Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park covers 8,781 acres next to Tom Sauk Mountain (that we recently hiked!) in the Ozark mountains in Missouri. The term “shut-in” refers to a place where the river’s breadth is limited by hard rock that is resistant to erosion. In these shut-ins, the river cascades over and around smooth-worn igneous rock, creating a natural water park that is used by park visitors when water levels are not dangerously high.

The park was the mid-19th century homestead of the Johnston family, Scotch-Irish immigrants who had moved west from the Appalachian region. When the Johnston family sold the land three generations later, most of it was purchased by Joseph Desloge, a St. Louis civic leader and conservationist. Desloge assembled most of the park, including the shut-ins and two miles of river frontage, over a period of 17 years, then donated it to the state in 1955.

The shut ins definitely looked like the place to go to hang out during the hot months of summer! Maybe next time we’re out that way we can go swimming!

We also stopped and explored the old cemetery. (and saw a groundhog!)