Lost Valley Lake Resort, Owensville, Missouri

Lost Valley Lake Resort is a large resort on gently rolling hills with many amenities for the entire family-stocked fishing lakes, indoor and outdoor pools, hot tubs, movie theater, weight room, miniature golf, and much more. 

 

Lodge

Our site

 

Pileated woodpecker (largest woodpecker in North America) and red-bellied woodpecker at our RV

 

Stone Hill Winery, Hermann, MO

Stone Hill Winery, established by German immigrants, in 1847, is located on a bluff overlooking Hermann, MO on the Missouri River.  At the turn of the century, Stone Hill Winery was the largest winery West of the Mississippi River in the United States, the second largest winery in the United States and the third largest winery in the world. It produced 1,250,000 gallons in 1900. Due to Prohibition, the winery was closed in 1920, along with virtually all others in the nation. During this time, the owners earned money by using its wine cellars to grow mushrooms for sale until 1965.
In 1965 Jim and Betty Held made Stone Hill Winery the first in Missouri to be re-established.  The Vintage Restaurant is located in the winery's restored former carriage house and horse barn.

 

Winery and views

 

Purina Farms, Gray Summit, MO (near St Louis)

Purina Farms has a large display area that gives the history of Purina, the world’s largest pet food manufacturer.  A self-guided tour allows one to get up close and personal with a variety of animals. The Purina Pro Plan Performance Team includes dogs that were adopted from shelters and rescue groups that demonstrate their athletic skills by maneuvering through an obstacle course, snagging a flying disc in midair and diving into a 50-foot-long heated pool.

Milking demonstration with Debbie, Jersey cow

 

 

 

 Belted Danish

 

Sicilian Donkey

 

Belgian Draft Horse

 

Pigs

 

Rabbit

 

 Chickens

 

Top port of the 20-foot-tall, multilevel Victorian-style cat house that has windows, climbing ledges and scratching posts

 

Ulysses S Grant National Historic Site, St Louis, MO

The highlight of the historic site is “White Haven”, home of “Colonel” Frederick Dent.  Grant’s roommate at West Point was one of Dent’s sons.  Following Grant’s graduation from West Point, he was assigned to the 4^th Infantry Regiment, stationed in Jefferson Barracks, south of St Louis.  This large post was integral  to the army’s defense of the western frontier.  Grant was invited by his former roommate to his home where he met Julia, sister of his roommate. Ulysses and Julia married in 1848.  Although they lived in many places, White Haven was always a special place that they returned often.  In addition to the beautiful house (although not very furnished) and grounds, the site also has an interesting and informative museum.

 

 

 

 

Winter Kitchen was in the basement of White Haven

 

Summer Kitchen and Laundry

 

 

Ice House and Chicken Coop

 

 View from back

 

 

Charette

 

Bridles and Saddles

 

Branson, MO

Downtown Branson

 

A few miles west of Branson is the Ruth and Paul Henning Conservation Area.  One of area is the Dewey Bald Trail and Observation Tower.    

 

  Views of trail

 

Views from top of Observation Tower

 

Branson Landing on Lake Taneycomo (near downtown)