One stumbles into this town and quickly realizes its significantly different then other small Arkansas farming towns. Located only 45 minutes from downtown Memphis, Wilson is a small town with a very picturesque center (the Wilson Square). Visiting the square almost feels like being on a movie set. Highlights include the Wilson Café, Gunn’s Supermarket (a remarkably well stocked grocery store for a tiny town), White’s Mercantile (owned and operated by Holly Williams, the grand daughter of famous country crooner, Hank Williams senior), The Louis Hotel overlooking Wilson Square, the Hampson Archeological Museum State Park (containing a collection of Native American artifacts) and right on the edge of town – the progressive project-based learning Delta School (K-9th grade).
And events are held throughout the year including the Wilson Wine Experience (select tastings).
The renaissance of Wilson began after 2010, the year that Gaylon Lawrence Jr purchased the entire town and surrounding acreage from the Wilson family. Today, Gaylon’s firm, The Lawrence Group maintains a presence just off of the square at 1 Park Avenue – located across from the tiny post office. Lawrence has a number of holdings including Heitz Cellars in the Napa Valley, numerous banks and a sizable citrus grove in Florida – among other business ventures.
It doesn’t take one long to exit the cozy confines of Wilson for dirt roads running through surrounding cotton fields. And if one drives west about 15 minutes – one will arrive in Dyess, the boyhood town of Johnny Cash.
For more information, visit: www.wilsonarkansas.com
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