My grandmother (born 1898) was born in Texarkana....her grandmother migrated from Ireland.....her father was railroad engineer for Kansas City Southern (KCS) between Texarkana and Port Arthur, Tx., where she met and married son of retired sea captain and lived through 60's. Grandmother's sister lived in house they were born in (Beech St.) until she died in 1983....house was sold and is now gone...only one rental property they owned is left across street still standing. Got to ride the KCS train to Port Arthur around 1960....beautiful huge train station...Texarkana was main hub of railroad for many years.....believe closed in 60's. ....the beginning of the end of downtown Texarkana. My great aunt would straddle the state line in her car for fun...visited her and her pharmacist husband several times when we lived in Dallas. Haven't been back since my uncle was buried in family plot at Calgary Cemetery in 1984. Ahhh, memories....
@JoeandNicsRoadTrip2 жыл бұрын
I enjoyed reading your comment.
@j.daniel65162 жыл бұрын
I lived in Texarkana 22 years ago. The downtown was even worse then. The cities have made efforts to clean it up and get things going. It is one of those places which succumbed to malls and big box stores taking over. The downtown has yet to comebackbut maybe it will, which would be great because it is a great place in many ways.
@wapiti37502 жыл бұрын
Yeah, let's move some illegal immigrants in there and give them "free housing", but with the stipulation they stay in their houses for a minimum of 10 years.
@muthrfuqrjonz35302 жыл бұрын
Wrong , CHINA and America’s elite Democrats and Republican politicians and businessmen took manufacturing oversees and that is what did this sir.
@xavierfischer6618 Жыл бұрын
In many ways, like how ?
@j.daniel6516 Жыл бұрын
Great sense of community which is very supportive of its children and schools...mild climate...friendly folks...low cost of living...
@ItsGigi19752 жыл бұрын
I am a Texarkana Native. Yes, our downtown has definitely went down since the 90s; BUT, they are currently working to revitalize and rebuild it. Unfortunately, You literally filmed some the worst residential neighborhoods in town. Back to downtown...There are lots of things that go on downtown at night. That area is being redone as an Arts & History district! You done your tour on a Saturday morning at 11am when its 100° out, lol. You should have came back down there Saturday night on Broad Street. Also, had you been there during the week, downtown is busy as there are lots of offices in that area. Yes, it looks bad now, but it's a work in progress and will be revitalized. Texarkana is a very busy town everywhere but downtown, lol. I'm not going to lie though, we could use more businesses besides hotels/motels and restaurants.
@jasonroberts93572 жыл бұрын
Excellent comment! Thanks for your insight.
@stevenmarin24262 жыл бұрын
"some of the worst residential neighborhoods"??? Uh, you do realize ALL residential neighborhoods in Texarkana are run down right? Why do you think everyone is moving OUT of Texarkana?
@rosetaah41202 жыл бұрын
The part of Broad Street that is three bars? Or the part that is the jail/courthouse and bond buildings?
@ItsGigi19752 жыл бұрын
@@stevenmarin2426 No, not all are run down. My neighborhhod and surrounding neighbohoods aren't. I live on Texas side, and I have grown children who live on Arkansas side, and their neighborhoods aren't run down either. And yes, people are leaving Texarkana due to the rising crime rate. Texarkana is getting to be as bad as Shreveport.
@ItsGigi19752 жыл бұрын
@@rosetaah4120 The part of Broad street by Crossties. Yes it is a bar, but they do hold concerts, have family movies nights on the outsides wall with bounce houses, and the Frozen Rail. My point is, that couple of blocks of Broad Street are usually always busy on a Saturday night, regardless of it being "a bar" area.
@georgedykes55332 жыл бұрын
I remember when Texarkana was a booming town. The demise of the town is when the businesses moved into malls around Interstate 30. That is the story of many of empty towns around the country. The Texarkana metropolitan area is still thriving. The businesses just shifted to I 30. There are very nice neighborhoods in that area. It is sad. I love downtowns.
@JoeandNicsRoadTrip2 жыл бұрын
Perfectly said, George.
@ItsGigi19752 жыл бұрын
This is very true! Most of our businesses have moved around I30, and more on the Texas side of town. Our mall these days however, is very sparse..
@jameskeefe17612 жыл бұрын
Malls are dead. After malls it was Wal-mart. Now its Amazon. That giant sucking sound.
@citrustaco2 жыл бұрын
This is what happens when you build interstates away from downtown. Car traffic is going to stay on I-30, so businesses shift there away from downtown. But people complain about neighborhoods if the interstate is built to go through downtown. Can't have it both ways.
@Pat4th2 жыл бұрын
I lived there all my life until about 8 years ago and to further show what you said, the demise started with what you said but also when the jail was put in the Bi-State building.
@roybrewer65832 жыл бұрын
It's terrible that there are so many cities in this state and all the old beautiful architecture is being lost. I hope that at least some of the bricks and stonework will be saved and or reused and not just ploughed into landfill. The new suburbs don't have such good architecture as we can no longer afford the old quality of building, very sad.
@mattaustin2128 Жыл бұрын
As an Aussie streetcar/trolley/tram nerd, I enjoy watching videos from places where streetcars once ran. Texarkana had a system that was replaced by buses around 1934. The workshop and car barn/ carhouse still exists on the corner of East Broad St and Pecan St, indeed the tracks can still be seen, running out of the building, on the Pecan St frontage. Not bad for tracks that haven’t seen a streetcar in 88 years.
@leroy92TX Жыл бұрын
I'll never forget those tracks. It's right by the jail lol.
@jimmyjoseph512 жыл бұрын
The demise of small town America is sad indeed. Your videos are like taking a trip back in time LS......thank you for sharing and please keep them coming!
@JoeandNicsRoadTrip2 жыл бұрын
Thank you, Jimmy. 😀
@Talk2WandaVision2 жыл бұрын
I am truly shocked by the state of things in this downtown. It honestly looks like it’s been bombed. Absolutely post-apocalyptic. Damn.
@JoeandNicsRoadTrip2 жыл бұрын
It was crazy.
@zeeprah972 Жыл бұрын
Texarkana has had multiple buildings burn down in the past 2 years and hasn't allocated funds for cleanup and restoration. That's a huge contributor.
@Talk2WandaVision Жыл бұрын
@@zeeprah972 I actually find the atmosphere intriguing in a certain way. I am interested in ghost towns. this area kind of appeals to me.
@heatherfulmore3412 Жыл бұрын
A very boring place but it's nice that Arkansas is just across the street.
@reiner42102 жыл бұрын
I live here and can indeed confirm that this place sucks, it's depressing, high crime rate and nothing to do, I laugh at the ones that try to defend this depressing town.
@MA-ck4wu2 жыл бұрын
Does the spirit of the Phantom Killer still haunt the streets in Texarkana?
@haleynoellesmith76682 жыл бұрын
@@MA-ck4wu no it does not. Nobody has talked about it since they filmed here downtown. Other than that nobody talks about it anymore.
