Selected Photographs of Monte Ne
from the collection of the
Rogers Historical Museum, Rogers, Arkansas

This photo was made from the porch of the store/post office across the street after the Bank Block had been gutted. It seems to have been made in the late 40's or early 50's.

Oklahoma Row was completed in 1910. Across the lawn to the east of Oklahoma Row was Missouri Row. Harvey had originally planned to build two more, but they were never built. My guess is that this photo is from the 50s, but could have been anytime. The quality of the photo makes me think 40s to early 60s. It shows important details of the way the Oklahoma Row log structure connected to the tower. The first floor of the tower could be entered through a door from either porch. A stairway from the porch led to the second floor. The door in the corner left of the two windows opens to the stair. The slant roof that cuts into the gable roof provided clearance at the second floor level. A stairway inside the tower's second level provided access to the third floor.

Harvey began construction of the amphitheater in 1926 and completed it in 1928. He built the amphitheater to serve as the foyer for his planned "pyramid." The amphitheater was still under construction when this photo was made, but it was almost complete. Construction of the 'couches' at the north end of the west wall had not been started. The steps at the bottom of the broad stair were finished but a modification was added later. The concrete walkway going further north along the bank to a seat of some sort is clearly visible in this photo. There is a little stand of some sort in the corner. It seems that several other things were added to the near side also after this photo was made.

This photo is interesting because a ravine is visible behind the amphitheater. A small hill is there now. Could that have been an excavation in preparation for the foundation of the pyramid or had the ravine been there all along? Notice that by this time the series of four couches has been completed at the north end of the west wall and the lower steps of the broad stair have been changed. The little platform with three steps up each side has been added and the stair steps from the bottom to about half way up have been raised to match the top of the platform.

This is the southwest corner where the south and west walls join. The sign says "Pamphlets sold here giving life story of Mr. Harvey with his reasons for building the pyramid and a picture of it as it would have looked if completed."

Below that, written in script, is "When stand is closed they may be had at white house on hill."

This is the amphitheater podium after the Army Corps of Engineers started getting the area ready for the lake. The ticket booth at the amphitheater entrance has been knocked down, but the podium chairs have not been removed. It looks like Oklahoma Row is still on its foundation by the tower. The lagoon has been drained, but the column beside the spring outlet channel (lower left) is still standing.

This is the amphitheater during the winter in early 1977. Snow covers the hillside beyond the amphitheater. A severe drought and lake control operations allowed the lake level to drop to about 1092 feet above sea level. By July 1977 the lake was back at 1107 feet, which was still low. The channel in the walkway in the center is one of the outlets for the spring. The columns that used to stand on each side where it enters the lagoon have been knocked down.

This photo by Don Roemer was taken during winter time in early 1977 when the lake level was very low. It was taken at the same time as the bridge photo. The ruins of the entrance building are still there. The columns around the boat dock have been knocked down.

One of the concrete bridges that spanned the channels of the lagoon system. There were at least two of these bridges. This one seems to have been the simpler of the two. The photo shows part of a structure at the shore line on the right and the cubical block building near the tower is still standing.

Can the Friends of Monte Ne be reorganized now that there is such great interest in the lost resort? With proper organization, planning, and fund raising, some nice things could be done in the area by the Lake at old Monte Ne.

1. The old Oklahoma Row foundation and adjoining area could be cleared and made into a picnic area.
2. A 1/10th-scale model of Harvey's proposed "pyramid" could be built near the Oklahoma Row tower.
3. The tower could be restored and a log entry room could be built where the Oklahoma Row used to connect to the tower. The room could serve as the entry to the tower and as a museum and gift shop.

It would help to have someone with connections to the local district of the Army Corps of Engineers, the State Parks Department, and maybe some of the local politicians.

If you're interested, e-mail me at jamesmskipper1141@att.net and I will pass it on to the interested people who live in the area.