News Releases 383

News Release No. 383

MISSOURI STATE PARKS AND STATE HISTORIC SITES
PLAY HOST TO FALL FUN ACTIVITIES

Volume 33-383	Contact: Sue Holst
(For immediate release)	573-751-6510

JEFFERSON CITY, MO, SEPT. 20, 2005 -- Enjoy an evening of spooky stories or learn about creatures of the night in Missouri state parks and historic sites. Sponsored by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, the events are free and open to the public. The following state parks and historic sites are hosting fall or Halloween-related activities:

Oct. 1 -- Know the Dark, Rock Bridge Memorial State Park, Columbia, 573-449-7402. Meet at 7 p.m. to explore the park after dark on this 1.5-mile hike, learning about nocturnal animals such as owls, bats and fireflies along the way. Experiment with how night vision works and watch things glow in the dark. Reservations are required.

Oct. 14 -- Miller's Tales, Dillard Mill State Historic Site, Davisville, 573-244-3120. Storytelling will begin at 6 p.m. in the area of the mill. While stories will be of a ghostly nature, they should not bother young children. Bring a lawn chair or blanket to sit on. Refreshments will be served.

Oct. 21 -- Fall Storytelling, Bollinger Mill State Historic Site, Burfordville, 573-243-4591. Beginning at 7 p.m., have an exhilarating time listening to scary stories around a bonfire. Bring a lawn chair or blanket to sit on. Refreshments will be served.

Oct. 28 -- The Ghosts of Onondaga Cave, Onondaga Cave State Park, Leasburg, 573-245-6576. Flashlight tours of Onondaga Cave will be given from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. The tours will highlight the human history of the cave. Please bring your own flashlight. Reservations are highly recommended.

Oct. 28 -- Ha Ha Haunt, Ha Ha Tonka State Park, Camdenton, 573-346-2986. Walk along a jack-o-lantern-lit Spring Trail, eat s'mores and make a craft. The event runs from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Visitors should park in the lot by the lake and take Spring Trail to the Mill Shelter.

Oct. 29 -- Halloween Storytelling, Pershing State Park, Laclede, 660-963-2299. Listen as storyteller Jim "Two Crows" Wallen spins tales of spooky stories and ghostly gatherings. The event will begin at 7 p.m. in the park's enclosed shelter. Refreshments will be served.

Oct. 29 -- Halloween Happenings, Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park, Lesterville, 573-546-2450. Meet at 1 p.m. on the patio near the park office to make creepy crafts. Gather in the park's amphitheater at 7 p.m. for stories, music and jokes during the Halloween vaudeville show. A costume parade will follow, along with a trip into the night to meet some of its creatures.

Oct. 29 -- The Dark Frontier, Nathan Boone Homestead State Historic Site, Ash Grove, 417-751-3266. After a candlelit tour of the site's two cemeteries, visitors are invited to settle by the campfire for stories of witchcraft in the early Ozarks. The event begins at 7 p.m. Dress warmly.

Nov. 5 -- Fall Rocks, Missouri Mines State Historic Site, Park Hills, 573-431-6226. Learn about mining in the Old Lead Belt of southeast Missouri. Participate in spooky activities and visit the mining and mineral museum, which is free during the event. The event begins at 6 p.m.

For more information about these events, call the individual park or historic site or contact the Missouri Department of Natural Resources toll free at 800-334-6946 (voice) or 800-379-2419 (Telecommunications Device for the Deaf). For more information about state parks and historic sites, visit the Web at www.mostateparks.com.

For news releases on the Web, visit www.dnr.mo.gov/newsrel. For a complete listing of the department's upcoming meetings, hearings and events, visit the department's online calendar at www.dnr.mo.gov/calendar/parkssearch.do.

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News Release No. 383

MISSOURI STATE PARKS AND STATE HISTORIC SITES PLAY HOST TO FALL FUN ACTIVITIES

MISSOURI STATE PARKS AND STATE HISTORIC SITES
PLAY HOST TO FALL FUN ACTIVITIES