The Beatles at the Ridge tribute in Walnut Ridge, Arkansas on September 18th, 2011 drew a large crowd to downtown Walnut Ridge for the festivities. Mayor Don House, State Representative James Ratliff, County Judge Freeman, the Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce, members of the Walnut Ridge City Council, Charles and Jackie Snapp as well as many others attended the historic town event .
The unveiling of the Beatles sculpture coincided with the 47th anniversary of the Beatles’ visit to the town, located in northeast Arkansas.
The Beatles landed at the airport in Walnut Ridge late on a Friday night in 1964, en route to a weekend vacation just across the Missouri border. Their arrival was a secret and low key affair, but word had leaked out in the community by the time they departed on Sunday, two days later, and a crowd was waiting to catch a glimpse of the Fab Four. The visit by the world’s biggest rock band is now legendary in the town.
Performances by J.R. Rogers and the All Stars, Nancy Apple the “Cadillac Cowgirl”, and the Stunning Cunning Band began at 1:00 pm with the Liverpool Legends taking the stage at 5:00 p.m with an introduction by Louise Harrison, the sister of George Harrison. The giant sculpture (10 feet high and 20 feet wide) made of heavy weight aluminum, hand etched with over 500 man hours created by artist Danny West was unveiled. It’s permanent location will be Beatles Park, 110 SW Second Street in Walnut Ridge.
The 1962 GMC Suburban that transported George Harrison & Paul McCartney from the dude ranch to the Walnut Ridge Airport was also at the unveiling.
Walnut Ridge is located along a stretch of road recently designated as Rock n’ Roll Highway 67, in honor of the rockabilly performers who frequently traveled and performed along the route, especially in the late 1950s. Many of the performers were famous Sun Records artists, including Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis and Johnny Cash.
The Beatles sculpture has thus been dubbed The British Invasion of the Rock n’ Roll Highway. It is one of two tourist attractions being built by the tourism committee of the Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce.
The Beatles Abbey Road Sculpture is a 10 feet by 20 feet, 200 square foot sculpture of the iconic Abbey Road Album that was released by the Beatles in 1969, and was their last recorded album before the group dissolved. The sculpture, created by Danny West of Walnut Ridge, is a tribute to commemorate the Beatles historic stopover in Walnut Ridge Airport in September of 1964. Although the stop was a brief “In and Out” over a two day period, many Walnut Ridge teens caught a glimpse of the Fab Four before their Sunday morning departure, many of the kids sneaked out of Church services to attend. The visit was the only time the Beatles were in Arkansas, and the sculpture is on permanent display at 110 Abbey Road, (formerly 110 southwest 2nd street) in Beatles Park.
The sculpture features life-size silhouettes of The Beatles made from heavy carbon steel plate, and the backdrop of Abbey Road is hand ground on 1/4″ thick aircraft aluminum plates. The entire street scene is featured, along with more than 30 hidden references to Beatles song titles, and album names. There are also a few hidden surprises that were added in by the artist, that will are unique to our city, and tie the whole sculpture to our town. As lighting changes throughout the day, the hidden details in the sculpture reveal themselves to the observer, and at night, under the powerful lighting, the scene takes on a surreal quality, and more secrets can be seen.
The sculpture has been featured in newspapers and publications around the world, including The Wall Street Journal, UK’s The Daily Mail, The Australian, The Huffington Post, and many others. We invite you to come see our newest attraction, and have your picture made walking with The Beatles on Abbey Road.
The committee is also planning a Guitar Walk, a 100 X 40 foot concrete walk shaped like a Epiphone guitar, the instrument of choice for many of the early rock performers. The walk will be lined with sculptures of the pioneering rock musicians who once performed in the area. That attraction is planned for construction next year, about two blocks from the Beatles sculpture.
Website: www.rock67.com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YoqmG9NZs5o
Youtube video of the making of the Beatles sculpture: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=682ypr_e8Lk
I am excited to hear the news about the sculpture of the Beatles and the electric guitar being put up for attracting tourist here in Walnut Ridge, Arkansas. I know the guitar is going to be nice addition to front street in Walnut Ridge, and this is just what my little nieces need, is the motivation from the sculptures and all the music artists that are also going to be displayed by the music store because they are growing up in dance classes learning about all types of music and dance. I am sure it will be a big hit.
We’ll be there!
- Four Beatles fans form Little Rock
I am excited as well for the town of Walnut Ridge to have such a wonderful tribute to the Fab Four. Having been a huge fan of the Beatles since they first came to America. I am So Happy!! for Walnut Ridge for this tribute to the Beatles and also happy those 8 feet walked on your streets back in 1964.
We enjoyed it so much! Yall do a great job with this site!!! Thanks for having us!