Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Rallying The Riders
Franklin County ‘Hideout’ offers music, barbecue
Northwest Arkansas has some of the best riding in the country, and I knew that bikers would still show up regardless of the rally being canceled. People are stir crazy,” says Macy Brooks, best known around the region for her creation of Buck Nekkid BBQ in Fayetteville.
“Plus, I had a lot of people reach out and were counting on this event,” she adds. “I knew I needed to pull the trigger and make The Hideout happen.”
The Hideout started in 2018 with Brooks serving barbecue at the south end of the Pig Trail during Bikes, Blues & BBQ.
“An old friend suggested last year that we needed an allinclusive campground like they have at Sturgis, so I’m trying to build up to that,” Brooks said in 2019. “My goal is to have AC/DC or ZZ Top by year six.”
Of course, this year will be a little different — and still much the same. There is no official rally in Fayetteville. But Brooks expects her event to be bigger than ever. She says she’s chosen a bigger location in Franklin County based on covid-19 and “natural growth.” And the musical headliner is back from last year.
“Otis Watkins Band from Oklahoma City is returning to play again — bluesy/classic rock — and we are also hiring a couple local bands,” she says. “Music hours are from noon to 5 p.m., as we know a lot of our guests are not comfortable driving [Arkansas] 23 at night with all the wildlife around, so we are more like a daytime pit stop.”
And speaking of a pit stop, Buck Nekkid BBQ returns too.
“We rub the meat down with our secret spice recipe and let it sit for 24 hours before slow roasting again for 10-15 hours,” Brooks says. “The meat is cutwith-a-fork tender. This year we are serving brisket, pulled pork, ribs and sausage. And of course, you can’t have barbecue without a nice cold beer.”
There will be vendors, of course, selling things like knives, stainless steel jewelry and CBD products, and a fun run “where for $15 per person, you drive around to participating locations and get your book stamped for a chance to win a three-night stay and dinner for four in the mountains of Eagle Nest, N.M.,” Brooks says.
Stops on the ride include the Hideout; Saddlebock Brewery in Springdale; 2 Wheels on the Pig Trail in Eureka Springs; and Switchback Bar in Eureka Springs.
“Once you get your book stamped at all four places, you bring your book back to the Hideout and drop it in a bucket by Sept. 27,” Brooks says. “We will randomly draw a winner the following week. The great thing about our fun run is that you have all week to get your book stamped; there is no ‘get it done in one day’ time constraints like poker runs.”
The event benefits Shop With a Cop of Franklin County, Brooks points out.
“We were told that all fundraisers for Franklin County ‘Shop With a Cop’ have been canceled this year except for our Hideout event,” she says. “So that kind of indirectly put a little bit of pressure on us to blow things out of the water this year. We were able to raise and donate $2,000 for underprivileged kids last year, and are hoping to beat that this year.”