The Arkalon Town Company charter was signed by company president M.A. Low 10 May 1888. The town’s name came from the given name of the father of local resident Mr Tenney whose petition for a post office was granted 7 May 1888. When the railroad crossed the Cimarron River at this point, Arkalon became a thriving town of about 3,000 residents, a bank, a large general store, three drug stores, a blacksmith shop, school house (erected 1908), water tower, railroad depot, sugar company and an alfalfa company.
Arkalon Depot 
Arkalon School (courtesy Kansas State Historical Soc.) When the county seat was moved to Liberal, Kansas in 1892, many Arkalon residents moved there also. It was purported that Liberal offered town lots to residents of Fargo Springs and Arkalon in exchange for their support in helping Liberal become the county seat. The Kansas legislature vacated the town site in 1895 but the post office continued until 15 November 1929.
Arkalon Depot after 1920 (courtesy Lidia Gray)
Due to the large stockyards constructed at Arkalon, it remained an import shipping point for many years. The 1914 Cimarron River flood (one of several) washed out the railroad bridges and the decision by the railroad to move the crossing downstream was Arkalon’s death blow. The depopulation of the town was complete by about 1920.
Today Arkalon Park is open to the public from April 1 - October 15 of each year. For park information including contacts and camping fees, go to Arkalon Park Information.