@JD1976 Жыл бұрын
Nothing for kids also, nothing for anyone. My mother always said texarkana is the biggest nothing town there ever was. And shes from from ailene, arkansas.
@loriepostlewaite162 Жыл бұрын
Move out
@Pinion5123 ай бұрын
Must be you. We moved here not long ago and LOVE it. None of the BS that goes with Austin or Dallas. Granted, there arent as many "things to do" like in those places, but that stuff gets old quick. We've lived all over Texas and anywhere is as good as what you make it. I dont miss anything from the big cities and certainly not the crazy that goes on. Yes, there is crime in TXK, but at least there isn't a daily body count like Houston or Dallas.
@emilymcdonald3740 Жыл бұрын
As a Texarkana resident, it's really disappointing to see our town like this. Just driving around is often depressing. What's worse is that those who have great ideas to make the town better, bring life back to downtown or even purchase those big abandoned houses dont have the funds to do so. We are all broke. It seems like those who do have the ability to make a difference want to hoard their money or spend it on building more restaurants, banks and car lots. This town and it's people deserve more. Maybe one day a change will come but until then we all sit in this waste hole.
@TOCC50 Жыл бұрын
Janis Joplin
@StefanReich Жыл бұрын
"We are all broke." That's how money does us
@MM-ks7vs Жыл бұрын
Yes... very sad... in credit card we thrust! Then... we are broken
@Welgeldiguniekalias Жыл бұрын
That's sad to hear. Surely there must be something you can do? Maybe amend the zoning plan to straight up ban greenfield commercial or residential development. Scrap parking minimums, requirements related to front yards, and limits for dwellings per acre. Make it so that the only development permitted is development that contributes rather than sap the energy out of downtown. And maybe allow roadworthy vehicles to remain parked for a bit longer than five days, so that you can't get fined for taking only one car when you go on holiday. You really should be able to leave your own f****** car in your own f****** driveway.
@xavierfischer6618 Жыл бұрын
Jesus Christ, As a Washington DC native, I've never seen a downtown like yalls, not in all my life! Boo, come back to DC with me, 😔
@ljefferies20122 жыл бұрын
I grew up here. It is hard to explain to people who still live in Texarkana, how dead the town truly is, until they leave. I now live in Northwest Arkansas and the downtowns in Fayetteville and Bentonville (really anywhere up here) are real representations of a thriving city. Downtown Texarkana died because over the past 50 years, it has been a better business decision to build closer to the interstate than to redevelop downtown. Also crime outside of the loop around the city is significantly lower, so most families with resources moved out.
@JD1976 Жыл бұрын
I agree. Fayetteville is in the top places to live in The US. Ive worked there.
@jackburton4892 Жыл бұрын
Finally someone who gets it. Interstates are bypasses. An interstate went right through Feyettevill just in the west side. So yes this is what happens.
@Kirito_2016 Жыл бұрын
I just literally never go downtown. It's pretty busy around the Kohl's, Target, Best Buy area. It is sad that Downtown is so abandoned though.
@joshuasutton1395 Жыл бұрын
I grew up in Texarkana too, but I now live in Rogers, AR. I hope Texarkana revitalizes their downtown and takes it back. It truly was once beautiful.
@Theywaswrong Жыл бұрын
Hard to believe how the metro area has grow in NW Arkansas. Had a Missouri football fan once tell me he didn't understand why anyone would want to go to U of A because there is nothing there' "Have you ever been there" I ask. Of course not. I told him the quad cities of Fayetteville, Springdale, Rogers, Benton has a population nearing 300,000 and you can't tell when one city ends and the other starts. If they merged would be by far the largest city in Arkansas, nearing the size of Tulsa and more than twice Columbia. If you think there's nothing there you haven't looked.
@101frankiestien2 жыл бұрын
you walked right past all of the nice and very OPEN businesses downtown that people have been working hard to make happen. also all of the really nice restaurants and loft apartments. myself and many others live downtown, come back on a saturday night and then make a video about it.
@charlesmorehouse22602 жыл бұрын
Amber I went to Pine Street Middle School for the sixth grade. My uncle owned Allstate in Downtown. Glad y’all are revitalizing. Just need a piggly wiggly and a Tuesday morning :)
@rosetaah41202 жыл бұрын
Lmfao hey Amber! I live here too and most of downtown is unfortunately dilapidated. The quarter mile of downtown that is fun is definitely fun! But the majority of it is closed and rundown. They’re working on it but there is a lot to do.
@josephgerber2762 жыл бұрын
@@graysontheovercomer he's obviously not from here. He doesn't know where to go. But, unfortunately, he's not wrong about it being dead for the most part. 😔
@MBTexas1962 жыл бұрын
@@charlesmorehouse2260 there is a Tuesday Morning, is off Richmond Road
@charlesmorehouse22602 жыл бұрын
@@MBTexas196 glad to know it!
@ceevishus41302 жыл бұрын
I still remember the day Texarkana Arkansas began to fall. crack cocaine hit the town.. then violence and gang culture followed.. two parent households were destroyed, family values were destroyed, communities were destroyed.. I have such great memories of my childhood in the 80s but poverty, lack of jobs and shitty pay always had such a stronghold there..
@joelhunton86002 жыл бұрын
Are you sure it wasn't methamphetamine that hit it?
@ceevishus41302 жыл бұрын
@@joelhunton8600 crack hit it first in the 80s..
@MBTexas1962 жыл бұрын
Cooper tire is still here and thriving, @2000 employees. It is the most prosperous production plant they have. They make Mickey Thompson, Mastercraft, Hercules, Ironman,Cooper ,Solarus and many other tires.
@haroldrigsby47462 жыл бұрын
What you said is true but it has nothing to do with the old people in charge of changing downtown and making it young folk friendly
@MBTexas1962 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the edit!
@jeffcox65392 жыл бұрын
Downtown Texarkana is mostly government buildings (I.e. post office, DMV, court house) Most of the city moved when they built a mall, which itself is an almost empty shell of what it was years ago.
@marlanewton94812 жыл бұрын
When the I30 came through the down town areas of many cities started dying off. There are several new businesses and some restaurants downtown that you don't show and they are working on renovations to buildings downtown and the Grim hotel. If locals don't support them instead of going to big chain store businesses it's hard to keep them going.
@heatherfulmore3412 Жыл бұрын
I like the Dr Pepper logo.I hope that they can rebuild that area. Put some more trees there.
@jimmiecampbell43572 жыл бұрын
Sigh. 77+, born & raised, lived other places alwacame home. Sad times for the "old" town, but lots of good people. The "Grand Old Building" was the State First National Bank. The unique white building with the unique architecture down close to the PO, was the Medical Arts Building, held doctors working in various fields. I've fond memories of the train station. As teens in the 50's & 60's, we would buy round trip tickets to area towns that had a train coming back to Texarkana in the evening or afternoon. Spend a few hours in a neighboring town, catch the train back. There was a hotel (Gone many yrs) across the street from the Train Station called the Ritz Hotel. Had a large Cafe on the ground floor called the White Owl Cafe. It had tables in the center, leather booths around the walls. It had a shelf that ran in a circle around the room, a few feet above the booths. It held a huge electric model train. Parents took us there as toddlers, & we ate there as teens after our train excursions to other towns. GREAT MEMORIES.
