In the Ozarks as a youth I remember swimming at the Rockaway Beach town famous during the 1960’s. I decided it would be fun to take my friend to get pizza at the Cellar Restaurant . The Pizza Cellar has looked the same for 50 years. You walk down steep steps to a old cellar that serves good thin crust pizza.
Rockaway, which is hailed as the first resort community on Lake Taneycomo. As one advertisement in 1921 put it: “This charming crystal lake is 25 miles long. It is only 50 miles south. The lake is easily accessible. It is a great natural playground for Springfield people.” The summer nights are always cool and delightful, without mosquitoes. Many small cabins were built to accommodate the summer visitors.
During the 1960’s plans were made to build Table Rock Dam on the White River. This caused the water to become very cold. The town would go from very few inhabitants to, on weekends, 5,000. One summer July 4th, 1965, there was a riot. Rowdy teenagers on Harley Davidson motorcycles caused an out of control party.
Nearly 200 individuals faced arrest and charges. The charges included a variety of crimes like disturbing the peace and contributing to the delinquency of minors. They also included possession of liquor, violation of traffic laws, and indecent exposure.
Now most people go to Table Rock Lake while Rockaway beach is used for trout fishing. The little cabins stay. They bring back many memories of life before the White River turned into a large lake.
Took a scenic drive to the small town of Rockaway Beach, Missouri. Growing up in the Ozarks as a youth I remember swimming at the Rockaway Beach town famous during the 1960’s. I decided it would be fun to take my friend to get pizza at the Cellar Restaurant . The Pizza Cellar has looked the same for 50 years. You walk down steep steps to a old cellar that serves good thin crust pizza.
Rockaway, which is hailed as the first resort community on Lake Taneycomo. As one advertisement in 1921 put it: “This charming crystal lake is 25 miles long. It is only 50 miles south. The lake is easily accessible. It is a great natural playground for Springfield people.” The summer nights are always cool and delightful, without mosquitoes. Many small cabins were built to accommodate the summer visitors.
During the 1960’s plans were made to build Table Rock Dam on the White River. This caused the water to become very cold. The town would go from very few inhabitants to, on weekends, 5,000. One summer July 4th, 1965, there was a riot. Rowdy teenagers on Harley Davidson motorcycles caused an out of control party.
Nearly 200 individuals faced arrest and charges. The charges included a variety of crimes like disturbing the peace and contributing to the delinquency of minors. They also included possession of liquor, violation of traffic laws, and indecent exposure.
Now most people go to Table Rock Lake while Rockaway beach is used for trout fishing. The little cabins stay. They bring back many memories of life before the White River turned into a large lake.
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