It’s been awhile since my last update! What can I say, I was really busy then there was a “crash” period where I just didn’t want to do anything once I got home but blob out. Anyway I’ve been going on some Weekend Adventures, most recently to Castlewood. If you will allow me to quote the State Park website:
“City dwellers flocked to Castlewood for weekends of water fun, dancing and clubhouse partying. The grand staircase at the Castlewood depot led to a big hotel, seasonal cabins and clubs. At the bottom of the palisade bluffs, visitors ferried across the river to a large sandbar known as Lincoln Beach. At the height of Castlewood’s popularity, more than 10,000 visitors would descend on the area each summer weekend. [However] following World War II, visitation to Castlewood steadily declined due to air conditioning, better roads and affordable vehicles.”
It was quite a cool day went we were there. We took the River Scene Trail which started off with a steep-ish climb, but levelled off. As its name suggests, the trail follows the Meramac river both ways, looping back to the start. The scenes from the top of the cliff were pretty.
I was highly amused by this series of graffiti at two different stops along the trail (the picture on the right was about a 15 min walk away from the left).
Here are the remains of the grand staircase, which was once a convenient way for travellers to ascend to the top of the cliff. It has since been replaced with wooden stairs.
Lincoln “beach” is actually pretty fascinating. I heard it described as St Louis’ only beach! It’s actually by the Meramac river and it seemed like a popular spot for people to sunbath and fish.
After our walk, we stopped by for a little brunch at Uncle Bill’s. I had chicken & waffles, which I understand is a US speciality. Basically it consists of a whole Belgian waffle and two pieces of fried chicken. My meal also came with a side of mash potatoes and cole slaw. Completely underestimating the size of the dish, I ordered an egg on the side too. And yes, it really was as delicious as it looks!
You know it’s surprising to say this but I have never been to Castlewood. I have wanted to for the longest time but I don’t think I ever had anyone to go with. I was going to say there was place called Time’s Beach but realized that was actually a town rather than a beach that got closed. I have no idea how long ago this was, a few decades ago at least, but the town paid to have their dirt roads get some kind of treatment so it wasn’t so dusty and the person they hired ended up putting some really harmful chemicals down and pretty much everyone in town got sick. They were all evacuated and the town was destroyed and the land was quarantined up until I think I was like a young teenager. It’s now route 66 park on the way to Six Flags. My mom and I would go there every once in a while to take our dogs for very very long walks and we see deer there sometimes. And I am very jealous of what you ate lol. I had the oddest combination there once. I had pancakes with onion rings on the side. Don’t know why I was just craving both.