Rolling hills, wooded groves and meadows define Huntleigh. Alongside them are a history of large estates, horses and distinctive homes. Those considering Huntleigh as a destination can get a sense of the place through two perspectives: its landscape and the traces of its development. This combination offers concrete points of reference to help you decide whether Huntleigh suits your interests.
Landscape and Early History
In the early 19th century, Stephen Maddox acquired 652 acres that covered most of present-day Huntleigh. This figure gives the area’s early land history a concrete scale. Another connection to the past is the Oregon Trail, which once ran through a property in Huntleigh. These two details raise different questions: which landholdings played an early role, and where a historic route passed.
In 1925, Edward E. Bakewell Sr. purchased the 125-acre Waltenspiel estate; this purchase marked the beginning of modern Huntleigh. The 125 acres refer to this estate, while Maddox’s 652 acres covered most of present-day Huntleigh. These are two different scales and property contexts: one area belongs to an estate, while the other describes land that covered most of the present-day town.
Horses and Historic Local Connections
In 1927, Bakewell and August A. Busch Sr. founded the Bridlespur Hunt fox hunting club on Squires Lane. The club’s facilities later included a steeplechase course on the site of what is now Plaza Frontenac. The dates and place names connect Huntleigh’s development with a specific equestrian history. Several Huntleigh residents still keep horses in stables today. Historical details about the club and racetrack thus sit alongside a current feature of the town, without describing the same period or use.
Homes and Architectural Details
The Meyer House is a spacious, 7,000-square-foot residence in Huntleigh, Missouri, commissioned by John and Alice Meyer. Its size is a striking feature. At the Orthwein Mansion, by contrast, the focus is on its construction date, location and materials: it dates to 1930 and stands on a slight rise above a creek and pond. Its exterior walls were built of rustic rubble masonry. The two homes therefore highlight different aspects—the Meyer House’s dimensions and the Orthwein Mansion’s combination of construction and setting.
The French-style château included a terrace connected to a rock garden. This detail complements information about its construction date, location and masonry with a description of the outdoor design. The architectural features can be considered according to their focus: size, stone construction, a waterside location, or the connection between terrace and rock garden. They offer different points of interest for anyone interested in Huntleigh’s history and architecture.
Getting a Sense of Huntleigh as a Destination
Huntleigh has no commercial or industrial development. For travel planning, this is a useful point of reference: the town’s description is shaped by its landscape, the history of its properties and individual homes, rather than by a commercially or industrially developed center. Anyone looking for a vacation rental can use these features to first get a sense of the destination’s character and distinguish it from the characteristics of a particular accommodation.
Explore more destinations: Spanish Lake, Mehlville.
Return to the main travel overview: St. Louis.
