Crystal River Tourist Camp


Crystal River Tourist Camp is a motor inn built in 1932 in Cave City, Arkansas. It is the oldest operating motor court in the state. It is built of fieldstones from the Ozarks.

History

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. The subterranean Crystal River runs through the cave's five chambers.

Today

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