Those stopping to get a cup of coffee and a map at the Texarkana Welcome Center on Interstate 30 got more than they bargained for Wednesday as the center celebrated National Travel and Tourism Days.
It was a blur of activities as people stopped in the center and found unexpected guests such as a baby alligator named Alegator, a king snake named King Louie, a box turtle named Gideon II and a green anole, Arkansas' only chameleon, named Fred.
These animals were brought to the center by various parks representatives from the state, including Aneesah Rasheed, facility manager at Rick Evans Grandview Prairie Conservation Education Center in Columbus, Ark. Rasheed held Alegator up for everyone coming into the center to see and described the gator's diet.
"Mostly he eats minnows, and he really enjoys things that move," Rasheed said. "But he also does like to eat live mice, too. He bites their head off first and then sticks the rest of them under rocks so they can get soft and he can eat the rest of them later."
Shelley Flanary, a park interpreter for Cossatot State Park, seemed to genuinely enjoy allowing King Louie to slither up around her shoulders and into her hair. The king snake, which she said only bites someone as a last resort if frightened, seemed to get even more startled responses than the baby alligator, whose demeanor was calm despite his mouth being taped up tight with fluorescent orange tape.
Oscar Zhaanbaev of Chicago said this was his first trip to Arkansas and he was happy he stopped on a day with so many special activities at the travel center. Zhaanbaev made a video of the snake and the alligator and couldn't stop smiling about what he was seeing.
"It's great. I'm really glad I stopped," Zhaanbaev said.
Visitors from all of the United States and international guests help make the Travel Center on I-30 east outside of Texarkana the most visited travel center in the Natural State. Last year 238,000 people stopped at the center, said Bob Polomsky, who has been a tourist consultant at the center for the past five years. The center is open beginning at 8 a.m. each day, and by 2 p.m. Wednesday, 180 people had already stopped by the center.
One couple included in that statistic were from Melbourne, Australia. Neal Green and his wife, Georgina, stopped at the center after staying in New Orleans and spending a couple of nights in Shreveport, La., where they visited Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville Casino. Georgina was emphatic about not touching King Louie but said she would be happy to take a picture of her husband holding it. Neal Green said even though his wife isn't a fan of barbecue, they were heading to Memphis and would be stopping at one of the famous barbecue places there.
Activities begin again today at the center starting at 8 a.m. and will end about 2 p.m. Wednesday's fun culminated with a performance from the Genoa Central High School band. Some of today's highlights will be a representative from the Crater of Diamonds State Park, representatives from Williams Tavern serving a chocolate earthquake cake, Ron Coleman representing the Crystal Mine, Victory Riders Motorcycle Club, ArkLaTex Corvette Club and a bluegrass gospel music performance.
Those who stop by the center are always welcome to coffee provided by WestRock coffee and all the sugar and cream they want, which is provided by Texarkana, Ark., Advertising and Promotions Commission. Other special goodies available because of National Travel and Tourism Days include samples from other Arkansas-based companies such as Yarnell's ice cream, rice from Riceland and seasonings provided by Cavender's seasonings.
As always, maps and brochures from all across the state, as well as Polomsky and other tourist consultants, can help you find your way to any corner of Arkansas.
Today's special activities will be the last this week.