Aug 15, 2025 - Ha Ha Tonka State Park is listed as one of the best parks in Missouri. It sits on the Lake of the Ozarks and has a Castle ruins above the lake. The castle was built in the early 1900's by Robert McClure Snyder, a Kansas City businessman. We stopped for a few hours of exploring, on the way to our next campground. We will stay 3 nights at Crabtree Cove, which is run by the Army Corp of Engineers, (it's a National Park and only costs $10/night with our Golden Park Pass). Ha Ha Tonka is about 45 minutes out of our way, but I'm not sure when we'll be back by, so we're going to stop for a little hiking and see the Castle ruins.
We parked at the Natural Bridge parking lot, which had some picnic tables where we had lunch. We then walked the Dell Rim Trail and saw the water tower that was used at the castle.
It was a really hot afternoon, in the mid 90's.
The water tower is 80 ft tall, with 5 floors. The first 4 floors were living quarters for the estate caretaker. Vandals burned the interior in 1976.
Lake of the Ozarks
The Dell Rim Trail meets up with the Castle Ruins Trail here. This is the carriage house
This view from the Castle ruins looks out on Spring lake
In 1906, one year after construction on the house started, McClure was killed in a car accident. The interior of the castle wasn't completed until 1922, by his sons.
On Oct 21, 1942 a fire destroyed the house and carriage house
Looks like there's a few boats down there enjoying the lake
Becky & Darrell
The whole gang here, including Mirabelle
Next we walked down to the Natural Bridge (Gene and Gerry are the blue and red spots on the other side of the cave)
The bridge was once used as access to the castle, but was closed in 1980 due to its narrowness.
Becky's headed down to check it out
It's HOT, 3 fans at the picnic table!
Maybe fireball will cool us down?
Sunset from the campsite, over Stockton Lake
Aug 16, 2025 - It's going to be a hot one, so we're going to spend the day floating in Stockton Lake!
Site 39 at Crabtree Cove
We've got our floaties and we're ready to walk to the beach
you ready Kev?
Becky's the first one in
and she's got a cold beverage in hand
we've got the cove to ourselves
AG's got some real talent
Next boys against the girls in corn hole
watching to be sure the guys don't cheat
another trip to the lake
sunset over the lake and through the trees
we decided to have a campfire at one of the empty campsites on the beach
great spot for our final campfire
