Annual scenic drive to offer meandering course in four Southeast Missouri counties

Winding through four counties across the region, the Mississippi River Valley Scenic Drive, coming up Saturday and Sunday, offers a variety of spots for people who wish to explore Southeast Missouri.

Businesses, museums, historic sites, wineries, state parks, bridges, stores, lakes and gardens are just some of the features on this year's tour. New this year are the Frizel-Welling House in Jackson, Apple Creek Vineyard & Winery in Friedheim and the Country Store Emporium and 531 Wash House, both in Uniontown, Mo.

Ruth Rellergert, who co-owns the Wash House with Kathy Renner, said the shop, which has antiques and some new items, opened in June. The shop is in a building that was built in 1897 and once housed a wash house.

The bricks the house is built with were made by the great-grandfathers of Rellergert and Renner. There also is a two-story brick house on the property. Rellergert said she grew up in the Uniontown area, but now lives in Bonne Terre, Mo. Renner, who grew up in the Crosstown-Frohna area, lives near the property.

"We're right on it, so hopefully people will stop," Rellergert said.

Chat Wonn of Cape Girardeau takes a photo of an azalea bloom, Wednesday, April 23, 2014, at Pinecrest Azalea Gardens in Oak Ridge, Mo. The azaleas are not yet in full bloom, but the dogwoods, jonquils and daffodils are all in bloom. Wonn has been out to the gardens twice this year and plans to return next week to catch the azaleas in full bloom. "Its nearby and there are many many flowers. Its a good landscape," Wonn said of his reason for visiting the gardens. (Laura Simon)

She said business has been "really good."

A bumble bee visits an azalea bloom Wednesday at Pinecrest Azalea Gardens in Oak Ridge The gardens is one of the stops for this weekend’s Mississippi River Valley Scenic Drive. (Laura Simon)

"We just didn't know what to expect. We started with just the wash house, which has two floors," then expanded into a couple of rooms of the old house.

Judging by the calls she's received this week, drive coordinator Estelee Wood said she thinks turnout should be good for this 24th edition of the event. When the weather is nice, as many as 3,000 to 4,000 motorists have taken the drive, she said.

Brochures are available at locations around the area. People may call Wood at 275-7487 for locations.

Because this is a self-conducted tour, participants may begin where they want and stay as long as they want.

"There's no schedule or routine. They can go where they like," Wood said.

Wood said the idea for the tour occurred to her 24 years ago after she and her husband attended a craft festival in Peoria, Ill. The Spoon River Drive, which goes through Peoria, was held along with it, so thousands of people visited.

She thought this area should have something like the drive because it has better scenery -- as opposed to corn fields. Not only that, the drive would give people a chance to meet and greet others in the area.

And it grows every year with businesses and attractions, she added, usually by word of mouth.

"We always keep a variety of things," Wood said, noting the tour includes the Lazy L Safari Park, featuring wild animals from around the world; the quilt show at the Lutheran Heritage Center & Museum in Altenburg, Mo.; and Hemman Winery in Brazeau, Mo., which offers a cookout meal that has people lined up for lunch at 9 a.m.

Flower lovers may drive through Pinecrest Azalea Gardens in Oak Ridge, which Wood said should be "just about right for Saturday." Saxon Lutheran Memorial in Frohna has a Living History Farm where people can view bread making, butter churning, blacksmithing, hand-hewing logs and animal care; and Pie Safe in Pocahontas, which sells pies, cakes and brownies and is always busy, she said.

The Bollinger County Museum of Natural History offers children a chance to see dinosaur fossils and Civil War, American Indian Ice Age and regional history exhibits. The discover and play area also has a new dinosaur dig space.

Bollinger Mill State Historic Site in Burfordville is on the tour, as well, and gives visitors a chance to see a 19th century grist mill and the oldest covered bridge in Missouri, the brochure says.

The Frizel-Welling House will have two rooms open to the public for the first time. The residence is where the first Presbyterian church, Mason hall and public library in Jackson were organized in the early 1800s. It also was the first house in Jackson to have electric lights, as one of its boarders was installing electricity in the old courthouse in Jackson and installed power in lieu of payment, Wood said.

Steve Ford of Franklin, Tenn., now owns the house.

"[Ford is] very excited and enthusiastic about turning it into a museum," Wood said.

The drive concludes with a 7 p.m. "Gaslight Hymn Sing" at Apple Creek Presbyterian Church. The gas lights are lit only for the hymn sing and music will be provided by the Gas Light Singers from Presbyterian Church in Jackson and local instrumental musicians.

Next year, for the 25th annual drive, Wood said it will be bigger and better and expanded to three days.

"We will have extra activities, events and extra different sites," Wood said.

For more information and to see a map, visit the drive's Facebook page, facebook.com/pages/Mississippi-River-Valley-Scenic-Drive/254791097936958.

rcampbell@semissourian.com

388-3639