Their appearance was fleeting but nonetheless memorable as far as the small Arkansas town of Walnut Ridge is concerned.

 

On September 18, 1964, the Beatles landed unannounced at an old World War II air base outside the sleepy town so that John, Paul, George and Ringo could make their way to a dude ranch in nearby Missouri. Their arrival was met by only three teenagers who spotted the plane and managed to catch a glimpse of fame before the band left by car. But by the time the Beatles returned to the airport to fly out again, word had spread and hundreds of residents swarmed the tarmac to witness the most exciting thing ever to appear in their community of less than 5,000 people.

 

Now, to commemorate that historic day, and make some tourist dollars, Walnut Ridge has unveiled a metal sculpture of the Beatles that borrows from the famed “Abbey Road” album cover. The special event included a concert by the Beatles impersonators, Liverpool Legends, who are managed by the sister of the late George Harrison. Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr were invited but did not attend.

 

Town leaders are also considering renaming a local street Abbey Road.

-Noel Brinkerhoff

 

Beatles Said a Fast Hello, Goodbye but a Tiny Town Won't Let It Be (by Miguel Bustillo, Wall Street Journal)

Tiny Arkansas Town Launches Beatles Tourist Drive, After 15-Minute Visit by The Fab Four (Daily Mail)

Beatles Sculpture Marks Relaxing Ozarks Stop in 1964 (by Josh Harvison, KAIT 8)