Lake of the
Ozarks, Mo. - Recreational adventure
comes in all varieties at Ha Ha Tonka State Park
and Lake of the Ozarks State Park at Central
Missouri's Lake of the Ozarks. Hikers, cyclists,
sightseers, horseback riders, campers, anglers,
kids, boaters and nature lovers of all ages can
find a formula for fun among the borders of these
two treasures of the state park system.
Ha Ha Tonka State Park
Ha Ha Tonka State
Park, established in 1978, has 3,709 acres to
explore and is home to one of the most fascinating
sites and stories in Missouri: The ruins of a
European-style "castle," perched high atop a bluff
overlooking the Lake.
A paved walking trail leads
visitors from a nearby parking lot to the
bluff-top ruins (and some spectacular views of the
Lake). Robert M. Snyder, an affluent Kansas City
businessman, envisioned the unique edifice at the
turn of the 20th century. Snyder began
construction on the castle in 1905, but died in
one of Missouri's first automobile accidents
before it was completed. Snyder's children
finished construction on the castle and in later
years it was operated as a hotel. In 1942, the
interior of the property was destroyed by fire and
the castle was never restored. Today, only the
ruins remain.
Nature shares the
spotlight with the castle ruins at Ha Ha Tonka.
The park features eight caves, some of which were
used as hideouts by bandits and others were used
as Native American sacred places. Other natural
wonders at Ha Ha Tonka include a 500-foot by
300-foot sinkhole called the Colosseum, a natural
bridge 60 feet long and 70 feet wide, a glade and
a woodland area with over 400 species of animal
and plant life. Ha Ha Tonka is also home to
Missouri's 12th largest spring (named after the
park), which discharges approximately 58 million
gallons of water daily into the Niangua arm of the
Lake.
Each of Ha Ha Tonka's 14
diverse hiking trails gives visitors easy,
up-close access to the park's natural beauty.
These trails appeal to hikers and backpackers of
all ability levels, with walks that can range from
as short as 10 minutes to as long as six hours.
For a full list of trails at the park, visit
MoStateParks.com/Trails/Ha-Ha-Tonka-State-Park.
The park offers
interpretive programs on a wide range of topics
year around. Special group tours of the castle and
interpretive demonstrations of the area's karst
geology can be arranged in advance with the park
naturalist any time of year. For more information
about these programs or to arrange a group tour,
call the park office at
573-346-2986.
Ha Ha Tonka doesn't
accommodate overnight stays, but there are several
bed and breakfasts, hotels, motels, campgrounds,
RV Parks and resorts nearby. For more about these
Lake-area lodging properties, please contact the
Lake of the Ozarks Convention & Visitor Bureau
at 800-FUN-LAKE (386-5253) or
visit FunLake.com.
Lake of the Ozarks State
Park
The Lake of the
Ozarks State Park, on the Grand Glaize arm of the
Lake, is the largest state park in Missouri with
17,441 total acres and over 85 miles of shoreline.
The park was originally established by the
National Park Service as a Recreational
Demonstration Area in the 1930s but was turned
over to the Missouri park system in 1946. With an
assortment of opportunities for both recreation
and natural exploration, it's no surprise that
Lake of the Ozarks State Park is not only
Missouri's largest but also one of its most
visited, with over one million guests
annually.
Visitors wanting to discover
the variety can choose from one of the park's 13
trails. These trails range from under a mile to
over 13 miles long and there are trails for
walkers, joggers, hikers, cyclists, horseback
riders, boaters and backpackers. Hikers and
mountain bikers can explore the park's
specifically designed walking and biking trails,
including the 30-minute White Oak Trail and
the12.75-mile Honey Run Trail. Equestrians can
rent a horse from the park's stable or bring their
own mount to ride on one of three horse trails,
including the multi-purpose, 13.5-mile Trail of
the Four Winds. The park even has a 10-mile
Aquatic Trail for boaters wishing to take in the
natural sights. For more information about these
trails, visit MoStateParks.com/Trails/Lake-Ozarks-State-Park.
Recreation can be
found on land or by lake, in two playgrounds and
two sandy-beach swimming areas. Fishing and
watersports are also popular activities at Lake of
the Ozarks State Park with two marinas and three
paved boat launches available to the
public.
One of the park's attractions
is Ozark Caverns, a short-but-roomy cave that
offers a hand-held lantern tour - one of the few
caves in the state that offers such an excursion.
And, its showerhead bathtub formation called Angel
Showers makes it one of only 14 known caves in the
world to feature this unusual type of cave
feature. Tours are $6 for children ages 6-12, $7
for youths ages 13-20 and $8 for adults. Children
5 and under are admitted free with an adult's paid
admission. For more information about the cave or
the various available tours, call the park at
573-346-2500.
The park staff also
offers interpretive evening programs, nature
walks, cave tours and other programs at the main
campground and at the Ozark Caverns Visitor
Center. To find out more about these programs or
to arrange for a special group program, call a
park naturalist at
573-346-2500.
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