• It was fina II y Friday. Classes were done for the week, and students were looking for something interesting to do with their weekend. They searched their pockets for money and realized they were low on cash. Where to go? What to do? Ever considered Heber Springs? Heber Springs was a small town less than an hour drive from Searcy with a spectacular view of the "Natural State." People from all over central Arkansas came to enjoy the waters of Greers Ferry Lake and cliff diving, making it the seventh-most popular tourist location in Arkansas. Gibson said she enjoyed Heber Springs while a student at Harding. She always tried to go on weekends when the weather was warm and the sun was shining. "I think Heber is so popular because it's just far enough away that it's kind of an escape," Gibson said. "It's absolutely beautiful and really inexpensive." As the weather grew warmer, Heber trips became more frequent; almost any weekend when the weather was right, students could be found hanging out at the lake. "I like Heber because it's a beautiful, clean place to go get out of the heat and it's close, so lots of people from Harding go there," junior Callie McAllister said. "It's a good escape because you can just go there and be surrounded by God's glory." Greers Ferry Lake, created in 1963 and dedicated to the late President John F. Kennedy, became one of the most beautiful man-made lakes in the state, and out of all of Heber's attractions, the lake's cliffs were the most enticing. From beginner jumps all the way up to twenty-foot plummets, there was a height for almost anyone's comfort zone. "My favorite part about Heber is that you can do whatever you want as far as the water," sophomore Zach Decker said." "It's good for water skiing, jumping and more. I like to climb the bluff after jumping into the water. That has to be my favorite part." Besides the lake and the cliffs, there were other recreational events to enjoy around town. "It's a place where you can catch a movie with family at the infamous Rialto Theater," junior Danielle Bradshaw said. "Enjoying a great day at the lake makes a great time with family and friends also." No matter how many generations of students came through Harding, Heber remained one of the most popular weekend getaways. Students and their parents alike could look back on their memories at Greers Ferry Lake as one of the places that brought relief from studies and the simple pleasure of enjoying nature. Elumbo Eben]o 3 6 student life ------~ ~--------~
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