8 Most Eccentric Towns in Missouri
Along with major metros like St. Louis and Kansas City, Missouri enchants with small towns that have unique charm. Boasting a lakeside castle, an underground pub, and even a museum for the Titanic thousands of miles from where it sank, these communities are eccentric in ways that big cities aren't. While nobody can say definitively that these towns are more eccentric than others, they exhibit a wide range of rural Missouri strange.
Camdenton
The Ozarks are one of the most eccentric geocultural regions in America. Much of it covers Missouri, culminating in quirkiness in towns like Camdenton. Technically a city despite having just a few thousand residents, Camdenton straddles the Lake of the Ozarks, a dragon-shaped reservoir overlooked by the ruins of a medieval-style castle. Once a 60-room dream, it decayed and later smoldered after its designer died in one of Missouri's first car accidents. You can storm Ha Ha Tonka Castle in Ha Ha Tonka State Park and then conquer the Bridal Cave at nearby Thunder Mountain Park. Arm yourself for this Middle-earthlike adventure at Ozarkland, an Ozarks-exclusive chain store that sells everything from fudge to knives.
Neosho
Neosho is the most populous city in Newton County—but that's not saying much. Just about 13,000 people live in Neosho, many of whom can fit inside the city's biggest attraction: "World's Largest Flowerbox." A repurposed rail car, the flowerbox is 66 feet long and, when filled with soil and plants, weighs roughly 25 tons. Curiously, Neosho's status as "The Flower Box City" predates the building of that behemoth. It stems from a 1955 beautification project that saw hundreds of regular-sized flowerboxes be placed around town. Another big and beautiful Neosho attraction is Big Spring Park, which contains a wading pool, fish pond, 1920s Grecian stage, and, naturally, a floral clock.
Weston
Another cave to explore in Missouri is below the small town of Weston. Best of all, spelunkers are rewarded with ale. Originally a cellar dug 55 feet underground for the Weston Brewing Company, the cavern is still owned by the brewery but now serves as O'Malley's 1842 Pub. It is considered the oldest—and oddest—bar in the state. If you are not an odd beer drinker, you can drink odd TerraVox (indigenous grape-fermented) wine at the Green Dirt Farm Creamery, which also sells odd cheeses, ice cream, and meat. Moreover, you can sample odd cigars at Weston Tobacco and odd art at the National Silk Art Museum. Don't mistake odd for gross, though. Weston expands your senses in extremely pleasurable ways.
St. Robert
St. Robert is close to Uranus. That pun fuels tourism in the region. While traveling west on Route 66, you will see a "pit" stop called Uranus just before this 5,200ish-person city. It is marketed as an independent community; in reality, it is a complex of novelty attractions owned by the "mayor of Uranus," Louie Keen. Among his assets are the Uranus Sideshow Museum, Uranus Putt Pirates, Uranus Ice Cream Company, Uranus Playground, and Uranus Fudge Factory, which ships fudge across the world. If entering Uranus does not sound stimulating, head straight into St. Robert for fun at the Tiger Typhoon Aquatic Center or veer south for serenity in the Mark Twain National Forest, a 1.5 million-acre expanse of Missouri’s wilderness.
Eminence
As a hub of the Ozark National Scenic Riverways, Eminence is awash with unbelievable nature. A federally protected feature of the Eminence area is a herd of wild white horses. They are said to descend from livestock released by destitute farmers during the Great Depression. Now a cure for depression, these horses tend to congregate at Shawnee Creek, Broadfoot Field, Echo Bluff State Park, and Round Spring. Equines aside, the Eminence area is a sanctuary for springs. Fairest of them all is Alley Spring, which beautifully contrasts the bright-red Alley Mill with turquoise water that stays 57-58 degrees year-round. Imagine seeing an Ozark unicorn at the Ozark Fountain of Youth.
Carthage
Precious moments can be had in Carthage—especially at the Precious Moments Chapel and Gardens. If you aren't aware, Precious Moments is a company that makes Christian-themed figurines. Many Americans collect those figurines and display them in their homes. Carthage, as the company's headquarters, claims the biggest collection of Precious Moments at its chapel and gardens. The former has over 9,000 square feet of space filled with 84 hand-painted murals and 30 stained glass windows. The latter has four-and-a-half-foot bronze sculptures leading to a fountain and flowers that nourish birds, bees, and butterflies. Like St. Robert, Carthage sits on Route 66, so it also offers eerie moments. Find them at Red Oak II, a ghostly enclave of early-20th-century buildings. Its highlight is a cottage-style Phillips 66 service station.
Weldon Spring
During WWII, the U.S. government produced almost 750 million pounds of TNT and DNT near the town of Weldon Spring, Missouri. During the Cold War, that same site processed uranium. Today, the decades of fallout from those factories is a tourist attraction dubbed the "Nuclear Waste Adventure Trail." Walking that trail is no longer dangerous, however, since the 1.48 million cubic yards of contaminated waste is entombed in a stone mound 75 feet tall and covering 41 acres. From the summit, one can see St. Charles and St. Louis counties, the Weldon Spring Site Interpretive Center, and the Howell Prairie, which is a 150-acre preserve of more than 80 species of prairie plants surrounding the site. Cherish the view, smell the flowers, and wonder at the repurposed waste.
Branson
Branson is basically a city-sized amusement park carved into the Ozarks. Along with thousands of eccentric residents, Branson has dozens of energetic attractions. For example, Silver Dollar City leads as an 1880s-themed amusement park, blending thrilling rides with traditional Ozark crafts. Ripley’s Believe It or Not! offers oddities for all ages, while WonderWorks stimulates young minds with its hands-on science exhibits. Visitors can dive into maritime history at the Titanic Museum Attraction, a tribute to the ill-fated ship with genuine artifacts. A bit wilder, the Promised Land Zoo and The Butterfly Palace showcase animal encounters and lush butterfly gardens. Wrapping up the city's unique offerings, Dolly Parton’s Stampede Dinner Attraction presents an energetic, music-filled meal experience. Branson embodies the spirit of entertainment and eccentricity in a distinctly Ozark way.
Wrapping Up
Missouri’s small towns offer a delightful blend of whimsy, history, and quirkiness that rival its major cities. From Branson's electrifying attractions to Neosho’s charming flowerbox, these communities showcase unique landmarks and experiences that reflect the spirit of rural Missouri. Whether you're exploring the curious depths of Weston’s underground pub, marveling at Eminence’s wild white horses, or uncovering the rich, if eerie, past of Weldon Spring, these towns invite visitors to embrace the unexpected. As you journey through Missouri, these eccentric enclaves reveal a side of the state that’s as enchanting as it is unforgettable, proving there’s always something new and surprising to discover off the beaten path.
