Pine Bluff, AR Question

[carolinarider09]

I am planning a trip this month.  A potential stop on my route is Pine Bluff, AR. 

I rarely check on cities/towns for issues but for some reason, I did for Pine Bluff (don't remember why).

Anyway, there are some negative comments on the town and I don't really trust information on the net so,......

Anyone here live in or near Pine Bluff, AR? 

[Rams]

I have been waiting on someone from that area to respond.   Since that hasn't happened, I'll give you my very limited opinion.   I've been there several times and spent a few nights there while traveling to and from different locations.   To be honest, I can't say much more than it's a small city with all the normal issues cities of that size have.   Have never spent more than a night while passing through.

If, you're just passing through, do just that.   If one seeks out problems, one will surely find them.   I didn't and never had a bad experience but, my time there was always limited.   Heck, I don't even think I stayed in the same hotel each time.   

But, here's a bump for your thread request for information.

Rams

[carolinarider09]

Thanks Rams.   As I said, ordinarily, I do as you do, don't really worry about it, stay in "normal" hotels and things have worked out.

Only two times I have had issues.  One was not mine but someone I was traveling with in New Orleans and the other was when we stopped in Memphis and parked our bikes in a "parking" area where we were asked to pay a "fee". 

[Rams]

Thanks Rams.   As I said, ordinarily, I do as you do, don't really worry about it, stay in "normal" hotels and things have worked out.

Only two times I have had issues.  One was not mine but someone I was traveling with in New Orleans and the other was when we stopped in Memphis and parked our bikes in a "parking" area where we were asked to pay a "fee". 

Most of the time when I've traveled in the past was in my truck with one of my trailers in tow with some cargo or vehicle on board.   I always parked where I could see it from my first floor window.   Only problem I ever had was jerks stealing my fuel or a battery off of my trailer/winch set up.   Took care of that issue by powering the winch through the batteries on the truck and installed a "special" fuel tank that was very difficult to get to.   But, those issues didn't happen in AR.

When on my Valkyrie, I normally ask to park in front of the hotel's front door where it can be seen.   Not that I think the clerk will be keeping an eye on it but, potential thieves never know.

Honestly, I don't know what you read about Pine Bluff but, I'd rather stay there overnight than some of the bigger "troubled" cities.

Rams

[Warlock]

I am planning a trip this month.  A potential stop on my route is Pine Bluff, AR. 

I rarely check on cities/towns for issues but for some reason, I did for Pine Bluff (don't remember why).

Anyway, there are some negative comments on the town and I don't really trust information on the net so,......

Anyone here live in or near Pine Bluff, AR? 

Several yrs back 4 couples stayed at a motel. Owner let us park our bikes up front where he could keep a eye on them. Said a lot of thieves looking for stuff to nab. But that can happen at any motel.
David

[Jess from VA]

No experience with that area.

My practice when traveling is generally to find motels on the outskirts of towns and cities, not inside them (if possible).

This is usually the typical chain outfits visible from the freeway or highway, and not much else out there, but fast food and convenience stores.  These places have less potential of the bad element hanging around than inside cities or towns.

But you always want to pay attention leaving and entering your room, to see if anyone is paying attention to you.  I'm always armed in motels, but if I leave the firearm leaves with me.  And a good tach lite.

And I want to see my vehicle from the room window.  And I ask for a room in back or anywhere people won't be copulating loudly next door.  And not facing any pool.  

I once stayed in a very nice motor court in Los Angeles where an enraged meth head pimp was trying to find one of his girls by going around trying (hard) to break into a bunch of rooms.  Fortunately the doors were very sturdy, despite his best efforts.  He almost got to see my Browning though.  My wife asked if she should call the cops, and I said no, I do not want to have to come back down here for a grand jury or trial.  No one else did either, and the guy was kicking doors and screaming obscenity for 30-40 minutes before he wore himself out and wandered away.

There was no extra charge for the exciting entertainment.

[F6Dave]

This brings up another question:  should you make reservations?  Probably yes if you're travelling on a weekend or especially a holiday, so you don't end up camping in a parking lot.  That actually happened to me years ago outside of Hamilton, Ontario during the Dominion Day (now Canada Day) weekend.

