I decided to revive this popular series initiated by site originator Freneau, to learn more about the towns and cities that populate Royals territory. We resume the series deep in the Ozarks, in Waynesville, Missouri, home of Royals affiliate KOZQ-FM.
Waynesville, Missouri
Population: 4,830
Distance to Kansas City: 156 miles
Waynesville is the county seat of Pulaski County, in south-central Missouri, in the heart of the Ozarks. The city is just north of I-44 and is about halfway between Springfield and St. Louis. It is the home of Fort Leonard Wood, where most of the U.S. Army Engineer School operations and U.S. Army Chemical Corps and Military Police Corps schools are located.
Waynesville was plotted in 1834 and was named after Anthony Wayne, a former Army officer and U.S. Congressman, and not fictional philanthropist and part-time bat-man Bruce Wayne, as I had hoped. Anthony Wayne served in the Revolutionary War, represented the state of Georgia, and died 30 years before Missouri became a state, so his connection to the region is non-existent. But "Mad Anthony", as he was known, was enough of an American hero that many places were named after him, including Wayne County, in Michigan, where Detroit sits, as well as counties in Missouri, Nebraska, and Iowa.
Waynesville was in the national spotlight in 2013 when ABC’s The Bachelor came to town. Contestant Lindsay Yenter, a native of Fort Leonard Wood and daughter of the commanding general, brought bachelor Sean Lowe for a date to her hometown, exploring the quaint downtown area and all the town had to offer. It wasn't enough to win his heart however, as Lindsay ended up finishing runner-up. Don't worry! She got engaged - to a Cubs fan!
The city was also highlighted in an episode of Bar Rescue, and an episode of Extreme Home Makeover that featured big leaguers Shane Victorino, Clay Buchholz, and Daniel Murphy. We should consider it lucky that Waynesville is not Red Sox territory.
Downtown Waynesville
Waynesville has a historic downtown square that is home to the annual Oktoberfest celebration. The city has a downtown revitalization project that has created the Waynesville Families' Memorial Bench Program, the installation of a town square clock, the building of two flowerbeds, and the Waynesville Welcome sign.
The city also rests along the famed Route 66, one of the original U.S. highways that runs from Chicago to Santa Monica, California and inspired songs of wanderlust and freedom in the 1960s. Another sight to see is Old Stagecoach Stop, on the National Registry of Historic Places as a hotel that has stood since 1854. W.H. Croaker is another local landmark looking over the city as a frog carved out of a boulder that serves as the unofficial mascot of the town.
Waynesville High School is the home of the Tigers, with a student population of over 1,500. Their football teams plays in Class 5 in the Ozark Conference with rivals like the Camdenton Lakers, Joplin Eagles, Lebanon Yellow Jackets, and Rolla Bulldogs. It was a rough year for the Tigers football squad however, as they had two postponed games due to weather, dropped all nine games, and were held to a touchdown or less five times. Sports!
Waynesville does have a regional airport - Waynesville Regional Airport at Forney Field - that is located on Fort Leonard Wood, but is operated by the city. Royals games air on KOZQ-FM, 102.3, a classic rock station. The town is the home of X-Factor contest Alan Vino who seems to be a poor man’s Chris Daughtry.
Fort Leonard Wood survived many rounds of base closures, keeping the community of Waynesville alive through what might have been some lean years as America urbanized, leaving husks of small towns throughout the Midwest. The popularity of the Lake of the Ozarks may help the city thrive as more people look to get away from the hustle and bustle of city life. If you ever want to "get your kicks on Route 66" or experience Frogtober, take a stroll through Waynesville.