One can’t talk about all there is to love about and discover in Itawamba County without mentioning one the U.S.’s best-kept secrets that passes through our area: The Great Loop.
The Great Loop has been called “the last great adventure in North America” and consists of an approximately 6,000 mile nautical journey from the top of the United States’ east coast to the bottom of Florida and back again. There are multiple routes one can take going through many bodies of water, including the Atlantic and Gulf Intercoastal Waterways, the Great Lakes, the Erie Canal, the Canadian Heritage Canals, the Mississippi River and, of course, the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway that’ll lead sailors to the heart of Itawamba County. The trip can take up to a year for most Loopers, causing many to take extended stays along the way. Whether you’re cruising on down as a Looper or just want to soak in the sights, Itawamba County has more than enough on offer for visitors that love to put wind in their sails.
For many boaters, the Great Loop is far more than a route on a map. Completing the trip means navigating changing tides, locks, canals, inland rivers and open water while passing through dozens of communities along the way. Travelers who finish the journey proudly refer to themselves as “Loopers,” and many describe the experience less as a vacation and more as a lifelong commitment built around adventure, flexibility and the relationships they form with people they meet along the water.
No matter what way you take, all rivers of the adventure will lead to Itawamba County’s Midway Marina. For those on the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway or traveling out from its banks, the marina is the place to be. Boaters are free to dock and take a load off, either overnight or for long-term stays, and there are enough accommodations to keep you comfortable with on-site lodging at the well-appointed Cabins at Midway, laundromat and showers and, of course, delicious eats at Guy’s Place on the Water. After you’ve hitched up or if you came to marvel the boats and want a piece of the action, there are boats, canoes, paddle boards and more all available to rent, not to mention sunny swimming areas and relaxing fishing piers for everyone to enjoy.
Midway Marina has become well known among Loopers for another reason. The marina itself has roots in the Great Loop community. The Conner family, longtime operators of the marina, completed the Loop themselves before eventually purchasing Midway Marina and helping shape it into one of the most recognized stops along this section of the waterway. Their firsthand experience traveling the route helped create a place designed with boaters in mind.
Anyone who wants to spend a little more time on land has a whole host of opportunities. The Tammy Wynette Cultural Center is the go-to place for any fans of country music, local restaurants serving up mouthwatering Southern comfort food are around every corner and charming boutiques have homemade gifts that are just waiting to be discovered.
For Loopers, visitors and anyone else in-between, it’s worth dropping an anchor and staying a while in Itawamba County, where we’re Welcoming by Nature.