Missouri Towns Under the Lakes

Missouri has some of the most amazing lakes in all the United States. Table Rock Lake and Lake Taneycomo in the southwestern corner, Truman Lake in the west central part of the state, Mark Twain Lake in northeast Missouri, and of course, Lake of the Ozarks in central Missouri, just to name a few. Tens of thousands of people enjoy these lakes every year and probably wonder what lies beneath the surface. Missouri legend details catfish the size of small whales, along with sunken boats and treasures. But the eerie truth of our manmade waterways is that there are dozens of Missouri towns under the lakes, some of which are still standing to this day.

Village of Oasis:

Table Rock Lake began filling upon the completion of the dam in 1958. In the low-lying valleys along the White River were several towns and settlements. One of the most well-known cities to be swamped was the village of Oasis. This small hamlet was situated below the bluffs south of where Big Cedar Lodge stands and north of the present-day Long Creek Bridge. Between two islands, one known as Goat Hill, there is still quite a bit of evidence of the town still standing more than 100 feet below the surface. Main Street still runs between an old mill, a post office building, and part of the old church still intact. An underwater bridge still stands a few feet way. A half-century in the frigid and dark waters have destroyed much of the wood, but the foundations preserved the wooden structure.

See Also: The Top 10 Biggest Lakes In Missouri

Cedar Valley School:

Also deep under Table Rock Lake is the old Cedar Valley School. It had to be moved a few miles away as the water began filling the winding valley.

There is also a settlement known as Ragtown was swamped when the lake filled. Ragtown was a boomtown near Kimberling City where people came looking for work on the bridge across the White River. And another spooky story, is the “Lost Bridge” still standing more than 100 feet below the current bridge over Table Rock Lake.

Stoutsville:

In northeast Missouri, the once flood-prone Salt River was targeted for hydroelectric power by the United States Congress. The Clarence Cannon Dam, named after Congressman Clarence Cannon, was dedicated in 1984 and slowly began to fill. Once again, small towns in the valleys became just a memory as the waters filled up what became Mark Twain Lake. One of those forgotten towns is Stoutsville in Monroe County.

Victor was another small village with a country store that once stood where water now covers the ground. And the most famous town to be partly flooded, Florida, was the birthplace of Mark Twain. Unlike other flooded towns in Missouri, the structures in these small towns were dismantled and sometimes moved to higher ground.

Towns under the Lake of the Ozarks:

The Lake of the Ozarks has the most towns and settlements that disappeared when the lake filled. In the late 1800’s, the banks of the Osage River were a busy trading area. Dotting the river landscape were the towns of Arnold’s Mill, old Linn Creek, Nonsuch, Passover, and Zebra.

A new Linn Creek was rebuilt once the lake was full and once again became a functioning town alongside the water. These towns were commemorated inside the Willmore Lodge near Bagnell Dam. The lodge was built to host events and administrative events during the building of the dam. Once the project was completed, five bedrooms were named for the five cities that were swamped.