This episode recounts the controversy over, and political maneuvering that resulted in the creation of America’s first national river. Featured are interviews with writer, professor, and regular Ozark Highlands Radio contributor Dr. Brooks Blevins, and Buffalo River area native and long time Buffalo National River staff member Zed Davenport.

In this special Ozark Highlands Radio series, author, folklorist and songwriter Charley Sandage celebrates 50 years of the Buffalo National River, America’s first national river. On March 1st, 1972, President Nixon signed the bill creating a new national park, the Buffalo National River. 2022, then, is a fiftieth anniversary, and Ozark Highlands Radio is joining the celebration. Everything that millions of visitors to the park have experienced on the Buffalo, or are planning to experience, will be here. The 135-mile jewel of a mountain river, the legendary bluffs, shoals for camping and swimming, forested trails to waterfalls, shelter caves, and historic sites, wildlife, including smallmouth bass and other species to challenge your fishing skills.

This series is made possible with cooperation from the Buffalo National River, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, Buffalo National River Partners, The Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage & Tourism, Arkansas State Parks, Ozark Folk Center State Park, The Committee of One Hundred, Stone Bank, and the Arkansas Arts Council. For the Buffalo theme song written and performed by Charley Sandage with music by Tim Crouch.