Grand Gulf State Park (Missouri)
Grand Gulf State Park is a state-operated, privately owned and publicly accessible, geologic preserve near Thayer, Missouri, United States, encompassing a forked canyon that is the remnant of an ancient collapsed dolomite cave system. The land that is now the park was acquired by conservationist Leo Drey (1917–2015) before becoming part of the Missouri state parks system. The 322-acre (130 ha) state park has been operated by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources under a lease agreement with the L-A-D Foundation since 1984. Grand Gulf was declared a National Natural Landmark in 1971 as an excellent example of karst topography and underground stream piracy. A 60-acre (24 ha) portion of the park was designated by the state as the Grand Gulf Natural Area in 1986.
| Grand Gulf State Park | |
|---|---|
Water entering this cave reappears nine miles (14 km) away at Mammoth Spring. | |
Location in Missouri Grand Gulf State Park (Missouri) (the United States) | |
| Location | Oregon County, Missouri, United States |
| Coordinates | 36°32′43″N 91°38′43″W |
| Area | 321.96 acres (130.29 ha) |
| Elevation | 712 ft (217 m) |
| Established | 1984 |
| Visitors | 57,524 (in 2022) |
| Governing body | Missouri Department of Natural Resources |
| Website | Grand Gulf State Park |
U.S. National Natural Landmark | |
| Designated | June 1971 |