Back in the 1940's most people who were regular funny paper readers were big fans of Al Capp’s Li’l Abner and this included Walter and Ada Tietmeyer. Shortly after moving to the Lake of the Ozarks, the Tietmeyers started a thriving tourist trap with a hillbilly theme and appropriately named it Dogpatch. Actually, it started out as the Dogpatch Café in 1947 and as Walter kept adding more buildings and unique oddities, it eventually became Dogpatch Village in the 1950's.
For six decades Dogpatch has entertained many generations of families with hillbilly novelties and kooky attractions. Some of the attractions from the past included a reptile garden, a real African lion, miniature automaton logging village with Paul Bunyan, an educated chicken, frog band, an authentic Ozark cabin, giant Redwood log, coin-op fortune teller, elephant skull, outhouse with a rude hillbilly, a rocket ship, player piano, talking hillbilly greeter, magic water faucet and a giant hillbilly (muffler man) statue.
To help celebrate Dogpatch’s 60th anniversary, I’ve included some vintage postcards and other related items.
This wonderful tourist attraction is still open and if you ever find yourself at the Lake of the Ozarks, be sure to visit Dogpatch.
Click on the scans for a closer look!
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