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Mark Twain Lake Quietly Turns 20

Mark Twain Lake Quietly Turns 20

September 8, 2004

20 years ago this month on September 8th, 1984 the Mark Twain Lake and Clarence Cannon Dam were dedicated in a ceremony held at what is now the Warren G. See recreation area below the dam. Many different dignitaries and politicians were present to throw the ceremonial first switch that released water from the spillways for the first time. Thousands of people braved a dedication ceremony that the Hannibal Courier Post punned was 'worth wading for'.

Appearances by singers Johnny Cash and Helen Cornelius were the bright spot in what most people remember as a soggy, dreary day. Although 75,000 people were expected for the ceremonies only about 7,500 to 10,000 showed up due to the inclimate weather. Food vendors that had geared up to serve the huge crowds had trucked in enough food to feed 40,000 people. This included five tons of BBQ beef, five tons of cole slaw, and 42,000 cans of soft drinks. Much of this food had to be trucked back out unsold with one vendor estimating a loss of as much as $10,000 for the event.

Many present noted that the dreary dedication and dismal turnout were appropriate considering the history of the project which had been authorized by the U.S. Congress in 1962 largely as a result of the actions of representative Clarence Cannon for whom the project is named. Many different setbacks caused the project to be behind schedule and over budget. The building of the dam was interrupted by a fire in the plant that supplied its cement and later by a flood that breached the earthen section of the dam that was still under construction.

In 1984, many people hoped that the Mark Twain Lake project would bring unprecedented economic prosperity to the rural and largely agricultural region in which it was built. The St. Louis Post Dispatch reported that local Realtors expected residential property to sell for $5,000 - $15,000 per acre and commercial property to sell for $1,000 to $5,000 per acre. In Monroe City, two new banks and a mall were constructed. A $13 million theme park (now known as Mark Twain Landing) was under construction at the time of the dedication.

Now What?

After 20 years, has the Mark Twain Lake and Clarence Cannon Dam project lived up to the expectations of those who supported it and all those that braved the rain to see its dedication? As I write this, and thumb through our scrapbook that has so many articles about the dedication; this is the question that looms large over the lake like the rain cloud that settled over the dedication 20 years ago. The dedication of the Clarence Cannon Dam made headlines in newspapers all over Missouri. From St. Louis, Missouri to Quincy, Illinois and beyond people were reading about the new dam on Route J in Ralls County.

I have been reading newspapers and looking on the Internet to see if any newspapers or magazines had noticed that it had been 20 years since the media spotlight had shone on that dreary day at the spillway when the ceremonial switch was thrown. I haven't heard anything about it. After all of the hopes and dreams that so many had pinned to the dam's construction, it seemed appropriate to me that we take a look back on what the lake area has and has not accomplished.

Mark Twain Lake has grown over the last 20 years, but probably not in the way that most envisioned it on that rainy day in 1984. There are no theme parks with tens of thousands of visitors. No condominium developments with 500 units. Land is not selling for in excess of $5,000 per acre. The population of area towns has not doubled or tripled as many area residents had predicted. Route J is still just a 2 lane road, not a 4 lane interstate highway as some had envisioned.

What Mark Twain Lake does have are:

• Several successful motel, condominium, and cabin developments that together boast hundreds of units.
• A water park that has more attractions than any comparable venture for well over 100 miles.
• Two marinas that are always full to capacity with waiting lists for slips.
• Many very busy U.S. Army Corps & Missouri State campground facilities that together have hundreds of sites.
• Numerous private campgrounds with many sites being rented annually.
• Several convenience stores and bait shops, some of which are open year round.
• Some excellent restaurants.
• A growing population of retirees and other people that have decided to relocate around the lake.
• A growing housing and real estate market.
• Two multipurpose trails that offer over 30 miles of scenic outdoor beauty for horseback riding, mountain biking, or hiking.

A drive around Mark Twain Lake reveals about an equal number of business success and failure. Some businesses are shuttered, but others remain open and are growing. The seasonal nature of the business at the lake creates an environment that is very challenging for business operators. Often it takes a number of years before a new business is able to get enough revenue to be profitable. Mark Twain Lake has never become the boom town and overnight success that many of it proponents hoped for. Only the most dedicated entrepreneurs are successful.

Several months before the dedication ceremony another event took place just 2 miles south of the dam on route J. Cannon Dam General Store opened it's doors. Over 20 years later, my family still operates our business from the same location. Our business has grown dramatically over the years and we have changed to meet the ever-evolving business climate. As we wrap up the 2004 season, and the 20th anniversary of the Clarence Cannon Dam, Mark Twain Lake, and Cannon Dam General Store quietly passes in to history at least some of us still possess the optimism of the thousands that braved the rain and mud to dedicate the dam many years ago.

Kurt Meyer
Cannon Dam General Store and Cabins
Perry, Mo.
Mark Twain Lake

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