Most early records of Wheatland were lost when the courthouse in Hickory burned in 1852, a storm destroyed much of the building in 1879, and another fire destroyed the new courthouse in 1881. Frederick Kern and Joseph S. Naflziger incorporated this town on Dec. 7, 1869. While it is very likely that the city looked like wild prairie land in its early days, by 1880, there were a general store, blacksmith shop, hardware store, sawmill and grist mill. The town, which had a population of about 330 people in 2021, got its first school in 1885 and its first church in 1888.
In mid-2001, Ron and Mary Jenkins created a 3/8-mile dirt race track at the corner of Highways 54 and 83 in Wheatland. They operated that racetrack successfully and grew its reputation until they sold it to Forrest and Charlotte Lucas in 2004. The racetrack reopened in 2006 following a multi-million-dollar makeover and is now known as Lucas Oil Speedway. You may have seen one of the televised races from this location.
When you are in Wheatland, be sure to stop and eat at one of the locally-owned restaurants. Find homestyle meals at GiGi's Café or grab tacos for the road at BluTaco. Hickamoo is a great place to find convenience store items after enjoying a fabulous meal, and there is plenty of room to park even the biggest RVs.
Harvest Festival – This festival starts with a parade. Then, you can join family games and activities before winding down at a concert at various sites in Wheatland.
Hickory County Fair – See the animals, ride the carnival rides and eat food at this June event at Lucas Motor Speedway.
Heritage Days – Visit with over 200 arts and crafts vendors at this October festival held at Drake Harbor in Warsaw.
Warsaw Pioneer Heritage Days – Enjoy this small-town festival featuring crafts, food and music at various venues in Warsaw.
Gateway Arch National Park is about 220 miles northeast of Wheatland. The government dedicated this park to all types of expansion. Take the ride to the top of the arch, and you may feel it swaying slightly. The arch's design allows it to sway up to 1 inch in a 20-mph wind. It can sway up to 18 inches when strong winds blow. Don't worry because this arch's support system goes 20 feet underground. When you get back on the ground, be sure to visit the museum located at the arch's base.
About 193 miles from Wheatland along US-60 E, Ozark National Scenic Riverways is unique among national areas because it protects a river system. Floating, hiking and camping are some of the most popular activities along the spring-fed Current River and Jacks Fork River, known as two of the best float rivers in the country. Canoeing, kayaking and rafting are other forms of recreation that visitors enjoy here. The park also hosts hundreds of freshwater springs as well as many caves, trails and historic sites.
Hot Springs National Park contains 47 natural hot springs. Most people head to Bathhouse Row to enjoy the brewery and art museum, go shopping and get a spa treatment. You can fill up your containers with this mineral-rich water for free in front of City Hall. Humongous springs under the ground keep the water flowing freely.
Ha Ha Tonka State Park near Camdenton is a beautiful place to go hiking. You'll want to see the ruins of the stone castle. Workers built it as a summer home for the Robert McClure Snyder, Sr., family before the stock market crash of 1929, when it was converted into a hotel. A fire destroyed it in 1941. You will also want to explore the sinkholes, caves and other geological features at this park.
Table Rock Lake State Park is a fantastic place to fish. You may also want to go for a hike under the tall hickory and oak trees. There are two campgrounds at this state park, with both offering full hookups.
Harry S. Truman State Park is another fantastic place to go fishing, and you can find boats to rent and fishing supplies at its marina. This park on the Osage River is also a favorite place to go sailing. There are miles of hiking trails, which are especially beautiful in the fall.
You may want to go about 55 miles northeast of Wheatland to see the National Shrine of Mary, Mother of the Church in Laurie. Trees surround this statue, and it overlooks a small lake. The steel statue shows a young Mary with her arms outstretched. This statue slowly rotates on her base because the designer could not decide if she should face people or face the alter. Engraved on the statue's black base are thousands of names of mothers. The staff adds new names every six weeks.
Lake of the Ozark Campgrounds makes it easy to visit Wheatland and the surrounding area. You may want to stay at Lake of the Ozarks State Park near Kaiser. This state park is a terrific spot to go fishing, hiking and caving. At Osage Beach RV Park, most of the sites come with a patio, and there is a swimming pool. You can find seasonal sites at Peaceful Valley Resort & RV Park near Sunrise Beach.
Motorhomes are divided into Class A, B, and C vehicles. On average expect to pay $185 per night for Class A, $149 per night for Class B and $179 per night for Class C. Towable RVs include 5th Wheel, Travel Trailers, Popups, and Toy Hauler. On average, in Wheatland, MO, the 5th Wheel trailer starts at $70 per night. Pricing for the Travel Trailer begins at $60 per night, and the Popup Trailer starts at $65 per night.
Do you need to be a certain age to rent an RV in Wheatland?Yes. The minimum age is 25 to be eligible to get an RV Rental in Wheatland from RVshare.
Does RVshare have emergency roadside assistance?Yes. Every RV rental booked through RVshare receives 24/7 emergency roadside assistance.
Does RVshare offer one way RV rentals in Wheatland?Yes. Prior to renting any RV, check with the owner since not all will offer this particular option.