A gondola, loaded with visitors, pulls away from the dock at the Monte Ne Hotel in this July 4, 1907 photograph. The launch is headed for the ampitheatre. This is a seldon seen side of the hotel in original photographs. The photograps is from the private collection of Jerry Hiett. *

The Monte Né amphitheater is shown in this picture postcard from the '30s.

All photographs on this website are copyrighted and cannot be reproduced without written permission from the copyright holders.

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The ampitheatre is covered with sightseers in this 1958 photograph taken from what is now the shoreline of Beaver Lake.

To see pictures full size click the thumbnail, then click the screen size picture for full resolution.

Photo © 1958 - 2006 *

Taken from the same location as the picture at left, except with a different lens, this photograph shows part of the lagoon that surrounded the stage.

Photo © 1958 - 2006 *

At the time, a visitor from Kansas, Maye Hiett, points out weather damage to one of the benches on the Monte Né stage.

Photo © 1958 - 2006 *

This picture showing the stage and dressing room facilities is taken from the apitheatre from an area that is not too far from shore when water is at normal level. The steps behind the stage is the docking area for the gondolas that carried visitors from the hotel to the ampitheatre.

Photo © 1958 - 2006 *

Col. Fred Hiett, in hat, walks toward the steps to the amphitheatre in this 1958 picture. The 1957 Chevy he drove from Kansas to visit the area is parked inline with the stage.

Photo © 1958 - 2006 *

From 1962, this is a shot from the stage back towards the pyramid at Monte Né. The stage was surrounded by a lagoon. Sorry that more of the pyramid doesn't show, but after all what was important to a college age guy. Gail Creek of Bentonville displays a crawdad she pulled from the lagoon.

Photo © 1962 - 2006
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In June 1964 the bench in the center box of the amplitheatre seating area makes a good resting place for a visitor.


Photo © 1964 - 2006
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Shot in June 1964, this picture taken from the seating area shows the lagoon-surrounded stage. The two concrete chairs at either end of the stage were taken to a new home in Frisco Park on Second Street in downtown Rogers. Click the thumbnail, then click the resulting picture to see a full size picture.

Photo © 1964 - 2006
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There's no use sitting in the peanut gallery, when you can have the bench at center stage. The lagoon around the stage can be seen at right.


Photo © 1964 - 2006
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In 1977 the water level dropped drastically and most of the seating area of the Monte Né amphitheatre was exposed.

Photo © 1977 - 2007
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Another 1977 photo showing the width of the seating "box". The seating are was broken up with dividers, some of which isolated some seats allowing no way to get to them.

Photo © 1977 - 2007
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Of the several times the pyramid surfaced, 1977 was the year that the most of the structure was exposed.

Photo © 1977 - 2007
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Scattered visitors can be seen in these 1977 photos, less interest and excitement was generated that year than the most recent event.

Photo © 1977 - 2007
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One lone automobile is visible at the time of this picture. At that time it was possible to drive directly to the site.


Photo © 1977 - 2007
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In 2001 the lake hit a period where enough of the amphitheatre showed to make it once more become crowded with visitors. However, as can be seen, only a small portion of the structure was exposed. (In 2001 digital cameras were not what they are today.)

Photo © 2001 *

Early August 2005 found the lake dropping enough that the seating area was visible. It attracted this group of Kansans who had to check it out.

Photo © 2005
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By mid September 2005, the same area is shown with much more exposure.

Photo © 2005 *

A similar shot taken in mid October 2005 shows the progress of the dropping lake level.

Photo © 2005 *

Mid January 2006 shows a drastic drop in water level with much more exposure of the structure.

Photo © 2006 *

Looking in the oposite direction this picture was taken in September 2005.

Photo © 2005 *

By mid October 2005 more rows of seats are exposed.

Photo © 2005 *

Mid January 2006 shows the same section of the amphitheatre greatly expanded by dropping water level.

Photo © 2006 *