@JoeandNicsRoadTrip2 жыл бұрын
Thank you for the great comment. I went to the train station, video'd it but didn't put it in the video. That said, it's in a serious state of disrepair.
@dogfightersarebitches73112 жыл бұрын
I was born in Texarkana, and have lived in many other places as well.. but I always come back home.
@Markus_Andrew Жыл бұрын
Interesting how you mentioned first hearing about Texarkana in "Smokey and the Bandit". I first heard of it in the lyrics to the old Huddie Ledbetter song, "Cotton Fields" (which has been covered by Creedence Clearwater Revival and The Beach Boys, among others): _"It was down in Louisiana, just about a mile from Texarkana"_ (even though it's not possible to be in Louisiana and still be "just about a mile" from Texarkana...) Showing my age, I guess 😁
@BillKing34562 жыл бұрын
Just discovered your channel. Good stuff. I like the way you don’t mince words. If a place is dead, you say it’s dead (and you’re right). I agree that you don’t like to say anything bad about a place but you’ve got to call out some places that need to improve a lot. Keep it up.
@JoeandNicsRoadTrip2 жыл бұрын
Thank you, Bill. :)
@terrideniseA2 жыл бұрын
I have lived in Texarkana since 1996, coming from the nice suburbs of Chicago. When I came here, I thought it is so run down, it just needs a facelift. That's life. Everything gets old. People just have to realize the potential. I told my husband that and he began buying one house at a time and remodeling them, then selling. It just helps bring up the neighborhood. I lived in those kind of neighborhoods for many years. It made a difference. I saw a book in the library on the history of Texarkana. I was amazed how the "empty original downtown" you showed was a very busy place and awesome. Texarkana has many people interested and busy working on renovating old buildings there but it takes money, and a lot of time for that to come to pass. I was one of those people until my husband suddenly passed. But things are slowly coming to life all around. It will just take time. There are lots of offices and more in the remodeled buildings that you haven't seen. I've been down there hearing and seeing the noisy work going on. There's beauty all around Texarkana. I haven't given up on the vision of old things becoming new. It's just a process.
@JoeandNicsRoadTrip2 жыл бұрын
I hope it happens.
@pattil7947 Жыл бұрын
Hi! Denis, I’m glad to hear you say something positive about Texarkana my son moved there 8 months ago from expensive , out of control, high population of southern Cal. He wanted a slower pace & honestly a right wing state. He bought a farm, cash, raising chickens & he’s also investing in buying property to build affordable rentals. He’s really enjoying it there, it’s not for me as I like the dryer weather of SoCal but will visit. I hope & do think bc ppl are fed up with CA their moving there for its more economical & hopefully the y”young blood” will help revitalize Texarkana. Best wishes to you, God Bless, sending love. 👍👋🥰❤️🙏
@stevethomas5209 Жыл бұрын
@@pattil7947 Lived in Southern California for 51 years. Bought a family home in NE Louisiana surrounded by family members. Yes its hot and humid but I will take family over Comunisim and taxation without representation any day. The democrats have ruined CA. The homeless and crime is completely out of control and cost of living is unbearable and I'm in a red state that I can help keep it that way.
@prodigalflower1178 Жыл бұрын
We'll all be dead if Texarkana ever becomes beautiful and Jesus will have returned! It's UGLEEEE out here face it!
@oskarsmom75522 жыл бұрын
So sad! I just picture these places in the 40s,50s,60's...how they must have been bustling with people, shops, the sounds, life. Just so incredibly sad.
@harryhitt42332 жыл бұрын
Try more like the 20s. That was the last time Texarkana was a happening place to be. Texarkana never recovered from the depression. In the 40s it was labeled Rat City. There was so much trash that rats per capital were the highest in the nation.
@south_paw2 жыл бұрын
It’s bad downtown but not near as bad as this guy is portraying it to be, he’s there when it’s 100+ degrees and no one plans events there when it’s that hot with the sun beaming down on the black top.
@JoeandNicsRoadTrip2 жыл бұрын
@@south_paw It was a late morning Saturday into early afternoon. I walked up and down the Main Street, as well as streets on either side. There was no one there. No cars in the parking spots. I showed downtown Texarkana exactly the way it looks. And don't give me the "sun beaming down" crap. I was in Rapid City, South Dakota three weeks later. A city almost exactly the same size as Texarkana. I was there on a late Saturday morning. It was nearly 100 degrees outside. But that downtown was packed. I have toured 168 US cities in the past 11 months. Texarkana's is easily among the very worst. It's full of abandoned, decrepit buildings. No other way to spin it.
@knerduno5942 Жыл бұрын
@@JoeandNicsRoadTrip You are missing Beaumont with its revitalized downtown and entertainment district
@tgtina.g2613 Жыл бұрын
@@JoeandNicsRoadTrip can you check at 0:24.. something fell from the sky to the left of that building.
@carris2scents572 жыл бұрын
Many people have tried to revive downtown and I think the reason why it will never be up and going is because that’s where the police station, BiState justice building and the homeless shelter is. Years ago I had a music venue down there. People just don’t want to hang out and have a good time with cops and the homeless. Sad but true
@jasonroberts93572 жыл бұрын
Thanks for your insight! I'm thinking about relocating(from central TX) to Texarkana. Any opinions on Wake Village area? Thanks!
@JennyWren3332 жыл бұрын
Invite Mark Zucherberg to grow a branch of Meta there. Town will burst!
@carris2scents572 жыл бұрын
@@jasonroberts9357 Hey. I live close to Wake Village in Pleasant Grove I think it’s kind of a hit or miss. Honestly I don’t know anyone who lives over there. I do know there are some cute little houses. But that can be deceiving lol I would recommend driving around at night. That’s when the snakes come out. Good Luck!
@jasonroberts93572 жыл бұрын
@@carris2scents57 Good to know. You're right about some nice looking houses. They're affordable, but have been concerned about the true reason why! Thanks again for your insight and reply. God bless you and yours!
@JC-1232 жыл бұрын
@@jasonroberts9357 wake village imo isnt that great. It's all in what part of WV you're looking at. There's a nice neighborhood but most of WV is trashy
@randallrichnow6648 Жыл бұрын
Texarkana's life once centered around downtown. But when I-30 came through in 1961, the life of the city began to slowly gravitate toward that.The railroads were the main travel connecting commerce across America and Texarkana was sometimes referred to as little Chicago due to the centralization of the trains here. Just about all the life of the town now straddles I-30 or nearby access. When Texarkana Community College was built, it was criticized for being too far out of town and word was no one would go because it was so far out. Now it's in the middle of everything.
@richtxn47 Жыл бұрын
Yes, that's all true. I worked as a teen downtown, and the two major hotels had lots of guests, resting perhaps from train travel. As such the prostitution business also thrived. I worked right next to one house of ill repute on West Broad St. There were others.
