Missouri Ghost Towns Part 7 // Phenix, Chestnutridge, Kissee Mills, Hilda, Isabella

[@PeggyHenningsen]

The small town of Isabella MO has a vast History in the state and was a sight for many wagon trains traveling west. They would stop here for supplies and water as there are two springs located by the old store. Isabella was the largest town in Ozark County Missouri at one time and had several stores, tavern, two schools, Stables/livery with blacksmith, and 2 hotels. The Old Kyle Store in your video was built in the 1860's and has been owned by my family (Kyle) for 83 yrs. I am 81 years old and live by the old store in which I was raised. Retired back to the home place in 2009. If you would have knocked on the door of the white residence beside the store I would have been glad to show the inside along with the old postoffice room with it's original postal boxes. My mother was postmaster for 42 years and my great grandfather was the original postmaster and delivered the mail by pony/horseback. Thanks for the video of the quiet small town, which in the 1950-1970 was bustling with tourist, fishermen, and families when Bull Shoals Lake was established. This was before Branson MO was famous... Oh by the way.. my great grandmother was the first white baby born in Kissee Mills MO. Thanks for your videos of many towns in all the states you have visited, of which I have enjoyed. Come back again soon and "sit a spell" on the front porch of the old store.... many memories and history has passed by and entered its door.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thank you for the info! I would’ve loved to have sit for a spell and learn about Isabella! I usually don’t knock on doors - some people might not like that haha. I appreciate the message and for you watching my videos!

[@nicholasmcdaniel]

Peggy I'd like to sit down and have a conversation with you. Lots of qeuestons! Any relation to james a kyle? Or any information on the township of dillia?

[@travis303]

That Phenix Marble Co. building is incredible. Such character to it.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Yeah it really stands out there by the road!

[@Bullseye120]

Just found your channel. I went to school in Springfield, MO. There is a lot of history in that part of the state. I was told during the depression that a mineral known as "tiff" or barite was mined in several places there and in Washington County, MO. I am going to subscribe to your channel and look forward to your future posts.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thank you for watching and subscribing! You’re right there is a lot of interesting history to learn about there!

[@sandysue202]

The only one I have heard of was Kissee Mills. This was an interesting video!

[@tinman7130]

Interesting area. You are a brave soul to traverse that pedestrian bridge. seemed sketchy

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Haha thanks! It felt pretty sturdy until that one spot so I turned around 😂😂

[@hueydog99]

@@TravelwithaWiseguy What town is that pedestrian bridge in? I would love to photograph it. Really enjoy your channel!

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

@@hueydog99 send me an email [e-mail] and I'll let you know :)

[@garyteague9555]

Enjoyed this

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thanks 😊

[@davidchappell4759]

Thank you

[@autentico3284]

The outtakes are great,,,keep adding them. Thanks for posting another great video.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

I try to add them after the credits, I’d say about half the new videos have them haha

[@bglrj]

Thank you for sharing your adventures with us. This one was a real treat.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thanks! It was a fun and scenic drive!

[@pupseidon]

i live in missouri and i've wanted to explore ghost towns for a while. i can definitely find some now!! thank you for this :)

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

There are a lot of them out there! Have fun!

[@pupseidon]

@@TravelwithaWiseguy thank ya :)

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

The video just released today has some cool small towns in Missouri too!

[@pupseidon]

@@TravelwithaWiseguy OOH yay!! i'll check that out soon :0 any of them close to house springs by chance?

[@richardwooley876]

This morning, I ran across your channel completely by chance and glad I did. You do a remarkable job on your videos. Keep it up! 👍😉

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thank you, I really appreciate that!

[@kaymerry369]

Beautiful bridge. It has interesting history about the limestone & marble companys. Nice area to spend the day in. 😊

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

It was! Just kind of exploring on down the road as I went 😊

[@bobmanfre5083]

Glad to see a video about my old stomping grounds. I grew up in Kissee Mills back in the 1960's. We young'uns would spend hours fishing under that bridge, swimming in the river and exploring in the woods nearby. We were as happy as Crawdads in a Bean Patch! Those were the days.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Haha that’s awesome! 😂😂

[@johnstevenson9956]

Well, tell us a little about it!

[@annetterussell2195]

Another great video keep up the good work. I wish you much success

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thank you 😊

[@chiefamylee]

Awesome buildings and bridge. Thanks for always bringing it.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Yes they were cool! Thank you!

[@user-qe6mn1jb9k]

My great uncle was killed in a logging camp in Kissee Mills in 1951. So I do know that there was logging being done then. And I don't live far from Phenix Quarry. Its a neat place. My dad said they used to go there a lot a young teens.

