Buffalo National River Rehabilitates Beaver Jim Villines’ Childhood Home

In 2022, a tree fell and damaged the roof of Beaver Jim Villines’ childhood home in Ponca. The roof damage compromised the integrity of the historic structure built in 1850 and made the log building unsafe to enter.

Buffalo National River is currently removing the damaged roof and adjacent sections of the building so visitors can safely view and enter the structure. The log portion of the building and chimney will remain in place.

This fall, the National Park Service’s Historic Preservation Training Center (HPTC) is expected to send a team to the park to conduct an assessment of the structures. Work on the HPTC rehabilitation is expected to begin this winter.

The park hopes to stabilize this cultural resource and make it safe and accessible to the public again.