Missouri's buried treasure: Meramec Caverns part 1

July 17, 10:10 PMOzarks Travel ExaminerPatsy Bell Hobson

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Meramec Caverns is a constant year round 58 degrees.

Meramec a cool road trip for summer - part 1

The Mother Road spawned trading posts, alligator farms, full-service gas stations, grills with fried chicken, “blue plate specials” and home-made pie, “mom and pop” motor courts, American Indian pow-wows and every other type of tourist traps known to man. Meramec Caverns became one of the biggest and most successful of those tourist traps thanks to Lester Dill’s innovative advertising methods.

One of Missouri’s favorite tourist attractions along Route 66 is underground. Missouri, the cave state, has dozens of caves open for tour. The most famous is Meramec Caverns, near the town of Stanton, 55 miles west of St. Louis.

Travelers who enjoy water activities will love this stop. There’s swimming, fishing, rafting and canoeing in one of Missouri’s crown jewels, the Meramec River. This is a good overnight stop with campsites, rental cabins and motel rooms. Nearby Stanton has even more Route 66 attractions.

Before air conditioning, locals held dances and early Route 66 travelers were attracted to the caves as a respite from the summer heat. The cave remains a constant 58 degrees. (You might want to bring a sweater on the tour.)

The secret to avoiding summer crowds at this popular site is coming during the week. Guided tours of Fisher Cave, one of more than 40 caves in the park, are provided on a seasonal basis. Water enthusiasts will enjoy swimming, fishing, rafting and canoeing in the  Meramec River.

One of the most popular exhibits at the state park’s visitor center is a huge aquarium that holds some of the rivers variety of aquatic life. Today activities haven’t changed much, include: camping, canoeing, cave tours, fishing, lodging, picnicking, swimming and , hiking - backpacking trails. While hiking, look for a Missouri native wild flower, Yellow Coneflower,it grows wild in the Ozarks in Missouri and Arkansas but will grow easily in other areas of the United States.

Meramec’s limestone caves were mined during Civil War, when the natural potassium nitrate, or saltpeter,  was used in manufacturing gunpowder. Later, the cave became famous as a Jesse James hideout.

In 1874, Jesse James and the James-Younger gang robbed the Little Rock Express on its way from St. Louis to Little Rock. Chased by a posse, the gang escaped into the cave. The sheriff decided to starve the gang out of the cave. After three days, the posse went into the cave only to discover the horses but no robbers. Most folks think Jesse James and his gang escaped by swimming through a shallow underground river into the Meramec river outside the cave.

The hour and twenty minute tour concludes with a patriotic Kate Smith song, “God Bless America.”

Admission to the guided tours is $18.00 per adult, $9.00 for children 5-11, children 4 and under are free. Trained rangers give the hour and twenty minute walking tours. The mile long round trip cave tour is conducted along well-lighted walkways.

Meramec Caverns, located off Interstate 44, Exit 230, in Stanton, Missouri and approximately 60 miles west of St. Louis. Every Road Tripper must include into you family vacation.

It’s true, train robber Jesse James and his gang once used Meramec Caverns as a hideout.

But after that fact, we’ve chosen to weave in a few myths and magic. Like all tall tails there are many true believers and that’s what makes the Jesse James Museum so fun. If you see the caves, go ahead a splurge on a tour of the Jesse James Wax Museum in Stanton.

Meramec Caverns is wheelchair accessible. Of the 80 minute tour, the first 50 minutes covers flat terrain with the last 30 minutes containing one flight of stairs. Stairs can easily be by-passed through use of a nearby ramp, but requires the assistance of a physically fit person.

Read more about Missouri's Buried Treasure: Meramec Caverns Part 2

1135 Route W, Stanton, MO 63079, Web Site , Phone: 573-468-3166, Fax: 573-468-2633

Nov.-Feb., 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; March and Oct., 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; April and Sep., 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; May-June, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.; July-Labor Day, 8:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Latitude: 38° 15.828, Longitude: -92° 54.757

Part 4 Missouri’s Route 66 Great American Road Trip - Springfield

Missouri’s Route 66 Great American Road Trip - Drive-In Movies

Missouri's Route 66 Great American Road Trip - Camping

Contact Travel Examiner Patsy Bell Hobson. To get notice of new Ozarks Travel Examiner columns, please subscribe via email. Patsy also has a gardening blog: Oh, Grow Up!