2011 Garvan Garden Report

 10th Annual Garvan Gardens Classic Boat Show

It was beautiful! The weather. The people. The boats. The settings.

 

Starting Thursday afternoon, two boats from Table Rock Lake arrived early to cruise on Lake Ouachita, Arkansas’ largest lake, which is held in the valleys of the Ouachita Mountains just north of Hot Springs. David and Melody Lott in Midnight Cry, with passengers Joe and Anne Huffman, explored the lake with John Thompson and Mike Langhorne in WAVES.

 

It was fun to be part of friends gathering Thursday evening from six states to be ready to cruise on Friday morning. Morning coffee break was at Clay and Patty Thompson’s new Lake Hamilton boat house and under-construction home. The lakeshore was lined with the awesome beauty of blooming dogwoods and azaleas.

 A variety of classic boats, from a 12’ canoe to a 30’ triple, 1947 to 2010, greeted the public at the Garvan Gardens’ docks. Young and old came to visit with cameras and memories. The phrase “Remember when. . .?” was often heard as the spectators wanted to share their memories and learn about the hobby.

 

Saturday evening’s banquet at the Gardens featured “The Ghost of Verna Garvan” who in a very entertaining way let us know about her life as a successful business woman, her scoundrel of a husband, and her establishment of this amazing 210 acre peninsula now operated by the University of Arkansas with hundreds of volunteers as a botanical woodland gardens for the public to enjoy and learn from. Our thanks go to Marla Crider, Associate Executive Administrator of the Gardens, for arranging our event along with the Heartland Classics Committee composed of Patty Thompson, Mike Langhorne, Jan Hinton, and John Watkins.

Boat Show Awards went to John and Marilyn Davenport’s (Mena, AR) 14’ Cadillac for the best outboard. Kevin and Jeanne Hogan (Olatha, KS) received the Best under 18’ Award for their 16’ Century “Reminisce”. “Midnight Cry”, a 2010 mahogany and chrome owner built 21’ Glen-L Riviera owned by David and Melody Lott (Branson West, MO) won the Best over 18’ Award. And a 1947 Canadian built Jeffrey triple cockpit named Sazerac owned by Alan and Celeste Fortier (Covington, LA) took home the People’s Choice Award.