The Shack Up Inn - Clarksdale Mississippi

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Would you shack up with this Guy?!

We did for 3 nights. That's Guy Malvezzi in the picture - loves to talk. He gave up the thrill packed day to day life of an owner of a chain of furniture stores to retire to the life of a carefree B&B (Bed and Beer) owner. Guy and his partner, Bill Talbot, run the most unique hotel you will ever stay at! The Shack Up Inn calls itself the first B&B in Mississippi. Located on Rt. 49 just outside of Clarksdale and about a mile from the Crossroads where Highway 61 and Rt 49 Intersect this one of a kind Hotel is on the grounds of the old Hopson Plantation.

The Commissary for the Hopson Plantation

The Red Headed Irish Girl and I went to Clarksdale for their first film festival (more on that in the next post). Several of the locals recommended the Shack Up Inn as the place to stay. We went there to stay for 1 night and stayed for 3 - we just couldn't leave. This place is a collage that hits you differently depending on where you look and how the sun shines and what your mood is - it's a picture that  you can sleep in! The owners have made this place a work of art as much as a hotel and it is beautiful to look at and inspiring and relaxing to stay in. The Shack Up and Cotton Gin Inn consists of rooms in the old cotton gin that are called the 'Bin' rooms because they are rooms made from closing off the old cotton gin bins.

The Cotton Gins

The Hopson plantation was the first place in the US to plant and harvest cotton entirely by machine. This cotton gin was a partnership between them and International Harvester that made the old labor intensive method of cottom farming obsolete and help set in motion the great migrations of Afro-Americans from the south to northern industrial cities looking for work......and they took the Blues with them.
The shacks are refurbished "shotgun" shacks that look dilapidated beyond belief from the outside but inside have been fitted out with comfortable and modern conveniences but retains the feel of an old cabin - as done by a movie set director. Some even have pianos in them if you feel like breaking out in song. Everyone we met while staying there was extremely friendly and it was a very diverse crowd: some guitar players from Nashville, a harmonica player from Arkansas, a baker from Jackson, a whole bunch of duck hunters and possibly a couple there for some "sneak" time.

The Shacks

The place even has its own stage where music takes place during the many festivals in Clarksdale and apparently whenever they might feel like it. Called the "Juke Joint Chapel" it really is an incredible 3d collage that you can walk around in and listen to music on the sound system (Blues of course!) or just meditate with a beer in one of the church pews. The chapel is an ongoing labor of love not to be missed - and they DO serve beer.

The Juke Joint Chapel

The Chapel Bar & Stage

If you don't need a fancy LCD TV (they have tv;s just not ones that take up all of your attention), or sleep in a room that looks like any other motel you have ever been in then this place is for you! They even have guitars in the lobby that you can borrow and take back to your room or sit on the porch for a little woodshedding - I highly recommend the Harmony! Like they say on their FAQ page "The Ritz we ain't" but if you are looking for relaxing get-a-way you cannot beat this place with a stick!

If you go be sure to say HEY to lovely Marc - and tell her Joe/Dot sent you.

Marc

For more infromation or to make reservations go to the web site for the Shack Up Inn: http://www.shackupinn.com/

Me & The Stick at The Lobby

Check back soon for the Film Festival, Blues Trail, and, of course, The Crossroads Entries (We DID find THE crossroads!) all coming within the week on Travels With Blue Honey