Route 66 State Park
Encyclopedia
Route 66 State Park is a state park
in the U.S. state
of Missouri
, located on the former site of the town of Times Beach
. It is a 419 acre (1.7 km²) park located less than one mile (1.6 km) east of Eureka
.
Times Beach was bought, dismantled, and decontaminated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency
following the discovery of widespread dioxin contamination in the 1980s.
Fields of wild grass and brush now grow where the homes of evacuated residents formerly stood. Deserted streets line the park and hint at what once was a resort
community in west Saint Louis County
. This park has very few accommodations in comparison with other Missouri state parks. It provides access to the Meramec River and supports cycling
and equestrian
uses.
A visitor center located in the old Bridgehead Inn has photos and memorabilia of structures along Route 66 in the Saint Louis
area which have been torn down and replaced by modern shopping centers and strip malls. The visitor center also contains an interpretation of the ecological disaster and the 20-year clean up of the area.
The first historic Route 66 marker erected on the highway (in Springfield, Missouri
) has been replaced and moved to the park.
The visitor center, on the east side of the Meramec River, is joined to the park on the west side by the old Route 66 bridge. That bridge, however, has deteriorated and is closed to all traffic, including pedestrian, because of safety concerns. The park itself is accessible only from east-bound Interstate 44
at exit 265. The visitor center, however, is accessed from either direction at exit 266 and is cut off from the park it serves.
State park
State parks are parks or other protected areas managed at the federated state level within those nations which use "state" as a political subdivision. State parks are typically established by a state to preserve a location on account of its natural beauty, historic interest, or recreational...
in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
, located on the former site of the town of Times Beach
Times Beach, Missouri
Times Beach, Missouri was a small town of 2,240 residents in St. Louis County, Missouri, 17 miles southwest of St. Louis and 2 mi east of Eureka, Missouri. The town was completely evacuated early in 1983 due to a dioxin scare that made national headlines...
. It is a 419 acre (1.7 km²) park located less than one mile (1.6 km) east of Eureka
Eureka, Missouri
Eureka is a city located in St. Louis County, Missouri, United States, between St. Louis and Pacific, Missouri, along Interstate 44. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 10,189. The city is west of the former site of Times Beach, the site of dioxin contamination discovered in...
.
Times Beach was bought, dismantled, and decontaminated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency
United States Environmental Protection Agency
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is an agency of the federal government of the United States charged with protecting human health and the environment, by writing and enforcing regulations based on laws passed by Congress...
following the discovery of widespread dioxin contamination in the 1980s.
Fields of wild grass and brush now grow where the homes of evacuated residents formerly stood. Deserted streets line the park and hint at what once was a resort
Resort
A resort is a place used for relaxation or recreation, attracting visitors for holidays or vacations. Resorts are places, towns or sometimes commercial establishment operated by a single company....
community in west Saint Louis County
St. Louis County, Missouri
St. Louis County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. Its county seat is Clayton. St. Louis County is part of the St. Louis Metro Area wherein the independent City of St. Louis and its suburbs in St. Louis County, as well as the surrounding counties in both Missouri and Illinois all...
. This park has very few accommodations in comparison with other Missouri state parks. It provides access to the Meramec River and supports cycling
Cycling
Cycling, also called bicycling or biking, is the use of bicycles for transport, recreation, or for sport. Persons engaged in cycling are cyclists or bicyclists...
and equestrian
Equestrianism
Equestrianism more often known as riding, horseback riding or horse riding refers to the skill of riding, driving, or vaulting with horses...
uses.
A visitor center located in the old Bridgehead Inn has photos and memorabilia of structures along Route 66 in the Saint Louis
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
area which have been torn down and replaced by modern shopping centers and strip malls. The visitor center also contains an interpretation of the ecological disaster and the 20-year clean up of the area.
The first historic Route 66 marker erected on the highway (in Springfield, Missouri
Springfield, Missouri
Springfield is the third largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and the county seat of Greene County. According to the 2010 census data, the population was 159,498, an increase of 5.2% since the 2000 census. The Springfield Metropolitan Area, population 436,712, includes the counties of...
) has been replaced and moved to the park.
The visitor center, on the east side of the Meramec River, is joined to the park on the west side by the old Route 66 bridge. That bridge, however, has deteriorated and is closed to all traffic, including pedestrian, because of safety concerns. The park itself is accessible only from east-bound Interstate 44
Interstate 44
Interstate 44 is a major highway in the central United States. Its western terminus is in Wichita Falls, Texas at a concurrency with US 277, US 281 and US 287; its eastern terminus is at the Illinois state line on the Poplar Street Bridge over the Mississippi River in St...
at exit 265. The visitor center, however, is accessed from either direction at exit 266 and is cut off from the park it serves.