[@lyndaraven1467]

There was a grist mill down from the Kissee Mills bridge. Some of the building is still there. Mr. Kissee owned it. The original town was located by the bridge but it flooded so they moved the town up to where the two buildings stand at the 160 and O Hwy. Where the blue trailer sits at that fork used to be a liquor store. The two buildings at the fork were owned by Sanders, the first one was a cafe/grocery/gas combo. The other building was a store full of antique treasures. Kissee Mills is pronounced Kizz-ee Mills. Very beautiful drive. Thank you for sharing.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thank you for the info! I was hoping someone would reply with more of the story than I could find. Thanks!

[@stevehilliard1495]

The liquor store was called the Wedge. The church was called Conners Bend. The original site of Hilda was where Cane Creek enters Beaver Creek off of Cross Timber Rd off of Hwy 160. There was a small town there with a pencil factory and a post office

[@themechaniacal1558]

So good to see people like you who know their town. I live in a small town in SE Kansas, a town once rich with potential. Every little town has its own story, and it's on us to keep that memory from being forgotten.

[@judithhstevens126]

My sister as far as I know live in kiddie mills Missouri. At least that the address. There was a park near a bridge like that that flooded in the year 2000s or so . Flooded badly all around that bridge Almost hardly a town left. But if I remember right you drive more up out of that area you will see more. Beyond the bridge.There about three towns close together south of Branson Kissie mills being one of them.

[@ronfullerton3162]

As much fun as always. Very interesting area, reminds me a lot of my native southeastern Iowa. So that we are assured of our continual videos, we might need to ban you from sketchy bridges! Ha ha ha. I imagine most of us would of tried it also.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Haha thanks! I try to be smart out there, but it doesn’t always work 😂😂

[@ronfullerton3162]

@@TravelwithaWiseguy 👍😉

[@peterselten500]

Hi john found your channel a few days ago for route 66 than watched 89 an oregon trail an been watching the rest slowly . Great job on the videos i love the tours seeing the country . Cheers from australia 🇦🇺

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thanks Peter! Glad the videos also resonate in Australia - would love to explore that country someday!

[@johnbrownlee7623]

Good job on the Video....Good to see people spend time on Research............Whats up Next?..............JB.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Sunday, I have a video from Texas. 👀

[@aprilgansmann7519]

Im from central Missouri and I've lived a lot of tiny places called Drake , Rosebud, Bland,Berger,Belle, Mt. Sterling,Vichy, Highgate just to name a few and y'all should check them out

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thanks for the info! I’ll try if I’m back that way sometime!

[@donnamedcalf3677]

The high school at Walnut Grove Missouri has stones from Phoenix quarry every year the graduating class lays a stone with all of their names on it

[@markwilliams5606]

The town or Ash Grove Missouri . There's a limestone quarry there. Springfield has a Big quarry there as well

[@williammatzek4660]

At kissee Missouri park, I wonder if the original town site was in a flood plain?

[@michellefreiermuth6327]

Love the churches and cemeteries. I’ll have to see if I can find more info on Kissee Mills. Sounds interesting.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

It’s a pretty neat area! There’s been some good comments on Kissee Mills here that give more info too.

[@gregb6469]

In case no one has already mentioned it, the stress in Kissee is on the last syllable-- kiSSEE mills.

[@papabear562]

Something I noticed about those towns is that it appears, and maybe I'm wrong, as if almost any of them can be renovated and used again. It's amazing just how well many of them have held up over the decades.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

I would think so! Some great old structures!

[@aliceevans3357]

In Claremore Ok there is a Ford dealership- Jack Kissee, pronounced kiss sea. I did some research and discovered this name was in Missouri in the 1800s. It isn't a common name at all- 3 in Missouri at one time. In Missouri it was pronounced Kizzee. Interesting how names are pronounced differently in different areas of the country. I love history, your videos are right up my alley. Stay safe and GOD bless

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Interesting info! Thank you very much!!

[@KeithDocReed]

Near Fremont mo. Check out the abandoned town Midco

[@jameshopkins4013]

My dad grew up near Chestnut Ridge

[@kodishockey6017]

I actually live in Isabella MO. My family has has 9 generations hear the the sign you had on the video with shockeys is actually my uncles that is out last name.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thanks so cool! There were some interesting signs and buildings there!

[@azstarbar]

In the '90's, I knew some people who lived in Kissee Mills. But when I gave them rides home from work, I don't remember seeing a town.

[@judithhstevens126]

I don’t remember a town perse like regular towns.

[@miket1290]

Good video's but you miss the beauty of Missouri, travel when its green or early fall!!!

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

I’ve got a few Missouri videos coming up with lots of green 😊

[@miket1290]

@@TravelwithaWiseguy Fantastic, I will certainly watch.

