One of the America's 20 Eeriest Abandoned Places is in Missouri

Can I just say from the start that I disagree with one word of this? More on that later, but the new thing I've come across is that Missouri is home to one of America's 20 most eerie abandoned places. Let's dig into why.

I will admit there's an air of mystery about this unique Missouri place

This new eerie abandoned places ranking was just dropped by Cheapism. They say that the ruins in Ha Ha Tonka State Park in Missouri is about as odd as it gets. Point taken. They call it "a unique curiosity in the Missouri Ozarks" and they're not wrong. However, there's a lot more to this historical Missouri place than just the ruins.

What is the story behind the castle ruins in Ha Ha Tonka State Park?

This stone mansion was designed and built by Robert McClure Snyder in 1905. He was a wealthy Kansas City businessman who had a vision for a European-style mansion. What many don't know is he never lived long enough to see his architectural dream realized. As Atlas Obscura confirms, Snyder died in one of the first-ever fatal automobile accidents in 1906. It would be his sons that would eventually complete the mansion in 1922.

I've also heard stories that the Snyder family would lose much of their wealth due to lawsuits over the construction of the Bagnell Dam. The mansion, itself, would face a tragic turn of events on October 21, 1942 when sparks from a chimney caught the roof on fire and everything but the still-standing walls were destroyed.

The one word I have a problem with is "eerie". It's actually one of the most iconic views in the Missouri Ozarks although some do claim some odd vibes there. No matter if you think of Ha Ha Tonka as eerie, romantic or just plain strange, it is one of the most interesting things you can visit in the state.