PHOTOS: Monte Ne ruins surface after drought in Northwest Arkansas

BENTON COUNTY, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — The historic town of Monte Ne, which has long been underwater, is now visible due to drought conditions in Northwest Arkansas.

Usually hidden beneath Beaver Lake, the remains of Monte Ne reappeared on Oct. 25 as the lake’s water levels dropped.

Monte Ne was developed as a resort town by former presidential candidate William Harvey and reached its peak in the 1920s, drawing visitors from across the country.

In the 1960s, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers took over the area after damming the White River to create Beaver Lake. Since then, Monte Ne has mostly remained submerged.

Monte Ne: Northwest Arkansas’ Atlantis

Monte Ne, located five miles southeast of Rogers in Benton County, was a once-thriving resort town founded in 1900 by William H. “Coin” Harvey, who envisioned it as both a luxury getaway and a historical legacy, according to the Encyclopedia of Arkansas .

Known for its impressive architecture by A.O. Clark, Monte Ne housed the world’s largest log hotels and attracted visitors nationwide for over 20 years.

Harvey’s vision extended beyond tourism; in 1931, the Liberty Party nominated him as its presidential candidate during a national convention held at Monte Ne’s amphitheater.

Harvey bought 320 acres, renaming the area Monte Ne, meaning “mountain water,” and developed the resort with three hotels, a bank, a golf course, Arkansas’s first enclosed swimming pool and a short railroad line connecting it to the main tracks.

Harvey planned to construct a massive stone pyramid to preserve knowledge for future generations, but the project stalled when funds ran out, leaving only the amphitheater.

Monte Ne also became a cultural hub; the sisters Iris and Helen Armstrong opened Camp Joyzelle in 1923, where many camp programs were held at the amphitheater.

Despite its popularity, Monte Ne declined after 1920 due to the rise of road travel.

Most of the resort was foreclosed in 1927 and repurposed as the Ozark Industrial College and School of Theology until its closure in 1932, according to the Encyclopedia of Arkansas .

In 1960, the construction of Beaver Dam submerged much of Monte Ne, leaving only traces of its buildings, including the amphitheater visible at low water levels, parts of Oklahoma Row, and Harvey’s tomb.

Monte Ne was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978, but in 2023, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers began removing the remaining structures of Oklahoma Row due to safety concerns.

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