City/Town: • Rogers |
Location Class: • Disappearing Town |
Built: • 1900 | Abandoned: • 1966 |
Historic Designation: • National Register of Historic Places 1978 |
Status: • Demolished |
Photojournalist: • Billy Wade • Darrell Powers • Terry Harriman |
Table of Contents
As I was traveling through the beautiful Ozark Mountains, I stumbled upon a hidden gem, the town of Monte Ne. Exploring an abandoned place like Monte Ne is a thrilling experience that can transport you to a different time and place, giving you a chance to imagine what life was like in a different era. Walking among the ruins of this once-thriving resort town can be a surreal and fascinating experience that sparks the imagination and creates unforgettable memories.
Monte Ne History
The town is home to a tall concrete structure that sits on the edge of Beaver Lake, a few miles east of Rogers, Arkansas. Sadly, the town is now abandoned, but it was once a thriving resort town in the early 1900s. Monte Ne was founded in 1900 by a man named William Harvey, who had big plans to turn the small village of Silver Springs into a world-class resort town. Harvey wasted no time and immediately started building the town’s first hotel, the Hotel Monte Ne, which opened its doors in 1901.
As the years went on, more hotels popped up in the town, including the world’s largest log structure. The town was filled with prime real estate, an extensive five-mile railroad system connecting Lowell to Monte Ne, a tennis court, and Arkansas’ first indoor swimming pool. However, the Great Depression hit the town hard, and the once-thriving resort became a ghost town. Tourism dwindled, money dried up, and Harvey was driven mad. In the early 1920s, Harvey believed that the end of civilization was near, so he used the remaining funds he had to build multiple monuments.
The largest monument and one of the only remaining structures of the town is a giant concrete pyramid. Harvey planned to store a message inside the pyramid for future generations. Unfortunately, funds dried up, and the pyramid was never completed. By the mid-1920s, the resort was in shambles, and buildings were being foreclosed on. Although the town continued to see some use, with Camp Joyzelle using the facilities until 1927 and the Ozark Industrial College and School of Theology making use of the campus until 1932.
In 1931, Monte Ne made history when it was the site of the only National Convention held in the state. Harvey ran for office but came in second place. However, not much happened in the town from 1932 to 1936 as the decline of business and Harvey’s declining health continued. Harvey died in 1936 and was buried in a concrete tomb. By 1948, the last of the town’s properties and water rights were sold off, and the town became a memory.
Monte Ne Update:
It’s a shame that this once-thriving resort town is now just a relic of the past. The amphitheater pokes out of the water at very low levels, and the tower of Oklahoma Row sits on the shore of the lake. Unfortunately, the historic Monte Ne tower, one of the only remaining structures, will soon be torn down as part of the efforts to make the area safer for visitors. As travelers and history enthusiasts, it’s important for us to recognize the value of our history and the impact it has on our present and future. Historical sites like Monte Ne tell stories of the past, providing us with a glimpse into what life was like in a different time.
These stories connect us to our past, shaping our present and influencing our future. Preserving these sites allows us to honor and learn from our ancestors, and ensure that their legacy continues to be passed down for generations to come. So, it’s with a heavy heart that we hear about the impending demolition of Monte Ne. It’s important that we recognize the significance of these sites and make every effort to preserve them. See here: Link
Gallery Below (Including some from 1970!)
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So sad. I wish it had been saved!
It should have been preserved as a Arkansas exstorical land mark and built a retaining wall around the theater from the water 😂😪😢😭 just think it could have been still used today for summer concerts SO SAD we could have filled the theater and the cove in our boats to listen to the music 🤔 Some of our lake planners had their head up their …