The entity that operates Tallahatchie Flats is an LLC partnership.
It was named Three Forks because it has three partners - Originally
they were Stuart Fincher, Steve LaVere and the husband and wife
team of Billy and Aubrey Whittington - and their partnership was the
outgrowth of discussions concerning the Robert Johnson phenomenon
that has engulfed the cultural sensibilities of the Greenwood area for
the last 15 years. Also, Three Forks is the area where Robert Johnson
is known to have been poisoned and it is not far from the plot of land
selected for the venture.
The first fork is Steve LaVere, a music historian and a Grammy
award-winning record producer. He has devoted the last 30 years
to solving the mystery of Robert Johnson. He and his family moved to
Greenwood from California to found and operate the Greenwood Blues
Heritage Museum & Gallery and Greenwood Heritage Tours as well as
Veronica’s – Custom Bakery and the Blue Parrot Café all of which
were housed in the historic Three Deuces Building on Howard Street
in Greenwood.
Steve LaVere became enchanted with the idea of creating a venture
similar in scope to that of The Shack Up Inn near Clarksdale. He took
the idea to both Fincher and Whittington and they received it with
interest. After a couple or three years that included contemplation,
land surveys, assessment and reassessment, the present location was
finally selected and old tenant houses were sought for removal to
the site for refurbishment, restoration and renovation.
It was named Three Forks because it has three partners -
team of Billy and Aubrey Whittington -
that has engulfed the cultural sensibilities of the Greenwood area for
the last 15 years. Also, Three Forks is the area where Robert Johnson
is known to have been poisoned and it is not far from the plot of land
selected for the venture.
The first fork is Steve LaVere, a music historian and a Grammy
award-
Greenwood from California to found and operate the Greenwood Blues
Heritage Museum & Gallery and Greenwood Heritage Tours as well as
Veronica’s – Custom Bakery and the Blue Parrot Café all of which
were housed in the historic Three Deuces Building on Howard Street
in Greenwood.
Steve LaVere became enchanted with the idea of creating a venture
similar in scope to that of The Shack Up Inn near Clarksdale. He took
the idea to both Fincher and Whittington and they received it with
interest. After a couple or three years that included contemplation,
land surveys, assessment and reassessment, the present location was
finally selected and old tenant houses were sought for removal to
the site for refurbishment, restoration and renovation.
The second and third forks are now Billy & Aubrey Whittington
and it is on their land that the Tallahatchie Flats are situated.
Aubrey, has been instrumental in the acquisition of most of the
structures as well as their overall appearance, both inside and out,
and keeps the others focused on historical detail. Billy has also
done a great deal more of the day to day oversight than he ever
expected, but without his dedication and diligence there would
be no Tallahatchie Flats.
Of course, a lot more money was spent than was ever anticipated,
but the result, which is still a work in progress – and probably always
will be – is something in which the entire community of Greenwood
can be proud. The Tallahatchie Flats are both a living museum and a
working motor court (the predecessor to the modern motel) and we
sincerely hope you like them, too.
and it is on their land that the Tallahatchie Flats are situated.
Aubrey, has been instrumental in the acquisition of most of the
structures as well as their overall appearance, both inside and out,
and keeps the others focused on historical detail. Billy has also
done a great deal more of the day to day oversight than he ever
expected, but without his dedication and diligence there would
be no Tallahatchie Flats.
Of course, a lot more money was spent than was ever anticipated,
but the result, which is still a work in progress – and probably always
will be – is something in which the entire community of Greenwood
can be proud. The Tallahatchie Flats are both a living museum and a
working motor court (the predecessor to the modern motel) and we
sincerely hope you like them, too.
As you can see... a picture is worth a thousand words.
Here are some photos of our flats and some memorable pictures of some of our guests.
(click on thumbnails to view larger size)
©2010 Three Forks LLC.
All Rights Reserved.. Designated trademarks, logos & pictures are the property of their respective owners.
Billy Whittington
&
Steve LaVere
&
Steve LaVere