Couple makes annual trip to Rock Island
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Every year around George’s birthday in January, the couple makes a trip to Rock Island State Park. The Springfield, Tenn., residents have been making the trip for four years in a row. They share a cabin with Mark and Cornelia Gregory, also of Springfield, and enjoy one of the Midstate’s natural wonders for the weekend.
“It’s good friends, good food and a good time,” said Phyllis. “It’s my husband’s favorite thing to do.”
George didn’t offer any disagreement to that statement. “I’m just a redneck I guess. I love the country,” he said, adding after four years they’ve discovered all the classic Rock Island landmarks. “We hit Gribble’s Landing, Tennessee Treasures, and always go down and hop along the rocks. We’ve always got to hit the antique store (Tennessee Treasures). One time I had to make a trip back to pick up everything we bought.”
The Wests first began coming to Rock Island in the summer, when comfortable nights led to the urge to get out and enjoy the great outdoors. Since camping isn’t always the best option during the winter, George and Phyllis started renting one of Rock Island’s 10 cabins. The cabins rent for $100 a night and are big enough to sleep 10.
That’s more than enough room for Mark and Cornelia to come along. Each couple has more than enough room – and they each have their own bathroom.
“The first three years, they always put us in cabin 1,” said Phyllis. “This year they put us in cabin 3, but a few things went wrong so they had to stick us back in cabin 1. I told them cabin 1 is where we needed to be all along.”
Rock Island gets between 350,000 and 375,000 visitors each year – a huge impact for the local economy. That’s especially true for businesses within shouting distance of the state park.
Tennessee Treasures is one of those businesses, a quaint store with a long front porch. Two heaters and two easy chairs are positioned inside the store almost immediately by the door. That’s where partners Bill Fuqua and Sue Fults sit waiting for customers, watching “Sanford and Son” if it’s on TV.
“That’s my favorite show,” said Bill over a wisecrack from Fred Sanford. “And since there’s a 24-hour ‘Sanford and Son’ marathon, I’m good for the day.”
Wooden porch swings and windchimes are two of the store’s best sellers. The only problem with the porch swings is they’re not the easiest item to transport.
“I’ve squeezed them in the back of pick-up trucks, even tied one to the top of a guy’s car,” said Bill, talking about the porch swings. “The guy was from Manchester and he was determined to carry that thing back on his roof. I asked him, ‘Buddy, you sure you want this thing on top of your car?’ and he told me he did.”
As for the Wests and Gregorys, you can count on them stopping at Gribble’s Landing this morning for their Sunday breakfast before they head out of town. And you can be sure it won’t be long before they return.
“The two-hour drive is just enough for a nice getaway,” said Cornelia.
“And we always tell people how much we like it,” added Mark.