Gascondy: The Resort Village That Disappeared

Once an exclusive getaway for wealthy Missourians, Gascondy Resort met the same fate as the iconic railroad.

I once did something illegal. In fact, many people who grew up in mid-Missouri could say the same thing. We would drive down an old country road near the Gasconade River planning to sneak on to a specific piece of property. Then we would walk on the railroad tracks to make a trek across the Gascondy Bridge.

The bridge was 1776-feet long, looming 100 feet above the Gasconade River. Our journeys were not for the faint of heart, though. As you walked on the railroad ties, you could see the ground way beneath you. It was a necessary trek, however – walking across this historic structure was a rite of passage for many of us that grew up nearby. Today, the bridge remains, but the story of what happened in that area has largely faded into the background of history.

Gascondy Bridge

The Rock Island line bridge over the Gasconade River was built in 1902 by the Turlock Bridge Company. The bridge was necessary to keep commerce flowing between Belle and Freeburg, but the long span made construction difficult – and expensive. The concrete, steel, and wooden bridge was finally erected across the span, making it the longest interior bridge in the state.

On the east side of the bridge was a long valley and a picturesque bluff where a quaint little village called Gascondy stood. But this wasn’t a normal railroad stop. It was actually an exclusive “club” where city dwellers could escape the pressures of city living – and it was easily accessible via Rock Island line.

Building the Gascondy Club

The resort was the brainchild of a man from St. Louis named Hugh Pattison. He had seen the success of other hunting and fishing clubs along the Frisco line to the south, so he figured this would be a perfect addition. Pattison purchased the land on a bluff overlooking the valley below in order to build his getaway. People wanting to get away from the smog and congestion to spend time in the fresh countryside air were instantly sold on the idea. Pattison even convinced other St. Louis business leaders, including Adolphus Busch, to invest in the vision so the resort could be built to the high expectations.

Pattison built a hotel that looked like something straight out of a magazine. It had a giant porch for guests to mingle, relax, and tell stories of how many fish they caught in the Gasconade River that day. Cottages were later added, along with a Stag House, a telegraph office, and a post office around 1907. The Gascondy Club was the perfect getaway for people living in the dirty cities of that era. They could board the train with their families in the morning and be at the resort in the afternoon. As Gascondy got more popular, there were even articles about the area in newspapers around the state. Those stories touted the great fishing and hunting in the area, which drove interest even higher.

The Resort

Once guests arrived at the resort, there were plenty of activities. Adults played lawn games while kids had acres of countryside to roam. The guests took a rather lengthy walk on a boardwalk to the valley to swim in the river beneath the railroad bridge. Boat excursions were also available where guests could explore the beautiful rolling hills around central Missouri. The resort even hosted hot air balloon events, which showed the level of wealth the area attracted.

Extinction of Gascondy

The resort eventually faded away as roads allowed people to more easily access the Ozarks and other areas to the west of the Gasconade River for vacations. Records show that the post office operated there until about 1942, but guests continued to come in spurts for several more years. The train continued to run until the 1980s, but that too eventually faded into history. Many of the buildings were still standing decades later until they either fell down or were knocked down. And now, the road that many of us took for our “excursions” has also been fenced off, so practically the only way to see the bridge is from the Gasconade River.

New Life for the Rock Island line?

In recent years, there has been a push to turn the old Rock Island line into a trail that would connect to the Katy Trail. There have been some developments along the line in some areas between Windsor and Beaufort, but more money is needed to make the path a reality. But the question of how to cross the bridge is perhaps the biggest hurdle. It’s been over 100 years since that span was erected and it still looks new in many places. But making it safe for hikers and bicyclists in this era will take a lot more time and money before it becomes a reality.

Additional Reading:

Historian Lynn Morrow wrote a lengthy history of Gascondy. You can read that here.

Article by Missouri Life Magazine below

https://missourilife.com/the-rock-island-on-a-roll/