Columbia’s Rock Bridge Memorial State Park attracted 238,460 visitors in 2006, according to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.
Although Rock Bridge is regionally popular, Table Rock State Park attracted the largest number of visitors of any state park in 2006: 1.2 million, according to the department.
The total area of the park is 356 acres, which makes it “one of the smaller parks, but one of the busiest,” said Mike Patton, a ranger at Table Rock State Park. He said proximity to Branson helps attract visitors.
Rock Bridge, which has 2,273 acres, draws visitors from the local area, as well as visitors from out of state, said Park Superintendent Jim Gast.
“We’ve had people from as far away as New Jersey and Toronto come specifically for wild cave tours,” he said.
Meredith Donaldson, director of the Friends of Rock Bridge Memorial State Park, said she likes the trails in the park and even knows hidden areas to visit.
“It’s important for human development to have contact with what’s wild and natural,” Donaldson said. “It’s so much more interesting than a lawn, but you have to be out there to appreciate it.”
As the only park ranger on staff at Table Rock, Patton said the high attendance keeps him busy.
“On the campgrounds – there’s only one ranger on the park — you have to enforce quiet hours, make sure everybody’s behaving, make sure they’re not injuring the trees to make hot dog sticks,” he said.
“On weekends, the park’s population increases to that of a small town,” Patton added. “Any problems you could have in a town, you could have in a park.”