Coin Harvey was a quirky visionary and a fantastic promoter who had many bizarre ideas and always thought on a grand scale. He had amazing accomplishments, including being nominated by the Liberty Party to run for president. His most impressive achievement was the creation in the early 1900s of a fabulous resort town four miles southeast of Rogers he named Monte Ne. Most of this storybook town was covered by water when Beaver Lake was created in the mid-1960s.

Beaver Lake is low and remnants of the town have emerged. All of these sites are interesting and their stories fascinating, but the most visible and impressive today is the remains of the Oklahoma Row Hotel, including the complete foundation, three-story concrete tower and underground basement rooms. This hotel was the last of Harvey’s great hotels. When it was built in 1909 it was the largest concrete and log structure in the world. The most distinguishing feature of the hotel was the majestic concrete tower of rooms on the south end that provided a spectacular view out over the lush valley and crystal clear lake. By gazing across the lake, you could see the Monte Ne Railroad Depot where thousands of visitors arrived for a relaxing vacation.

For 103 years, Oklahoma Row Hotel and tower has existed and been used by a wide variety of people. The hotel was popular during the 1920s, but declined after the Great Depression. From 1927 to 1932, the hotel was part of the Ozark Industrial College. Camp Joyzelle, the prominent girl’s camp next door, bought the hotel in 1945, and it provided lodging for visitors.

In 1955, Oklahoma Row was restored to its former splendor, filled with antiques, and became the Palace Art Gallery, which did business until acquired by the Corps of Engineers for the creation of Beaver Lake. The three-story tower was used as living quarters for the manager and his family.

The area was neglected for many years and the tower became a haven for illicit activities. Hooligans covered it with graffiti. Last year, the matter came to a head when someone got stuck in the chimney on the roof of the tower and had to be rescued. The Corps of Engineers became concerned about safety issues, closed off the tower with a high chain-link fence and called public meetings to determine if the tower should be saved or destroyed.

So why should residents be concerned with saving old buildings? They are just eyesores that should be demolished to make way for future improvements, right? This is selfish, short-sighted thinking that will deprive future generations of physical evidence of the way we once lived. If Rogers had not had visionaries like Collins Haynes, Perry Butcher, John Mack, Emery Davis and others, our historic downtown buildings would be gone forever.

Eleven nonprofit organizations came together to create a partnership whose purpose is to protect and preserve the tower and historic sites, and create a beautiful park consisting of walking trails, interpretive signage, benches and picnic tables. The goal is to transform historic Monte Ne into a low-maintenance, day-use park modeled after the nearby Hobbs State Park-Conservation Area.

The partnership paid for a feasibility study to determine if this plan was workable and if the $240,000 needed could be raised. Also, there would have to be continuing maintenance and operating money.

The 16-page comprehensive report was recently released with much data, and was very positive. More than 75 percent of the respondents were in favor of the project and thought the plan looked workable. There is still great interest in historic Monte Ne.

All of the historic structures at Lake Atalanta were recently removed, and while this was necessary for future improvements, Oklahoma Row is a completely different situation. It has a story dating back to the early years of Rogers and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The hotel tower is still structurally solid and the most outstanding and visible remnant of the fairy tale story of Monte Ne, with its gondolas gliding across the lake and wood-burning steam engines bringing eager tourists from distant places.

If restored, the tower and park would provide a destination close to Rogers for tourists and visitors. The tower could be utilized as a gift shop and information center with fascinating pictures while the roof would provide spectacular views of Beaver Lake and all historic sites including the amphitheater.

JAMES F. HALES IS A LOCAL AUTHOR AND HISTORIAN. HIS COLUMN APPEARS MONTHLY.