[@ffdjkldfjsdaffdsafsdafdsa3495]

merci j'apprend à connaître des régions inconnus pour moi des États-Unis, Thank you i'm like know other country of the United States.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thank you very much! 🇫🇷

[@jerryreynolds9016]

Hickory in north Missouri. That would be a good one.

[@marktatum2592]

Where was that foot bridge at? I have lived in SW Missouri since 1972 and have never seen that bridge. Although, there are a few of them on private property near Spokane, MO that locals use to get to their homes when the creek gets too high to cross in their vehicles.

[@tyreegreen1496]

👍

[@nelsonward7981]

Kissee Mills, pronounced KIZZEE. There used to be a bar in Isabella that we played in in 1993 that had chicken wire over the stage.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Sounds like a wild place to play!

[@petergauthier5074]

Ps great vids

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thank you very much 😊

[@bransonbasher6534]

The real Kissy Mills is Scooters' gas station and the bait shop across the highway.

[@rossbryan6102]

MY GUESS ON KISSEE MILLS CEMETERY RELOCATION IS MAYBE DUE TO A FLOOD PLAIN RAISING DUE TO LARGE LAKE CONSTRUCTION! THERE WAS MUCH LARGE LAKE CONSTRUCTION IN THE 1950 ERA!

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Make sense! Thanks!

[@rossbryan6102]

@@TravelwithaWiseguy THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL RELOCATIONS, DUE TO THIS REASON! I IMAGINE THIS WAS NOT A CHEAP OR EASY UNDERTAKING! A NUMBER OF TOWNS TOTALLY RELOCATED! NEW STRAWN KS TO NAME ONE. THERE WAS QUITE AN ANTI DAM MOVEMENT IN THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR, MY DAD ONE OF THEM! THEIR MAIN THRUST WAS THE ACRES OF FERTILE LEVEL FARM LAND LOST! ON THE OTHER SIDE WAS THE DESIRE TO CONTROL FLOODING IN LARGE URBAN AREAS! THE INTERESTS OF RECREATIONAL WATER USE WAS A STRONG REASONING FOR THE BIG DAM MOVEMENT! MY DAD PROMOTED THE IDEA THAT LARGER FARM PONDS WOULD BE BETTER FOR FLOOD CONTROL! THIS TOO WOULD HAVE WORKED BUT MUCH HARDER TO CONTROL WITH THOUSANDS OF FARM PONDS VERSUS FAR FEWER LARGE LAKES UNDER FEDERAL CONTROL! ANOTHER ADVANTAGE BEING IS ELECTRICAL GENERATION, AND IRRIGATION BENEFITS!

[@franciscoortiz9730]

I'd really like to do some metal detecting in these areas. Any idea how I could go about that?

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

I know next to nothing about rules regarding metal detecting - sorry

[@DeborahStephenson]

Just for your information ... I live about 3 miles from the Beaver Creek bridge (what you were calling the Kissee Mills bridge) and I can tell you that Kissee Mills is not a ghost town. People still live there and those buildings you referred to as "partially abandoned" (whatever that means) are probably only temporarily empty. We moved to this area over 30 years ago and since that time, those buildings--originally owned by the Saunders family--have housed multiple different restaurants, a flea market, a general store with gas pumps, and the old post office. People start up there, don't get enough business to stay open and go elsewhere. It just isn't a particularly good location as Forsyth has everything most of the locals need and its only about 5 miles further down the road. If their needs can't be met in Forsyth, Branson is a mere 25 miles away and Springfield only about 50 miles away. There just never has been much need for anything in that particular spot. As it is, Kissee Mills is primarily a suburb where people live. They work and shop in other places. The Saunders family I mentioned earlier, may still own the buildings although Birch Saunders and his wife have both passed away in recent years, so the kids may have sold them. Saunders owned a lot of land in the area as well and if you look at plat maps, you will see that much of the "town" and surrounding areas belonged to them. The town got its name originally from a family named Kissee and it is actually pronounced Ki ZEE, not KISS ee. Many of the descendants still live in the area--you will see the name on a variety of buildings and businesses in Forsyth if you look for them. As for nothing being found down around the bridge ... you just didn't look hard enough. Right behind you--where you are standing talking about the bridge--is the location of an old mill. (It was on the river, just above the bridge). Nothing remains today but some old foundations, but you can still see parts of it if you walk up the river a bit--not far beyond the bridge where you're standing. The sign at the entrance of the Kissee Mills Park used to have a model of the old mill as part of the marker (about the size of a dog house and very detailed) but vandals kept defacing it until it finally had to be removed. That entire park and nearby fields flood every late winter/early spring right up to the underside of the bridge and over the tops of the picnic pavilions, so that is the main reason you will not find any houses or buildings in that area. The bridge is in a state of near collapse and had to be closed 2 years ago because it was deemed unsafe. (Which caused MAJOR problems for the folks living on the other side of it as there is no other way across the river without taking an hour and a half detour up toward Ava and then across and back down toward Taneyville. The only other choice is to take the ferry at Protem across to Arkansas and come back north below Branson on highway 65, so we were all sort of trapped for awhile without access to groceries, schools, medical facilities, etc.) It caused so many problems that the county made the decision to reopen the bridge without fixing the weak areas (they said they put some concrete patches in there temporarily, but nothing proper or permanent). We always roll our windows down when we have to cross it so we can get out of the car if it plunges off the collapsed bridge into the water. We try to limit trips into town to bi-weekly just in case, but sometimes it is unavoidable that we have to cross the bridge. Anyway, Kissee Mills is one of those blink-and-you-miss-it places that dot rural America, but you can take if from someone who lives in the area (actually in Cedarcreek, and even smaller spot on the map) it doesn't qualify as a ghost town. Ask anyone who lives there. i

