I love to travel in Missouri! Large bodies of water, lofty peaks in the Ozarks, river bluffs, small rivers and creeks, major rivers, swamps and rolling hills into the flat boot heel, forest, plains, and farmlands gives Missouri so much to see and do. I have often been asked to give recommendations for day trips or places to visit so I have compiled a short list of my favorite places. Over the next couple of weeks I will be sharing something about each of my favorite places.
#1. Maramec Spring Park near St. James.
My favorite place in Missouri is Maramec Spring Park. I believe this place is the most beautiful place in the state. The spring, along with local, easily mined iron ore, became the site of the first iron works west of the Mississippi. Iron products made here helped win the West in the shape of wagon wheels, iron cookware, horse shoes, nails, tools and many other iron goods. The James family preserved much of the structure of the iron works they owned. With the help of the Missouri Conservation department they created a trout hatchery and developed the park like setting that makes this a beautiful family friendly destination. The busiest weekend of the year is the opening weekend of trout season beginning March 1st.
The spring produces at least 96,000,000, yes 96 million, gallons of water a day. I was there some years back with my wife’s cousin Barb and her husband Steve. Steve, a hydrologist in the Pacific Northwest was blown away by this much water gushing forth day after day every day. Oregon may have its wonders but this was a new experience for him. I have enjoyed going on a hot summer day as the ice cold water produces an air conditioning effect around the spring. There is a small waterfall area where the water flows just above ankle deep, over a five or six foot drop off. As a teenager, I would take my shoes off and wade across the top of that waterfall, freezing my feet. It was a popular thing to do 40+ years ago.
- The park like setting includes the spring, trails, historical artifacts, picnic areas, a museum, a trout hatchery and much more. One could spend all day there and still not see everything. Pack a lunch, pack the car and take a pleasant trip back in history at Maramac Spring.
Price of admission for 2019 is:
Passenger car or Van up to and including 14 passengers $5.00
Passenger Vans 15 passengers or more $25.00
For more information about Maramac Spring Park go to http://www.maramecspringpark.com/park/: