This homely verse, carved in stone above the fireplace in the spacious lobby of the Crescent Hotel, is a reminder that comfort is an outstanding feature in a hotel. In this “Castle in the Air High Atop the Ozarks” we find comfort combined with convenience in a big way. This magnificent hostelry requires but little introduction to people familiar with Summer Resorts. It stands on a high point overlooking Eureka Springs and the view from the Lookout, a-top the hotel, is one of the finest in the Ozarks. The Crescent is a five story stone, fire-proof building with twenty-seven acres of grounds. It represents an investment of over $300,000 in 1884-1886 and would cost three or four times that amount to build it today. It has large rooms, wide verandas, and sun parlors and can easily accommodate two hundred and fifty guests. It is equipped with swimming pool, tennis courts, shuffle board, horseshoe courts, bowling alley, pool and billiard tables, recreational rooms, and provides scenic bus trips, horseback riding, hay-rides, barbecues, wiener roasts, and dancing for the entertainment of guests. The food served in the dining room has been famous for more than half a century. The Crescent is popular with both convention groups and the general public. The Crescent Hotel was erected by the Eureka Improvement Company in 1884-1886. The board of directors was composed of Powell Clayton, R. C. Kerens, C. W. Rogers, Logan H. Roots, John O’Day, James Dunn, B. Baker and D. A. Nichols. Powell Clayton was president of the company, Logan H. Roots, treasurer and H. Foote, secretary. Isaac S. Taylor was the architect. It had its grand opening May 1, 1886. In 1902 when the Frisco Railroad took it over it was remodeled with Guy Crandall Morimer as architect. Some of the board of directors of the Crescent Hotel Company were stockholders in the Frisco Railroad and it was probably through their influence that the Frisco leased the hotel in 1902 for a period of five years. One of the conditions of the lease was that at least $50,000 be spent on furnishings and improvements. This was done and the hotel was widely advertised by the railroad company. During the first twenty-two years of its existence, the Crescent was operated as a year-round hotel but in 1908 the Crescent College for girls was organized and the building became a school from September until June and continued as a hotel during the three summer months. A. S. Maddox was the first president of the college. R. R. (Dick) Thompson became president in 1910 and continued in this capacity until the middle twenties. The institution was then taken over by Claude Fuller, Albert Ingalls and W. T. Patterson and operated for a few years. A. Q. Burns became president of the college in 1929 and served for three or four years. The college was closed permanently in 1933.