Facts below are drawn from the linked sources.
Real history
Times Beach was founded in 1925 on the Meramec River flood plain. After a December 1982 flood and the EPA's confirmation of dioxin in the soil, it was evacuated, disincorporated on April 2, 1985, (Wikipedia). The EPA says demolition of its structures finished in 1992, and an on-site incinerator burned dioxin-contaminated soil from 1996 until cleanup was completed in 1997. The park opened in 1999 (EPA). The 1935 Bridgehead Inn was kept and is the park's visitor center. Its homes and businesses are buried in a grass-covered "town mound" (STLPR, 2019).
Ghost stories
We found no well-sourced ghost legends for this place. It is listed for its abandoned history.
Then and now
Public access
Open to the public Missouri State Parks lists Route 66 State Park and its visitor center in the 1935 Bridgehead Inn (Missouri State Parks). Last checked: Nov 1, 2026.
Explore more
- More places in Eureka and Missouri
- More haunted & abandoned ghost towns
- Nearby: Zombie Road (Rock Hollow Trail) (Wildwood, MO), Lemp Mansion (St. Louis, MO), Alton Military Prison (Alton, IL), Mineral Springs Hotel (Alton, IL)
⚠️ Please read: This information may be outdated and conditions change. Verify access with the owner or operator before you go. Spook Atlas does not encourage trespassing. Entering private, closed or condemned property can be illegal and dangerous. Report a correction.
Reader experiences
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