Missouri Getaway - Day Three

We left Hermann, MO and drove backroads down to the Lake of the Ozarks and specifically to Camdenton, Missouri.  I had seen pictures of a castle ruins that are now in a state park.  The park is called Ha Ha Tonka State Park which means "laughing waters".  There are a lot of interesting and beautiful natural features in the park and many trails to hike.  There is a short half mile up-hill trail to the castle from the parking lot. The Castle was built in the early 1900's by a wealthy Kansas City businessman.  Unfortunately, he was killed the year after construction began in one of the first automobile accidents in Missouri.  His sons finished building it in 1922, however it wasn't as elaborate.  Eventually the property was leased for a hotel and in 1942 sparks from a chimney ignited the roof.  The fire gutted the castle and the carriage house.  In 1976 vandals burned the water tower.  The ruins are massive and give an idea of how lavish the house was originally.  It has a stunning view from the top of a bluff over the Lake of the Ozarks.  

remnants of the carriage house

The castle ruins

overlooking the lake from the bluff

      

A natural spring that pumps 48 million gallons of water daily into the lake.

The water tower was stabilized and a roof added back on after the vandalism in the 70's. The caretaker of the property lived in it with his family before the castle was burned. 

There are many wildflowers blooming in the park.

The park boasts one of Missouri's best oak woodlands with almost 3,000 acres preserved.

Next time we will go more prepared to hike.  

For more information on this beautiful state park go to 

https://mostateparks.com/park/ha-ha-tonka-state-park

Missouri Getaway, Day Two

On our first full day we planned on hiking on the Katy Trail State Park.  It is the longest developed rail-trail in the country.  It was built on the former Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad line and is 240 miles long.  It runs between Clinton and Machens with 26 trailheads along the way.  Part of it has been designated as an official segment of the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail.  The trail runs closely along the Missouri River and there are many ranches and farms along the way.  We only went five miles (round trip).  But, are hoping to take bikes next time and go farther.  

The main reason I wanted to get on the trail was because of an important story in my family.  My Papaw, Marquis Frank Turner, was born in McBaine, MO and my family was from the area.  When he was a young adult, his father, Jesse Porter Turner, was killed in an accident on the MKT line when he jumped off a moving handcar to retrieve his sister's hat.  She never wore that hat again.  It was 1918 and he was 49 years old. It was a Sunday afternoon and they were visiting family, traveling from McBaine to Providence which is about an 8 mile trip.  I didn't get to that location this time, but I will in the future. 

The trail is fairly flat which makes it a great trail for bicycling.  We saw mostly cyclers and a couple of dog walkers.    

There are many trestle bridges from the train days.  There is one original tunnel in the Rocheport area, which I really want to photograph.  The trail where we were was surrounded by corn and soybean fields.  There are sections that go right along the Missouri River and the bluffs which are beautiful.  

This was a former mercantile that was built when the railroad went in. 

Notice the large, carved ear of corn on the right.  

Check out more information on the KATY Trail State Park at 

https://mostateparks.com/park/katy-trail-state-park