BEAVER LAKE — It isn’t everywhere that a person can step outside and — within minutes — spot a bald eagle. But as far as the southern portion of the United States goes, Beaver Lake can be a hotbed for the national bird, depending on the time of year.
Every January for the past 11 years, a weekend cruise packed with passengers has left the Rocky Branch Marina in search of bald eagles. This past January, participants spotted 42. In past years, as many as 70 have been spotted.
But what if you didn’t have to depend on the annual cruise ? What if Beaver Lake was your backyard ?
That’s what Peter and Janice Hofstra, Tulsa-area investors who were turned on to Beaver Lake several years ago by relatives living in the Rogers area, started thinking. Before long, the Hofstras were shopping for the perfect spot — and when they found it, they decided to create opportunities for 14 families to call the shores of Beaver Lake home.
The Hofstras are the investors behind The Escarpment Lakeside Estates, a single-family residential development just a short distance from Rocky Branch Marina. As the name suggests, each of the 14 lots in The Escarpment look down on Beaver Lake. A short distance from Twin Coves Road and Arkansas Highway 303, the development features a paved road and wooded lots ranging from half an acre to 1. 6 acres, listed for $ 74, 000 to $ 189, 000. A nature trail leading down to neighborhood boat slips will soon be blazed, and wildlife abounds.
“ This is a place for people who want to get out and fish instead of sitting in front of a TV, ” Peter Hofstra said. “ I came out here in February just to have lunch, and I spent a half-hour watching a bald eagle sitting in a tree. Then it took off and soared over the water. The deer, the eagles — the wildlife and beauty in general out here — put you in the right place. ”
While new construction has slowed considerably across northwest Arkansas, the peaceful surroundings of Beaver Lake continue to attract residents, investors and developers alike. A short distance away, construction has begun on Cotswold Village at Castleberry Point, a gated community.
Lost Rock, situated on 159 acres near Lakeview Bay Road in Benton County, near the Madison County line, is among the other new or planned Beaver Lake developments. Lost Rock boasts nearly a mile of lake frontage. The developers of Lost Rock plan to construct 56 cabin and home lots, complete with hiking trails, boat docks and an outdoor amphitheater.
The Escarpment is yet another option for families and individuals to carve out a home for themselves somewhere along the nearly 500 miles of Beaver Lake shoreline. And with eight lots already sold, the Hofstras’ vision is on its way to becoming reality.
“ It’s pretty hard to beat the views, but I think the fact there are only 14 lots appeals to a lot of people as well, ” Janice Hofstra said. “ You’re going to have neighbors but not too many. You can go home from work and have a beautiful playground. ”
The Hofstras said homes constructed in The Escarpment must be a minimum of 2, 000 square feet, and there are regulations to maintain consistency within the development.
“ We’ve had young families and retirees from in and out of state buy lots, ” Peter Hofstra said. “ There are protective covenants, and there will be a homeowners association to keep everything pristine. That’s very important. ”
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