There is quite a history that lies beneath Lake Lugert-Altus in southwestern Oklahoma. An entire town and human existence once lived and thrived in the town beneath the lake. Founded in 1901, the town of Lugert at one time boasted a population between 300-400 people. It was named in honor of a prominent local merchant, the town's founder, Frank Lugert.
Lugert moved to Oklahoma and filed a claim when Indian lands opened up in 1901. He received 80 acres of land at the base of the Wichita Mountains near Red River. He started the town of Lugert and owned the general store, post office and even coined his own money to be used in his store. But tragedy struck in 1912, when a tornado came through town and destroyed 41 out of the 42 buildings. The only structure to remain was Lugert's General Store.
The town did continue to exist, but on a much smaller scale. In 1926, Altus passed a bond to build a dam across the North Fork of the Red River for a source of city water, flooding the town of Lugert. The dam, as it stands today, was completed in 1947. Frank Lugert rebuilt his buildings and moved his General Store next to the lake and ran it until a few years before his death in 1958.
But from time to time, when drought strikes SW Oklahoma, remains of this underwater ghost town can be found.
Lake Lugert-Altus, also known as Lake Lugert and Lake Altus, is a reservoir located on the North Fork Red River. Heavy rains in 2015 ended an 8-year drought and refilled the lake with water.
The lake's appearance when the water starts to recede.
Frank Lugert, an Austrian immigrant and town founder, came to America at the age of 13. His parents put him on a ship with a sign around his neck that read, "This boy is an orphan, must not be harmed."
The prospering town of Lugert.
Frank Lugert's General Store, which also housed the town's post office.
Piles of bricks from Lugert can be seen near the surface of Lake Lugert-Altus.
The remains of a cellar from a two-story schoolhouse.
A sidewalk that leads to nowhere.
Unknown pieces of the town's history can be seen during seasons of drought.
The construction of the dam.
Full Story of Lugert, Oklahoma
Have you ever seen remnants of this ghost town when the water recedes in the lake? Or did you ever visit Frank Lugert's General Store before he passed away?
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