@BadTV1993 Жыл бұрын
it's still sometimes referred to as "lil Chicago", but now for a whole different reason(crime rate)
@toddfr97812 жыл бұрын
There is some neat architecture downtown. It's too bad so many of the buildings are empty and not kept up.
@Tonymanero19602 жыл бұрын
It is truly unbelievable how so much of this country is overpopulated,..and overpriced,...yet,...so many of these downtowns have been neglected,. and without a soul in sight.
@thehighllama81012 жыл бұрын
Well, I think this country is projected to have a population of 450 million by 2050, possibly 600 million by 2100. Many towns and cities currently on the decline will probably have rebirths. Right now, though, it's depressing. I took a cross-country road trip in 2016, and I couldn't believe the condition of many of the cities I had only read about when I was younger, like Toledo, Dayton, Shreveport, Birmingham, Jackson (MS), etc. So many abandoned store fronts and empty streets. Sooner or later, though, people will be looking for more affordable places to live and work.
@dermottmcsorley86412 жыл бұрын
@@thehighllama8101 Would you want to live here? I wouldn't I am aware that there are good people every where,but what would attract me?
@barefootninja2 жыл бұрын
You really shouldnt make a comment without knowing the city. It wasn't the country that ruined it, texarkana did. They built a prison in downtown and everyone moved where now it is really nice
@edlee23362 жыл бұрын
@@thehighllama8101 Toledo downtown has changed significantly. I moved away in 2017 and came back 2021 and it’s completely different.
@thehighllama81012 жыл бұрын
@@edlee2336 When I was there in 2016, it was approx. 3 p.m. on a weekday afternoon. Downtown was dead, with many abandoned store fronts. I remember checking what time it was precisely because of how dead it was. Out of all the cities that I visited in Ohio, Toledo shocked me the most, followed by Dayton and Akron. But I'm glad (or at least I hope) the city is doing better.
@cynthiamayfield8612 жыл бұрын
Makes me homesick. Walked downtown a lot with my momma, and sister,Aunt and cousins. I have old pictures of my great Grandmother and great aunts there too. I have pictures of the town in the deep past. Sometimes I miss it. But when my nephew was shot in front of his own townhouse. I couldn't stay anymore. Looks like a lot of others have left as well.
@MoneyMonster0000 Жыл бұрын
Im glad you are doing a walk through , this is something. I never knew any of this info your speaking of. I appreciate the walk around and the tours.
@JoeandNicsRoadTrip Жыл бұрын
I appreciate that. :)
@kilokslr Жыл бұрын
All I remember about Texarkana back in the mid 70's, is that on the Arkansas side of State line street was lined with bars and liquor stores. On the Texas side of the street was lined with churches and no liquor sales allowed.
@sonjatrusty921 Жыл бұрын
Texarkana has struggled with downtown for years but has actually made alot of progress and started alot of revitalization projects over recent years. Rome wasn't built in a day. We have great museums and the architecture is beautiful. Weekends are less busy than weekdays in all the downtowns I have been to across the country, and It's alot!
@gregkerr7252 жыл бұрын
About 20 years ago I stayed at a motel in Texarkana. I was told by locals that car break ins at motels along the freeway were fairly common. I wasn't all that worried as it was a rental and I left nothing inside it. Sitting outside my motel looking at the grassy tree filled area between buildings I could hear a bird making a racket. I finally identified both the bird and the sound...it was a mockingbird perfectly imitating all the various sounds made by a car's security system...it was awesome as I knew mockingbirds could imitate other birds but had no idea their vocal imitations extended to electronic devices!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@MM-ks7vs Жыл бұрын
😂😂😂
@bayoumanbryan Жыл бұрын
Yes mocking birds have a amazing range of sounds. when i was a child i was playing with a whistle that was on a string and when you twirled it in the air it made sounds. i heard another whistle coming from next door where mrs Thompson had bird houses and feeds galore. turns out it was a mockingbird mocking the whistle. i was amazed lol.
@kaohsiung995 ай бұрын
It's true. About 15 years ago, I tried to 'scare' a mockingbird away by playing some annoying noises on a boombox--maybe it was some other bird that was supposedly a predator. (long time ago--I've forgotten the details). But the mockingbird just picked up that sound I had recorded and just started making that exact same 'call'. (I gave up.... I was outsmarted by a bird).
@flippert03 ай бұрын
It's almost as if that mockingbird was *mocking* other sounds?
@pamelabugh1812 Жыл бұрын
When you headed to the neighborhoods on the Arkansas side I couldn't help but laugh at the roads. The Truckers always say you can't fall asleep behind the wheel when you are in Arkansas.😄
@dmark19222 жыл бұрын
Your tours of the smaller cities remind me of when I was a kid poring through the family Road Atlas looking at all the names of towns and cities and getting curious about so many of them with unusual names. Now I am actually seeing them for the first time (but they don't likely look like they would have in my Road Atlas days .. the sixties)!
@JoeandNicsRoadTrip2 жыл бұрын
I did the exact same thing as a kid! I’m fascinated by these out of the way places. I’m heading into the Oklahoma panhandle next. Many of the small towns are nearly abandoned there. Looking forward to it!! 😀
@dmark19222 жыл бұрын
@@JoeandNicsRoadTrip Ha ha, yes panhandles always piqued my interest... whether big one like Texas has to the tiny one in New Mexico! By the way, I really thought your views of Texarkana were some of the most striking so far. Stark but clean and beautifully angular... almost a gigantic piece of artwork. Not for zombies, but "a city where everyone disappeared without a trace" type of SF. Much more interesting!
@phillipwilson89732 жыл бұрын
Maaan I remember those! I was born in the 80s, when my family would travel my brother and I were the official map readers 😂
@tylerhaynes85462 жыл бұрын
@@JoeandNicsRoadTrip I was waiting for you to say what is with the excess buildings in a town so small? What was the purpose of so much building space? Lol
@billwilson3609 Жыл бұрын
@@JoeandNicsRoadTrip You should try to find some old hardbound road atlases that show the "improved" roads and passenger lines going from town to town. Those were sold to traveling salesmen so listed each hotel and diner in town, local motorized coach lines and stables that rented a horse with a carriage. The better ones also listed local industries, banks and stores. Those will give you a better idea on how dependent on railroads the small towns were.
@j.andrew90392 жыл бұрын
I’ve been here all my life. They’ve been saying for years they’re going to save our downtown but I’m not so sure. But one of those empty buildings look like there was a woman in the window. Did anyone else notice?
@sailingaeolus2 жыл бұрын
Time mark, minute:second ?
@Chelzor Жыл бұрын
4:42 Person in the window
@SLethiot662 жыл бұрын
I was just there a few weeks ago also on a Saturday but in the afternoon. Your video is spot on except there are a good handful of bright spots among the desolation. It does a disservice to the town that you didn’t point them out. A couple Mexican food restaurants were busy, a cool bar/restaurant - Hopkins (also busy- I had lunch there), the 804 Gallery is an amazing art gallery/thrift store and a few other new businesses. If you ever visit again, I highly recommend you seek out these cool businesses.
