Dr. Edmund A. Babler Memorial Sp Shelters

About

Located in the wooded hills of Wildwood, Missouri, just 20 miles west of downtown St. Louis, Dr. Edmund A. Babler Memorial State Park provides day-use picnic shelters ideal for family reunions, company picnics, and group gatherings. The park's three open-air shelters offer rustic charm with stone fireplaces and barbecue grills surrounded by mature hardwood forest. Alta Shelter is the largest, accommodating up to 133 people with three fireplaces and two grills. Cochran Shelter holds approximately 70 people with one fireplace, while Walnut Grove Shelter seats up to 56 with a barbecue grill. All open shelters have nearby flush restrooms and water fountains but no electricity. The historic Henry Babler Enclosed Shelter, built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s, provides a year-round option with heat, air conditioning, a refrigerator, and ADA-accessible restrooms for up to 60 guests. Shelters can be reserved online 30 days to 12 months in advance, or used first-come, first-served when unreserved. The park's 2,439 acres also include hiking and equestrian trails, a separate campground with full hookup sites, and an outdoor education center.

Directions

From St. Louis, take I-64/US 40 west to MO-109 (Babler/Pond exit). Turn right (north) on MO-109 and continue approximately 2 miles to Guy Park Drive. Turn left into the park. Address: 800 Guy Park Drive, Wildwood, MO 63005.