Blake Walsh

15 Best Things to Do in Caruthersville, MO

  • Published 2022/08/25

The city of Caruthersville is in Pemiscot County, on the banks of the magnificent Mississippi River.

This city takes great delight in its heritage, culture, and family.

Likewise, Caruthersville is the seat of Pemiscot County’s county seat, located in the heart of Missouri’s Bootheel region.

Before European migrants arrived, Native Americans lived in the area around Caruthersville.

They belonged to the culture that created enormous earth mounds across the Mississippi Valley.

In 1857, George W. Bushey and John Hardeman Walker planned the layout of Caruthersville.

On May 18, 1874, the City of Caruthersville became a legal entity named after Sam Caruthers.

He served as the region’s first congressional representative.

Caruthersville is home to several historical sites.

One of them is the Murphy Mound Archeological Site, listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The city also offers several recreational activities, such as hiking, golfing, and hiking.

Here are the best things to do in Caruthersville to help you plan your next trip:

Practice Swimming at the Diane Sayre Recreation Center

Diane Sayre Recreation Center boasts a 75-foot by 66-foot indoor Olympic-sized swimming pool.

This center is one of the finest aquatic and leisure facilities between St. Louis and Memphis.

Take advantage of its massive pool with eight lap lanes and a depth range of four feet by 12 feet.

Above the pool’s deepest point rises a diving board with a height of one meter.

Likewise, the pool contains 238,000 gallons of water at an average temperature of 83 to 85 degrees.

The recreation center has an indoor track, locker rooms, conference and activity rooms, and a kitchen.

You can also check out its gymnasium, weight room, racquetball, and tennis courts for your fitness and sports activities.

A smooth cushioned track surface ten feet above the gym floor makes way for leisurely walkers and joggers.

The facility also features a cutting-edge weight room with every piece of fitness gear imaginable.

Use the steppers, stationary cycles, and free weights stations!

The Sportsplex, an outdoor venue for youth sports programs, complements the Diane Sayre Recreation Center.

Try Your Luck at Century Casino Caruthersville

Are you looking to relax in the Missouri Bootheel area?

The good times await you at the famous riverboat casino, Century Casino Caruthersville, on the banks of the majestic Mississippi River.

You can play over 500 gaming machines or seven hot tables and see if you can take home the jackpot.

The Century Casino Caruthersville also offers live entertainment and a variety of dining options to suit every taste.

Stop by Century Casino Caruthersville to park your RV if you want to hit the slots but enjoy taking to the open road.

Play some games, and you might even receive a discount for being a Good Sam or club member.

Admire the River Lights Display at Reynolds Park

Add Reynolds Park in Caruthersville is on your list of places things to go to while you’re here.

As the sun sets, park alongside the river and observe the barges navigating the mighty Mississippi River.

This park is one of Caruthersville’s most popular parks, as it offers stunning views of the Mississippi River.

Reynolds Park features many shaded picnic tables perfect for a late-afternoon lunch.

There is also a boat ramp with river access for launching recreational boats.

During the Christmas season, the park comes alive with beautiful lights reflecting off the river, making it a magical place.

Read a Book at the Caruthersville Public Library

On February 18, 1922, the Caruthersville Women’s Club established the Caruthersville Public Library.

Its first permanent residence was a house on 10th Street.

Since then, the library has moved to a much larger and modern facility, still managing to keep its small-town charm.

Likewise, the library has an impressive collection of books, magazines, movies, and computers.

Spend a day here if you want something to do.

Caruthersville Public Library also houses conference rooms with a smart television.

Likewise, the library hosts the 104-seat Baxter Auditorium, which you can rent for events.

The Library is also home to the Caruthersville Genealogical and Historical Society, which can help you research your family history.

Children are also welcome to the Caruthersville Public Library.

It has a special children’s area with computers and activities for them to do to keep them entertained.

Enjoy Happy Hour with the Locals at Hide Away Lounge

The Hide Away Lounge is a local favorites bar in Caruthersville.

This Lounge is the perfect place to go if you want to relax and have a good time with friends.

The Hide Away Lounge offers a wide selection of beers, wines, cocktails, and a menu of bar food favorites.

The Hide Away Lounge also has pool tables, karaoke, and a resident DJ, making it the perfect place to spend a night out on the town.

It also organizes fundraising events throughout the year to support local causes, so you can drink and do good all at once.

If you’re looking for a fun place to have a few drinks and meet new people, stop by the Hide Away Lounge in Caruthersville.

Win a Game at the Caruthersville Sports Complex

Caruthersville Sports Complex is among the most remarkable complexes in Caruthersville.

Baseball fields and a huge concession area make up the Caruthersville Sports Complex.

This complex hosts various activities throughout the year, including games for the Parks and Recreation baseball, softball teams, and the Caruthersville High School softball team.

Tournaments open at the Caruthersville Sports Complex each year.

Caruthersville Sports Complex also hosts soccer events with fields used for youth and adult games.

Discover the Caruthersville Historic Water Tower

Since 1903, the Caruthersville Historic Water Tower has become a significant landmark for the city.

You can see it from Missouri Highway 84 and the Mississippi River.

The elevated stand-pipe style of the Caruthersville Historic Water Tower is typical of water towers constructed in the 19th and 20th centuries.

