Could Ha Ha Tonka State Park be the most beautiful place in Missouri? Conde Nast Travel thinks so! After you see our exciting things to do in Ha Ha Tonka State Park, you might agree. And after a trip to Camdenton, you can see for yourself.
This guide takes you from historic castle ruins on the bluff tops to the crystal blue springs at lake level. In between, you’ll find 3,700 acres of exquisite nature, including well-preserved woodlands and distinctive karst features.
See the Ha Ha Tonka Castle Ruins
At the top of the list and the top of the hill sits the Ha Ha Tonka Castle Ruins. Kansas City businessman, Robert McClure Snyder, started construction on the castle in 1905, only to die in a car crash in 1906. His sons, Robert Jr., LeRoy, and Kenneth, completed the project in the early 1920s, just in time for the stock market crash. It struggled as a hotel during the Great Depression, only to burn to the ground in 1942. Initially designed as a 16th-century European fairy tale, these buildings more closely resemble a turn of the century American gothic.
Today, visitors can see the crumbling walls of the castle, water tower, and stables. For a moment, you could imagine that you’re in Europe looking at an old ruin set high above the Rhine. Interpretive signs tell you about the construction, operation, and demise of this historic structure. Also not to be missed are the sweeping views of the Niagara Arm of the Lake of the Ozarks. Since the 250′ cliffs face west, this location is home to some of the best sunsets in the state.
Explore the Ha Ha Tonka Natural Bridge
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