There are dozens of historic resorts and hotels across Missouri that are a part of our legacy. Some of them still exist today.
For many of us that grew up in Missouri, family vacations meant a trip to Lake of the Ozarks and Branson. Sometimes we would venture to Kansas City for the theme parks and St. Louis for the Zoo and the Arch. But before these attractions existed, Missourians still got in the cars… or in trains… to visit beautiful spots across the Show Me State.
So I started digging into the history books to see where our grandparents got away from it all. And these are some of the most popular ones I found. And I included some of our historic theme parks as well.
Summers were hot in the urban heat island of St. Louis. So families would head west to Castlewood where could enjoy Lincoln Beach. From around 1915 to the 1940s, this was the place to “see” and “be seen”. It was primarily accessible by the Missouri Pacific Railroad. Residents packed the train cars on the weekends and flocked to “the country.” There were dance halls, cabins, hotels, and plenty of watering holes. The “beach” has long since washed away and there is very little left of the resort in what is now Castlewood State Park.
Since opening in 1888, The Elms Hotel has a rich history. After the initial two buildings were destroyed by fire, they were rebuilt in 1912 as the impressive hotel that remains today. This resort possesses a rich history that has been extensively documented, including being featured in multiple published works. This is where wealthy health-seekers went to get well with the healing waters in the area. They found themselves surrounded by celebrities, athletes, shadowy mobsters, and U.S. Presidents. In fact, this is where Harry S Truman stayed the night before the famous “Dewey Defeats Truman” headline was published. Although the resort eventually fell into disrepair, it has since reopened as an excellent destination.
Pertle Springs is a 280-acre recreation area in Warrensburg. The resort opened in 1886 and became a popular vacation destination known for public events like Chautauqua assemblies, conventions, and Fourth of July celebrations. The springs were obviously the main attraction in the area when “health resorts” were popping up across the state. The park remains open and is a popular spot for activities such as golfing, hiking, and fishing outdoors.
Stony Dell was a popular resort along Route 66 in Arlington near the Gasconade River. It was a hot spot for travelers from 1930 until the 1950s. Stony Dell had a spring-fed swimming pool, a restaurant, cabins, and a zoo. The resort’s popularity declined with the construction of Interstate 44. The resort is now largely abandoned, although the ruins of some of the cabins remain.
The hills and rivers around Steelville are just as beautiful today as they were in the early 1900s. And so is Wildwood Springs Lodge. This exclusive resort was the place where the rich and famous would meet in the country. The resort lost popularity when new tourist spots emerged in Missouri, but it has since been restored to its former glory.
On a personal note, my daughter and I decided to explore the resort one weekend. We found ourselves in the middle of a family reunion. That family basically adopted us for a day, and we spent the afternoon listening to music and enjoying the beautiful countryside… just like we would have in the early 1900s.
The known history of this area dates to 1799. But that is simply the date that Jean Pierre Chouteau was told about the “healing waters” by the Osage Indians. In 1855, newspapers across the nation were promoting the supposed health benefits of the water from Choteau Springs near Boonville. People believed the water could help with health problems and even live longer. The crowds grew when the KATY Railroad dropped off tourists several times a day. Several hotels popped up in town and it remained a resort until around 1960.
Long before millions of tourists came to Branson and Table Rock Lake, Rockaway Beach on Lake Taneycomo was the tourist mecca in southwest Missouri. It was booming resort town when it was founded in 1910 shortly after the White River was dammed. Dozens of resorts popped up along the shores of the Lake as it became the first big “lake getaway” in the area. But when the river was dammed again a little further upstream to make Table Rock Lake, the water in Taneycomo became extremely cold. That, along with the juggernaut that became Branson, took most of the tourists. The area tried a comeback a few years ago with a casino proposal that eventually failed to move forward.
The Chase Hotel was THE place to be when it opened in 1922. The location west of downtown St. Louis near the mansions that line Forest Park was perfect. This was where families spent long weekends next to celebrities and professional athletes. Filming the legendary Wrestling at the Chase at this location further boosted its popularity. The Chase merged with the adjacent Park Plaza Hotel in 1961 to become the Chase Park Place. From there, it had its boom years, followed by bust. After undergoing renovations and gaining new luxury apartments and townhomes in the 2000s, the area saw a notable revival. Even today, it is still the place where local VIPs meet (sometimes with reporters) to chart the future of the region. It is now The Royal Sonesta Chase Park Plaza.
The Meramec Highlands was another vacation destination just outside of St. Louis along the Meramec River. The resort opened in 1894 and was a hot spot for wealthy families to get away from the stresses and worries of city life. It had 125 stately rooms and electricity. The Highlands also had a dance hall, tennis and croquet courts, stables, a bowling alley, billiards, chess rooms, wine cellar, and restaurants. The best way to get there was via train, so it made it hard for anybody but the wealthy to get there. It closed in 1912 after the streetcars started reaching the property, allowing “commoners” to visit. The site was destroyed by fire in 1926; however, certain remnants can still be found within Dee Koestering Park, located west of I-270 near Big Bend Boulevard.