@alasdairdrake8507 Жыл бұрын
not to mention Alley Cat Cafe, Banana Club (speakeasy) below the Gallery, we are gearing up for another fun time of "Downtown Live" which happens every 2nd Friday of the month
@clunkychina2 жыл бұрын
As an introvert this place seems both sad and magical. It would be interesting to find myself working within the downtown region of Texarkana. How surreal would it be to walk those streets? I really dig these videos and the commentary!
@crybaby37102 жыл бұрын
the two main divebars in town are downtown and all the introverts work there so you would really like it! also, the oldest apartments that are like 1970's huge lofts are about 3 blocks the right of where this guy filming called burman pharr lofts that look so old and cool and the people who work at the bars usually live there and walk to work. we also have downtown events on saturdays all evening and people do flaming hulahoops and all kinds of fun stuff for kids ☺️
@debbiesittard79792 жыл бұрын
As a child in the 60’s downtown was very magical. Especially during Christmas. Woolworth’s was still in business and had a soda fountain inside the store. Texarkana used to be a quiet and simple lil town. Population 16,000 back then. I have wonderful memories of growing up here. Sadly, I do not even recognize it now. It has turned into a fast paced, cut throat drug infested town.
@teresacox801 Жыл бұрын
I was thinking same thing
@alvaromunoz5410 Жыл бұрын
The entire nation is becoming a ghost town…..cellphones have replaced most public socializing, actually it is also affecting the rest of the world., we are addicted to our cellphones, that’s why I’m watching this video. I’m retired and travel all over the world but I adapt and find ways to socialize wherever I go 😊
@chrisgoeswest9882 Жыл бұрын
@@crybaby3710 What are the rents like?
@texarkanafyi82582 жыл бұрын
If you were there on a Saturday you would easily have caught footage of the Farmer’s Market, Pecan Point is busy as can be on Saturday at 11am. The windows are not busted out, they have been removed in renovation. I hope you will share your hometown so we can compare
@jasonroberts93572 жыл бұрын
Great insight brother! Although I don't think you want to compare his hometown. I think he lives in Plano, or Frisco area. Very upscale and developed towns....All the best to Texarkana though!
@starvingartist67542 жыл бұрын
I got hit by a tornado in this damn town, it was bad ass man !
@Outdoor_Everyday2 жыл бұрын
Been living in Texarkana my whole life, when people ask me what I do for a living it usually involve driving to another state/city. Nothing here but banks and car dealerships.
@jennystevens63072 жыл бұрын
Car washes banks and churches
@GrannyLaLa19602 жыл бұрын
Fast food places and a Walmart neighborhood store every 2 miles.
@JD1976 Жыл бұрын
I agree with all here
@enique1103 Жыл бұрын
For a city of it's size, Texarkana has a lot of banks. There's some money flowing through here....unfortunately the residents will never see it.
@Outdoor_Everyday Жыл бұрын
Yeah and they’re putting another one in where the old ruby Tuesday was.
@sandraguthrie68822 жыл бұрын
If you ever decide to visit Texarkana again, I would love to give you a tour, the good, bad and uglyof it all
@DeezSkates Жыл бұрын
I grew up there. Moved to Oklahoma City in 2015 and then to Dallas in 2020. The residents have been claiming that the downtown area is being revived for years, but it’s a delusion. They do little things that don’t amount to much and almost nothing survives down there. There are a small few businesses downtown that have managed to make it, but the majority that go there fail. The Grimm Hotel is downtown. They’ve been trying to turn it into an apartment complex and it’s been under construction like 3 years now with little progress. The last time they tried to make nice apartments there the complex ended up basically low income housing. It’s sad that the residents can’t admit how dead the whole place is compared to a normal city the same size. My username here is a KZfaq skating channel and I’ve made quite a few videos in Texarkana’s downtown. Tons of my viewers always commented on how I’m “skating in a ghost town”.
@JoeandNicsRoadTrip Жыл бұрын
Thank you for the honest comment. I get comments claiming that Texarkana's downtown is vibrant and in the process of being rebuilt. Those people live in a fantasy world.
@hillsideboy8704 Жыл бұрын
@@JoeandNicsRoadTrip it is being revamped whoever says otherwise is a lie🎯
@prodigalflower1178 Жыл бұрын
I moved here a year and a half ago from California and I HATE IT HERE! 🙃 😑 😒
@hillsideboy8704 Жыл бұрын
@@prodigalflower1178 Leave 🤷🏽♂️
@jessem7556 Жыл бұрын
@@prodigalflower1178 Bakersfield is 1000 times better than Texarkana!!
@michaelevans79362 жыл бұрын
You can thank the mayor's that didn't want bigger businesses moving into the area and made them go to places like Dallas
@haroldrigsby47462 жыл бұрын
You got it right old leadership wants to keep it small they should have a age limit on government
@machellesparks45752 жыл бұрын
I'm from there and that post office is where John F Kennedy once made a speech. If you walk up the steps there is a plaque about that.
@bridgetparker5040 Жыл бұрын
I am from Texarkana, Texas and I am going to agree. True there are businesses who are trying to help make it better, and I commend them. I have lived here all my life, and it is disappointing. Low pay, high costs and a lot of crime.
@williamcooper24152 жыл бұрын
Hard to believe; last time I drove through that city, the whole area was booming, with all kinds of improvements and construction.
@divatz782 жыл бұрын
You were probably on the interstate which is on the opposite end of downtown. What happened to Texarkana downtown is exactly what happened in the movie animation, "Cars". Downtown was built on or near highway 67 which was the main highway at one time. Elvis Presley's pink Cadillac broke down on route 67 on his way to Texarkana from Hope once but the interstate took the flow of traffic therefore that's where the businesses went.
@tonygareth2212 жыл бұрын
I must have just missed you I was down there around 7:30-8 am. I get Starbucks then drive down Stateline and cruise around the city once or twice and go. Sometimes I ride my bike from home and just cruise around downtown so I can check things out like you are. The train station is the saddest part because it’s big and was grand! I’ve been in there and it looks like hell now but you sure can tell it used to be amazing! I wish more would be done downtown but the buildings take too much money and there’s not enough of it here. 3-4 decent places to eat downtown
@JoeandNicsRoadTrip2 жыл бұрын
Yeah, I went to the train station, even filmed it. It's in a really sad state.
@poetcomic12 жыл бұрын
"I was born in Looziana just a couple miles from Texarkana in them old cotton fields back hom. Oh when them cotton balls get rotten you can't pick none of that cotten...." THAT'S an old song.
