Photo is the start of the Third Annual Dirty Spokes Mountain Bike Race, category B. 123 people took part in the race at Castlewood State Park, Sunday, April 14, 2013.

Photo is the start of the Third Annual Dirty Spokes Mountain Bike Race, category A. 123 people took part in the race at Castlewood State Park, Sunday, April 14, 2013.

Lincoln Beach was a popular place to enjoy the river. Thousands of bathers would gather, arriving by canoes and small boats from up and down the river. This popular beach was a byproduct of earlier dredging by the Union Sand and Gravel Company, which operated a separating plant from aggregate on the east bend of the river.
Photo provided by: Missouri History Museum, St. Louis.

Hiking Casltewood bluffs while snowing March 24, 2013.

Spring snow in Castlewood State Park. March 24, 2013

From the bluffs in Castlewood March 20, 2013

The first day of spring. March 20, 2013

A day at the beach, Chinese geese. March 1, 2013

Castlewood State Park March 1, 2013

1920s Lincoln Beach on the Meramec River in Castlewood Missouri.

Early 1920s Boaz Store
Located on the west side of New Ballwin Road just before the Lone Wolf stone pillars.
Later this was the location of Crossroads and is now apartments.

Early 1920s Corona Club and Church.
Many young women stayed in the dormitories of the Catholic Corona Club. The church of the club for years held Mass on summer Sundays for hundreds of weekenders. The church and club were at the end of New Ballwin Road across the street from what is now the Wildlife Rescue Center. The church remained standing until the early '80s.
At right, in the distance, is Boaz Store.

The Grand Staircase.
A family photo on the wide concrete steps that took visitors from the Castlewood Depot up the bluffs and into Castlewood. The steps are now deteriorated and overgrown and can be seen from the wood stairs at the west end of the bluffs.

Castlewood Train Depot and Washington Hotel.
Visitors from the city came by the thousands. Most rode the Missouri-Pacific Railroad along the north side of the river to the Fern Glen, Mountain Ridge, and Castlewood depots, or on the Frisco Railroad along the south side to Morschels and Deicke. The crowded train rides themselves began and ended the weekend merriment with camaraderie and singing.

Some 500 people took part in a snowy 15K "Castlewood Cup" run on Sunday, Feb. 24, 2013, at Castlewood State Park. The run is sponsored twice a year by Big River Running Company, St. Louis.

Some 500 people took part in a snowy 15K "Castlewood Cup" run on Sunday, Feb. 24, 2013, at Castlewood State Park. The run is sponsored twice a year by Big River Running Company, St. Louis.

Castlewood bluffs the morning after the February 21, 2013 snow.

Built in 1919 this bridge gives the appearce of a structure from ancient times. The colors, textures, and shapes on this bridge are stunning! Near Castlewood Park.

Over 200 steps from the train tracks to the top of the bluffs.

Bluffs overlooking the tracks and Meramec river in Castlewood State Park.

A house in Castlewood that still looks much like it did in the '20s.

Geese on the Wildlife Rescue Center (Lone Wolf) pond, January 1, 2013

We kayaked from Sherman to Castlewood Sunday, October 21, 2012. Great weather and fall colors. If you are looking for a close, easy, two hour float, this is it.

We kayaked from Sherman to Castlewood Sunday, October 21, 2012. Great weather and fall colors. If you are looking for a close, easy, two hour float, this is it.