Once in a lifetime an opportunity arises to be part of something truly extraordinary. This is that opportunity. The Kerr Mansion in Poteau, Oklahoma is being sold at auction. The monumental Kerr Mansion is not only a colossal and meticulously designed work of art, but a piece of timeless American History. Resting thoughtfully on a bluff overlooking the  Poteau River Valley and with mountain views clear into Arkansas, the Kerr Mansion is a statement piece which transcends time. 

 

Beginning in approximately 1957, United States Senator, Oklahoma Governor, Kerr McGee Oil tycoon, champion of the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System, staunch advocate of natural resource conservation and representative of “the little people”, Robert S. Kerr (“Sen. Kerr”) began acquiring incredible amounts of land in and around the Poteau River Valley gathering a total of 55,000 acres for which he had an incredible dream he dubbed his “dream ranch.” Once the land was acquired and cleared he then moved in $500,000 (nearly $5.5 million in 2024 inflation adjusted dollars) worth of pristine Angus cattle. The gargantuan ranch was known as the KerMac Ranch and it ran what was estimated to be the largest Angus herd in the world at that time by a third. Sen. Kerr was determined to make Poteau known as “the Angus capital of the world.” Only once Sen. Kerr had built this incredibly majestic ranching operation, his focus was shifted to what would be the crown jewel centerpiece of this majestic ranch. He and his wife Grayce had dreams of building an estate that would not only be their forever home for their family, but would be impressive enough to host U.S. presidents and the most powerful figures of the time. The dream for the Kerr Mansion was born. 

 

In typical Kerr fashion, Mr. Kerr went to work assembling the dream team to make his audacious dreams a reality. Gene Bolls was hired to design the estate, Gatie Frank Construction Company was hired to oversee its construction, and Thomas Roberts was hired to design and complete the landscaping. The location was carefully and painstakingly chosen (they did have 55,000 acres to choose from after all). Although there were no roads or utilities to the location at the time, it became obvious where the perfect location would be for this statement piece. The chosen location rested on an incredible ridge line surrounded by mountains on three sides including Cavanal, Poteau and Sugar Loaf. Positioning it perfectly for majestic views of Cavanal, Poteau, Sugar Loaf,  Winding Stair, Kiamichi, Rich, Black Fork and Walker Mountains. Together the team designed a colossal 12,000 square foot ranch stretching longer than a football field but still carefully designed to nestle into the side of the ridge. The careful design and placement created views that are absolutely breathtaking. 

 

Just as much care went into the design of the home. Mr. Kerr wanted a true Oklahoma statement piece that incorporated native natural materials. Mr. Kerr was quoted as saying: “[He] wanted the house to look as if it grew out of the ground itself, as ageless in appearance as the surrounding countryside.” A truly incredible amount of stone was used for the walls, floors and other architectural elements which was cut from a local rock quarry. Fourteen inch thick Oak beams and paneling came from nearby forests. Various large natural boulders were intentionally left untouched on site as part of the landscaping. 

 

Mr. Kerr’s desire for the design to stay true to Oklahoma heritage blended together with the innovative mid century modern designs of the time to create a true masterpiece. The original design of the main house was more than 365 feet long and included 9 bedrooms, 14 bathrooms and six fireplaces. The home was designed in three wings connected at the heart of the home by an expansive kitchen, dining, living and entry stairwell. The east wing with four bedrooms–one for each of his four children and their spouses–together with  a large playroom designed as a maritime submarine shiproom together with real port holes and suspended bunkbeds for the grandkids. The west wing was designed for meeting and hosting together with a breezeway, meeting areas, a large library, and a guest suite. The third wing was upstairs designed for Senator Kerr and his wife with their own living and bedrooms suites, one for each of them. The home was designed such that from the windows of his second floor living quarters, Kerr was able to see all the way into Arkansas 12 miles to the east. Positioning him perfectly to see his vast land holdings across the region. From the gold plated faucets, to the hand woven custom rugs, to the hand forged Angus drawer pulls and knobs, to the Japanese style wooden grill work, the architectural appointments and detailing was immaculate. 

