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All the United States Missouri Camdenton Ha Ha Tonka Castle Ruins

Ha Ha Tonka Castle Ruins

European castle ruins in an American state park are actually the product of death and grief.

Camdenton, Missouri

Added By
Dave Fairchild
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Ha Ha Tonka Castle Ruins   ozkmtnbear / Atlas Obscura User
Ha Ha Tonka Castle Ruins   ozkmtnbear / Atlas Obscura User
Ha Ha Tonka Castle Ruins   Darin House on Flickr
Ha Ha Tonka Castle Ruins   Darin House on Flickr
The ruins of Snyder’s castle.   Karen Blaha on Flickr
  Darrell Powers / Atlas Obscura User
  Darrell Powers / Atlas Obscura User
  Darrell Powers / Atlas Obscura User
7-2-21   Darrell Powers / Atlas Obscura User
7-2-21   Darrell Powers / Atlas Obscura User
Inside the Water Tower   Darrell Powers / Atlas Obscura User
10-2-20   Darrell Powers / Atlas Obscura User
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10-2-20   Darrell Powers / Atlas Obscura User
10-2-20   Darrell Powers / Atlas Obscura User
10-2-20   Darrell Powers / Atlas Obscura User
Water Tower at Haha Tonka   Darrell Powers / Atlas Obscura User
10-2-20   Darrell Powers / Atlas Obscura User
Natural Spring   Darrell Powers / Atlas Obscura User
Natural bridge   Darrell Powers / Atlas Obscura User
Wildlife at HaHa Tonka   Darrell Powers / Atlas Obscura User
Castle view from the natural spring   Darrell Powers / Atlas Obscura User
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The Water Tower   shaw95 / Atlas Obscura User
Detail at top inside   Noella T / Atlas Obscura User
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Watertower   Darrell Powers / Atlas Obscura User
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7-2-21   Darrell Powers / Atlas Obscura User
Balanced rock at Haha Tonka   Darrell Powers / Atlas Obscura User
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View from one of the walking trails   jsnslissa / Atlas Obscura User
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Once a fireplace   jsnslissa / Atlas Obscura User
7-2-21   Darrell Powers / Atlas Obscura User
Approaching the ruins from the parking lot.   auraltecture / Atlas Obscura User
From the pit   Noella T / Atlas Obscura User
You can no longer legally wander the ruins.   shaw95 / Atlas Obscura User
  Darrell Powers / Atlas Obscura User
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About

Sitting on a bluff in the oddly-named Ha Ha Tonka State Park (supposedly translating to "laughing waters"), the ruins of a businessman's mansion appear to belong to a bygone fairytale kingdom, but are really the remains of a dead man's dream.

Wealthy Kansas City businessman Robert Snyder had a dream to construct a European-styled castle right in his beloved Missouri. To this end Snyder purchased 5,000 acres of land, including his very own lake, and began work on the evocative mansion in 1905. The businessman even imported stone masons from Europe to achieve the correct style, but unfortunately Snyder would not live to see his dream house to completion. Construction on the house had begun in earnest, but in 1906, Snyder was killed in one of Missouri's first car accidents. However Snyder's dream castle would not die with him.

After his death, Snyder's sons continued work on the building and were able to complete the castle by 1920. After completing construction, one of Snyder's sons took up residence in the huge castle until the family's money ran out due to land rights lawsuits surrounding the castle's property. After Snyder the younger's depression and poverty drove him from the house the building was opened as a hotel and lodge until 1942 when the entire building was utterly destroyed by a fire.

The state purchased the property in the 1970's and has worked to preserve the crumbled walls of Snyder's dream home as a feature in their state park. Visitors can now explore the bones of the  "castle" that brought down the Snyder kingdom.       

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Castles Ruins

Community Contributors

Added By

fairchildd

Edited By

Rachel, ozkmtnbear, placesthatwere, loganhutson53...

  • Rachel
  • ozkmtnbear
  • placesthatwere
  • loganhutson53
  • EricGrundhauser
  • shaw95
  • auraltecture
  • jsnslissa
  • rayewingphoto
  • ccesare
  • bradihooker
  • Noella T
  • Darrell Powers
  • ladytecate
  • corestrengh1473

Published

December 12, 2013

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Sources
  • http://www.lakehistory.info/ghost.html
  • http://www.rollanet.org/~conorw/cwome/article5.htm
  • https://mostateparks.com/park/ha-ha-tonka-state-park
Ha Ha Tonka Castle Ruins
U.S. 54
Camdenton, Missouri, 65020
United States
37.976027, -92.769777
Visit Website
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