Interviews

Tom Tharp ~ Olden Days Carriage Services

www.oldendayscarriageservices.com

Can you give us a little background on your company? What do you do and what accomplishments are you most proud of?

My wife and I purchased the company back in 2000. It just kinda fell into my lap, after switching jobs for the least 6 years, and having spent 12 years before that in the restaraunt business, i wasnt sure what i wanted to do, but it wasnt cooking. I was struggling, trying to come up with SOMETHING that i would enjoy doing, AND make money doing it. The guy that owned the business was ready to retire and wanted to pass it on to someone who would take care of the animals and have fun too. That was me.

I took a concept and a small part time business and turned it into a blooming prosperous business that is open 6 days a week, and teaches people the core history that is Eureka Springs.

As a business person what are the benefits you find being located in Eureka Springs? Are there any drawbacks?

Hmm, that's a tough one. Bennifits might be that we are in a unique location with a unique product. The beauty around us, and of course each and every one of US who live here. We are just as much the attraction as the natural beauty around us. More "locals" need to stop and realise that.

Drawbacks? Ummm, no beaches, no snow capped mountain skiing and not enough parking.

If you were coming here on vacation what would your list of "must see or do" agenda include?

Well you see, that's just it. It's not so much what you do, so much as what you DONT HAVE to do. I have been to different vacation spots and they all brag about their roller coasters and big budget shows. They have "this thing" or "that big thing you gotta see" and what happens is, you get locked into a schedule of stuff to do, places you GOTTA be by a certain time, all day, the whole time you are there.

We dont have any stoplights, 4-lane roads or off-ramps here, we LIKE It that way. Just come here, get your room/cabin, and RELAX. Unwind.

Just walk around and soak in what i call "the Mayberry Effect".

What IS the Mayberry Effect you speak of?

The "Mayberry Effect" is what a call the feeling you get when you are here.

You start to get the small-town feeling that just makes you relax. (or at least it SHOULD)

If you will notice, MOST of the businesses here in town dont have posted business hours. They just get to work about the time they have had their third cup of coffee and go home when they get ready.

Everywhere you go, people are waving at one another, EVERY TIME they see each other, even if it is the 4th time that afternoon! lol

This just astounds the big city folks who are not accustomed to folks waving with all five fingers. They say "do you REALLY know all those people?"

Well, yeah, I do!

What would your ideal "night on the town" in Eureka Springs consist of?

Gaskins Cabin and night caps at Doc Baker's Lounge with Biazzo ! (I hope i spelled his name right!)

Gaskins cabin is IMHO the best food/service/atmosphere in the whole county.

It's not just dinner, it is an eating experience.

Doc Baker's sits high atop the Crescent Hotel and at night you can walk out onto the observation deck and you are surrounded by tranquility; the stars above you, and the city lighs below you.

What do you think of the people that live here? How vital is the diversity of the residents to your idea "perfect community"?

Perfect community? This aint Wonderland, and I aint Alice.

Our diversity is what makes us all who we are. Most of the people here are what we lovingly call "transplants", everyone comes from somewhere but very few people come from HERE. They were all tourists themselves at one time, who found our quaint little town and decided to stay. It has been happening like that since 1820 and will likely continue to be so for the rest of time. Problem is, the "locals" seem to forget that they too were once tourists.

They forget the first feelings of awe and wonder when surrounded by the natural beauty that causes them to instinctively slow down to look around.

As for it being VITAL? Oxygen is vital, our whole country is so diverse, i just think that we are a small sample of how we could all live together if we just get to know one another. Sure we bicker, who doesnt? But we dont resort to shooting, stabbing and drive-by's. See "Mayberry Effect" above.

Eureka Springs has quite a fascinating history. How important do you feel this is in today's fast paced world?

If people only knew how easy we have it now!

I explain to people on the carriage tours just how long it would have taken travelers to get to our fair city in 1880. They just cant fathom taking 2 years to get ANYWHERE in today's society. You have to understand the DRIVE and determination it takes to make one want to travel overland (no paved roads) for months, possible YEARS to find what they hope to be utopia in the Ozarks.

What does Eureka Springs mean to you?

Home.

It's all those new friends you make every day, the neigbors you know, the family that is always there for you that reminds you that you are indeed "home".

Has being in Eureka Springs lived up to your expectations?

Growing up here, the only expectaions i had were of leaving as soon as i could! I didn't know what was out there, but there had to be more than this, i thought to myself. All teenagers go through this i think.

But during that brief time, i did watch and learn from those who were famous and rich, and discovered a few things that most people dont because they just dont take the time to listen.

I realized that what i was looking for wasn't to be found in the bright lights and big city, it was right here all along, but i had to get away and change my perspective to see that.

Sometimes you have to stand on the mountain, just to see the beauty below. I remember my grandfather saying that to me. His last house was on the TOP of a mountain that overlooked Beaver Dam. The eagles, hawks and buzzards would soar right past the only window in his place and just sit and hover in the wind pockets RIGHT NEXT TO THE HOUSE! It was kinda kewl being a kid and growing up with an Indian.

It didn't take long for me to discover where i needed to be and i came back home. Now it took a while to get to the place where i am now, a comfortable place, not wealthy by any means in the financial sense but on the other hand i have wealth beyond most in that i have more friends in this town than most people meet in their entire lives.

I tell folks on the carriage that here in the hills, your friends ARE your neighbors, and all your neighbors are your friends.
If they aren't, it's your own fault for not invitin' em over!

One thing that Ray Stevens taught me during my apprenticeship under his crossed eyes , was to treasure your quiet time, guard your personal space, and find your own little slice of peace and quiet, no matter where that may be. Once you find it, never leave.

I have found that place.

www.oldendayscarriageservices.com