 

Also part of the original design was a stunning “K” shaped pool overlooking the ridge together with a pool house with a living, bedroom, bathrooms and a sauna. There was also originally a six car garage attached to the front of the main house. On the front of the property is also a structure called the laundry house to process all the laundry for the massive estate. In addition, there was stone work, terraces, patios, look outs and beautiful native landscaping all over the property. It was clear that the home was designed with enough luxury and grandeur to entertain the most powerful men and women of the day. 

 

The landscape views were meticulously captured by nearly all elements and features on the ridge side of the home. From the 18 foot patio extending out over the ridge, to the stone terraces and various patios teetering on the edge of the ridge, to the glass walls and windows protecting nearly the entire southeast side of the home. It was meticulously designed to capture the natural beauty and stunning views of the landscape. 

 

The colossal project took 3 years to complete and was inaugurated in 1961. The total cost of the home construction was estimated at $650,000 (nearly $6.7 million in 2024 inflation adjusted dollars). Just in time or one of the homes most notorious guest on October 29, 1961, United States President John F. Kennedy (“President Kennedy”). Sen. Kerr was pleased at the timing of President Kennedy’s trip as he claimed, “[t]his is one of the most beautiful places in the world to be [in late October as the leaves change].” A great deal of time was spent at the ranch as a sanctuary from their work during the visit. Time was spent communing around table for an Angus steak dinner, inspecting the KerMac Angus herd, and discussing family and political strategy while gazing out over the landscape. President Kennedy and Sen. Kerr shared a moment overlooking the land as a map was spread to show the President where all the federal dollars Sen. Kerr had been fighting for were being spent on infrastructure and water management. President Kennedy stayed in the children's wing of the home in the first room on the right which is now known as President Kennedy’s room. 

 

President Kennedy may have been one of the first political figures to stay in the estate, but he certainly was not the last. He was followed by President Gerald R. Ford, President George H. W. Bush, President Lyndon B. Johnson and House Speaker Carl Albert all of which now have a room named after them. In addition, Senator Robert S. Kerr and Mrs. Grayce Kerr each have their own respective rooms upstairs with their namesakes. While these visitors were the only with rooms they were housed in named after them, the famous and notorious individuals who have been hosted in the home are numerous. The home was Sen. Kerr’s showpiece used to host the days political elite and powerhouse business leaders to commune around table, strike business and political deals and stare out over the landscape dreaming about how to make the world a better place for the next generation. The memories, conversations and historical moments shared in this home are unbelievable. The Tulsa World coined it best when they stated “it [was] a gathering place for the nations most powerful men” and further stating that the “local folk say it is the place the ‘king’ built to entertain presidents.”  

 

Sadly, Sen. Kerr unexpectedly passed away in 1963 after suffering a heart attack. Dozens of Oklahoma schools, buildings, roads, streets, parks, organizations, and events are named in Sen. Kerr's honor. Sen. Kerr was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame and was affectionately referred to as “the uncrowned king of the Senate” by his legislative peers. Many attribute Sen. Kerr’s death to the end of the Democratic party’s dominance in Oklahoma politics. 

 

With his death, the Kerr Mansion was left without its visionary pioneer and was ultimately used in various ways and took several different forms up until today. The Kerr Mansion was left to the Kerr Foundation who desired to continue Sen. Kerr’s legacy by using the property to continue for the things Sen. Kerr cared about– Oklahoma heritage, agricultural and ranching education, preservation of natural resources and building a better future for humans. 

 

In 1968, the Kerr family Kerr Mansion was to become a museum to honor Sen. Kerr’s memory and fulfill the dreams he had for Eastern Oklahoma. The Eastern Oklahoma Historical Society and the Agricultural Division of the Kerr Foundation curated the museum, collecting artifacts on the regions history and history of Robert S. Kerr. Together with a replica room which mimicked Sen. Kerr’s Washington Office in minute detail. The mansion also had offices for the Kerr Foundations agricultural division whose mission was to help eastern Oklahoma farmers improve crops, cattle, grass and soil. For nearly 10 years, the mansion was a tourist destination drawing people in from far in wide to see the astonishing mansion, take in its views and learn about Eastern Oklahoma history. 

