Buffalo Willie
As the legend goes…
Buffalo Willie roamed the Buffalo River whistling Willie Nelson tunes. He was rarely seen as he hiked the Ozark hills and hollows. His life is a true Ozark Folk Tale.
They say he came from some where to the south passing through the Buffalo River watershed about the time it was designated a National River. He was a solitary figure; rarely seen and only photographed a few times. He met Dr. Neil Compton has he stood on the banks of the river the Ozark Society fought so hard to protect.
He mostly interacted with the locals along the Buffalo. He loaded hay and firewood for old Granny Henderson at her place near Jim Bluff. And he had to call on Pete Peters for a ride to town when it turned so cold Hemmed-In-Hollow froze over.
Later he went backpacking with a tenacious young woman. They climbed to the top of Hemmed-In-Hollow and spent the weekend. A few years later in the same spot they rode out a tornado passing over. He married that woman and they spent the rest of their lives together.
He championed the right for a new visitor to experience the Buffalo but he would not stand for rude behavior from anyone that failed to respect the natural beauty. If you tried to leave your trash behind he was there to correct you.
As more people visited the Buffalo he pushed deeper into the hollows working his way into a major tributary, Richland Creek. This was rugged wilderness that was almost inaccessible and at least once he had to find shelter for the night under a bluff. He traveled past Falling Water Falls and Six Finger falls eventually homesteading near the Twin Falls on Devils Fork.
We Don’t Know if He’s Still Out There Somewhere.
Likely not. But if you’re on a trail sometime and you meet an old gray hiker using two old walking sticks and whistling a Willie Nelson tune, then say hello to Buffalo Willie for us!