The Ozarks Trail through that area is still closed, and efforts are underway to route around the damage. The shut-ins are closed for swimming and exploration, though the boardwalk is open. ![]() I visited the park after it re-opened May 27th. I apologize for the scattered nature of the coverage and the Flash shows, but am planning on pulling them together into a complete show, along with details on the story of the dam break. 26th) and may go again this weekend, getting one last set of photos. Johnson Shut-Ins will close for the winter this Monday, Oct. Note that according to state park employees, the park could be closed up to two years in order to do this restoration, starting What replaces it will be nice, but it won’t be the same. He kept pointing out rocks hat didn’t belong in the shut-ins, and his eyes would, from time to time, tear up as he surveyed the damage. One older gentleman told me tales of coming down with his uncle to fish by lantern light. I spent time yesterday with several people who came out to see the park one last time before closing. It’s certainly much grander than the old park. The camping has been moved, as no one was particularly interested in camping in a flood-plain valley with the reservoir dam being re-built.Ī shuttle will move people about, and there’s also room for a helipad, though I imagine that’s for emergencies. Additional parking, scour overlook, new trails, new interpretive centers–the changes are rather extensive, and meant to support a larger number of visitors due to people coming to see the Shut-Ins and now the results of the dam break. As can be seen, the changes are rather drastic, including a restructuring of the stream through the park. But I have to say, that moonlit view of one of Missouri’s natural treasures, will always be a treasure in my mind.The proposed new plan for the rebuilding of Johnson Shut-Ins park can be found here. It’s a good thing – putting safety first. Also, along that concrete path, there are a number of gates where areas, including the shut-ins, can be closed off. They told us from their campsite to the bike rack at the “entrance” to the shut-ins was 3.74 miles. There is a paved, concrete trail from the campground to the day use area and then onto the shut-ins area. It’s a beautiful campground with gravel walking trails throughout the five loops. The campground has been moved out of the valley and is far removed from the shut-ins area. I have to think we weren’t the only campers who had this idea. Then we saw the white rushing water lit up by the moonlight under a clear night sky. First, we heard the water rushing over the rocks. I am not a rule breaker and while going to the shut-ins after dark was prohibited, I went along with the group. Another night, after dark, we all walked down to the shut-ins. One night, we all took blankets or sleeping bags, and laid down in the empty parking lot and looked up at the stars. It was the campground, then a parking lot, and then a trail which led down into the shut-ins area. I remember the layout of the park at the time. ![]() My twin boys, Zachary and Michael, were 13, and we were there with a group of families. Only three years before the breach, we camped there. Had the breach occurred during camping season, this disaster would have been so much more tragic. Only the park ranger, his wife and children were on the grounds, and amazingly, all survived. When the reservoir broke in 2005, in happened in December, so the campground was empty. But before I write the post about all the activities we enjoyed there, I just have to reflect a bit on how it was and how it is now. This was our first time to visit the park since it reopened in 2009. For those from Missouri and those who are not, do you remember?ĭan and I have recently returned from Johnson Shut-Ins state park, our last camping trip of 2020. So, for me, it was personal, and I remember it well. I’ve lived in Missouri my whole life, and I had visited Johnson Shut-Ins growing up and grown up. I’m talking about the breach of the Taum Sauk Mountain reservoir which destroyed Johnson Shut-Ins, a Missouri state park. It happened in 2005, and for awhile it was called the worst state park disaster in our nation’s history. On the Campground to Visitor Center Trail
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