It is a noteworthy work from Chicago civil engineer George C. Morgan, who developed water systems across the Midwest.

Older Caruthersville residents recall when the tower functioned as the city’s emerging water system and a local gathering spot.

Back then, people climbed the tower to see Tennessee across the Mississippi River.

Spend a Cozy Afternoon at the Caruthersville Country Club

Caruthersville Country Club is a charming nine-hole course perfect for a round of golf.

This Country Club is on Clubhouse Lane, easily accessible for residents and visitors.

This country club is a family-friendly, privately run club with a challenging nine-hole golf course, a swimming pool, a bar, and dining options.

Likewise, its delectable food has made the club a favorite spot for golfers.

The course is relatively flat, making walking easy through beautiful scenery with lush greens and mature trees.

Whether a seasoned golfer or a beginner, you’ll play a memorable game at the Caruthersville Country Club.

Honor the Soldiers at the General John Riggs Veterans Park

Go west of City Hall on Third Street to find the General John Riggs Veterans Park.

This park gets its name from John Riggs, who enlisted in the Army in 1964 after graduating from Caruthersville High School.

The city named the park after him to honor his decorated military service and productive career.

Moreover, General John Riggs Veterans Park offers locals and visitors a location to express gratitude, admiration, and respect for those in the United States Armed Forces.

The park’s centerpiece is a Huey helicopter with benches to honor numerous conflicts and military branches.

Satisfy Your Hunger at Round House Restaurant

Founded in 1984, the Round House Restaurant takes pride in serving popular homemade comfort food at great prices.

The restaurant serves meals at different times of day, featuring American favorites like burgers, sandwiches, salads, and chicken fried steak.

The Round House Restaurant serves the best chef salad and taco salads.

Likewie, you can order hicken strips, fried or grilled chicken, and bacon.

Round House Restaurant also offers curbside pickup for those who want to enjoy their food in the comfort of their own home.

Other Things to Do Nearby

Caruthersville is a small city, so you might want to explore nearby areas for a fuller experience.

Go Hiking at Okeena Park

Okeena Park is one of the best places to go hiking.

You can find it in Dyersburg, Tennessee, 24 minutes from Caruthersville.

The park also features a generally easy trail you can do in 19 minutes.

The trail is perfect for walking and offers stunning views of the Mississippi River.

Bring your dog for a walk at Okeena Park, as long as you keep them on a leash.

Appreciate Nature at the Okeena Park Arboretum

Stay in Dyersburg and check out the Okeena Park Arboretum sits on a ten-acre public park.

One section of the trees come from an old-growth forest.

In 2005, the Okeena Park Arboretum received level 1 arboretum certification.

This arboretum hosts 69 species of trees.

Visitors may look at the trees up close, smell the flowers, and study historical monuments along a one-mile walking track.

Likewise, this place has two age-appropriate children’s playgrounds, swimming and wading pools, and basketball and volleyball courts.

Celebrate events and gatherings in the pavilions.

You might want to tie the knot at the Okeena Park Arboretum, 24 minutes from Caruthersville!

Check Out the Mississippi River Walk and Observation Deck

The Mississippi River Walk and Observation Deck is in New Madrid, Missouri, 37 minutes from Caruthersville.

It offers visitors a chance to see the river up close.

The best spot to enjoy the view is the top of the levee, where you can see for miles in either direction.

Likewise, the Mississippi River Walk and Observation Deck provides breathtaking visuals of North America’s largest waterway.

From Riverside Park, take a leisurely 1/5-mile walk to the observation deck.

Enjoy the numerous observation platforms along the way.

You’ll fall under a spell you let your thoughts flow with the river.

View eight miles of the river curving around the New Madrid Bend, an essential and strategic Civil War location.

Go Back in Time at the New Madrid Historical Museum

The New Madrid Historical Museum is also in New Madrid, 37 minutes from Caruthersville.

The Museum features a variety of exhibits that showcase the city’s past.

It depicts the history of this river town from the Mississippian age to the early 20th century.

You can find the museum inside the original Kendall Saloon at the end of Main Street.

The Museum’s collections thoroughly document the tremendous earthquakes of 1811 and 1812.

Likewise, the New Madrid Historical Museum covers the Battle of Island #10 during the Civil War.

It also details the history of the Mississippians who lived in the New Madrid region before the Europeans came.

Stroll through Delta Gateway Museum

Delta Gateway Museum is in the iconic Kress Building in the central Commercial Historic District in Blytheville, Arkansas.

This place is 33 minutes from Caruthersville.

Likewise, this museum highlights the heritage and culture of the Arkansas Delta through exhibitions, educational programming, and events.

The Museum’s goal is to collect, preserve, research, and interpret the history and culture of Northeast Arkansas and the Mississippi Delta.

It features rotating exhibitions in the Arkansas Delta and local history archives.

The Delta Gateway Museum showcases the area’s historical timber and logging industry, swamp drainage, and river transportation.

Likewise, the museum tells the story of Arkansas’ train, highway, Native American culture, and local steel industry.

Final Thoughts

Caruthersville is a treasure trove of history, nature, and culture.

The city offers something for everyone; for example, you can follow trails leading to the wilderness or informative tours on local lore.

Plan your trip today and discover the best things to do in Caruthersville!

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