Mount Nebo (Arkansas) facts for kids
Mount Nebo is a tall mountain in west-central Arkansas, near Dardanelle, Arkansas. It rises about 1,350 feet (411 m) above the valleys. From its top, you can see amazing views of Lake Dardanelle, the Arkansas River, and the surrounding mountain ridges.
On top of this flat mountain, which is named after a mountain in the Bible, you'll find Mount Nebo State Park. This area was first developed as a vacation spot in the late 1800s. It became a state park in 1928. A group called the Civilian Conservation Corps helped build many of its early features. Today, the park is a great place for hiking, camping, and other outdoor adventures.
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History of Mount Nebo
Mount Nebo is a flat-topped mountain about 5 miles (8 km) west of Dardanelle. You can get there by driving on Arkansas Highway 155. The top of the mountain looks a bit like a teardrop. It has a narrow point at one end and a wider base at the other.
A little below the very top of the mountain is a flatter area called the "bench." Many springs are found here. This is because rainwater soaks through the soil until it hits a layer of rock that water cannot pass through. The water then collects in pockets, forming these springs.
Early Settlers and Naming the Mountain
The first settlers on Mount Nebo built log cabins on the "bench" area, close to the springs. This bench was wide enough for a road and places to build homes. Most of these early log cabins were destroyed or fell apart during the American Civil War.
After the Civil War, in the late 1860s, Mrs. Louis White named the mountain "Nebo." She named it after the mountain in the Bible where Moses saw the Promised Land. The White family and other families from Dardanelle would spend their summers living on the mountain. The White family home stood by Nebo Springs until 1934.
Developing the Mountain Top
The first major development on the mountain's summit began in 1878. Captain Joseph Evins bought the land and started an orchard. He built a house and planted about 40 acres (16 ha) of fruit trees. He grew apples, peaches, pears, cherries, strawberries, and raspberries. He also had a very successful vineyard.
Captain Evins saw that the mountain could be a great place for a resort. He got other wealthy people from nearby cities interested. Together, they formed the Nebo Improvement Company. They planned out the west side of the mountain into building lots. In 1889, they built their first houses on the west bluff, near Sunset Point.
The Grand Summit Park Hotel
To build the large Summit Park Hotel, heavy wood was brought up the mountain by oxen and mule teams. Finer lumber came from Little Rock by train to Russellville, then by mule teams to the mountain. The Summit Park Hotel opened in June 1889.
The hotel was a big, three-story building with 100 rooms. It had a large dining room wing. Other buildings held the laundry, bakery, kitchen, and storage. This helped reduce the risk of fire. There was also a separate two-story building with a ballroom. Hotel employees and servants lived on the second floor.
Two other long buildings, with 13 and 16 rooms, offered more sleeping space when the hotel was full. Another building had a bowling alley, billiard rooms, a post office, and a telephone office. A band of about 10 musicians worked as waiters during the day and played music for dances at night.
Hotel prices were about $35 to $40 a month. Daily rates were $2 to $2.50. Children under 10 and servants paid half price. Bowling cost a nickel per game!
Why People Visited Mount Nebo
Steamboats brought summer visitors and their belongings from Little Rock to Dardanelle four times a week. People came for the "pure chalybeate waters," which they believed could cure illnesses like asthma and malaria. They also thought the waters could help people recover from being tired. Mount Nebo was seen as a peaceful escape for people who needed to rest. It was also a place to avoid mosquitoes, which were a bigger problem back then.
Boardwalks stretched across the mountain, connecting different points. Guests could relax in gazebos at Gum Springs and Darling Springs. Carriages, stages, and bicycles were common ways to get around the mountain. By the 1890s, the mountain had two large hotels, a school, a bowling alley, a ballroom, a post office, a telephone office, and stables with horses for riding.
Decline and Becoming a State Park
On May 18, 1919, the Summit Park Hotel was completely destroyed by fire. This fire marked the beginning of the mountain's decline as a resort. The hotel was never rebuilt. Local people in Dardanelle then suggested making the area a state park.
Arkansas was just starting to create state parks. It took until 1928 for Mount Nebo to officially become a state park. It was the second state park in Arkansas, after Petit Jean State Park. Much of the land for the park came from land where taxes had not been paid. The park did not have many facilities until 1933.
Even after the hotel burned, a small community still lived on Mount Nebo. In 1924, the women of the community were unhappy with the local leaders (who were all men). They felt that not enough was being done to improve the mountain. So, the women organized politically. In April 1924, an all-female group of candidates won the local elections. This was the first time in Arkansas history that a town government was run entirely by women! While they did make some improvements, the overall economic problems of the time continued.
Civilian Conservation Corps Builds the Park
When the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) was created in 1933, Mount Nebo State Park was chosen as a place for their crews to work. Over two years, CCC crew 1780 built many important parts of the park. They constructed roads, bridges, cabins, hiking trails, and picnic pavilions.
The main pavilion, built by the CCC around 1935, is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Ten of the cabins built by the CCC are also listed on the National Register. Six of these cabins are listed individually, and four are listed as a group.
Park Facilities and Activities
Mount Nebo State Park offers many facilities for visitors. You can rent one of 14 cabins, or choose from 34 camping sites. There are also picnic areas and a swimming pool. The park has about 14 miles (23 km) of hiking trails. These trails are great for exploring the mountain and enjoying the outdoors.
