Site Peeks From Depths

ROGERS — Curiosities rise from Beaver Lake as the water level drops, including remnants of a quirky amphitheater built by a man who hoped to be president.

The rock and concrete of the amphitheater, completed in 1928 by William “Coin” Harvey, is peeking from the surface in the Monte Ne arm of Beaver Lake. As the reservoir level falls through autumn, more of the amphitheater will be revealed.

Water covered the amphitheater when Beaver Lake filled in the mid-1960s.

Alan Bland, a park ranger with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, said people are welcome to visit the amphitheater ruins, but there are rules. Nothing may be removed from the site, including rocks or artifacts, Bland said. Treasure hunting with a metal detector is also illegal. Driving along the shoreline is prohibited.

Visitors will have to walk to the site and should stay close to the water to ensure they are on public property.

“If they cut through somebody’s yard, they’re trespassing,” Bland said.

The ruins can be seen from a distance at the Monte Ne public boat launch ramp. Look south to see a concrete wall with four support columns, which is part of the ruins.

“People can go see them by boat,” Bland said. “It would make a great canoe or kayak outing.”

Power boats and paddle craft can be launched at the Monte Ne ramp. It’s a short trip from there to view a long chapter of the region’s history. Harvey founded the Monte Ne resort in 1900. Over the next 20 years, Monte Ne became one of the most elaborate recreation destinations of its time.

The largest log hotels in the world were built at Monte Ne, according to information from the Rogers Historical Museum. Harvey added an indoor pool, unique for its day. He built a spur railroad from the St. Louis and San Francisco Railroad in Rogers to bring guests to Monte Ne. A gondola imported from Italy plied a lagoon Harvey built at the resort.

The name, Monte Ne, was Native American or Spanish for “mountain water,” Harvey told people. Monte Ne does not translate to “mountain water” in Spanish.

Elaborate as Monte Ne was, the resort never reached the financial success that Harvey hoped it would. Money problems already plagued the resort when Harvey started work on the amphitheater in 1925.

A local resident said in the Rogers Democrat newspaper at the time that progress on the amphitheater seemed unhurried and haphazard. Harvey didn’t use plans or blueprints. He built by the seat of his pants using rock and concrete. His vision was to have the seating be part of a narrow pyramid, a spire 130 feet tall that Harvey never finished.

Harvey thought civilization was coming to an end and his pyramid would instruct future generations how to avoid similar catastrophe.

To help fund the pyramid, Harvey built a wood privacy fence around the amphitheater and charged visitors 25 cents to see the progress inside. After the amphitheater was dedicated in 1928, Harvey continued to charge admission to tour the amphitheater and hear his lectures.

The entrepreneur had presidential aspirations. In 1931, the Liberty Party, which Harvey formed, held its convention at the amphitheater. Delegates nominated Harvey, now 80, as their candidate. The party’s slogan was, “Prosperity in 90 days.” Harvey finished fifth.

He died in February 1936 at Monte Ne. The white above-ground tomb of Harvey and his son, Hal, can be seen to the north of the Monte Ne boat ramp.