Rolling Fork, Mississippi, has gained much attention lately due to the EF-4 tornado that blew in and devastated the small town in Sharkey County.
Before the tornado, many people might have asked, “Where is Rolling Fork?” The answer? Rolling Fork is a true Delta town in central Mississippi. With streets storied with history, the blues, hospitality, and tales of strength and survival, it is a town full of heart and soul.
Rolling Fork is located on the Blues Highway, Highway 61, between Leland and Vicksburg. With a population of 2,500, it is the hub of any activity between the two-county region, located in both Sharkey and Issaquena counties.
435 miles of rich farmland span the area, producing corn, soybeans, rice, and cotton. These crops feed and clothe people throughout Mississippi, the rest of the country, and other regions of the world.
Home of the only National Bottomland Hardwood Forest in the United States, The Delta National Forest contains four green-tree reservoirs for waterfowl. It is an excellent place to watch migratory species of waterfowl. The Blue Lake Recreational area in the forest offers fishing opportunities and a one-mile interpretative hiking trail.
Like the rest of The Magnolia State, it’s the people that make Rolling Fork special.
Rolling Fork is home to two fantastic festivals. The Great Delta Bear Affair and the Deep Delta Festival.
The Great Delta Bear Affair is held each October to celebrate President Roosevelt’s famous bear hunt and the creation of the Teddy Bear. This multi-dimensional festival offers something for everyone.
The Deep Delta Festival is a family-friendly event held each May in Rolling Fork. The event brings the community together for live music from local bands, good food, free health screenings, and a 5K walk/run.
The quaint Delta town is also the birthplace of the iconic Muddy Waters, the father of modern Chicago Blues music. Muddy Waters claimed Rolling Fork as his birthplace, and the Mississippi Delta town embraced him as one of their own.
Before the storm, a “Blues Cabin” stood behind the courthouse, representing the type of shotgun house in which Muddy Waters was born and lived for the first three years of his life.
Public art, including wall murals by local artists and wooden sculptures, stood around the town. The wooden statues were created by a chainsaw artist each year during the Great Delta Bear Affair festival.
Rich in heart and farmland, Rolling Fork provided many agritourism opportunities and will again.
For history lovers, Mont Helena was built as the home of Helen Johnstone Harris and Rev. George Harris in 1896. Sitting atop a ceremonial Indian mound just outside of Rolling Fork, this Colonial Revival-style home provides an unforgettable setting for guided tours of the house and a dramatic play each spring.
Mont Helena was not damaged during the recent storms and stands as a beacon of hope as it represents the past and an even brighter future.
As Mississippians have come from near and far to help Rolling Fork rebuild, the spirit of The Hospitality State continues to shine in The Delta.
“That Mississippi sound, that Delta sound is in them old records. You can hear it all the way through.” – Muddy Waters
