Ha Ha Tonka State Park is a public recreation area encompassing over 5,000 acres (2,000 ha) on the Niangua arm of the Lake of the Ozarks, about five miles south of Camdenton, Missouri, in the United States. The state park's most notable feature is the ruins of Ha Ha Tonka, an early 20th-century stone mansion that was modeled after European castles of the 16th century.
The park also features caves, sinkholes, and bluffs overlooking the lake. It is a prominent example of karst topography, which is geological formation shaped by the dissolution of a layer or layers of soluble bedrock.[5] A 70-acre (28 ha) portion of the park was designated as the Ha Ha Tonka Karst Natural Area in 1981.[6]
History
Construction of the Ha Ha Tonka castle was started in 1905 by Robert McClure Snyder Sr., a Kansas City businessman who purchased the large property after first visiting there in 1903. Alluding to the natural springs on the property, "ha ha tonka" was said to mean "big laugh" or "smiling waters."[7]
Following Snyder's death in a car accident in 1906, the castle was completed by his sons Robert Jr., LeRoy, and Kenneth Snyder in the early 1920s before the Stock Market Crash. The building was used as a summer and weekend home by the Snyder family, who lived in Kansas City. In the late 1930s, it was used as a hotel; however, it was destroyed by fire in 1942.[8]
The state purchased the castle and grounds in 1978, adapting them for use as a state park and opening them to the public. The water tower was repaired in 2004, with a new roof installed. Although the castle walls were stabilized in the 1980s, a new survey in 2016 determined that portions of the ruins including its arches were seeing mortar and stone failure with the potential beginning of collapse. Some areas have been closed off from the public.[9] The ruins can be seen from an observation point across from the park office.
Activities and amenities
The park has 15 miles of hiking trails leading to caves, sinkholes, natural bridges, and the castle. The park also features boating, fishing, and swimming.[5]
Trails
As of 2020, there are 14 trails at the park.[10]
| Trail Name | Description | Length | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acorn Trail | Moderate hiking trail | 0.9 miles | |
| Big Niangua River Trail | Rough trail made for paddling | 13.4 miles | |
| Boulder Ridge Trail | Moderate hiking trail | 1.5 miles | |
| Castle Trail | Easy trail | 0.4 miles | 
|
| Cedar Trail | Moderate hiking trail | 0.2 miles | |
| Colosseum Trail | Rugged hiking trail | 0.6 miles | |
| Dell Rim Trail | Moderate hiking trail | 0.3 miles |
|
| Devil's Kitchen Trail | Rugged hiking trail | 1.3 miles | |
| Island Trail | Rugged hiking trail | 0.4 miles | |
| Oak Woodland Interpretive Trail | Easy hiking trail | 0.1 miles |
|
| Quarry Trail | Moderate hiking trail | 1.7 miles | |
| Spring Trail | Moderate hiking trail | 1.4 miles |
|
| Turkey Pen Hollow Trail | Rugged hiking trail | 6.5 miles |
Gallery
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American Castle Panoramic
References
- ^ "Ha Ha Tonka State Park Visitors Center". Missouri Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved October 7, 2015.
- ^ a b "Ha Ha Tonka State Park". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
- ^ a b "Ha Ha Tonka State Park: Data Sheet" (PDF). Missouri Department of Natural Resources. November 2017. Retrieved April 24, 2018.
- ^ "State Park Land Acquisition Summary". Missouri State Parks. Retrieved August 18, 2015.
- ^ a b "Ha Ha Tonka State Park". Missouri Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved September 29, 2014.
- ^ "Ha Ha Tonka Karst Natural Area". Missouri Department of Conservation. Retrieved April 24, 2018.
- ^ "Camden County Place Names, 1928–1945". The State Historical Society of Missouri. Retrieved April 24, 2018.
- ^ "Ha Ha Tonka State Park: Park History". Missouri Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved April 24, 2018.
- ^ Wilson, Amy (July 2, 2016). "Landmark ruin in need of repairs". Lake News Online. Retrieved April 24, 2018.
- ^ "Missouri State Parks Trail Inventory". Retrieved July 14, 2021.
External links
- Ha Ha Tonka State Park Missouri Department of Natural Resources
- Ha Ha Tonka State Park Map Missouri Department of Natural Resources
