Valley Park was just one of the many resorts that once lined the Meramec River in southwestern St. Louis County.
The railroad dominates the area, and people would come out from the city and spend the weekend in the area. I wish it were still like that.
But one wonderful remnant remains from that time period: the Frisco Hotel in downtown Valley Park.
When I was a teen in the '50s, I worked in the pro shop at Greenbriar CC. Many of the caddies were from Valley. They did have some stories about the – ahem – "checkered past" of the hotel… Of course, in those days it was the "checkered present"…
Any stories you can share, Tom???
Just anecdotes, Charlie. While it took care of the RR men and their need for accommodations, when the RR diminished, it “serviced” other clientele…
Tom,Thank you for all of your interesting information about this area. It is fascinating.
Amazing old place!
Thank YOU, Chris!Hey – if you don't share the knowledge, it dies. There are just too many unanswered questions about the past that COULD have been answered…It pales with what you have done here with my beloved St. Louis area. While I did get around the area in my youth, having gone to HS and collitch in "the City," you have shown many more areas than even I explored waay back when.