@austin26402 жыл бұрын
I currently live in Texarkana, TX. Downtown is definitely not nice but is alot busier during the work week. Texarkana also still serves as the major metro hub for alot of rural cities in AR, TX, OK, and LA. It is not uncommon to see people commute every day from these states to Texarkana. There are definitely nice parts of the city but they are located along the interstate. I really wish they would hurry up and renovate some of these older buildings for housing though. The rental and home market in Texarkana and surrounding areas is absolutely abysmal and way overpriced for median household incomes
@JoeandNicsRoadTrip2 жыл бұрын
I've driven through Texarkana vis the interstate many times and it's modern and nice there. I would have never guessed the downtown looked like that in a million years. I was stunned, to be honest. Hopefully the city planners will start working on reviving it.
@seraphthegatekeeper Жыл бұрын
@@JoeandNicsRoadTrip that building that had its facade stripped off was in the process of a whole remodel. The old Grimm Hotel is going to be apartments when they are finished.
@OrganNLou2 жыл бұрын
WOW, I agreed with your statement about downtones (The heart and sole of the city should have a pulse) !!!
@nunyabusiness38322 жыл бұрын
Texarkana native myself, still here. That grand building used to be an upscale hotel back in the day. It is currently being renovated for lofts/apartments. I'm just glad it didn't (randomly burn) over the past year and a half like a lot think it and abandoned hotels have. Other than that, downtown sucks and it's depressing!
@armyjeep42 жыл бұрын
Nice thing about Texarkana is if you like to street race, you can all day long,then when the cops show up you can just drive across the street to Arkansas and you're home free
@MrDEWaters2 жыл бұрын
I'm not sure why, but Texarkana has been in decline for quite a while. I drove through there in the '90s and it wasn't thriving even then. That large building with the broken windows was the Grimm Hotel (appropriately named).
@abi-ds6bd2 жыл бұрын
He wasn’t in the right part of Texarkana but the downtown part is better now
@JalinaEiram2 жыл бұрын
There NOTHING to do there. I recently visited and used to live there years ago, not much has changed.
@slconcerts34972 жыл бұрын
@@JalinaEiram We have a fun (declining, now being fixed) water park now, movies, knife throwing, place where they have good food bowling and slap contests, etc. not a lot but more things to do than there were 10 years ago and less. richmond road and places like that are booming.
@JalinaEiram2 жыл бұрын
@@slconcerts3497 I know about those things in my opinion not really interesting.
@wanb22 жыл бұрын
@Don - that large building with broken windows he's actually the building in front of Grimm. He showed Hotel Grimm at 02:59 and it has all new windows. They're turning it into apartments.
@cobbler40 Жыл бұрын
Something about your videos is fascinating they are very melancholic and remind us our civilization is temporary.
@peggywatson8713 Жыл бұрын
I live in Texarkana growing up I was raised in Fouke Arkansas but back in the 60 s you could walk up an down main Street an all stores would be open an nice went down hill since the older people are no longer here you can sure tell the difference
@andrewward5891 Жыл бұрын
Joe- I laughed when you said filmmakers could use the empty downtown to film post apocalyptic movies. That’s exactly what some filmmakers did in the 70s in downtown Los Angeles. The Omega Man was filmed on Sunday mornings in downtown LA which was virtually deserted without the Monday - Friday office workers.
@carlgruver6952 жыл бұрын
I know your just saying what your seeing but Texarkana is great place to live the people are very friendly crime is very low. There is work here i personally think it's cheaper to live on the Arkansas side even with a state tax downtown is getting rebuilt
@anthonyvalarino6630 Жыл бұрын
I love this show I watch every episode thankyou so much for posting!
@JoeandNicsRoadTrip Жыл бұрын
Thank you for the kind words, Anthony! :)
@haleypatillo Жыл бұрын
Thanks to organizations like Main Street Texarkana, we are seeing more new businesses and events springing up downtown. As a musician, I am often hired for events there. Thanks to the many people who are working hard to help it be a fun place again.
@johnirby493 Жыл бұрын
Another reason for inner city decay is that the older buildings have outdated electric wiring, plumbing, heating, and so on. In many instances, it was cheaper to build new retail structures in locations closer to the money. Now the malls, and some box stores, that replaced the downtown businesses, are themselves becoming rundown things of the past.
@billwilson3609 Жыл бұрын
Those old buildings also were chock-full of asbestos and lead paint that was too costly to remove if the owners followed the EPA's onerous abatement regulations. Nobody wanted to buy the buildings if they contained asbestos and lead paint so they sat empty going to rot or where turned over to the county/city to avoid paying property taxes on them.
@FreezeIsPlaying25 күн бұрын
If you’re ever in the area, I think you would be surprised how changed the downtown is now. Stop on by and do an update! It’s a bit more bustling downtown now.
@shawnkellam1532 жыл бұрын
To outsiders, they are surprised at the urban decay of Texarkana, but us lifelong residents of Texarkana are not surprised. There's just not enough people in Texarkana who care about the history of our city
@barbs7351 Жыл бұрын
Most of those in office now care more about North Texarkana than preserving our historic downtown. When posed questions about the condition of downtown on msg boards, comments and questions are usually deleted. Very sad indeed considering the amount of history down there.
@Flycap2 жыл бұрын
Moved here about a year ago... thanks for the info. I've asked locals about the state of Downtown and they know next to nothing. Not as bad as Baltimore (hometown) but worse than I would have imagined being a smaller city.
@Talk2WandaVision2 жыл бұрын
The woman on the painted Dr. Pepper advertisement looks like she’s scared for her life lol 😂
@Talk2WandaVision2 жыл бұрын
Downtown Texarkana has serious ghost town vibes. Eerie.
@johnhughes21062 жыл бұрын
Even has ghost hunt tours
@hoopty.2 жыл бұрын
I always passed thru Texarkana, on my way to my home city Dallas, and I thought so much of this town. Unbelievable. I always stop for gas in a little small town outside Texarkana.
@JoeandNicsRoadTrip2 жыл бұрын
Same here. Over the past 10 months we’ve driven through here 7 or 8 times non our way to and from Dallas. On the interstate the city looks modern. We stayed at a hotel right off I30. Nice area. When I drove to downtown on this late Saturday morning I was wondering if I would find a parking spot. I was shocked at what I actually saw.
@atravelandrelax2 жыл бұрын
Such an interesting place. Thanks for this excursion👍
@rebecca64702 жыл бұрын
They lost their ammunition storage plant and that hurt the town significantly
@timmillan6701 Жыл бұрын
It’s been at least 30 years since I was in Texarkana. I remember it as quite different than this. Of course, I was so enthusiastic about that state line down the middle of the street, I might have not have paid close attention to anything else. I have to admit: I crossed the street multiple times, “ Now I’m in Texas/ now I’m in Arkansas “ Chronologically, I was an adult at the time
@TheGoofyMoth2 жыл бұрын
I live in Texarkana and I can confirm downtown is very lifeless but in other parts there are hundreds of cars.