But now and then I make a reservation in an unfamiliar town and when I arrive the hotel is more run down than it looked in the photos, or the neighborhood is kind of rough.  In these cases I like to get a look at the place before paying for a room.  A few years ago Microsoft was planning to add a crime layer to their maps.  That would have helped when travelling.  But they dropped the idea for being too 'racist'.

[burple05]

I'm not from Pine Bluff, but am an Arkie.  West side.  Been through Pine Bluff a few times.  State prison is located there.  Doesn't have a good rep.  Just South of Little Rock.  Both high crime cities.  I've stayed in Little Rock a few times, for concerts and such.  Never had a problem. 

Peace, Ron.

[carolinarider09]

Thanks for the information.  Based on some information from the Mississippi Madness meeting I have modified my planned trip to include the LYNYRD SKYNYRD MONUMENT which I did not know existed.  So,  I will not be stopping in Pine Bluff for the evening. 

Did not know there was a prison there. Not that a prison is a hive of illegal activity, just did not know.

[Jess from VA]

This brings up another question:  should you make reservations?  Probably yes if you're travelling on a weekend or especially a holiday, so you don't end up camping in a parking lot.  That actually happened to me years ago outside of Hamilton, Ontario during the Dominion Day (now Canada Day) weekend.

But now and then I make a reservation in an unfamiliar town and when I arrive the hotel is more run down than it looked in the photos, or the neighborhood is kind of rough.  In these cases I like to get a look at the place before paying for a room.  A few years ago Microsoft was planning to add a crime layer to their maps.  That would have helped when traveling.  But they dropped the idea for being too 'racist'.

Off topic, but when I took my first trip up north in MI one summer on my new CB750, I made no reservations.  I didn't really have any destination, and it was high season for tourism.  It started getting dark, and every single motel had no vacancy on the neon.  I wasn't prepared to camp, so I just kept rolling along looking.  Finally well after dark, I found a really run down collection of cabins with no sign, and stop.  The guy says he has one left that's in rough shape I can have.  I pay and move in.  Later, it starts to rain hard, and the roof right over the bed starts to pour water through, right on the bed.  I jumped up and drug the mattress over to a dry part of the room and flipped it over to the dry side.  By morning, there was a small lake in there (but no fish).

I thought maybe I was due a small discount on my room, but the owner disagreed.  Since I'd had the benefit of the room for the whole night, I was to pay for the whole night.  I thought to argue the principle of constructive eviction, but didn't waste my time.  



Another time, I took the wife up to Cacapon State Park (WVa) to stay in a rustic cabin.  It was rustic all right, it was alive with 10K black widow spiders.  We didn't even unpack, and went and bought a dozen bug bombs and let them all go inside the cabin.  Hours later we opened the windows to let the smell out and swept up all the spiders. (kinda made bed bugs seem OK)

[Mike in AR]

I live about 20 miles north of Pine Bluff, just off of I-530. I actually lived in Pine Bluff back in the '60's. It has definitely gone down hill since then. There are a couple of ADC units in the city. Personally, unless I need something in a hurry, I will drive to Little Rock to get it. PB has a lot of run-down parts in the town, although the Indians just opened a casino there, on the south eastern part of the town. My advice would be to pass through it on the highway, and stop somewhere in Little Rock. Of course, this is jmo.

[Skinhead]

The Clintons were from AR...  'nuff said.

[Oss]

I stopped for the night in Conway back in March 2014,  parked in front of best western under the entrance cover and had a great dinner with a Valk rider (shadowdragon?)    I  believe it was a college town and not run down at all where I was   It was about 650 miles from charliemacs to there, a brisk ride as it snowed just north of where I stayed    

had a secretary audition  Dale took the pic of Alex and me at the Outback


I do lock the forks at night,  dont want Gig taking them and mailing them to me cod

[Rams]

Thanks for the information.  Based on some information from the Mississippi Madness meeting I have modified my planned trip to include the LYNYRD SKYNYRD MONUMENT which I did not know existed.  So,  I will not be stopping in Pine Bluff for the evening. 

Not wishing to screw up your plans but, it seems you're going to go through or close to Hattiesburg.  If so and you have the time, give me a heads up and we'll do something (even if it ain''t right)

Rams

[carolinarider09]

Will send a PM later tonight