For
purposes of clarification, the following terms are used:
The “Developer” is Lost Bridge Village Inc.
The “Association” is Lost Bridge Village Community
Association, Inc.
The “Utility District” is Lost Bridge Village Suburban
Improvement Districts
Crane-Maier & Associates Inc. of Houston, Texas
purchased the original development from the Colvin-Gainer Corporation in 1970.
The development was a 1000-acre resort located on Beaver Lake, five miles east
of Garfield, AR on State Highway 127. Eugene Maier, Chairman, and Sherwood
Crane, President of Crane-Maier & Associates, were active in the
development of resort properties for many years in Texas. In 1971, Max Bodine
was appointed to the position of President of Lost Bridge Village Inc. Lost
Bridge Village Inc. was a planned resort retirement community with full
services: paved streets, water, electricity, phone, waste collection,
recreational facilities and property deed restrictions for protection of home
investments.
In 1971, the Lost Bridge Village Community Association
Inc. was organized as a nonprofit corporation under the laws of the State
of Arkansas to promote the health, safety and welfare of the residents and
owners of real estate in the development. Association members are the property
owners of land in Lost Bridge Village.
Incorporation by-laws are recorded in the deed records of Benton County,
Arkansas.
Village amenities added in 1971 by the developer were a
private airstrip, swimming pool, and recreation center. The Developer’s sales
offices were located on Highway 127 at the current location of the Lost Bridge
Resort. In 1973 the Developer completed
construction on the Lost Bridge Village Lodge (Lodge on Whitney Mountain) and
the Developer’s sales-administration building (Association community building).
These facilities were officially opened in August of 1973. In addition, the
Developer constructed a Village Information Center on Highway 62 in Garfield,
AR.
In 1973, the Developer purchased property known as Posy
Mountain Ranch from the Harry McCoy Co. This property of 1300 acres bordered the
property owned by Lost Bridge Village Inc. and was developed as additional
subdivisions for Lost Bridge Village. Associations were merged for the benefit
of all property owners.
In 1974, the Lost Bridge Village Suburban Improvement
Districts (Utility District) was formed for the purpose of providing water
and sewer services to selected subdivisions in Lost Bridge Village. This
was necessary to comply with Arkansas State Environmental Regulations.
Construction bonds were issued for financing by the Utility District. These
construction bonds are now retired. The Utility District now services
approximately 1200 home sites with water and sewer.
Lost Bridge Village Inc. was host to the annual WalMart
manager’s meeting starting in 1974. WalMart held a fishing tournament and
business meeting annually at Lost Bridge Village for several years until the
organization grew too large to be accommodated. Sam Walton, President of
Wa1Mart loved the beauty of the Lost Bridge Village area.
In 1975, upon completion of the water and sewer facilities
for selected subdivisions within Lost Bridge Village, the Developer (Lost
Bridge Village Inc.), the Lost Bridge Village Community Association Inc., and
the Benton County Road Department undertook a combined program for black top
resurfacing of the streets in the Utility District.
Double tennis courts were constructed in 1976 just west of
the Community Building (formerly known as the Developer Sales-Administration
Building). These facilities are owned and operated by the Association.
The Association purchased the Developer Sales-Administration
Building (community building) from the Developer in 1978. This facility is used
for the Association Administrative Offices, Library, Board meetings, committee
meetings, club meetings, and a variety of social functions.
In the fall of 1978 Lost Bridge Village residents were
instrumental in the establishment of the Northeast Benton County Fire
Department. The Developer donated an a1l-steel building for erection on a
property donated by Village residents, Dr. and Mrs. Hubert Myers. The erection
of the building was accomplished with the help of many residents in the Lost
Bridge area. The Northeast Benton
County Fire Department was located on Posy Mountain Drive just off of Highway
127. The equipment housed in this facility was two self-contained pumper
trucks. The fire department has since grown to the point where this original
building is now a Sub-Station and the Headquarters Station is now located in
Garfield, AR.
As the result of the work of a group of concerned residents,
a volunteer Security Patrol was formed in 1978. Over 60 volunteers signed up
for security patrol duty at Lost Bridge Village. This program was developed
with the cooperation and support of the Benton County Sheriffs office. This has
been a very successful program and has reduced vandalism and crime in the
community to a minimum.
In 1982 a group of Association members were instrumental in
the organization of an area Volunteer Ambulance Service. The Northeast Benton
County Volunteer Ambulance Service covers an area from Gateway, AR to Avoca,
AR. The establishment of this health service is another example of the
Association Board of Trustees efforts to provide for the welfare of property
owners in Lost Bridge Village and area residents in Northeast Benton
County. Ambulance services became operational
in 1984. Headquarters for this service are located next to the Northeast Benton
County Fire Department in Garfield, AR.
The Lost Bridge Village Lodge (Lodge on Whitney Mountain)
was sold in 1984 by the Developer to the Western Development Corp. for future
operation. By this date the Developer had sold all of his improved property
lots in Lost Bridge Village and did not feel the need to continue a sales
program that required the support of the Lodge.
In 1985 a new swimming pool was built by the Association to replace the original pool given
to them by the Developer. Because of the growth of the Village in new homes,
the Association Board of Trustees determined that a new and larger pool was
needed
In the following years to the present time the Association
has assumed all of the obligations for the maintenance of and improvements to
the Village common properties. Roads
have been maintained with the assistance of the Benton County Road Dept. At the
beginning of 2001, the recreation center began undergoing a facelift. It is being enclosed and updated (by
volunteer residents) for year around use.
Our Architectural Control Committee has done an excellent
job of setting standards and following up on all construction in the Village to
assure compliance with recorded deed restrictions.
Our Community Building has been well maintained and several
new improvements have been added to make this facility reflect the pride of our
property owners in their community. This facility also houses our Village
Library, which provides a variety of books, periodicals, videotapes, and
audiotapes for the pleasure of our property owners.
Lost Bridge Village is not an
incorporated community. The Association has the responsibility of providing for
the health, safety and welfare of the property owners of Lost Bridge Village.
This is accomplished by a Board of Trustees elected by the property owners.
Each Trustee serves a three-year term of office. The present Board of Trustees
consists of seven members. All duties of the trustees are assigned on a
voluntary basis. Each trustee is responsible for a specific area of support to
the community i.e. roads, recreation, social, legal, etc. Volunteer property
owners assist the Trustees in the performance of their duties.
It has been and will continue to be a “GREAT PLACE TO
LIVE”.