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All the United States Arkansas Little Rock White Water Tavern
Gastro Obscura

White Water Tavern

This Little Rock legend has survived decades of rowdy crowds, three fires, and a zombie wedding.

Little Rock, Arkansas

Added By
Michael Inscoe
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Little Rock’s legendary White Water Tavern.   Photo courtesy of Melissa Brawner
Little Rock’s legendary White Water Tavern.   Photo courtesy of Melissa Brawner
It’s been a stop on the the tour of musicians for decades.   Photo courtesy of Melissa Brawner
While the stage is tiny, many of the acts are big.   Matt Lucht
White Water Tavern and Restaurant.   Adam Bartlett
A classic road house in downtown Little Rock.   Photo courtesy of Melissa Brawner
Breakfast beer and booze at White Water Tavern   Matt Lucht
The front entrance of the White Water Tavern.   Map data
Down the end of a lonely road.   Map data
Beer bottles holding the ashes of one previous owner, two previous patrons, and the previous owners brother.   hurrikat / Atlas Obscura User
  Jason Michael Walker / Atlas Obscura User
  Jason Michael Walker / Atlas Obscura User
  Jason Michael Walker / Atlas Obscura User
  Jason Michael Walker / Atlas Obscura User
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About

Bill Clinton could be seen hanging out during his Arkansas Attorney General days. The ashes of a former regular are here, in an old Busch Light can. There’s a taxidermied beaver, and an oil painting of a naked, accordion-wielding matador. And recording artists like Levon Helm, Billy Bragg, and Leon Bridges have all played in front of the Arkansas flag adorning the grungy little stage at Little Rock’s White Water Tavern.

The bar itself is an old shuffleboard table, cut up and repurposed after the building’s third fire in four decades. Above it is a collection of memorabilia from White Water’s wild history, including the canoe that inspired the name (the original owners were way into kayaking), and that naked accordionist bullfighter, a token of apology from a touring musician who had smashed a different matador painting over the head of one of the owners.

Drawing a wide variety of acts from all over the world, the legendary watering hole has remained at the center of the Arkansas music scene for decades. It focuses on the ever-widening scope of Americana, with frequent visits from Ben Nichols of Lucero, Cedric Burnside, and Jimbo Mathis, but hip hop acts like Goon de Garçon feel equally at home in the cramped quarters, and attract just as big an audience.

The tavern has been host to more than music, including book sales, chicken-and-waffle brunches, a traveling opera, and more than one wedding. Locals still remember the zombie wedding, featuring a corpse bride slowly shuffling from the patio to join her rotting groom onstage.

Related Tags

Music Bars Performances Zombies Unique Restaurants & Bars

Know Before You Go

The White Water Tavern is in downtown Little Rock, and open every day but Sunday. Bands, beer and booze until 2:00 a.m.

Community Contributors

Added By

Michael Inscoe

Edited By

hurrikat, Jason Michael Walker

  • hurrikat
  • Jason Michael Walker

Published

May 23, 2017

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Sources
  • https://www.arktimes.com/arkansas/white-water-tavern/Location?oid=966871
  • http://www.littlerock.com/things-to-do/detail/white-water-tavern2
  • https://www.arktimes.com/arkansas/wild-days-at-white-water-tavern/Content?oid=1335660
White Water Tavern
2500 W 7th Street
Little Rock, Arkansas
United States
34.745398, -92.301286
Visit Website
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Nearby Places

Esse Purse Museum & Store

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miles away

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Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Little Rock

Little Rock

Arkansas

Places 6

Nearby Places

Esse Purse Museum & Store

Little Rock, Arkansas

miles away

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miles away

Vogel Schwartz Sculpture Garden

Little Rock, Arkansas

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Little Rock

Little Rock

Arkansas

Places 6

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