Eastern Arkansas Is a Literary Pilgrimage for Fans of John Grisham

Are you a fan of books by award-winning author John Grisham? John Grisham is famous for being the author of dozens of books; in fact, he has written over 30 consecutive number-one fiction bestsellers, and his books have sold over 300 million copies worldwide! Ten of his books have been turned into feature-length films, too. John Grisham is incredibly prolific and is well-known around the world for his legal thrillers.

What you might not know about John Grisham, though, is the fact that he was born and raised in eastern Arkansas. This famous author has deep roots in the Natural State. In fact, one of his few books that was not a legal thriller was 2001's The Painted House, which was inspired by his childhood in the Arkansas Delta region. This book, too, was turned into a movie in 2003, and the house in the film still stands in Lepanto.

If you are looking for a literary destination in Arkansas to visit, and are a fan of John Grisham's works, you might enjoy a visit to the area from which he came. John Grisham fans travel to eastern Arkansas to learn more about what inspired this incredible author to become the creative and famous man he is today.

Read on to learn more about John Grisham's early years in Arkansas.

Why This Destination Is Perfect for John Grisham Fans

John Grisham was born in Jonesboro, Arkansas, in 1955. He was the second of five children. When he was born, his father was a cotton farmer, and his mother was a homemaker. His parents had moved to Black Oak, Arkansas, in 1952 to farm cotton. John Grisham spent his first seven years on the family's cotton farm in Black Oak and attended a few years of elementary school in nearby Monette. In time, his father gave up on farming and became a construction worker.

The family briefly moved to Mississippi, but they returned to Arkansas a year later. The family settled in Parkin, about an hour south of Black Oak and Monette, and only a little over half an hour west of Memphis. John Grisham continued school in this area and has stated in interviews that most of his childhood memories are from his family's time in Parkin.

This part of Arkansas hasn't changed a whole lot since the time of John Grisham's youth over 70 years ago. For many years, he visited the area often to return to his roots. Later, he continued to return to Arkansas to visit his parents in Mountain Home until they passed.

What You Can See and Experience

When John Grisham wrote A Painted House, he not only clearly remembered the area from his childhood, but it was etched in his mind due to more recent visits as well. When Hallmark decided to make a movie of the book, it made sense for it to be filmed in the same area in which it was based.

The film verison of A Painted House was filmed in Lepanto, which is about halfway between Parkin and Black Oak. The titular house was a film set that was built specifically for the movie. Anyone who has read the book or has seen the movie will enjoy visiting this house. Although it was created for the film, it truly captures the style, energy, time period, and overall vibe of Arkansas during John Grisham's youth.

The interior is also decorated to reflect the time period. Every room is full of furniture and decor from the 1950s, and anyone who enters it will feel as if they have stepped back in time.

Although A Painted House is not autobiographical, it was inspired by John Grisham's time in Arkansas as a youth. The book follows the tale of the young son of an Arkansas cotton farmer. The child grows up quickly as he is exposed to things that are beyond his years including secrets, murder, a forbidden romance, and more. The book's title refers to the family's house and their wishes to have it painted. It symbolizes their desire to change their lives for the better.

Anyone wishing to learn more about the area in which John Grisham was born and raised will enjoy a visit to the Lepanto Museum in Lepanto. This museum is full of artifacts and exhibits about this part of Arkansas and includes a reproduction of a general store, a blacksmith shop, and an old doctor's office, along with Native American relics and Civil War memorabilia.

This museum is only open a few days a week, so call ahead for more information, but the staff can't wait to welcome you to this part of Arkansas.

Eastern Arkansas is a quiet, beautiful place. Anyone who loves John Grisham's novels and who would like to understand the beginnings of this prolific author will enjoy a visit to the region in which he spent his youth. The people are friendly and welcoming, and you'll love exploring this area.

Feeling inspired? Try planning your own trip using Only In Your State’s itinerary planner.