Meramec Caverns was the famous Route 66 roadside attraction near Stanton, Missouri.
The cave system became a major tourist destination after its commercial development and promotion beside Route 66. Operators used colorful signs, roadside advertising, and large-scale publicity to attract motorists traveling between St. Louis and the Southwest.
Meramec Caverns also became associated with a long-running claim that outlaw Jesse James used the caves as a hideout. That story helped draw visitors, although the historical evidence for the claim is disputed. The attraction’s importance rests more securely on its role in the rise of American automobile tourism.
Fantastic Caverns is another Missouri cave attraction, but it is near Springfield rather than Stanton. Meramec Caverns is the Route 66 landmark specifically linked with Stanton and its extensive roadside sign campaign.