Arkabutla Lake – Located in the state of Mississippi, Arkabutla Lake is a reservoir of the Coldwater River. During the 1800’s and early 1900’s, a series of floods occurred around the Mississippi area. In 1927, the worst of these floods, also known as the Great Flood, hit the Lower Mississippi Valley. In response to growing safety concerns, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was assigned the task of heading Mississippi’s flood control program. After learning that the Yazoo River was responsible for the flooding, the engineers built four flood control reservoirs in North Mississippi. The Arkabutla Dam was the second of these reservoirs to be constructed. The creation of the Arkabutla Dam was so extensive that the U.S. Government was forced to move the town of Coldwater and its 700 residents one mile south at a cost of $250,000. Today, Arkabutla Lake is known for its large crappie and excellent sailing conditions and has become a popular hunting and camping spot.

In Coen Brothers lore, Arkabutla Lake is the destination of Ulysses Everett McGill (George Clooney), Delmar O’Donnell (Tim Blake Nelson), and Pete, who was portrayed by Coen favorite John Turturro, in the Coen’s 2000 hit, O Brother, Where Art Thou? The film follows the adventures of three men who are in search of McGill’s $1.2 million treasure that he claims to have stolen and hid in the area of Arkabutla. After discovering that the area is due to flooded to create Arkabutla Lake, the trio has only four days to recover their lost treasure. After a series of misadventures, the trio makes it to the valley only to be arrested and sentenced to hang. After McGill prays for divine intervention, the valley is suddenly flooded, freeing the trio from being executed.

-- Chris Richardson