The Historic General Store In Arkansas Is A No-Fuss Hideaway With The Best Pies
By Melanie Johnson|Published April 12, 2022
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Melanie Johnson
Author
I am a nature lover and self-proclaimed foodie wrapped in one package. In my previous life, I was an Accountant, but numbers were boring and writing is the only thing that fuels my soul. So, I write because it's my freedom...it brings me joy. When I'm not writing dope articles for OnlyInYourState, I am writing and editing articles for my online blog on Medium.com. Or, when I get the chance, I am off on a trip with my family chasing waterfalls, or simply exploring the great outdoors. My mantra is to always find the best part of every day and bask in it.
When you think of historical places, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? Perhaps a church, a battleground, a national park, or a monument. What about a general store that sells homemade pies? Yes, it is true, the Oark General Store is listed as one of Arkansas’ historic places, and it is the oldest operating general store in the state. It was built in 1890 and became a registered historic place in 1995. What started as a general store has evolved into a no-fuss hideaway serving up some of the best homemade pies.
As the tagline says, “In the Middle of Nowhere...Somewhere!” This no-frill general store is tucked away in the remote town of Oark Arkansas deep inside the Ozark National Forest.
Take the scenic drive on Highway 215 through the windy byways of the forest to get to this hideaway. It is a route that is popular for bikers, so be on the lookout for them.
This general store has been serving groceries to the citizens of Oark for over 100 years, and now, people from all walks of life have made it their must-see stop as they travel through the backroads of Arkansas.
But folks, we ain’t here to talk about groceries or burgers, we are here to talk about pies. And as this sign below poetically says, “men may come, men may go, but pie is forever!”
Whether you like your pie cream-filled, fruit-filled, made from custard, in a lattice crust, pie shell, or crumb crust, the Oark General has something to satisfy your desire.
Blueberry, cherry, caramel apple crunch, coconut meringue, chocolate meringue, pecan, and possum are some of the delicious pies seen in this pie case. Which one would you choose? No matter what, you can't go wrong, but here are a few crowd favorites.
Of course, we must start out by highlighting America’s favorite pie. Nothing beats a caramel apple crumble pie paired with hand dipped vanilla ice cream. Yum!
Ahhh, the classic pecan pie. Depending on what part of the country you’re from, you will pronounce it differently, but we don’t care, just pair it with ice cream and surrender to this sweet indulgence.
The Oark General Store believes there is always room for pie and so do many of the patrons, and it is the perfect no-fuss hideaway to enjoy these sweet sensations.