@tonygareth2212 жыл бұрын
The building your recorded is actually being fixed up and lofts will be rented. Some of the others unfortunately are definitely in bad shape and just rotting away but the grim hotel that looks like it’s being worked on is going to be used. Downtown is my favorite part of the city but yeah it’s dead down there unfortunately. Wish it would revive
@gregpjones83452 жыл бұрын
Yeah, Whoop Whoop….just more newly refurbished & spit shined, government funded Section 8 low rent housing to be moved into & torn up !! 👏🏻👏🏻🙄
@willbygosh48872 жыл бұрын
Hopefully the Hotel renovation could be a catylist towards downtown revitalization but it has a long,long way to go.
@laurashipp4472 жыл бұрын
I live in Texarkana and that's exactly what's going on. There are several projects in the works to restore and revitalize the downtown area. Unfortunately the BI-State Justice building is smack in the middle, there's a jail on the fourth floor of that building. If you were to come to the same area M-F you would see this area is packed, there are also a number of small businesses as well as restaurants that are full during the work week. Have a great one everyone.
@emmettrodriguez111 Жыл бұрын
Known as The Ark - La -Tex in the late 60's early 70's . Was in the military at that time and that was what it was called on the radio stations .
@brandtc.79912 жыл бұрын
100 percent agree, every downtown should be the heart and soul of a city, and its VERY true, when its dying something overall is wrong. great video! thank you!
@UwU-ms8fq2 жыл бұрын
I grew up in Texarkana. The hotel you saw under construction is called the Hotel Grim. It once was a diamond in downtown Texarkana. It is now under construction to open in the fall of this year as condos.
@UwU-ms8fq2 жыл бұрын
All the construction along I-30 and north of that from the 1980s through about 10 years ago killed the downtown area. Lots of attempts over the years have been made to revive it.
@UwU-ms8fq2 жыл бұрын
It's very sad.
@UwU-ms8fq2 жыл бұрын
The Perot theater was an old Opera house! Absolutely gorgeous inside. Then it became a movie theater and then it was restored to it's former glory with funds from Ross Perot (a Texarkana boy, born and raised). Lots of arts go through there from concerts to Broadway shows.
@UwU-ms8fq2 жыл бұрын
The Greetings from Texarkana mural is not from the late 1880s. 😊
@UwU-ms8fq2 жыл бұрын
The big abandoned building fenced in on Pine Street on the Texas side has a lot of history. Started out as Texarkana college. Then became Texas High School. Then Pine Street Junior High. It been abandoned for 20+ years and it's loaded with abestos.
@johnhughes21062 жыл бұрын
Lived here my whole life and if u don't work at Cooper tire or the army depot u really don't have many choices for a higher income. Not a very family friendly place towards the evenings. Pay here is shit , 1000s of places to eat and get bothered by drunks and homeless following u around trying to bum something. Parks having dope deals done while ur kids swinging 20 feet away. Bad shit happens around this area hourly. Living here I just make the best of the situation n keep my eyes open for something popping off n pray I'm not the next one shot and I make it home to my family
@driskoolio Жыл бұрын
These videos make me realise why the whole post-apocalypse genre has become so popular
@simonhadley8829 Жыл бұрын
This level of decay in the city almost seems deliberate, as if the people running the town decided to run everybody out for some future plans. That or they simply refuse any and all stimulus packages that come along out of sheer obstinacy.
@akylrysgal62422 жыл бұрын
“America is the single greatest country in the history of the world” - this is what American politicians like to say about this country. Well, we see in reality it’s the opposite of the great!
@MBTexas1962 жыл бұрын
The city basically relocated to the interstate, where it’s easier to attract business
@haroldrigsby47462 жыл бұрын
I wouldn't say it's most greatest in history but it's the most powerful what do you consider great that's the question
@rosiemcnaughton99332 жыл бұрын
What a fabulous Post Office building! I also love the Scott Joplin mural. I looked up the Perot Theater and saw that it has been restored by the Perot family (as in Ross Perot's family), and the pictures of the inside are just gorgeous. I wonder if those who live there ever forget which side of the line they are on...Probably not...😅
@FreezeIsPlaying25 күн бұрын
No, it’s easy to tell when you cross into arkansas. Arkansas side is pretty much ruins.
@rosiemcnaughton993325 күн бұрын
@@FreezeIsPlaying Oh...👍
@edwardmiessner65022 жыл бұрын
This is a railroad town and with the decline of the railroads came the decline of the city, apparently. What you showed me is very sad. Presently they have I-30 from Dallas and Little Rock, I-49 from Shreveport which the state will extend to Fort Smith, and in the future there's going to be I-369 also, which will connect to Houston and the Mexican border via I-69. But all those roads serve or will serve suburbia!
@104422 жыл бұрын
good thing about TEXARKANA you didn't mention, there's plenty of PARKING.
@JoeandNicsRoadTrip2 жыл бұрын
Indeed. :)
@stephenmoerlein84702 жыл бұрын
Downtown looks truly depressed; I would not like to walk there at night, even if well armed. It looks like it was once a thriving community. Makes you wonder what industry they lest to cause such a shift in population. A real shame those luxurious homes nearby were abandoned. It is also odd that streets were shared by between different states. Seems like it would lead to arguments regarding revenue for maintenance. Also odd that someone is investing in a large hotel downtown. Who would ever want to stay there? Thanks for posting this tour; I will most likely never see it in person.
@JoeandNicsRoadTrip2 жыл бұрын
Thank you for the interesting comment, Stephen.
@south_paw2 жыл бұрын
That building you speak of is going to be apartments, it’s a relatively new thing for our downtown to turn old buildings into apartments.
@prodigalflower1178 Жыл бұрын
Came from California to Texarkana because my sister and her husband convinced us it was such a nice place! It's the worst place I could have ever moved to! It's poor, raggedy, and UGLY out here 😢! There are 4 decent restaurants and the rest is garbage 🗑 😕 😪, the ONLY thing good out here is you can get a job, but the pay SUCKS, and the people out here are SOOOOO SWEET and friendly, and there are a lot of believers here! There is nothing to do barely on a Sunday, the mall is a Major dud! I hate I left California, but I am glad to be with family and that makes up for all the CONS! I would leave this place in the dust if I could do it all over again! You can barely make enough to live decently! They DONT PAY YOU WELL AT ALL!
@StevenFinlay-qw5uo29 күн бұрын
I really enjoy your videos. What a cool couple u two are. Stay blessed. Stay safe.
@JoeandNicsRoadTrip25 күн бұрын
Thank you!!
@paula49102 жыл бұрын
Great video, much more interesting than the big city tours
@JoeandNicsRoadTrip2 жыл бұрын
Thank you, Paul. I’m heading up into the Oklahoma panhandle next. Wait until you see that area. Mostly ghost towns.
@abi-ds6bd2 жыл бұрын
Honestly I don’t think you really gave Texarkana the proper rep they’re restoring the downtown part a lot has happened in Texarkana for things to stop they starting making other businesses in Texarkana that stopped the striving of downtown
@yeah_thats_me2 жыл бұрын
I love texarkana texas. It’s my dad’s hometown. This is just a little bit of the city as you go more into it it gets a lot better there’s lots of people there and I really like to visit there there are lots of businesses opening up there
@chrisman39652 жыл бұрын
Grew up very close to Texarkana and spent a LOT of time there. The immense growth along I-30 has sucked the life out of a once vibrant downtown.
