Weston Missouri - The Town That Refused to Die

Weston, Missouri

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The town was torn apart by the devastation of the Civil War, never to recover its prior heyday status. After the war ended in 1865, all Hemp production stopped, it being too labor intensive to make profitable without slavery. In 1869, the railroad was extended south to Kansas City, but it was to late for Weston’s recovery. By 1870, the town’s population had fallen to just 900 people.

If all that Weston had been through wasn’t enough, the city was yet to experience two more disasters. The first event would change Weston’s life forever when the devastating flood of 1881 occurred. When the waters receded the river slipped into an old channel almost two miles away, permanently ending any riverboat traffic.

Then, in December of 1890, Weston experienced another devastating fire in its downtown district. Weston was on its way to becoming a ghost town.

However, the people of Weston persevered. Tobacco was a still a strong agricultural product and many of its area residents stayed, though it would be more than sixty years before the city was to see a renaissance

In the late 1950’s, the rich heritage of Weston resurfaced and the Weston Historical Museum was founded in 1960. The community began to look at its historic buildings and more than 100 antebellum homes started to be restored. Many people in Weston now believe that it was the “disaster” of the flood of 1890 that “saved” the town for today. No longer on a growth path such as Kansas City and St. Joseph, Weston’s original buildings remained intact.

In 1972, twenty-two blocks of Weston were designated as a Historic District and placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The 1980’s saw a revitalization of the downtown business district as the empty storefronts were bought or leased, showcasing antiques, collectibles, specialty items and other novelties.

Today, Weston’s businesses, organizations and individuals have joined together to restore Weston to a place of pride, billing itself as the "Town that Time Forgot." Lined with antique shops and restaurants, the visitor can easily step into the past.

Other Weston attractions include a 1,055 acre state park on the Missouri River; the McCormick Distilling Company (tours not allowed); the former German Lutheran Evangelical Church, built in 1867, which houses the cellars of the Pirtle Winery; O'Malley's 1842 Irish Pub where visitors can sample Irish beer in the cellar of the oldest brewery west of the Hudson River.

Just a short trip from Kansas City, Weston is tucked away in the Missouri River Bluffs just 25 miles north of Kansas City. Weston has a little to offer everyone including history, romance, shopping, casual and fine dining, wineries and museums.

Pirtle's Winery in Weston, Missouri

Pirtles Winery courtesy Weston Website

Hotel Weston in Weston, Missouri

Hotel Weston, January, 2004, Kathy Weiser

The Hotel Weston, formerly the St. George Hotel, built in 1846, has now been fully restored and is again open for business. The fire in December 1890 left the building in ruins, but two street side brick walls were left standing. With an added brick facade, those two walls are part of the current building, which dates to 1891. The building is now ten feet shorter than the original building. Except for the time between the fire and the reconstruction, the hotel was run continuously until 1984 when a small fire occurred in one of the three apartments on the first floor. Today, the hotel features a bakery, wine bank, and spa in its historic surroundings.

Nearby Weston Bend State Park, administered by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, offers scenic overlooks, camping facilities, and hiking and biking trails. Four tobacco barns are located within the park's boundaries and one is used to tell the story of tobacco production.

More outdoor adventure can be found at the Snow Creek Ski Area. Snow Creek's snowmaking capabilities keep the slopes open from mid-December through mid-March.

Updated: April, 2005

Weston Bend State Park near Weston, Missouri

Weston Bend State Park, courtesy

Missouri State Parks

Snow Creek Ski Area near Weston, Missouri

Snow Creek Ski Area, courtesy Snow Creek Website

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