KIMBERLING FAMILY HOMESTEAD

"A new town – Kimberling City – will be established in 1961 in the Table Rock reservoir area. Developer of the 50 – acre commercial tract on Route 13, about nine miles south of Reeds Spring and just north of Kimberling Bridge, is John Q. Hammons of Springfield.

Associated with Hammons in the project is Lloyd E. Kip, former residential builder in the Lake of the Ozarks region and a Springfield construction man for the past two years. Kip will be in charge of construction and management of the town, Hammons said.

Hammons and associates will build the entire commercial part of the town.  Plans call for 50 stores to be constructed within the next several years.

Seven buildings will be started shortly after Jan. 1, Hammons said.  He is negotiating now with a restaurant, super market, sporting goods shop, hardware store and drug store to be initial tenants.

An amusement park in conjunction with the town also will be started next year, Hammons said.

Completion date of the first seven units has been set for next June 1. A sewage treatment facility and water system, 12 foot sidewalks and protective canopies over the stores are included in the plans.  Hammons said parking facilities will be provided for about 800 cars.

Hammons also plans to build a million dollar resort hotel on a 15 acre promontory just west of the bridge within “a year or two.”

The above photo and newspaper account is courtesy of Janet Thompson granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Kimberling.