Route 66 State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Route 66 State Park |
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The closed Route 66 bridge on the Meramec River
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 Route 66 State Park
Location in Missouri
Route 66 State Park
Location in the United States
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| Location | St. Louis, Missouri, United States |
| Area | 418.61 acres (169.41 ha) |
| Elevation | 436 ft (133 m) |
| Established | 1997 |
| Governing body | Missouri Department of Natural Resources |
| Website | Route 66 State Park |
Route 66 State Park is a fun place to visit in Missouri! It's a big park, about 419 acres, located right next to the Meramec River. This park is special because it used to be a town called Times Beach. It's about one mile east of Eureka. The park was officially opened in 1997.
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Park History: From Town to Park
A long time ago, this area was a town called Times Beach. But in the 1980s, a serious chemical called dioxin was found everywhere. This chemical made the area unsafe for people to live there.
Because of this problem, the United States Environmental Protection Agency bought the town. They carefully took apart the buildings and cleaned up the land. It was a huge project!
Now, where homes and streets once stood, you'll see fields of wild grass and bushes. You can still see some deserted streets in the park. They remind us that a community once lived here in west Saint Louis County.
The Old Route 66 Bridge
The park has a visitor center. It's in an old building called the Bridgehead Inn. This building is on the east side of the Meramec River. The park itself is on the west side.
The old Route 66 bridge used to connect the visitor center to the main park. However, the bridge is now closed because it's not safe to use.
You can get to the park from east-bound Interstate 44 at exit 265. To reach the visitor center, you use exit 266. Just remember, the visitor center is separate from the main park area.
Fun Things to Do at the Park
Route 66 State Park offers many cool activities for visitors. You can launch a boat into the Meramec River from the park's boat ramp. It's a great spot for a picnic with friends or family.
The park also has trails for different activities. You can go hiking, cycling, or even ride horses on the trails. It's a perfect place to enjoy nature and get some exercise.
What's Inside the Visitor Center?
The visitor center is full of interesting things to see. It has photos and items from old buildings along Route 66. Many of these old places in the Saint Louis area have been torn down. They were replaced by modern shopping centers.
You can also see the very first historic Route 66 marker. It was originally put up on the highway in Springfield, Missouri. The center also explains the big environmental cleanup of the area. It took 20 years to make the land safe again!