@4eyes2sea2 жыл бұрын
I haven't seen kids playing in anyone's videos touring through towns.. this is no different. Where are the kids?? Playing games on their screens?: it's kinda scary.
@sailingaeolus2 жыл бұрын
You know, that's a very good question. Most don't realize it but the USA is a shrinking nation. The birth rate is well below replacement and the marriage rate has fallen off a cliff. The only thing keeping (larger towns) growing is massive immigration.
@4eyes2sea2 жыл бұрын
@@sailingaeolus i think you're right. I've been saying, "make babies 👶 make babies", and some say I'm crazy, "overpopulation". We're frogs in a pot of slowly boiling water... we need to wake up and jump the f out.. right?
@jasonroberts93572 жыл бұрын
@@4eyes2sea If only they had eyes to sea!!!
@scottmaytham35782 жыл бұрын
You would think retirees and people on social security from the rusted belt . Would be flocking to there,if only for a place to winter.
@BadTV1993 Жыл бұрын
that is mostly what lives here, the median age of the population is in the 50s last I checked
@mlewyn Жыл бұрын
When I clerked for a judge in Arkansas we regularly visited Fayetteville, Hot Springs and Texarkana; we lived in Fort Smith. Texarkana's was definitely the worst downtown of those four; I remember there was no place to eat near the courthouse except a hospital cafeteria, and the hotels were all out on the suburban edge of State Line Avenue.
@lanabanana4169 Жыл бұрын
I appreciate u showing Texarkana . I was born there in 1952 on the Texas side . My parents were living on Arkansas side . They were raised in Arkansas. My mom was raised in the Ozarks mts . Of Northen Arkansas an my dad was raised in a small town of Saratoga which isn't that far from Texarkana. A few months after I was born we moved to Texas an was raised there . I don't think I have been back to Texarkana since birth. I'm in Alaska now so I liked you showing Texarkana . Lana 🍌
@TheDougiefresh152 жыл бұрын
Hello. I’m born and raised in Texarkana. I’m the FedEx driver who covers all of downtown and the areas tour shown in this video. What makes me mad about your video is you walked right past all the great businesses we have. Yes our downtown is terrible. But it is currently going through a rebuilding stage and they are planning to make it better. Our downtown is dead on the weekends because all the businesses are closed. Come back Monday-Friday and you’ll see it flooded with people. Stop by on the Ark side an get you a famous TLC burger. Right in the middle of downtown. The Dr. Pepper mural. And the neighborhoods you drove through went the best yes. But there is still so much to this city you didn’t see.
@JoeandNicsRoadTrip2 жыл бұрын
Walked past the great businesses? There was nothing there. The downtown is full of boarded up buildings, many of whom have their glass broken out. In pretty much every US city downtown I have visited (126 in the past 11 months), it's busy on Saturdays and Sundays. The Texarkana downtown is among the worst I have ever seen. Additionally, I only visit downtowns and the neighborhoods surrounding downtown. I have no interest in generic suburbia. I visit downtowns to see the unique architecture, walkability, amount of people who live there, businesses actually open, etc. None of that is there in Texarkana.
@lindagraham092 жыл бұрын
@@JoeandNicsRoadTrip Hi. I grew up there and moved away years ago, but still visit. You did miss the restaurants and other small businesses that have popped up in downtown in the last few years. You didn't quite go far enough down the street to see those businesses. Yes, it's bad, but is slowly getting better.
@indianaslim49712 жыл бұрын
@@JoeandNicsRoadTrip Sorry but I think you are wrong about your comment, I have to believe the Fed-Ex delivery man that works the downtown area every day, also I have read the comments section on many of your videos and one constant is the neglect you have in showing thriving businesses in the downtown area, you have a theme and you only show what fits your theme and nothing else.
@JoeandNicsRoadTrip2 жыл бұрын
@@indianaslim4971 LOL, fits my theme? My theme is this: I visit city downtowns. That's it. I do the same exact thing in every city I visit - 168 cities in the past 11 months. And that is this: I walk around downtown. I was there on a Saturday. A day that downtown SHOULD be busy. I walked up and down the Main Street. I walked several streets on either side. There was NO ONE THERE. There were no cars. No people. I walked in the middle of the streets without problem because there was no one driving there. I showed all of this VERY clearly with my camera. I have been to many thriving downtowns in the US. Texarkana is NOT one of them.
@bobmmann39172 жыл бұрын
Another fascinating video showing the sad decline of a city. Looks like it was once a beautiful downtown. The city politicians must be proud. I hope you are careful walking around these areas, stay safe.
@JoeandNicsRoadTrip2 жыл бұрын
Thank you, Bob. :)
@haroldrigsby47462 жыл бұрын
You got it right down town belongs to the old people and that's the way they want it until they put something downtown for young people it's going to stay dead
@richtxn47 Жыл бұрын
@21:00 You are looking at the old Texas High School. The new high school is on Summerhill road, and these buildings on Pine St. were sold to a private party that never developed them into anything.
@stevek4654 Жыл бұрын
The grandiose level of urban decay...This is absolutely amazing.
@4eyes2sea2 жыл бұрын
I been watching you and your wife for awhile now. Do you think there's been a (rapture) and we haven't figured it out yet? Where are the people?? It's a little crazy. Am i wrong guys?
@JoeandNicsRoadTrip2 жыл бұрын
Good question!
@israeldiaz882 жыл бұрын
Texarkana is a small town and its people think the live in like a “small Dallas” but it’s simply a small country town with lots of Rich sims and even more poor sims. The narrow minded people with lack of vision have caused that this T Town has very little opportunity to grow. Too many businesses and too little industry. There is a dire need of industrial jobs In order for a city to boost its income per capita. Retail alone won’t do it. The people in charge have tried to keep this town small and ugly. My hometown has over 4 million of the hardest working people in the North eastern Mexico area and the strongest economy in Latin America thanks to the industrial jobs.
@dragokk2034 Жыл бұрын
I love watching this videos, thank you bro, keep going ❤
@JoeandNicsRoadTrip Жыл бұрын
Thanks, will do!
@SuperBullyone Жыл бұрын
Thank you for posting these videos.
@tylerhaynes85462 жыл бұрын
My first thought was WTF is with all the multistory buildings in such a small town? I live in a city of nearly 200k and our tallest buildings downtown are FIVE stories, and what's crazier, we probably have a handful of them at best! I don't understand what the need for all that building space could have been for in a small town.
@billwilson3609 Жыл бұрын
The city has been the economic hub for a four state area (SE Oklahoma, SW Arkansas, NW Louisiana and NE Texas) for a good number of decades.
@tylerhaynes8546 Жыл бұрын
@@billwilson3609 That makes sense
@WizenedVariations12 жыл бұрын
A huge business grew at the expense of downtowns nationwide started in Bentonville, AR.