Courseys Smoked Meats, Leslie, Arkansas photo- Brad Hardisty
On a recent road trip traveling south from Kansas City, heading south to Branson, and then dropping down into the Ozarks, I planned a stop at Courseys Smoked Meats in St. Joe, Arkansas for one of my top 5 sandwiches in the world. All it contains is a pile of the best smoked turkey this side of Sonoma County, California, sliced razor thin, piled high with homemade smoked cheddar cheese, a little mayo and mustard on white bread.
After consuming one of the treasures of The Ozarks, it was hard to keep traveling too long after a meeting in Branson at 8AM and a smoke turkey sandwich at lunch, it was time to find an antique store or something.
The Drop Zone, Leslie, Arkansas photo – Brad Hardisty
A sign came up on HWY 65: turn left here to old downtown Leslie, Arkansas. After crossing a narrow bridge and about 100 yards off the main highway, I came face to face with a sign that looked like one of The Blues Brothers playing guitar (but turned out to be Thomas) that read The Drop Zone.
Oak Street Station – connected to The Drop Zone, photo – Brad Hardisty
I had to enter by another store that had some vintage vinyl upfront, I ended up picking up a King Record 45 and started talking to Thomas about The Drop Zone and what has been going on in Northern Arkansas. It was like stumbling onto a juke joint in the Mississippi Delta. A great little venue that holds about 85 people, where there are couches, tables, chairs and some room to dance up front.
The Drop Zone opened in Leslie, Arkansas on September 9th, 2011. Sandra Chidester is the owner while Thomas Anderson manages and books all of the entertainment. Thomas is also President and Sandra is Secretary/Treasurer of the Buffalo River Blues Society that uses the Drop Zone as its local venue.
Leslie, Arkansas is a small town of around 450 residents located in the North Central part of the state.
Thomas Anderson, The Drop Zone, photo – Brad Hardisty
The venue is totally non-alcoholic, non-smoking, all ages and is ranked as one of the best venues of its kind in Northern Arkansas. The Drop Zone has been referred to as “like having a juke joint in your living room”.
Thomas is an experienced musician having played in an Iowa band in the 60’s called The Nomads for a couple of years before the Vietnam draft caused The Nomads to disband.
Cee Cee James at The Drop Zone, photo courtesy Thomas Anderson
The Drop Zone normally books Blues and Classic Rock bands from all over the Central United States but has had bands from as far away as New York and Canada.
Brenda Meyer at The Drop Zone, photo courtesy – Thomas Anderson
The first concert was on the 9th of September, 2011 with 79 inside and another 30 outside dancing in the street. Thomas says, “Clover Blue, a two time competitor at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis just brought the house down that night!” The Drop Zone First Anniversary party featured Arkansas favorites, the Joe Pitts Band.
“We have been very picky in finding quality bands and artists who have performed at the Drop Zone. Like Joe Pitts, Cee Cee James, Brenda Meyers, Smooth Down Under, R.B. Stone, Danny Brooks, Tyrannosaurus Chicken and many more. Voodoo Highway from New York, NY will be here for our Halloween party. Our dreams are to someday to be able to afford having the bigger names here: Buddy Guy, Eric Clapton, and Johnny Lang. But, that will be a long time coming,” Thomas muses.
Thomas has something to say about starting a venue in the middle of the Ozarks, ”The residents of Leslie are mostly divided to our being here with some loving what we are trying to bring here, to others not wanting the town to change at all. But, I think that is the way most small towns are. What many don’t understand is without new businesses that employ people, there might not be many small towns left today; so many are fading away. The Drop Zone employs 5 during live entertainment. Leslie would be very lucky with more music venues like the Drop Zone moving here. It would greatly improve the economy by bringing more people into town to enjoy great music while providing more jobs. An RV park or motel would be nice to have.”
The best place to eat, locally, is the Leslie Cafe. Located on Main Street, the cafe has great owners, great service, and the best home cooking anywhere. Bread and pastries are all made from scratch. The Drop Zone normally takes all the bands there to eat.
Lodging is another story. The Marshall Motel is located in Marshall, 8 miles North of Leslie on Highway 65. Nice rooms for those on a budget. Twenty miles to the South is the Best Western located in Clinton. Rooms are nice and loaded with all the amenities. Tell them you would like the Drop Zone rate if you ever get out this way.
Thomas has some more plans, “We are planning on expanding in the future. Possibly getting the adjacent building and making another venue, even adding rooms to house the bands. We are currently working with the Leslie Cafe into establishing a live music venue by bringing in the bands the Drop Zone has had in the past. The new venue is being built with lighting and a sound system being added. There will be a different menu for weekend nights when they have live entertainment. The Grand Opening of this new music venue is scheduled for the 13th of October with the blues band Smooth Down Under from Branson taking the stage.”
Interstate Buffalo at The Drop Zone, photo courtesy – Thomas Anderson
Thomas says, “I think the hardest thing is just trying to continue finding all those great bands and artists out there, bringing them to the Drop Zone, and just hoping you can make enough to break even. Music and the devotion of the bands and our great support from our friends is what keeps us going.”
1/2 of Tyrannosaurus Chicken at The Drop Zone, photo courtesy – Thomas Anderson
Some of the comments that the team has heard about The Drop Zone are:
“Don’t bother going to Kansas City to hear good Blues, just take yourself down to the Drop Zone in Leslie”
“If you think your band is “all that” stop in and play the Drop Zone. They are a bands proving ground”
“Best venue. Best bands. Best owners. Best patrons”
“This venue knows how to do it right”.
“Now, let me tell you,” Thomas goes on, “after those comments, you just can’t stop bringing in the best. It’s in our blood.”
For information about the Drop Zone or the Leslie Cafe or for booking these venues, call and talk with Thomas at 501-253-6373.
– Brad Hardisty, Nashville, TN thenashvillebridge@hotmail.com
The Nashville Bridge 
Brad this was such a good read I could only have wished to be there with you.
Your writing omission very will done .
Love old joints like this as you know.
One of the best little towns we’ve ever played… the Hospitality of the Drop Zone folks was un-beatable by any other venue we’ve ever played and that’s been alot! Sandra and Thomas went beyond the extra mile in their kindness. And the food at The Leslie Cafe?! OMG!!!! We hope to play there again someday… when we tour back through. Thanks for writing this great little article. 🙂
Brad, my name is Richard Lee Wilson, and I play and sing for Smooth Down Under, man I have to say your piece was so good, this venue to me is every players dream plain and simple. I can remember when our band leader Steve Cole told me the first time we are booked at “The Drop Zone” in Leslie Ark., I was like ok, then he said it was an alchohol free venue I was like like “do you me it’s all free alchohol” I had never heard of such a thing it actually made me think how can I possibllly enterain people like that. but after getting there and having the town give us a meet and greet, and then doing the first show it gave me a new respect and self accomplishment that I have never had before and I have been playing pro for nearly 30 yrs!, the whole town is just amazing! Tom and Sandra have become 2 of my closest friends, they treat musicians with respect and dignity which we very seldom see. thanks for the interesting read and hey stop in and check out the tunes @ http://www.facebook.com/smoothdownunder