A number of years ago, during the times of the Old White River, the people living down along the water's edge wished to go to Eureka Springs rather than Bentonville to do their shopping. Eureka Springs would actually be much closer if there were a means of crossing the river. A young politician running for office for the first time recognized this problem and promised the people that, if elected, he would build a bridge across the river.

As a result, this young politician was elected and true to his word, a fine masonry bridge was erected. However, while he was successful in obtaining money for the bridge and the road out to it, his constituent from the adjoining county was of a different political party. Consequently, this county refused to allocate the funds to build the road going away from the bridge. As a results, the people called the bridge the "Lost Cause Bridge", or simply the "Lost Bridge."

During the next few years, "The Legend of Lost Bridge" became quite a local attraction. Only being able to get on to the bridge from the west, people would drive their old Model "T's" on to the bridge to go fishing or picnicking. It became a fine place for a little evening romancing.

Eventually, the White River flooded and the bridge was destroyed. The young politician, now well into his political career, built another bridge, partly out of stubbornness and partly because the whole idea had become such a tremendous joke. Only this time it was just a low water bridge.

That bridge and the remains of the original bridge stood in place until Beaver Lake came into existence. The "Lost Bridge" is truly lost under 180 feet of water just out from the point between Lost Bridge Village Recreation Center and the Lost Bridge Private Boat Dock.

(This information was obtained from a brochure from Whitney Mountain Lodge.)