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Crystal River Tourist Camp

Coordinates: 35°56′36″N 91°32′52″W / 35.94333°N 91.54778°W / 35.94333; -91.54778
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Crystal River Tourist Camp
Crystal River Tourist Camp is located in Arkansas
Crystal River Tourist Camp
Crystal River Tourist Camp is located in the United States
Crystal River Tourist Camp
Location206 North Main, Cave City, Arkansas
Coordinates35°56′36″N 91°32′52″W / 35.94333°N 91.54778°W / 35.94333; -91.54778
Area2.2 acres (0.89 ha)
Built byPrince Matlock
Architectural styleOzark fieldstone
NRHP reference No.91000620[1]
Added to NRHPJune 6, 1991

Crystal River Tourist Camp (formerly Crystal River Cave Court, today Cave Courts Motel) is a motor inn built in 1932 in Cave City, Arkansas. It is the oldest operating motor court in the state.[2] It is built of fieldstones from the Ozarks.

History

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Prince Matlock built the motel in 1932 by setting thousands of rocks from the area. He used geodes and quartz as decorative rocks and created many designs of crosses and animals to add to the rock walls. Underneath the motel is a large cave for which Cave City is named.[3] The subterranean Crystal River runs through the cave's five chambers.

Today

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The motel was abandoned for several years before being purchased and restored. It is now reopened as the Cave Courts Motel.[3]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. ^ "Cave Courts Motel - The Oldest Motor Court in Arkansas". American Profile. December 23, 2000. Retrieved August 28, 2011.
  3. ^ a b DeLano, Patti (2005). Off the Beaten Path, Arkansas (9th ed.). Guilford, Connecticut: Morris Book Publishing. ISBN 978-0-7627-4856-3. ISSN 1537-0550.