(Photo: Galen Culver, KFOR-TV-DT) |
GROVE, OK -- If you're looking for some really cheap waterfront property around Grand Lake, well that ship probably sailed with the maiden voyage of the Cherokee Queen.
That part of northeast Oklahoma is now dotted with thousands of big vacation retreats, but Galen Culver has the story of one space on the lake that looks a lot like it did a half century ago.
Grand Lake is a quieter place in the winter. The party barges are in dry dock. The jet skis are put away for a warmer season.
So it's easier to picture this part of Oklahoma in an earlier time; back when Grove was a sleepy place and Grand Lake was still small enough to drive across.
That's about when Harvey Jones trucks were first rolling over this country too and old Harvey noticed what would become a nice stretch of waterfront property.
Jan Norman is head caretaker at the Jones Old Vacation Property and the old place keeps her busy full time. Harvey loved estate sales. His wife Bernice liked antiques.
For years there weren't many roads in here, but no one kept up with the Jones's when it came to proving up their lakefront stake.
From the church, to a schoolhouse, then came old log cabins from the early 1800's. Each of them Bernice filled with collections of stuff.
What resulted was one of the largest privately owned museums in the United States; much more than just a vacation home.
The Jones's named their spot Har-Ber Village. Boats used to dock offshore to come see everything. Now hundreds of thousands of tourists use the good roads out of Grove to find their way.
Har-Ber Village is one of those spots literally preserved for history. It's a great piece of waterfront property that will likely never change.
Near Grove, Galen Culver NewsChannel 4. Is this a great state or what!
Har-Ber village is getting ready to open its gates for the 41st season on March 1st.
Copyright 2009 KFOR-TV-DT. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
That part of northeast Oklahoma is now dotted with thousands of big vacation retreats, but Galen Culver has the story of one space on the lake that looks a lot like it did a half century ago.
Grand Lake is a quieter place in the winter. The party barges are in dry dock. The jet skis are put away for a warmer season.
So it's easier to picture this part of Oklahoma in an earlier time; back when Grove was a sleepy place and Grand Lake was still small enough to drive across.
That's about when Harvey Jones trucks were first rolling over this country too and old Harvey noticed what would become a nice stretch of waterfront property.
Jan Norman is head caretaker at the Jones Old Vacation Property and the old place keeps her busy full time. Harvey loved estate sales. His wife Bernice liked antiques.
For years there weren't many roads in here, but no one kept up with the Jones's when it came to proving up their lakefront stake.
From the church, to a schoolhouse, then came old log cabins from the early 1800's. Each of them Bernice filled with collections of stuff.
What resulted was one of the largest privately owned museums in the United States; much more than just a vacation home.
The Jones's named their spot Har-Ber Village. Boats used to dock offshore to come see everything. Now hundreds of thousands of tourists use the good roads out of Grove to find their way.
Har-Ber Village is one of those spots literally preserved for history. It's a great piece of waterfront property that will likely never change.
Near Grove, Galen Culver NewsChannel 4. Is this a great state or what!
Har-Ber village is getting ready to open its gates for the 41st season on March 1st.
Copyright 2009 KFOR-TV-DT. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
