, as well as several other charming southern towns, by checking out Mississippi’s Lower Delta Partnership website.
Jimmy Emerson, DVM/Flickr
Jimmy Smith/Flickr
Mississippi’s Lower Delta Partnership/Facebook
In 1902, President Theodore Roosevelt came to Sharkey County to hunt bear. As the story goes, Roosevelt was led to an injured bear, which he refused to shoot, claiming it’d be unsportsmanlike. Word of the hunt eventually spread, leading to the creation of the Teddy Bear. Today, you’ll find lots of nods to Roosevelt’s hunt in Rolling Fork.
Great Delta Bear Affair/Facebook
The annual event includes music, arts and crafts, games, activities, food, and lots of chainsaw-carved bears.
Brett Moule/USFWS
In addition to thousands of acres, the refuge features a visitor center with some amazing exhibits.
David H./Four Square
Technically, Waters was born right outside of Rolling Fork, in an area known as Jug’s Corner; however, he always claimed the town as his home. Today, his memory is honored with a Blues Trail Marker and a replica of his first home.
Inside, you can explore informative exhibits and interactive videos.
lowerdelta.org
Farmer Jim’s Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze/Facebook
Anthony DelRosario/Google
Paddlers can put a boat in the water at Little Sunflower River Boat Landing, while hikers can explore the largest bottomland hardwood trees in U.S. Forest Service at the Delta National Forest.
So, what do you think? Is Rolling Fork one of the most charming rural towns in Mississippi? What other rural towns in Mississippi are deserving of the title? Share your thoughts with us!
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Address: Rolling Fork, MS 39159, USA