I wrote an extensive story about Gascondy previously, which you can read here.
Gascondy was the vision of a man from St. Louis who had seen the success of other resorts along the rivers – and the rail lines. He bought several acres of land on a bluff overlooking the Gasconade River and made it an exclusive getaway. The resort enjoyed several successful years, but its prosperity declined when alternative vacation destinations emerged and train services ceased.
Sweet Springs became a resort area in the mid-1800s when it was called Brownsville. But the town changed its name to Sweet Springs in 1887 to attract more visitors to the natural mineral springs. People flocked to the area believing that the waters had healing properties. The water did have high levels of sodium and magnesium, so some people might have felt relief from certain ailments. In fact, the water was even shipped across the Midwest. The area boomed as rail lines brought more people – including some Missouri governors and dignitaries. The remote area was good for a while, but the difficulty in getting there, couple with the development of other “health” resorts in the state, caused tourism to dwindle by 1900.
“White House West.”
The Muehlebach Hotel in Kansas City opened in 1915 and was one of the most luxurious hotels in the state of Missouri. It hosted numerous U.S. presidents and was even the unofficial office for Harry S Truman. Even the Beatles and Elvis Presley stayed at the hotel. The original structure was demolished and its history has now been integrated into the present Marriott hotel.
The Hotel Frederick came to life in 1905 by the Missouri River in Boonville. The fancy hotel in the small town was an amazing example of Romanesque Revival style architecture and has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It was a great spot for a vacation in central Missouri just blocks away from Thespian Hall. The hotel was also a notable destination for prominent figures from Missouri, as well as various individuals associated with organized crime throughout its history. The Frederick experienced a decline in popularity during the late 1900s and subsequently changed ownership on multiple occasions. But today, the hotel back to its former glory with an amazing restaurant to boot. And don’t forget about the hidden bar “The Brick” on the lower level.
The Rose Cliff Hotel was an amazing resort along the Current River not far from Van Buren. The remote location along one of the most amazing riverways in the country was a big draw for people from around the state. It opened around 1929 and became one of the hottest vacation areas in the Ozarks. Several governors and state leaders all stayed here as they fought the construction of a dam on the Current River. Those efforts led to the formation of the Ozark National Scenic Riverways. The resort closed in the 1960s, but a new Rose Cliff Lodge was built at the area now known as The Landing.
I wrote a longer story about Eden. You can see that here.
The Eden Resort in Hazelgreen was a popular resort along Route 66 on the Gasconade River. It opened in the 1920s and was vacation spot for people who wanted to get away from it all… except the fish. It was called “paradise” because of the beautiful scenery of the area between Waynesville and Lebanon. Much like other resorts along The Mother Road, it faded into history when interstate highways were built.
Winwood Beach was known as “The Atlantic City of the West” for its large boardwalk and lively entertainment. It was built by Frank Winn north of Kansas City and opened around 1913. This resort had a spring-fed lake, an 800-foot beach, a dance pavilion, water slides, and a roller-skating rink. Families from all over the Kansas City region flocked to this park on weekends, seeking a convenient spot for a short getaway. A number of factors contributed to its decline, one of which was the collapse of the boardwalk in 1935.
Fairyland Park was an amusement park in Kansas City that opened in 1923. It was a popular summer destination but also had a history of racial discrimination toward guests. It had rides, a dance hall, games, and even a swimming pool. The park lasted for several decades but closed in 1977 after dwindling attendance and damage from a severe storm.
This resort village dates to 1881 thanks to “healing waters.” The small village called Aurora Springs still exists, but it used to be the biggest town in Miller County. The Miller County Historical Society notes that it was once known as “The Great Sanitarium of the West” and earned a reputation as a renowned Health and Pleasure Resort of Missouri. Its popularity faded when the train bypassed the town and went through Eldon instead.
Forest Park Highlands was an amusement park in St. Louis that began operations in 1896. The theme park was at the perfect location – right across the road from Forest Park. It started as a beer garden and evolved into a theme park. It eventually had several rides, a theater, and even a swimming pool. The Highlands saw declining attendance and was finally shut down after a large fire in 1963.
The Chain of Rocks Amusement Park was a popular St. Louis destination from 1927 to 1977. It was located at the Missouri side of the Chain of Rocks Bridge over the Mississippi River. This was another major tourist spot for families along Route 66. The park went by the wayside when Route 66 was replaced and a new theme park called Six Flags drew tourists to Eureka in 1971. A major fire also led to its closure in 1977.
Times Beach was founded in 1925 as an riverside resort along the Meramec River just west of St. Louis. In fact, it was basically designed as a contest to get people to order the St. Louis Times newspaper. It transitioned from a resort along Route 66 to a small community of small homes. But one of the biggest environmental disasters in history made the name “Times Beach” notorious. The roads were sprayed in the early 1970s with a toxic called Dioxin. Severe flooding in 1982 spread the contamination and made the entire town unsafe. The federal government came to a settlement and bought out residents. The town was evacuated and disincorporated in 1985. Today, the land is the Route 66 State Park.
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