Central Missouri’s Lake of the Ozarks’ state parks are like two family-friendly vacation destinations within an exciting, not-to-be-missed family vacation destination! Families love exploring the castle ruins at Ha Ha Tonka State Park in Camdenton and the unique cave at Lake of the Ozarks State Park in Osage Beach. And both parks keep vacationers coming back with outstanding hiking trails, marinas, picnic areas, interpretive centers, planned activities and awesome natural beauty.Ha Ha Tonka State Park
For remarkable geologic features and amazing man-made wonders, Ha Ha Tonka State Park is the place to go. This 3,000-acre park is well known as Missouri’s premiere showcase for karst geology, notable for natural tunnels, springs, sinkholes like the 500-feet-long by 300-feet-wide Colosseum, plus eight caves, including some that were used as bandits’ hide-outs and Native Americans’ sacred places. In fact, out of Missouri’s 6,000-plus caves, Ha Ha Tonka’s River Cave is ranked fifth in biodiversity, according to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. The federally protected Indiana bat and Grey bat call it home. “Now we know River Cave is conservationally significant, and that makes us be aware of what an important natural resource we have at Ha Ha Tonka,” says Park Superintendent Nancy Masterson.
Other natural wonders there include bluffs that soar more than 250 feet high above the gorge through which Ha Ha Tonka Spring discharges 50 million gallons of water a day from the mouth of an ancient yet living cave into the Niangua Arm of the Lake. In addition, Ha Ha Tonka offers one of the state’s best examples of a savanna, an area where prairie grasses and wildflowers flourish in open forests of open hickory. “The savanna gives us a glimpse of the original, pre-settlement Missouri landscape,” notes Masterson. The park also features many large glades with plants and animals more typically associated with Southwestern deserts.
Twelve hiking trails, from one-half to seven miles, offer 16 miles of opportunities to explore the park. The newest trail is the half-mile, interpretive Dolomite Trail that winds along a stream. “Of all the state parks, Ha Ha Tonka probably has the most varied trails of all lengths and hiking levels, from short trails that let you take a small bite to some that are quite rugged and challenging,” Masterson says.
Adventurous souls appreciate the challenging 360-plus wooden steps that lead from the spring to Ha Ha Tonka’s major claim to fame—the castle ruins (there also are other, easier ways to reach the castle). The brooding remains of a stone mansion set on a scenic bluff attract more than 500,000 visitors to Ha Ha Tonka annually. The early 20th-century stone castle was built by Robert Mcclure Snyder, a prominent Kansas City businessman. He visited the Ha Ha Tonka area and was so impressed with its rugged grandeur, he began purchasing much of the surrounding land and eventually acquired more than 5,000 acres.
Snyder imported stonemasons from Scotland and a supervisor from Europe to make sure his private retreat would rival the castles of Europe. Construction began on the three-and-a-half-story mansion, designed by Kansas City architect Adrian Van Brunt, in 1905. It featured a central hallway that rose the entire height of the building. A stone stable, 80-foot-tall water tower and nine greenhouses also were built on the estate. Stone and timber were hauled by mule team from the immediate vicinity.
Tragically, Snyder’s dream remained elusive. In 1906, he died in an automobile accident in Kansas City (he owned one of the city’s first cars). The interior of the castle remained unfinished until 1922, when Snyder’s sons completed the upper floors. However, the Snyders struggled to maintain the mansion and keep the property in the family. Finally, they leased it to a hotel operator.
In1942, sparks from one of the castle’s fireplaces ignited the roof. Within hours the building was destroyed. Only the stark ruins remained, mysterious and brooding atop the cliff. The state of Missouri acquired the unique property and added it to the state park system in 1978.
“So many people hear about the old castle and when they get here they realize there is so much here that is geologically significant,” Masterson says. Visitors, who can arrive by boat or car, may experience Ha Ha Tonka State Park on their own or participate in planned activities, such as the Something On Saturday program starting June 6, which spotlights various aspects of the park, from caves to bats, streams to trails and more. The Junior Explorer program offers a three-day camp for children. The Lake of the Ozarks Community Orchestra will perform on the castle lawn on June 9.
The park also has several picnic areas, fishing and boat docks. Now through October, the park grounds and visitor center will be open daily from 7 a.m. to sunset; park office, daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Lake of the Ozarks State Park
Every year, more than one million people visit Lake of the Ozarks State Park. It’s no wonder, since this 17,441-acre playground, dedicated as a state park in 1946, offers a vast array of outdoor recreation opportunities and many ways to explore nature—from its 80 miles of shoreline to diverse natural areas. “Everyone who uses the park comes for a different reason,” says Floyd Lee, the park’s natural resource manager. “For example, mountain bikers come to ride the north loop of the nine-mile Honey Run Trail and not see another individual. A crappie fishermen comes to launch his boat at one of the many public launches and catch his limit in a quiet cove. Campers enjoy leaving behind TVs, cell phones and other daily trappings of life.”
One of the main attractions at the park is Ozark Caverns, a short, spacious cave on the park’s south side where it’s always 56 degrees. It has two features that are unique to mid-Missouri. First, it’s one of the few caves that offer a hand-held lantern tour. “You get a better speleology experience this way,” Lee says. Second, Ozark Caverns has a deep showerhead bathtub deposit known as “Angels’ Showers,” an endless flow of water—up to 7,000 gallons a day—that seems to fall from the solid rock ceiling into to massie bowl-shaped stone basins on the cave floor. The water flow also creates flat-bottomed stalactites. Ozark Cavern’s showerhead formation is one of only 14 known in the world.
The basic 45-minute tour takes visitors past mysterious claw marks left in sediment fills by animals that found shelter here many thousands of years ago. A children’s tour also is available, as well as a long, highly technical tour. The cave is open mid-April through mid-October, then closes while the Eastern Pipstrelle bat takes its six-month hibernation. The Ozark Caverns Visitor Center offers interpretive exhibits and information about caves and caving.
The park offers 12 trails from one-half to 16 miles long--more than 47 miles total—leading through dense forests, across open glades and along towering bluffs overlooking the Lake. Trails also take hikers to the diverse and scenic Coakley Hollow Fen Natural Area; the 1,200-acre, undeveloped Patterson Hollow Wild Area; and Bluestem Knoll, an ecological stewardship management area with an open woodland and prairie ground cover. Visitors also enjoy the park’s two equestrian trails, mountain bike trail and the unique, self-guided Aquatic Trail, designed for boaters who want to learn more about shoreline features.
Lake of the Ozarks State Park is listed on the National Register of Historic Places because of the numerous log buildings, rustic bridges and stone dams built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s. The park also offers two public swimming beaches with bathhouses, shady picnic areas and playgrounds. Three paved boat ramps, open year-round, are available to the public for nominal launch fees. Families enjoy the trail rides offered through the park stables.
From mid-May to mid-October, park staff will offer interpretive evening programs, Kid’s Hour for children, nature walks, cave tours and other programs in the main campground and at the Ozark Caverns Visitor Center.
Don’t miss the chance to explore, enjoy and learn at the Lake of the Ozarks’ two great state parks. For more information, as well as details about Lake-area lodging, dining, shopping, attractions and activities, please contact the Lake of the Ozarks Convention & Visitor Bureau at (800) FUN LAKE or visit www.funlake.com.
