“The Buffalo River begins and ends in a wilderness. She was born in the Ozark Mountains springing from the hills and into rock-formed valleys, carved by weather in an ageless time,” actor Ray McKinnon narrates. “It is a river of firsts with a picturesque landscape like no other, meandering 148 miles through canyons and forest ‘til she empties into another river known as the White. Along the way is beauty that folks fought to preserve. ‘Save the Buffalo’ was the cry. ‘Don’t let her be drowned by her own waters.’ They won that battle and federal protection, and today there’s a future that mirrors the past because the Buffalo flows.”
“The Buffalo Flows: The Story of Our First National River” digs into the history of the river outlasting the threat of being dammed, the communities that live near the river and the continued conservation efforts of preserving it. The film will air Thursday, Feb. 27, at 7 p.m. as part of our “From the Archives” series.
Reminiscing on the Past
Unlike the two previous Larry Foley-produced documentaries that have aired in our “From the Archives” series – “It Started Here: Early Arkansas and the Louisiana Purchase” and “Up Among the Hills: The Story of Fayetteville” – Foley was not commissioned to make “The Buffalo Flows.” Instead, it was a film he wanted to make “because there is no place like the Buffalo River.” Foley first camped at the river as a boy in the 1960s with his parents.
“It was and is a special place of beauty and memories that draw you back time and again,” he said. “As Jimmy Driftwood wrote, ‘It’s Arkansas’s gift to the nation, the nation’s gift to the world.’”
Before making the film, Foley began researching the river’s history which included watching Dr. Neil Compton’s homemade films, reading Ken Smith’s “Buffalo River Handbook” and driving to the river without a camera.
“I hiked around, soaking in the majesty of the river, observing the people who have lived there for generations,” he said. “I wanted this to be a field trip on screen that took you there, and made you care.”
Emotional Connections
Like Foley, many have connected and continue to connect with the Buffalo River on a personal level. Foley shared that he still hears from people about the film today – 16 years after its premiere.
“Of all the documentaries I’ve made, this one continues to resonate with folks,” he said. “People relate their experiences when they watch, and they like to tell me about them. That always makes me happy.”
Foley made sure the story was not just emotional but also illustrated why the river is so loved.
“I wanted to tell the story of the environmental battle to save the Buffalo from being dammed, but I also wanted to tell more,” he said. “I wanted to show what was protected, what’s there, on and around the river… I’m glad some people associate me with this film, and I’m glad we made it.”
Challenges and Dinosaur Bones
To capture its beauty and evoke further emotion, Foley and his team wanted aerial shots of the Buffalo River, but this proved to be one of the more challenging aspects of making the film.
“This film was made before drone photography, and aerials were expensive and challenging,” Foley said. “But we pulled it off, and those shots from the sky are dramatic.”
The team also nearly fell into a challenge while trekking the Buffalo River wilderness.
“We spent hours hiking around trying to find a fissure where dinosaur bones were known to exist,” Foley said. “We finally found it and almost fell into the hole. It’s an interesting prehistoric natural history story I’m glad we included.”
“Homecoming”
During the film, viewers will get to “attend” a homecoming at Boxley Valley Church.
“Homecoming is a special event for people who were raised in this valley or whose ancestors were raised in this valley,” Kay Whiteley Phillips, a Boxley Valley Church member, said. “It has a sense of being where our ancestors walked. Many of us have ancestors who were instrumental in establishing churches in this area. It’s a way to celebrate the history before us.”
Boxley Valley Church members can also be baptized in the Buffalo River. This set of scenes became some of Foley’s favorites in the film.
“There are so many, but I love the scenes of the river baptism, filmed by Dale Carpenter, and the homecoming at Boxley Valley Baptist Church, shot by Trey Marley,” he said. “There is something ethereal about those scenes that touch me to this day.”
While at the river baptism, Foley said he and his crew stumbled upon a young dad who grew up on the river and “had to go outside to find a wife because I’m related to everyone around here.” Foley said he had to include the scene because “their story is so sweet.”
How to Watch
“The Buffalo Flows: The Story of Our First National River” airs Thursday, Feb. 27, at 7 p.m. as part of the “From the Archives” series.
How to Watch on Demand
“The Buffalo Flows: The Story of Our First National River” is available on demand on here.