 

In 1979, the Kerr Foundation gifted the showplace mansion to the Regents for Higher Education of Oklahoma for use by its colleges and universities. The mansion was to be used as a seminar and retreat center. At the time of the gift, the house was appraised at $1.25 million dollars (approximately $5.5 million in 2024 inflation adjusted dollars). 

 

In 1981, the Regents of Higher education completed a remodeling project including a renovation of the home as well as the addition of a new structure attached to the garage designed to house the museum. The home was under the operation of Car Albert State College. After the 1981 remodel the mansion could house 20 persons in its 10 spacious bedrooms and had ample dining, conference and seminar rooms to host State conferences. After the renovation and addition, the total square feet of the estate was 25,000 square feet. After a 1984 visit, the Tulsa World claimed the mansion was “large enough to be mistaken for a hotel, important enough to be mistaken for a museum and luxurious enough to masquerade as a country club. But, instead of golfers, black Angus cattle dot the green slopes behind the bluff . . .” 

 

Though management by the State continued the use slowly morphed into both public and private events and was managed by Charlotte Kerr as a retreat, hotel, and conference center. The mansion was rented out by governors and congressman for political functions, educators for seminars, artists for conferences, many wedding ceremonies and receptions, social events, foliage tours, business retreats, Elderhostels, Hall of Fame Banquets, Miss America receptions, National agricultural meetings, tourist trips, political speech receptions, highschool prom, cotillion photographs, family retreats, the 100 year birthday party of Sen. Kerr, and everything in between during these years. The amenities of the facilities at that time included 20 rooms and more than 40 beds, three meeting rooms, a large 100 person dining area, swimming pool and sauna. On April 8, 1994, it was even visited by President Bush where he gave a speech and spent the night in the 4th room on the right of the children's wing. The facilities were available for swimming, fishing, volleyball, horseshoes, jogging, sauna, ping pong and horseback riding. There were also nature walking trails which winded down the bluff. 

 

In 1998 the mansion was in need of another renovation and through public and private funding a $635,000 renovation budget was established to expand and renovate the center. The renovation was designed to expand the museum, remodel the kitchen, repair the mansion roof, build a swimming pool and cabana, and add a parking area for buses. 

 

In 2013, the mansion and conference center shut its doors to the public in need of further restoration. A non-profit organization was formed called Friends of the Kerr Mansion, Inc. to devise a plan to save the mansion and restore its legacy. The group began holding educational and fundraising events to raise money for the home’s restoration. The decision was ultimately made to put the mansion out for auction as the State was unable to complete the restoration needed. However, because of their love for their grandparents and the legacy Sen. Kerr built in Eastern Oklahoma, the family made the decision to keep the home and restore it back to the home it once was. 

 

More than 6 decades ago Sen. Kerr was enchanted by the beauty of this land. It was that beauty that drove him to dream up this majestic place. The result was something truly astonishing. The dream was not only of the place–which was something too special for words–but to create a space which fosters energy, excitement and breathes life into the people who inhabit it. The audacious dream of Sen. Kerr still lives on today. Although the dream still lives, the Kerr Mansion is in search of new owners with the same vision and audacity of Sen. Kerr to finish the work he started. A person who can take the baton from the family and as grandpa always said “Dream No Little Dream.” 

 

Sen. Kerr left this world with a challenge to his fellow Americans to take care of the earth and shape it in such a way that glorifies its creator: 

 

“It is in our power, under the watchful eyes of God, to determine the physical form of the world in which we live. We can make it a paradise… or by neglect, permit it to become a desert. The choice is ours.” 

 

• Robert S. Kerr

 

We too leave you with a challenge. Just come. Come see the place. Soak in the grandeur of the place and let it take you back in time to imagine what it once was. Though not in its heyday and in need of a new revival, the essence of Sen. Kerr’s dream can still be felt and we promise it will not disappoint. 

 

***Disclaimer: The information for this write up was gathered from old news articles which at times held conflicting information and figures. While we believe this is the best possible representation of the home available we can not guarantee absolute historical accuracy.***