![]() ![]() Louis conservationist Joseph Desloge purchased, and then donated the land to Missouri in 1955 for a state park. Francois Mountains, one of the oldest mountain chains in North America, and how it was a playground long before ardent St. The handsome new Black River Center, made of native timber and rock, tells the story of the place, nestled in the St. We knew we had our hands full, that we had to do something about it - and we did." "It was shocking to see the devastation, but there was utter relief, real relief to see the rocks hadn't been affected," Bryan said. It was an utter wasteland, he said.īut the Shut-Ins' unique, ancient rock features, which confine or "shut in" the East Fork of the Black River to narrow channels, chutes and plunge pools, were intact, if silt-covered. ![]() The trails and boardwalk were wiped away. The park that officially reopens in time for the summer crush of visitors is different than what visitors might remember, but just as spectacular, Missouri Parks Director Bill Bryan said.īryan, who was the state's lead counsel in the lawsuit against Ameren under then-Attorney General Jay Nixon, remembers bushwacking into the Shut-Ins natural area with others shortly after the breach. The wounds of the devastation have healed, mostly - except for a few rare wetlands that state naturalists say are still on life support - thanks to a $103 million restoration that the power company financed in a $177 million settlement with the state. 14, 2005, a breach in AmerenUE's Taum Sauk Reservoir atop Profitt Mountain unleashed a torrent of 1.3 billion gallons of water that chiseled a 7,000-foot-long scar and deposited tons of silt, trees and boulders in the valley, and park, below. Jay Nixon, other dignitaries and volunteers will mark the occasion with a grand reopening ceremony and tours at the park on Route N in Reynolds County, two hours southwest of St. More than a billion years of Missouri geologic history and a beloved state park's fragility were laid bare by a singular cataclysmic event here four-and-a-half years ago.īut the two stories of Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park get equal billing in a new interpretive center, mosaic displays, boulder field, scour trail and other features of the restored park that opens to the public Saturday. Louis Beacon, - JOHNSON'S SHUT-INS STATE PARK, Mo. Each of the campsites has shower houses close by and there is even a campground store located in the center of the camping area in case you need some basic supplies.This article first appeared in the St. Johnson Shut-Ins offers a variety of camping sites from walk-in, basic, electric, sewer/water/electric, and equestrian electric/water campsites.Īll sites are reservable on a first-come, first-serve basis so it’s best to book early and for weekend reservations it is mandatory to book two nights. Halfway through the hike, we came across a beautiful waterfall that we stopped at to rest before continuing on to finish to the lower half of the Shut-Ins. However, if you decide to continue on the Shut-Ins Trail the journey is about 2.25 miles round-trip and offers many scenic spots to stop along the way. Our favorite trail is the Shut-Ins Trail which starts at a level boardwalk and takes you to a view of the shut-ins from above (0.3 miles) so if you aren’t up for a lengthy hike you can go this far and stop.
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