At Union Ridge Conservation Area, forests, grassland, old fields, prairie, and savanna meet; Spring Creek cuts through the 8,262-acre area. The protected area is located in Adair, Putnam, and Sullivan Counties. Its landscape is shaped by a mosaic of these different habitat types—a tangible connection to nature for your explorations in Putnam County.
Forests, Water, and Habitats
Spring Creek Ranch Natural Area is located within Union Ridge Conservation Area. Union Ridge Conservation Area brings together a variety of habitats; hunting and fishing are permitted at Spring Creek Ranch Natural Area. These activities apply to the Natural Area, not generally to every part of Union Ridge Conservation Area.
Morris Prairie Conservation Area is also located in Putnam and Sullivan Counties. The Missouri Department of Conservation manages it with the goal of preserving diverse habitats for fish, forests, and wildlife, and providing the public with opportunities for nature-friendly recreation. Conservation and public recreation are therefore explicitly part of the same mission here. When finding your way around, it is worth distinguishing between the names of the individual areas: they refer to different places, each with its own focus.
Union Ridge Conservation Area is open for public use daily from 4:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Check the latest notices for possible restrictions before your visit.
Historic Sites in Putnam County
The Unionville Square Historic District is listed on the National Register in Putnam County and was added on July 19, 2002. A separate listing names the Putnam County Courthouse in Unionville: it was built in 1924 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, along with most of the buildings around the town square. The details refer to different historic landmarks—the District and the courthouse together with most of the buildings on the square.
Another historic site is the former Henry Clay Dean House Site in Rebel's Cove Conservation Area, which is listed in the Missouri Historic Sites Catalog. The Historic Trees Living Heritage Museum was founded in 1989 by the Putnam County Historical Society. The Putnam County Historical Society and Museum was founded to preserve historic buildings and sites. Together, these names reflect different aspects of the local heritage: historic sites, a museum project, and the preservation of buildings and places.
Putnam County Fair and Community Pool
The Putnam County Fair is held annually at Unionville City Park, from Tuesday through Saturday after Labor Day. Since the exact dates vary from year to year, planning around the recurring period is more useful than relying on a fixed calendar date. The fair offers a seasonal reason to make Unionville the focus of a visit, although its dates cannot be carried over to a specific year.
Another facility described in Unionville is the Unionville Community Pool. Built in 2015, it has a zero-depth entry area and a splash pad for younger children. It also has the SplashTacular Water Slide, with a twisting tube section.
Getting to Lake Mahoney
Directions to the Lake Mahoney access area begin in Unionville: first, head north for one mile on Highway 5, then travel one mile west along Reservoir Trail and across the dam. Both sections are important for navigation: they are the same length, but go in different directions and follow differently named routes.
Discover more destinations: Unionville, Gasconade County, Nodaway County, Livingston, Buchanan County, Bates County, Warren County, Vernon County.
View the broader travel guide: Missouri.
