Mount Gayler, Arkansas Explained

Official Name:Mount Gayler, Arkansas
Pushpin Map:Arkansas#USA
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:United States
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Name1:Arkansas
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name2:Crawford
Timezone:Central (CST)
Utc Offset:-6
Timezone Dst:CDT
Utc Offset Dst:-5
Elevation Ft:2083
Coordinates:35.7531°N -94.1153°W
Area Code:479
Blank Name:GNIS feature ID
Blank Info:72749

Mount Gayler (also spelled Gaylor) is an unincorporated community located at the peak of Gaylor Mountain in Crawford County, Arkansas. Mount Gayler is located within the Boston Mountain ecoregion of the Ozark Mountains. Gaylor Mountain is the highest point on the entire length of U.S. Route 71.[1]

The area was once a popular tourist destination.[2] Edward Bellis, Sr. came to the area with his family after the stock market crash of 1929. He purchased land from the original settlers of the area and proceeded to name his business after them. He built a gift shop and gas station to serve the needs of travelers. A steel observation tower was added in 1939.[3] In 1937 a restaurant called Burns Gables opened across Highway 71,[4] and a number of motel cabins and bungalows soon followed.

In 1999 Interstate 49 opened between Mountainburg and Fayetteville and the majority of the personal and business traffic shifted to the new highway. The Mount Gayler gift shop and tower, as well as the Burns Gables restaurant are now closed, though other lodging and dining businesses in the area remain open.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Mount Gayler . Arkansas.com . 5 June 2020.
  2. Web site: Two Lane Travel . Arkansas Democrat-Gazette . 5 June 2020.
  3. Web site: Roadside Attractions . arkansasonline.com . 5 June 2020.
  4. Web site: Burns Gables on Mt. Gayler . abandonedar.com . 5 June 2020.