Times Beach, Ghost town in St. Louis County, United States.
Times Beach sits in a triangular area between the Meramec River and the Frisco Railroad tracks, about 17 miles southwest of St. Louis. The former settlement stretched along the riverbank and was bounded by the rail line, with most lots sitting directly on the water.
A newspaper publisher founded the settlement in 1925 and sold lots bundled with subscriptions as a marketing strategy. A contractor mistakenly spread toxic waste on the dirt roads in 1972, which later led to the evacuation.
The settlement began as small weekend cabins along the riverbank, which later became year-round homes. Many residents left their jobs in the nearby city and stayed permanently because the lots were affordable and the location seemed quiet.
The site is open to visitors again after contaminated soil was removed in the late 1990s. Visitors find few structural remains because most buildings were demolished.
The state acquired the land after the evacuation and later established a park. The area is now part of a recreation zone along the river, though few traces of the former settlement remain visible.
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