Interviews

Marty & Elise Roenigk ~ Owners - 1905 Basin Park Hotel & 1886 Crescent Hotel and Mechantiques.

Marty Roenigk ~ Chairman and CEO - CompuDyne

How did you discover Eureka Springs?

We were looking for a location in the "Midwest" to semi-retire to. We have collected and dealt in antique mechanical musical instruments for 30 years, and had never visited Floyd Miles at Miles Music Museum (which has since been closed and auctioned off) so when we were planning a trip to Fayetteville (university town, highly rated for retirement and small town living) we took a side trip to Eureka Springs. Also, my sister lives in Oklahoma, had visited Eureka Springs a number of times, and was strongly urging us to visit there and to meet her there. Once we saw the town we were strongly attracted by the architecture, preservation, mountains, people, shops, etc.

What brought you here and what convinced you to relocate?

The unique history, the unique preservation of the town's commercial and residential architecture, the attraction it has to free spirited and independent people that make the human community so interesting, the shops and restaurants, and an opportunity to do something interesting and worthwhile and challenging and fun here - buy and preserve and restore two historic hotels.

Can you give us a little background on your company? What do you do and what accomplishments are you most proud of?

I took control of CompuDyne in 1995 my merging a small company I had into the public CompuDyne (symbol CDCY). It was virtually bankrupt until we came in with management, money and assets. At that time it was doing $10 million revenue.

We have spent seven years doing two large and several small acquisitions, focusing solely on physical and electronic security products and services, and raising the technology level of the products and services.

In 2002 we will probably have $180 million of revenues and 2003 is looking to be significantly better. We are the large factors in security for prisons, jails, courthouses, U.S. embassies, and in software for first responders - police, fire and ambulance.

I am the Chairman, CEO and largest shareholder. The company now has about 1000 people. I take satisfaction in getting it to this level, and knowing that we have positioned ourselves for good growth and profits in the future

As a business person what are the benefits you find being located in Eureka Springs? Are there any drawbacks?

With the regional airport the only major drawback is that because our business is mostly in the East and West I usually have to make a connection, but that isn't so bad. The other drawback, the lack of high speed Internet access, we have just taken care of at the hotels and we have that now and I will be using it.

With modern telecommunications it is getting easier to work anywhere, although it helps to be the boss and largest shareholder when structuring unusual living/working arrangements. The other drawback is a tendency to look out the window and want to go for a walk instead of working.

If you were coming here on vacation what would your list of "must see or do" agenda include?

Of course the shops, especially the artist based shops, the Botanical Gardens, the Railroad, and our Historic Hotels. The restaurants, many of them, are really good. Lake Leatherwood and Black Bass Lake. Especially just walking and looking at the architecture, the Victorian homes and commercial buildings, and the wonderful infrastructure (stone walls), and how the buildings are constructed on the mountainside. St. Elizabeth's church and the other churches in town.

The historical museum certainly, to get a perspective, because the history of this town is so fascinating and understanding it adds so much to the experience of visiting Eureka Springs. Basin Park of course, and others of the many springs in town such as Mystic Spring, Crescent Spring, Sweet Spring, and one of my favorites Grotto Spring down by Harmon Park.

Importantly - go a little further out. Take one of our outfitter tours to the Buffalo River and Lost Valley area. Fabulous wilderness areas, so entrancing that we are in the process buying 1600 acres in that area for the wild creeks, waterfalls, caves, mountain/valley vies, and wilderness. Gorgeous land is very cheap in the Ozarks and you might find yourself coming to stay one day.

What would your ideal "night on the town" in Eureka Springs consist of?

Of course a dinner at the Crescent Hotel and an evening of entertainment at the Basin Park Hotel. I guess I'm not too objective. But what I like is a good dinner at one of the many interesting and unusual restaurants in town, then to find one of the venues where there is entertainment and going there for a few hours of good entertainment.

What do you think of the people that live here? How vital is the diversity of the residents to your idea "perfect community"?

The diversity of the residents of Eureka Springs was a critical factor in our decision to move here. The people are unusual, independent, creative, artistic, diverse, etc, etc!

It is a wonderfully diverse community that makes for wonderful friends and conversations and interrelationships (frustrating too many times, but that is the small price you pay for diversity and independence). It reminds us of our days at Antioch College.

What if any outdoor activities do you enjoy pursuing in the area?

See my earlier comments about buying property in the Boxley Valley, Buffalo River area. I like just wondering around and exploring the outdoors, stone formations and whitewater (to watch and listen to, not to kayak) are my two favorites, with wildlife, wildflowers and trees right behind.

Eureka Springs has quite a fascinating history. How important do you feel this is in today's fast paced world?

I don't know how important it is, but it sure is fascinating. We have build up a substantial library of history on Eureka Springs. It has more unusual history than any town I know of many times its size. To understand the history is to marvel at the surroundings and to feel "grounded" by all that has gone on before.