Coin Harvey’s Spring Lake and Falls

Springs are a prominent feature of the Benton County landscape.  In fact, there are at least 35 different springs known to produce water locally.  These natural water features, in addition to the beautiful mountains and cool valleys, impressed Coin Harvey during his visits to the Rogers area in the mid 1890s.  By 1900, Harvey established his resort community of Monte Ne in the Silver Springs area. 

“Monte Ne valley,” according to James Hales in his book The Lost Town of Monte Ne, “was a cool, lush area with many springs.  At the top of the valley was a large spring, called Big Spring, which flowed at a rate of 10,000 gallons per minute.  Several other springs joined Big Spring to form a clear creek that flowed through the valley down to the White River near Eden’s Bluff.  Coin Harvey dammed the creek to form a beautiful narrow long lake or lagoon.  The water was crystal clear and the bottom was clearly visible even in the deepest parts.”

Damming of the creek represented the first civil engineering project associated with the resort.  His plans called for digging a canal as well as the construction of stone abutments to hold back the water.  The photograph shown at right illustrates the lake as it appeared in approximately 1901.  The lagoon he created became the home of the gasoline powered motor launch, The Major Blackburn, which provided boating excursions for guests, after the Hotel Monte Ne opened in May 1901.  By July 1901, Harvey imported a gondola from Venice, Italy to first entertain guests, but a year later to also transport guests from the train depot at Monte Ne to their accommodations.