Johnny Cash's Boyhood Home Is An Affordable Road Trip Destination That's Full Of Arkansas History
By Liz Oliver|Published August 09, 2020
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Liz Oliver
Author
Liz is a Missouri native with a B.A. in English from Mizzou and a M.A. in Non-Profit Administration from Lindenwood University. She works for a STL metro-area community college and enjoys writing, traveling, and indoor cycling. Her true passion is forcing her encyclopedic knowledge of Missouri facts on uninterested strangers from across the globe!
Born and raised in Arkansas, Johnny Cash is an American Rock-N-Roll legend with deep roots in the Natural State. In fact, Johnny Cash’s boyhood home is a unique road trip destination that provides visitors with history about both Arkansas and the Man In Black himself. Take a tour of the Historic Dyess Colony in northeastern Arkansas without emptying out your wallet and you’ll take home memories that are sure to last.
Johnny Cash was born on February 26th, 1932 in Kingsland, Arkansas. His parents, Ray and Carrie Cash, moved the family to the newly-established Dyess Colony, located in northeastern Arkansas, in March of 1935.
Dyess Colony was established in 1934 as an agricultural resettlement community to help native Arkansans recover from the Great Depression. The intention was that the families that relocated to Dyess would earn the title to their property through working the land. The estimated population in 2019 was just under 400 residents.
The Cash Family were early residents of Dyess, and Johnny lived in the community until he graduated high school in 1950. Johnny's music was influenced by his upbringing in Dyess and can be heard in his songs, “Pickin’ Time” and “Five Feet High and Rising.”
By 2009, the community of Dyess was nearly abandoned. The Arkansas state government enlisted Arkansas State University to determine whether the town could be restored into a state heritage and tourism destination. At that time, the Cash Family Home was one of the few original homes standing but was in rough shape.
In 2011, the university began the process of restoring the home. In 2018, the Cash Family Home was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places.
The inside of the home has been restored and furnished with pieces from the 1930s and 40s. Johnny Cash's younger siblings, Joanne Cash Yates and Tommy Cash, worked with the restoration team to ensure that every detail was perfect. Visitors can tour the home and see what life looked like for the Cash Family and other residents of Dyess.
In the heart of Dyess, the Administration building was the first site rehabbed and opened to the public. The restoration was completed in 2014 and now houses exhibits related to the formation of the Dyess Colony and administration offices for the remaining city officials.
Originally constructed in 1946, the town theater was also rehabbed. It is now the visitor's center, an exhibition area, and gift shop. Visitors have the opportunity to tour all three buildings with their admission.
The legacy of Johnny Cash will continue to live on through his music, movies, and the unique history of the Dyess Colony. It's an Arkansas destination that is well worth the drive and small cost of admission!
You can tour the Historic Dyess Colony Tuesday through Saturday at 9:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m, and 3:00 p.m. General Admission is $10 and there are discounted rates for seniors, students, and groups. Visit the Historic Dyess Colony: Johnny Cash Boyhood Home website for the most up-to-date information about pricing, tours, exhibits, events, and more.
Have you visited the Historic Dyess Colony to tour Johnny Cash’s boyhood home? Tell us about your experience in the comments below.
