Eldon, Missouri

Life in Eldon, Missouri, explained by people who’ve lived in Eldon:

*Response format = Answer (Your name, How long you’ve lived in Eldon)

Eldon Favorites

What’s your favorite thing about living in Eldon?

Being near outdoor activities and being able to bike to friends’ houses. (Kelly, 3 years)
Quiet, shopping, schools. (Anonymous, 11 years)
Small town. (Tammy, 21 years)
Kids could be with friends parked in town somewhere and others would stop to talk. Many times the police would stop to talk. (Carol, I lived there for 22 years. I left Eldon in 1969.)
The people and the sense of community here. (Robert, 40 years)
Hometown feel. (Bryon, 41 years)
Walking everywhere. (Anonymous)

What’s your least favorite thing about living in Eldon?

The poverty and drugs. (Kelly, 3 years)
Drugs, thieves. (Anonymous, 11 years)
Not enough stores. Not enough jobs. We need manufacturing jobs. (Tammy, 21 years)
The low rent slum trailer parks that attract drug addicts and thieves. (Robert, 40 years)
Unkept properties. (Bryon, 41 years)
Schools so spread out. (Anonymous)

What are fun things to do in Eldon?

Swim, bike, parks. (Kelly, 3 years)
Parks. (Anonymous, 11 years)
Music. (Tammy, 21 years)
We would cruise streets, park and talked to friends, drive-in theater, sports to attend at night, and close to the Lake. (Carol, 22 years)
You have the pool in warmer months, the parks are pretty, a bowling alley, the Retro Arcade by Walmart. (Robert, 40 years)
Play golf sports, pool, parks system, dining. (Bryon, 41 years)
Rock Island Park. Air park. Cree Mee. The drive in theater. Watching the trains. (Anonymous)

What’s Eldon known for?

Ice Cream. (Kelly, 3 years)
Old rail road town. (Anonymous, 11 years)
Turkey festival. (Tammy, 21 years)
Gate Way to The Lake of The Ozarks. (Carol, 22 years)
We are known for being the main gateway community to the Lake of the Ozarks as well as the inspiration for Petticoat Junction and Green Acres. We are also known as the the home of an Olympic athlete and have been the home to many famous (and infamous) people. (Robert, 40 years)
Hometown of the Lake, excellent school system. (Bryon, 41 years)
Rock Island railroad and petticoat junction. (Anonymous)

What’s the crime like in Eldon? (hot spot areas, etc.)

It’s spread out. (Kelly, 3 years)
Not too bad, police seem to be getting it under control. (Anonymous, 11 years)
Not bad, but getting worse. (Tammy, 21 years)
I don’t remember there being much crime. (Carol, 22 years)
Like most small communities Eldon isn’t perfect, but compared to the rest of the state it isn’t bad either. (Robert, 40 years)
Some drug activity, some theft. (Bryon, 41 years)
Graffiti at the parks, Walmart. (Anonymous)

Any advice for people moving to Eldon?

Take advantage of all the lake area has to offer. (Kelly, 3 years)
Nice town, close to Lake of the Ozarks and Jefferson City. (Anonymous, 11 years)
Go for it. Property values and cost of living are great here. (Robert, 40 years)
Be social and attend all school/city functions. Great people in a great town. (Bryon, 41 years)
Take in the history. (Anonymous)

Share an experience you’ve had in Eldon (fun, crazy, dangerous, etc.).

The 4th of July is always fun! (Kelly, 3 years)
Love the Live Music, Whittles Block Parties. (Anonymous, 11 years)
As a member of the community for so long it would be hard to name just one. (Robert, 40 years)
Eldon Mustang home football games take over the town, excellent tailgating and great people. (Bryon, 41 years)
Walking from the end of the runway, where I lived to el Rancho to swim and my brother walking into the stop sign at the corner next to the Bucket. (Anonymous)

How do you think Eldon will change over the next 10 years?

I think it will grow along with the lake area. (Kelly, 3 years)
Growing in business. (Anonymous, 11 years)
I think it will improve. Get bigger and better. (Tammy, 21 years)
All towns with change whether for the good or bad. (Carol, 22 years)
I believe it will continue to grow and prosper. (Robert, 40 years)
Added manufacturing, cleaning up city hall and the contunued improvement if the school system will make Eldon an even better community. (Bryon, 41 years)
Bringing history to life. (Anonymous)

Any other interesting facts about Eldon?

Lots of history. (Anonymous, 11 years)
Eldon is close to Jefferson City, Lake of The Ozarks where there is an outlet mall. (Carol, 22 years)
Eldon has a rich railroad history but doesn’t capitalize on it as much as it should. Eldon was once home to David Allen Coe as well as a few actors and other famous people. (Robert, 40 years)
The show “Petticoat Junction” was based off of our town. (Bryon, 41 years)
My great grandpa was lawyer white, everyone knew or seemed to know dad (Earl White) and uncle Leland (Robert L White). (Anonymous)