Camp Joy Cabin Dedicated at Lebanon Route 66 Festival in Missouri

JUNE 19, 2019:  The sole remaining cabin of Camp Joy in Lebanon, Missouri, has been moved to Boswell Park, restored and dedicated as the capstone of Lebanon's annual Route 66 Festival.

It has taken four months of restoration and about 100 gathered by it for presentation of plaques to those responsible for it.

One plaque was given to Lee Sing who donated it.  Others went to Mayor Jared Carr and City Administrator Mike Schumacher.  Bruce Owen was the driving force behind the whole project.

Camp Joy was an early tourist camp across from present day Cowan Civic Center and founded in 1927 by the Spears family, one year after the gravel road through town became Route 66.  The children of the Spears were in attendance.

The cabin measures 16 foot square today, but the original was 12 by 16 foot, with the extra 4 feet added for a bathroom.  There were 4 acres in Camp Joy and a Sinclair gas station.  Some famous overnight guests were the outlaws Bonnie & Clyde, Pretty Boy Floyd and singer Tex Ritter.

Liz and I were very happy to be there.

--RoadDog