Meramec Caverns

A Route 66 classic

The very last RV trip in our Winnebago Minnie was to Meramec Caverns in October of 2019. We sat on the river while cleaning out the RV in preparation of selling it. We actually ended up trading it in when we bought our Thor Vegas at Byler RV in December of 2019.

Since then, we had booked a stay twice. The first time, they cancelled after deciding to close earlier than our October booking. The second time was due to flooding. The campground is right on the Meramec and a few times over the years, the water rose so high that the cave has been closed.

I was feeling nostalgic. The last time I rode on this boat, it was 2009. We took a day trip to the caverns. This was pre-RV and it was my birthday. We toured the cavern and then rode on the tour boat.

This is Now! Dogs are allowed on the boat but not in the caverns.

These caverns have a storied Route 66 history and is the most visited cave in Missouri. There are more than 50 billboards advertising the cave, located along I-44 which runs parallel to much of Route 66. You may remember that we drove to the terminus of I-44 this winter, Wichita Falls, Texas.

There are all kinds of Jesse James stories associated with the cave but who knows if they are true. The caves became a tourist attraction in 1935 with the clever publicity tricks used by owner, Lester Dill.