ROGERS, Ark. –The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will begin preservation and removal work on parts of the historical resort town of Monte Ne, located in Rogers, Arkansas in mid-February.
According to Beaver Lake Operations Manager, Derek Murken, the contractor will begin to stage equipment the week of Feb. 13. Active removal and preservation work will start the week of Feb. 20 and will take around three weeks to complete.
“The plan will be to remove the Oklahoma Row section of the old resort before starting on the Oklahoma Tower,” said Little Rock District Executive Officer, Jay Townsend. “We’re working closely with the Shiloh Museum of Ozark History and Roger’s Historical Museum, as well as the Arkansas State Historic Preservation Officer to ensure we preserve material from the site that will help tell the story of Monte Ne.”
Telling the story and preserving the history of the site is important to USACE and the communities around Beaver Lake. For 30 years, USACE has worked with museums and both the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program and the Arkansas Archeological Society to investigate ways to effectively preserve Monte Ne.
“Unfortunately, we weren’t able to find a solution that could overcome the costs involved to maintain the site,” said Townsend. “Over the years as we worked to preserve the site, our rangers observed increased trespassing through the security fence and other dangerous activities. Vandals have covered parts of the structure in graffiti. It’s an incredible piece of history, but more and more, it’s become an attractive nuisance and safety hazard.”
It's the risk to health and safety that ultimately led USACE, lawmakers and historical preservationists to settle on the current preservation plan.
“The decision to remove the Oklahoma Row and Tower was not an easy one,” said Townsend. “But continuous exposure to high lake waters over the last decade have contributed to the dangerous conditions along Oklahoma Row. It’s only a matter of time before things start falling on their own.”
According to Townsend, the decision to move forward with the removal and preservation was a joint agreement that has support from preservationists, lawmakers and USACE.
Monte Ne was a resort town founded by William H. “Coin” Harvey in 1900. It had the world's largest log hotels, designed by architect A. O. Clarke, and attracted visitors from across the country for more than two decades. The property became USACE’s after the White River was dammed to create Beaver Lake in the mid-1960s, leaving much of the resort and original town of Monte Ne underneath the lake.
USACE has obligations under Sections 106 and 110 of the National Historic Preservation Act to assume responsibility for the management of historic properties that lie on public land operated by USACE.
More information about USACE and the Little Rock District can be found on the Internet at www.swl.usace.army.mil, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/littlerockusace and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/usacelittlerock.
For more information about Beaver Lake, contact the Beaver Lake Project Office at 479-636-1210.
To learn more about the Monte Ne preservation and removal project, please contact the Little Rock District Public Affairs Team at 501-324-5551.
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