Grandglaize Creek facts for kids
Grandglaize Creek is a cool creek in Missouri. It flows into the Lake of the Ozarks, creating a long arm of the lake called the Grand Glaize Arm. This arm stretches for about 15 miles before it reaches the main Osage River within the lake. The creek itself flows for about 10 miles before joining the lake.
Even though its official name is spelled as one word, "Grandglaize," many people spell it as two words: "Grand Glaize." It's important not to mix it up with another creek also called Grand Glaize Creek, which flows into the Meramec River near St. Louis County, Missouri.
Grandglaize Creek starts when two smaller creeks, Dry Auglaize Creek and Wet Glaize Creek, join together. This happens about one mile north of a small town called Toronto, Missouri in Camden County. From there, the creek flows north into Miller County. The creek becomes part of the Lake of the Ozarks at the very edge of Lake of the Ozarks State Park.
Where is Grandglaize Creek?
You can find Grandglaize Creek in Missouri.
- Where it ends: The creek flows into the Grandglaize Arm of the Lake of the Ozarks in Miller County, Missouri.
- Where it begins: It starts where Dry Auglaize Creek and Wet Glaize Creek meet in Camden County, Missouri.
The Grand Glaize Bridge
The Bagnell Dam was built to create the Lake of the Ozarks. When the dam was finished, it also caused the creeks that flowed into the Osage River to become part of the new lake.
One of these creeks was Grandglaize Creek. A bridge, known as the Grand Glaize Bridge, was built to carry U.S. Highway 54 over what became the Grand Glaize arm of the lake. People used to call it the "Upside-Down Bridge." This was because its main support beams were built below the road. This design gave drivers a clear view of the lake.
However, the old bridge had very narrow lanes and no shoulders, which made it tricky for cars. In the 1980s, a new, wider bridge was built right next to it. The new bridge carried Highway 54, and the old bridge was then used only by bikes and people walking. Later, in the 1990s, the original "Upside-Down Bridge" was taken down. A brand new bridge was built in its place to carry two lanes of westbound Highway 54 traffic. The bridge built in the 1980s was then changed to carry two lanes of eastbound Highway 54.
What Does "Grandglaize" Mean?
The name "Grandglaize" has an interesting history. Besides this creek in the Lake of the Ozarks, there's also an Auglaize River in Ohio.
Many people believe the name comes from the French words eau glaise, which means 'dirty water' or 'clay water'. This makes sense because the soil in some areas can be very clay-like. Another idea is that it comes from a French term for a "salt lick." A salt lick is a place where wild animals go to lick salt and minerals from the ground.
Some old maps and records show different spellings for Grandglaize Creek. These include Auglaize Creek, Dry Glaize Creek, Glaize Creek, and Wet Glaize Creek.
