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- Beaver, Arkansas - Shoe Tree
I have a comment to make that saddens me. The last few years the Shoe Tree by Beaver Dam had continued to grow even with the old one gone. Tourists continued to stop and amaze themselves. The last few years, some out of towners bought the land adjacent to the trees and built log cabins. I have talked to them before, and they don't like the people stopping next to their property. A couple of days ago I saw one of the owners walking out with a tree trimmer. The next day I came by and all the branches and shoes are laying on the ground.
I have lived here for twenty years and I had a pair of cowboy boots in the original tree when it was taken down by the storm. That was a sad day. But now, this was done by Man, not Nature, because they didn't like it, even though it gives joy to people every day. This really upsets me.
I'm not even sure it's their land, or the easement. Thanks for listening.
[Mr White, 08/11/2003] - Beaver, Arkansas - Shoe Tree
I thought you'd be interested to know that another shoe tree is in the process of being selected at Beaver near Dinosaur World. Apparently, several trees near the old one are being considered, and passersby are voting with their shoes.
[Russell T. Johnson, 02/23/2002] - Beaver, Arkansas - Shoe Tree
Last July, my family and I went to the Shoe tree in Beaver not knowing it had been destroyed by a storm that previous spring.
Instead of one tree, we found a group of trees with shoes hanging from them. These trees are located at the pull-over. We threw our shoes up with others. Now, we know why there were only new-looking shoes! The tradition continues.
[Vicki Hansen, 06/10/2001] Shoe Tree Destroyed in Awful Storm
A powerfulstorm brought down Beaver's much loved Shoe Tree on May 6, 2000. The white oak tree, garnished with several hundred pairs of sneakers and shoes, has been an offbeat local attraction for over twenty years.
Wind and rain pummeled the Shoe Tree for most of the day before the 70+ year old white oak came crashing down onto Hwy. 187's right of way. Local residents and authorities speculated that the heavy rains may have added weight to the shoes and contributed to the tree's demise.
According to the Eureka Springs Times-Echo, locals have been heading out to pay their respects, driving slowly by to ogle the wreckage. The Arkansas Highway Department planned to remove the debris and shoes for disposal.
While shoe trees can be found elsewhere in the US, Beaver's was the largest we had ever visited. On our drive from nearby Dinosaur World, on the way to Christ of the Ozarks, we spent a good ten minutes perusing the branches. There were all manner of boots, sandals, and running shoes, many autographed by original owners. Some bore love notes or epitaphs.
The shoe-tossing mania had spread to neighboring trees, either by design or bad aim. There was no word yet whether any of those shoe trees-in-training would take the lead.
[05/14/2000]- Beaver, Arkansas - Shoe Tree
Yes, maybe a thousand shoes dangle from the tree now, and a handful from its neighbors -- maybe it's branching out? This is on the southern half of the route 187 loop to Beaver Lake just northwest of Eureka Springs. (The first junction with it as you leave town.) It's about one mile from route 62, and on the north side of the road (right side if you're coming from town), with a large gravel area you can park in about 100 yards east of it. Sneakers are the most common hangings, but I saw cowboy boots, firemen's boots, dress shoes, sandals and lots more. I didn't see any high heels, though! Some of the newer additions were signed and dated; a bit of "Kilroy was here" and a bit of "Johnny loves Cindy."
[Robert Matthews, 11/20/1999]
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Those Out-of-Town, Log Cabin Livin', Shoe Tree Killin' bastards... Fear not. Other shoe trees will sprout and grow!