City of Bethany Adopts Resolution to Establish Bethany Falls Park

The City and several civic organizations are hoping to work together during the spring and summer of 2004 to begin developing the new Bethany Falls Park.  The Bethany Rotary Club will be working on a project at the falls to commemorate the 100th year of Rotary organization.  Projects discussed by the Rotary include: a friendship bridge and flower garden,   Additionally the Harrison County Interagency Council will be meeting with the Bethany Parks and Recreation Director to tour the area and learn about the park boards possible plans for development.

Community wide support is breathing new life into a historical landmark that had being missing from the landscape for almost 50 years.

 Missouri Geologist excited about work on Bethany Falls
Some information for this story taken from the Bethany Republican Clipper

Backhoe Uncovers More of Falls

Richard Gentile, a retired professor at UMKC, is excited about efforts by local volunteers to uncover the Bethany Falls..  Mr. Gentile came to Bethany 1 year ago in search of the Bethany Falls and left disappointed when he could not find anything that even remotely resembled the falls.  Mr. Gentile has taught in the geosciences department at the University of Missouri Kansas City for nearly 40 years and still maintains an office there.  For nearly a century text books have referenced the geological wonder that stretches from central Iowa to Oklahoma and gets its namesake from Bethany Missouri.  Bethany Falls was first studied in a survey taken by the geologist Garland Broadhead a year following the Civil War.  Gentile says, " Bethany Falls is probably one of the most important rock units in the state because it has been extensively quarried in Missouri."  In addition he said the City of Kansas City was built upon that rock ledge," and an extensive network of tunnels in Bethany Falls Limestone has long provided an important underground storage facility in Kansas City.

Heavy Equipment Clears North Bank

    Bethany Falls flows for first time in 50 Years
Some information for this story taken from the Bethany Republican Clipper

 Rainfall Saturday, October 11th, caused a small waterfall effect at the Bethany Falls.  Some say for the first time in 50 years thanks to the volunteer help of a few concerned Bethany citizens.  Rock ledges, buried under tons of sand and mud have been uncovered during preliminary excavation work at the site of the Bethany Falls near the forks of Big Creek and Bucks Branch.  Volunteers have provided backhoes, track hoes and other earth moving equipment to lift debris from the stream after the Bethany Falls Restoration committee received permission from the City of Bethany to work along the stream.

Drought conditions this summer reduced the water flow to almost non-existent levels, this combined with the flood of 93 have exposed some limestone ledges along the creek banks.  The falls restoration committee was anxious to begin a pilot project at the location of the falls, while the water level was still low before starting a major campaign to uncover the falls.  According to a report from the Bethany Republican Clipper, committee member John Carter stated, "We want to make sure the creek still has a flat rock bottom."  The committee has been holding periodic meetings at the BTC Bank community room to discuss strategies for uncovering the falls.

The Bethany Falls extends from central Iowa to Oklahoma through Bethany, Missouri, for which it is named.  Many of the flat topped hills of Western Missouri owe their very existence to the presence of this massive and resistant limestone.

The Bethany Falls Restoration committee has launched a fund-raising drive for the falls restoration.  Tax deductible contributions may be made in care of the Bethany Scout Troop 100 at any BTC Bank facility.

Bethany Falls in the summer time. Photo taken in the early 1900's.

Summer 2003 Before Work Began Looking East

Summer 2003 Before Work Began Looking West

Falls 2003 After First Cleanup Looking East

Falls 2003 after First Cleanup Looking West