Twin Coves Resort

(Above): The main house as it looks today.

(Below): The two cabins as they look today:

Twin Coves Resort as described in the old brochure: Modern housekeeping units. Shore line fishing. In Arkansas, just across the Missouri line. Good roads. Near store, boat dock, and cafes. Write Del Hildebrand for reservations. Pontiac, Mo.

I wasn't able to do the deed research on this property, but my guess is it was part of the same tract that William Wilbanks patented that Cactus Ridge Resort sits on. Del Hildebrand and his wife, Priscilla, and her twin sister, Acquilla (Peg) Sterett, built the resort. I never knew Peg's husband; he may have died before they came here. Del died pretty early in their days at the resort. It was only one building with a couple cabins in it. They both taught Sunday school at Price Place Church at one time or another, and I think they both taught school prior to that. Peg and maybe Priscilla played the piano for church as well. They were also very active in the Pontiac Ladies Club and very good friends of my Mom. "The Twins," as everyone called them, were characters.

The Twins had stopped renting their cabins when they sold the property to Bob Tede. They kept a life interest in the place, and he remodeled the cabins into a single residence, where he stayed when he came down. He was a character himself. He started coming here years ago with his wife and another couple. They were water skiers. They were some of the first trick skiers I remember. Tede has since split the property and sold it as two residences.

There has always been a discussion whether it was named Twin Coves because of the Twins living there or because there are two (twin) coves on the lake right there. I always maintained that the twin coves existed before "The Twins" ever got here. The resort name would agree with me. Who knows? The Twins finished out their days at the nursing home in Gainesville. My mom was there at the same time. I believe they were some of the first residents of the nursing home after it was built. They both lived to around 100 years old.

Written by Cap'n T. Morgan