Back in the 1950’s, roadside parks were very popular with vacationers and the Missouri Department of Transportation created many of these parks to encourage tourism. Fast food was still considered a luxury for many, and the common way to grab a bite while traveling was to pack a lunch before you left, and stop at a roadside park for a picnic lunch. This is how Olendorf Roadside Park came about.
Olendorf Roadside Park is a great place to stop and rest, with plenty of shade trees and picnic tables. When this park was first created, it was said to be only one of two parks along Highway 54 in Missouri, and the largest such park in the state. The dedication ceremony for this park was held on May 1, 1952. The park was named for and dedicated to the memory of Frank Olendorf, former Chairman of the Missouri State Highway Commission.
This cache was placed to bring recognition to all those involved in creating this park. As you stop, take a minute and look around. Imagine children running around, as their mom & dad stretch their legs from a long day of driving, and unpack the picnic basket.
When visiting, please remember to CITO and bring a bag for garbage. Unfortunately, this park is not used near as much as it has in the past, and there are no garbage cans now. You will need a pen or pencil and TOOT may be helpful in retrieving this cache. Please place cache back as found.
Congratulations to ArtieD on FTF!
