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NINETEEN DREAMERS AND SCHEMERS ON THE BUFFALO Almost anyone would have expected that with the approval of S.B. 855, culminating almost eight years of a widely publicized program to establish national park jurisdiction along the Buffalo, private developers and real-estate dealers would limit their activity along the river, that they would exercise caution and go elsewhere. But No-They would instead redouble their efforts amidst much hue and cry as to the injury that was about to be inflicted upon them. They chose to ignore a directive, issued by the Department of the Interior in 1967, stating that any development or construction work within the proposed national river boundary would not be eligible for reimbursement as "improved" property after that year. Such builders or investors would thereby stand to lose the difference they might claim between that and unimproved property. That did not mean that fair market value would not be paid for such lands as the park service might need for the proper management of the national river. It did mean that the government would not honor belated claims for construction undertaken within the proposed park boundary after 1967. That policy net was bound to catch a few fish, some most surprising. How Kyles Landing Came to Be It was never our desire or intent to have to stand up against an ordained minister, but on the old Frank Villines place in the midst of that most scenic stretch ofthe Buffalo between Ponca and Erbie such would come to pass. The first inkling that something was going on there came in the spring of 1966 during a float from the low-water bridge at Ponca to the Boy Scout camp at Camp Orr. Just above Buzzard Bluff, a short distance up river from Camp Orr, we heard a disturbing sound from up on the mountainside above the mouth of 403 NINETEEN DREAMERS AND SCHEMERS ON THE BUFFALO Almost anyone would have expected that with the approval of S.B. 855, culminating almost eight years of a widely publicized program to establish national park jurisdiction along the Buffalo, private developers and real-estate dealers would limit their activity along the river, that they would exercise caution and go elsewhere. But No-They would instead redouble their efforts amidst much hue and cry as to the injury that was about to be inflicted upon them. They chose to ignore a directive, issued by the Department of the Interior in 1967, stating that any development or construction work within the proposed national river boundary would not be eligible for reimbursement as "improved" property after that year. Such builders or investors would thereby stand to lose the difference they might claim between that and unimproved property. That did not mean that fair market value would not be paid for such lands as the park service might need for the proper management of the national river. It did mean that the government would not honor belated claims for construction undertaken within the proposed park boundary after 1967. That policy net was bound to catch a few fish, some most surprising. How Kyles Landing Came to Be It was never our desire or intent to have to stand up against an ordained minister, but on the old Frank Villines place in the midst of that most scenic stretch of the Buffalo between Ponca and Erbie such would come to pass. The first inkling that something was going on there came in the spring of 1966 during a float from the low-water bridge at Ponca to the Boy Scout camp at Camp Orr. Just above Buzzard Bluff, a short distance up river from Camp Orr, we heard a disturbing sound from up on the mountainside above the mouth of 403 Indian Creek. It was the screech and growl of a bulldozer, and it could be up to no good in our book. Shortly thereafter, we were to learn that the dozer was gouging out a road down to a new development at the mouth of Bear Creek to be known as the Buffalo Bluff Boys' Home. Without protective legislation on the books, there was nothing that anyone could do to stop it. More disconcerting news soon made known the scope of this potentially ruinous project. The Ozarks Mountaineer printed a lead article in July 1968 warmly supportive of the undertaking, saying in part: Dream on the Buffalo By Clay Anderson Men can dream great dreams along the majestically beautiful Buffalo River in Northwest...

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