The historic Jensen’s Point that overlooks Route 66 near Pacific, Missouri, reopened last weekend, almost 25 years after it had been closed to the public.
According to a blog post for the Washington Missourian:
The landmark is now a Pacific city park and will be preserved for future generations to enjoy. There is a paved parking lot at the base of the hill. The stone steps, patios and walls have been repaired by the city, and volunteers helped clear away brush and scrub.
The Pacific River Walk Trail, a project of the non-profit Magi Foundation, seeks to establish Pacific as a “trail town,” and helped support the acquisition and rehabilitation of Jensen Point. The current goal is to establish the segment of trail connecting Jensen Point to the Pacific Palisades Boat Ramp on the Meramec River. For more information about the group, which promotes walking, running, cycling and horseback riding on trails, visit www.pacificriverwalktrail.org.
Wayne Winchester, owner of Wintec Pharmaceuticals, bought the property in 1991. He grew to love the long-neglected site, and he fenced it to keep vandals and transients out until the city of Pacific came forward with a buyout offer in 2014.
Jensen’s Point was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1939. The landmark was named after Lars Peter Jensen, first manager of Shaw’s Garden, aka Missouri Botanical Garden, and president of the Henry Shaw Gardenway Association that designed to beautify Route 66 in that region.
(Image of Wayne Winchester, who protected Jensen’s Point for many years, and Alderman Steve Myers, who persuaded Winchester to sell Jensen’s Point to the city, by Kip Welborn via Facebook)