A former telephone executive mansion, Mississippi River views, and a forested lake were part of my explorations of Bee Tree County Park in south St. Louis County.

History of the Park

The Southwestern Bell Telephone Company founder, Eugene Nims, previously owned the land. He and his wife called the 192-acre estate “Bee Tree Farm.” They also developed the garden areas near the mansion.

Current State of the Mansion

Sadly, the mansion is vacant now. A sign reads that it could be turned into a bed and breakfast if someone was interested in doing this. It would be nice if the park department would maybe turn it into a museum so you could go inside and explore it.

Hiking by the Mansion

I parked near the mansion and checked out the grounds by it. The structure with woodwork, large windows, rock walls, seems like quite the place to entertain guests when the Nims used it as a weekend retreat.

To the right of the house is a sculpture with a fountain and a garden.

In back, there was a grotto that seemed like it also might have been a fountain at one time.

Into the Woods

I went north of the house and into the woods and found a small trail leading down towards the river. Along it was a broken bench with a tree-filled view.

I walked further, it became a bit more treacherous and came into a ravine and saw the train tracks by the river. I decided to turn back instead of bushwhacking my way to the tracks to the river.

Heading back I saw a narrow footpath leading along the bluffs and walked it some before it became narrower. I decided to head to another footpath I saw up the hill behind the house to the right.

Along the River

I walked along with this one through trees and woods. The path I almost walked down earlier connected to it.

Along this trail, I came across a three-tiered rocky brook and walked down along it. I didn’t follow it down since it became very steep and the rock was slippery. I admired it some before heading on.

Crow’s Roost Trail

This small narrow trail came out of to the Crow’s Roost Trail. I had been on unofficial trails.

The Crow’s Roost Trail includes a lookout. Although this time of year it is blocked some by trees.

The lookout has a double-deck and one part is covered like a gazebo. This trail is wide and graveled. I headed on it towards the lake, and then remembered I had parked way up in the hill and decided to head back and park by the lake.

I noticed the entrance to the Half-Mile Paw Paw trail that went through the woods also to the lake.

Fishermen’s Trail

I drove down to the lake and parked parallel, which seemed the only type of parking available here.

The lake is surrounded by the .8 mile Fishermen’s Trail. This is a wide trail and allows for a complete walk around the entire lake. I walked by fishermen along the shoreline out to catch a large fish.

I saw a blue butterfly near the shore, but it moved before I could take a photo. A tiny turtle looked up at me and then bobbed back down while I did this.

This was my favorite trail with lake views, and forest surrounding it on the far shoreline from the parking area. One trail veers off it called the Cedar Trail at .1 mile. Take this trail if you want a cedar tree walk that loops back to the Fishermen’s Trail.

My Take

My only issue with the park is that the lake and the mansion are a ways from each other. I guess next time I should park by the Crow’s Roost and then walk to the lake using the Paw Paw Trail and then back. Then I would walk up to the mansion and back. Maybe that will work better in spending some trail time here, will have to try it and see.

DETAILS

Drive: Take Interstate 55 south. Use the right three lanes to take exit 197 to merge onto Interstate 255-E toward Chicago. Then use the right lane to take exit 2 to merge onto MO-231/Telegraph Road. Continue on MO-231 S/Telegraph Road then make a left onto Becker Road for 1.5 miles. Then turn left onto Finestown Avenue which ends at the park.

Hours: 8 am to 30 minutes after sunset

Admission: Free

Address: 2701 Finestown Ave, St. Louis, MO 63129

To Learn More About Telephones

The Jefferson Barracks Telephone Museum is nearby if you want to learn more about the history of the telephone. It is housed in a restored 1896 building and features an extensive collection of telephones, telephone-related equipment, and memorabilia.

DETAILS

Drive:

• Take Reavis Barracks Road, Exit 199 off Interstate 55.  Go east for 1.8 miles.
• Turn Right onto Telegraph Road (MO-231) for .2 miles.
• Then turn Left onto Jefferson Barracks Road (Walgreens will be on the corner) and drive .2 miles.
• Jefferson Barracks Road becomes Sherman Avenue.  Continue on Sherman Avenue for .4 miles.
• Turn Left onto Worth Avenue and drive .1 mile.
• Turn Right onto Hancock Avenue and drive 200 feet.
• Turn Left onto Cameron Street.
• Immediately turn right onto the service road.
• The museum is the last building.  Free parking is available directly behind the building, parallel to the sidewalk.  There is also a small parking lot north of the museum.

Hours: 9 am to 2 pm Wednesday through Sunday

Admission: $5 Adults, $4 Seniors, $3 Children (ages 5-12), Free Children (4-Under) and Active Military with ID Free

Address: 12 Hancock Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63125

More Dad Hikes Along The Mississippi River

Sunflowers and Ferry Rides

Our adventure included fields of golden sunflowers and a Mississippi River ferry ride.

Illinois Mississippi River Bluffs

My journey here was to explore two trails along the bluffs on the Illinois side of the Mississippi River just south of St. Louis

Horseshoe Lake State Park

Walking among the green stalks of a cornfield and admiring the lakeside flowers were part of our adventure on Walker’s Island at Horseshoe Lake State Park.

This is an “oxbow” lake which was created more than 3,000 years ago when a section of the Mississippi River was cut off from the main river channel and formed this crescent-shaped lake.

Olin Nature Preserve

A bubbly waterfall and a monument to the Underground Railroad were found on the trails at the Olin Nature Preserve.

Dad Hikes — The area around St. Louis is filled with wondrous sites for families to explore, which I share at Dad Hikes. Many times I will do these hikes alone to learn the lay of the land before we do it as a family. Feel free to share suggestions for hikes to do. Also, post any questions you might have on the hikes!