Ha Ha Tonka State Park

Visit this scenic park featuring the ruins of a 20th-century castle.

Ha Ha Tonka State Park has quite a history. People that inhabited the area included Native Americans and explorers from the early 1800s. There are several journals from settlers and explorers who wrote about the area. In 1830, a man named Garland dammed the lower end of the spring and built a grist mill. This was the first permanent mill in the area, and some remnants of the mill are still visible on the trail.

In 1903, a wealthy businessman Robert M. Snyder from Kansas, visited and bought land to build a private retreat. He planned on establishing a European-style castle with 60 rooms, a central atrium that reached to the top of 3 1/2 stories, and a skylight. He also wanted a water tower, greenhouses, and stables. When Snyder died in an auto accident in 1906, the castle was completed by his sons. It was later used as a hotel, and then in 1942, sparks from a chimney ignited the roof, and the fire gutted the castle. Today, visitors can still see the castle's ruins.

Ha Ha Tonka was said to mean "big laugh" or "smiling waters." The spring is the state’s 12^th largest spring and pours thousands of gallons of water per minute into the Niangua arm of the Lake of the Ozarks. Today, Ha Ha Tonka State Park is a public recreation area with over 3,700 acres for visitors to enjoy and explore. There are caves, sinkholes, and bluffs overlooking the lake. There are over 15 miles of scenic trails that wind throughout the park, providing a convenient way to see all that it has to offer. Some animals you might see during your adventures include white-tailed deer, foxes, wild turkey, and many different bird species like the northern cardinal, Carolina wren, and blue jay. The park's proximity to the Lake of the Ozarks means visitors can also enjoy water-based activities such as kayaking, fishing, and boating. This park is a complete sanctuary where you can get pleasantly lost in the sheer beauty of nature. Discover the endless sights and experiences awaiting at Ha Ha Tonka State Park, where the natural wonders of the Ozarks are waiting to be explored.