Times Beach, located approximately 17 miles southwest of St. Louis, was initially established in 1925 as a promotional venture by the St. Louis Star-Times newspaper. For a cost of $67.50 and a six-month subscription, individuals seized the opportunity to own land in this scenic riverside locale. At its zenith, the town boasted a population of around 2,000 residents, along with amenities like a school, church, post office, gas station, and dance hall.
Decline and Abandonment
The decline of Times Beach commenced in the early 1970s, marked by challenges such as flooding, erosion, and financial constraints. In an attempt to cut costs, the town enlisted the services of Russell Bliss, a contractor, to suppress dust on its dirt roads. Unbeknownst to the community, Bliss, hired by a chemical company, surreptitiously mixed toxic waste with the oil used for dust suppression. This waste contained alarming levels of dioxin, a highly hazardous chemical known to cause cancer, birth defects, and immune system disorders.
Residents began experiencing unusual symptoms, including rashes, headaches, nausea, and fatigue, while also witnessing dead animals along the roads. In 1982, soil samples revealed record-high dioxin levels, prompting the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to designate Times Beach a Superfund site. Subsequently, the EPA ordered the evacuation and demolition of the entire town, with the last residents departing in 1985, and official dissolution occurring in 1986.
Present-Day Times Beach
Today, Times Beach stands as a haunting ghost town, bearing few remnants of its vibrant past. The once-standing structures, roads, and bridges have been razed, and the contaminated soil either incinerated or buried. The site has been transformed into Route 66 State Park, named after the historic highway that traversed the town. This park now hosts a visitor center, museum, hiking trails, and picnic areas. The lone surviving original structure is the old roadhouse, formerly a dance hall and later the town hall, repurposed as a historical exhibit showcasing photographs, artifacts, and memorabilia from Times Beach’s peak and demise.
Conclusion
Times Beach serves as a tragic testament to the destructive impact of environmental disasters and human negligence on a community. Additionally, it highlights the perils associated with toxic chemicals like dioxin, underscoring the necessity for proper disposal and regulatory measures. While Times Beach may have transformed into a ghost town, it remains an integral part of Missouri’s history, offering valuable lessons for the future.