If you have ever had the pleasure of visiting the College of the Ozarks campus in Point Lookout, Missouri, just a few miles south of Branson, chances are you might have noticed the giant log sided building that is perched on top of the hill. That building has become a landmark in the area, for students and guests alike. What is this building, you might ask? It is none other than the famous Keeter Center, where students combine hard work with a touch of class to create the perfect combination of elegance and education.
College of the Ozarks, a small, unique institution where students work on campus to pay for their tuition and graduate debt free, was founded as school of the Ozarks in 1906. Originally a high school, it became a four year college in the 1960s. The Keeter Center was built in 2004 with the help of C of O students. ‘Keeter,’ as it is fondly referred to by students and faculty, is a large, log and wood panel sided facility that houses a lodge, restaurant, gift shop, meeting rooms, a theater forum, an ice cream counter and a large dining parlor. Named after some longtime friends of the college, The Keeter Center is one of the largest work stations on campus, utilizing more than 200 students. The students are responsible for the housekeeping of the lodge, the cooking, serving, seating and washing up of the restaurant, Dobyns Dining Room, running the gift shop, building maintenance and assistance with special events, and more. The center also houses the college’s Hotel and Restaurant Management Program – so students with that major will actually have class inside of Keeter.
The design of The Keeter Center is reminiscent of the State of Maine Building from the 1904 World’s Fair in St. Louis. This building was purchased by a group of businessmen who moved the entire building to Point Lookout for use as a weekend retreat. The State of Maine Building was eventually purchased by the school, renamed Dobyn’s Hall after the current Board of Trustees President, and was used as a multipurpose structure until it burned on February 1, 1930. Today’s Keeter Center is based on the same design concepts as Dobyn’s Hall. Guests who enter the lobby will notice the actual hewn logs that are used as part of the buildings inner structure that really add to the lodge ‘feel.’
Dobyns Dining Room is one of the most popular places to eat in the area – but don’t worry if there happens to be a line. While you wait, you can browse the gift shop (featuring student made products like baskets and stained glass), sample some ice cream (made with milk from the on campus dairy), take a look at the Veteran’s Museum, or simply sit in one of the many comfortable leather chairs and enjoy the view, inside and out.
The Keeter Center is a great place to host a meeting, a special dinner, or even a wedding! When you visit The Keeter Center, you are not only touring a piece of Ozarks history, you are also supporting the students at Hard Work U on their journey to a debt free college education – and nothing is classier than that!
