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HAHATONKA "A Castle on the Lake of the Ozarks"
Hahatonka Spring: Originally known as Gunter Springs, it was renamed HaHaTonka by Col. R. G. Scott in 1884. He thought "HaHaTonka" was an Native American word meaning laughing waters. He was mistaken about that, but the name "stuck"!
The property was later purchased by Mr. R. M. Snyder, a businessman from Kansas City, Missouri, and in 1905 he began to build his dream home, a magnificent European-style mansion, or "castle". Thirty stone masons were hired and came from Scotland to build his dream castle. Mr. Snyder died in a car accident a year later, and work on the castle came to a halt. Eventually, his three sons completed construction in 1922. The castle was situated on 2500 acres, on a cliff overlooking the Niangua River and valley. Twenty years later, on October 21, 1942, the castle burned, and also the carriage house, which was large enough for 100 horses and 30 cars. The fire started in the chimney of the castle and was carried by the wind, igniting the roof of the carriage house. Both were destroyed, but today still stands the ruins of HaHaTonka, and the 80 feet tall stone water tower, which was untouched by the fire. The photographs in this gallery depict the enormity of one man's dream.
HaHaTonka is now a Missouri State Park.
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