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If you’re from this area or have traveled to Kansas City Missouri area please shares with me some of the beauty in the area. I certainly appreciate it. Thanks for your time to answer.
Lee
Watkins Mill State Park is 1500 acres 30 miles northeast of KC off I-35. This was the first woolen mill west of the Mississippi River. The site contains a small lake, the original three story mill building with original period machinery, the Watkins' home, an octagonal schoolhouse, and more. Much of the site now looks like it did in the mid 1800's. There's been significant effort to use "antique" plants, and rare breeds of sheep and other animals. The docents dress in period costumes.
When the mill ceased operations, the Watkins family simply closed the doors, leaving all the machinery behind, wool and cloth still in processing. (Most factory owners at least sold the machinery as scrap iron.) As a result, the restored mill contains a rare snapshot of an early industrial revolution factory.
The site contains some interesting old buildings of several types and sizes in various states of repair, a small lake, woods, and unusual farm animals, as well as a modern visitor center/museum. Given that overnight camping is available, there shouldn't be any problem getting there for the sunrise.
Last time I visited, which was more than 10 years ago, the third floor of the mill hadn't been restored and could not be visited. Spending all day at the site would, for me, be easy to do.
The
Missouri State Parks Web site lists a number of other interesting parks in the area.
Bob