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thank you for the informative post! I always like to learn more about the places I visit and it’s too bad I didn’t see the ruins of the mill, although it would’ve been hard to find for an out of tower like me. Or even know that’s what the ruins were if I saw it. Too bad about the vandals - that’s frustrating. As for the ghost town comment - that term is used for a variety of places and not only for somewhere that is totally abandoned. I’m assuming Kissee Mills is a mere fraction of what it was at its peak. And for some people who are more well versed in this stuff than me - they consider that a ghost town as well. It’s not a negative, just a way to document where an area is in its history. It’s really a beautiful area - I enjoyed visiting very much! Thanks again for the comment!

[@DeborahStephenson]

@@TravelwithaWiseguy I guess if you look at it from the perspective of what it once was (or even using the more acceptable definition of a town as a place with businesses as well as residences), it is kind of a ghost town. It definitely isn't what it used to be--although I don't think it was ever anything to write home about even in it's heydey. Hilda is the same. (We only live 2 miles from Hilda). There are so many of these sad old places around here. It seems like the bigger places like Branson get, the smaller the surrounding hamlets and villages get. Which is fine with us because it is so nice living away from all the hustle and bustle. We live next door to thousands of acres of wilderness in Mark Twain National Forest and couldn't be happier. Thanks for the video! You might look into Cedarcreek, Protem and Reuter next time you're in the area--they sort of qualify too, in the aforementioned "blink-and-you-miss-it" vein.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

@@DeborahStephenson Thank you! I think being away from the hustle and bustle sounds great! And I enjoy giving a little glimpse into that life here with my videos. I'm working on a series of videos about Dade County right now, but would love to visit the places you mentioned! Thanks!

[@judithhstevens126]

Wow I always wondered why those kind of bridges were built. That year it flooded we visited my sister. I said glad I don’t live in the area. Why people live in that area blows my mind.

[@petergauthier5074]

Come to Michigan Try baseline road it runs east. west acrossed the mitten South Haven too Detroit very small bergs --the UP is full of ghost towns history back too the 1700s

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Sounds awesome! Would love to someday!

[@bonniekaye]

🙂👍🌹

[@amandajoy2034]

We used to swim down in the quarry before they wouldn't let us anymore because of people being stupid. You definitely want to get permission before going in there.

[@dannyj3606]

Next time your in the area I can show you the old Mill in kisses Mills and tell you of a few other towns long gone around here.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

That would be great!

[@tonyduncan7608]

Great video come visit my town piedmont mo

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Would love to someday!

[@rexsamodio6404]

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[@travis303]

Did you bring your dog?

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Haha not mine but I think he was ready to hop in the car 😂😂

[@travis303]

@@TravelwithaWiseguy So it was a stray dog? it really seemed like it knew you well, no fear whatsoever. I thought it was yours.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

I’m pretty sure it belonged to a small house near where I was standing. He was definitely excited to see anyone 😂😂

[@travis303]

@@TravelwithaWiseguy I love dogs. It looked fun. Wish you had a treat to give him

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Yeah I do too, but between this and my job I travel so much I would never be able to take care of a dog the way I should. 😞

[@peachtree891]

Thank you

[@isaacbutler4084]

I live real close to Kissee Mills and constantly exploring the area plus learning the history. There is actually an Old Hilda you can no longer get to because it's on private land. Another town they moved do to flooding.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Oh wow! Is there anything left if Old Hilda? Buildings?

[@isaacbutler4084]

@@TravelwithaWiseguy not much. But I have pictures somewhere of the original town. Absolutely love exploring old buildings/ towns that no longer exist.