Route 66 and the Meramec River are easily accessible in Cuba
Cuba is a vibrant town that once boomed in the early 1900s as a shopping and dining destination along Route 66. Today, barbecue restaurants, bars and filling stations still dot the street. Paintings depicting the town’s history as a 19th-century railroad stop and a major apple producer decorate many of these buildings, earning Cuba the nickname “Mural City.” Aside from eccentric locally owned businesses, proximity to the Meramec River, a popular float trip spot, is also a draw. “People move here because there’s so much to do, yet life moves really slowly at the same time,” says Sharlene Henry, the broker-owner of Sharlene Henry Real Estate, who has lived here since 2002. Cuba is Crawford County’s largest town, but it maintains a close-knit feel with just around 3,000 residents. “I can’t go to the Walmart in hair curlers and sweats because it’s almost guaranteed that I’ll see someone I know,” Henry says. “But that small-town aspect is what most people love most about living here.”
Cuba is renter-heavy
Housing includes bungalows, ranch styles and New Traditionals. Sidewalk-lined streets near Cuba’s core often follow a gridded pattern, while homes on the outskirts may sit on farmland with soybean and hay crops. The gated Indian Hills Lake Community is a subdivision with a private recreation lake and sports facilities. Though nearly half of residents rent, Cuba’s median single-family home price is around $215,600, which is lower than the national median. Renovation projects and smaller houses can cost between $70,000 and $250,000, while larger homes and farmhouses may range from $275,000 to $600,000.
Uptown Historic District has a train-themed restaurant
Brick, Italianate-style buildings make up Cuba’s Uptown Historic District, located along Route 66 and Main Street. “If somebody says they’re going out to eat, they’re almost always going somewhere in that area,” Henry says. Murals of the town’s railroad past decorate Frisco’s, where patrons can eat pizza, burgers and sandwiches in a vintage train caboose replica. Missouri Hick is a multi-level barbecue joint that has been serving hickory-smoked meats since 2002. Houses of worship, government buildings and offices also line the street. The local newspaper’s publishing house has a mural of Bette Davis, who famously spent a night in Cuba while traveling along Route 66. Walmart is in the northern part of town, and more big-box grocery stores and Phelps Health hospital are in Rolla, about 24 miles west.
Locals can swim in the town pool and float along the Meramec River
Cuba has several recreation spaces, including the Cuba Municipal Pool, where kids can jump off diving boards and zoom down water slides. Youth leagues play on the city’s baseball diamonds and soccer fields, and Recklein Memorial Library regularly hosts story times and music classes. Holiday Ranch Golf Club offers a public, 9-hole course in the southern part of town. A playground, walking paths and RV hook-ups are at Hood Park, a popular campground for people going on float trips along the Meramec River. “We get a pretty significant amount of tourists every summer because we’re near the river,” Henry says. Birds Nest Beach Park, 9 miles south, is one of several entry points on the waterway. As floaters and paddleboaters cruise along the calm water, they’ll pass other campsites and Onondaga Cave State Park, known for its intricate rock formations.
Public schools get B-minus grades or higher
Crawford County R-II Schools serve Cuba. Kids can attend Cuba Elementary, which Niche grades an A-minus, and Cuba Middle, which earns a B. They may continue to B-minus-rated Cuba High School, where dual enrollment classes with Rolla Technical Institute include agricultural education, culinary arts and criminal justice.
A parade and pageant celebrate the Crawford County Fair
Hood Park hosts the Crawford County Fair every July. Schools and small businesses make floats and parade across Route 66 to kick off this week-long event. Fair-goers can ride Ferris wheels, compete in cornhole tournaments and eat funnel cakes. A fair queen is crowned every year, and agricultural events include the rooster crowing contest and the swine show. Country music performances end the fair on Friday and Saturday nights.
Interstate 44 reaches St. Louis
Though locals walk around the historic district and kids often walk to school, Cuba is also convenient for drivers. Interstate 44 is along the town’s northern edge, and an 84-mile drive east on the highway reaches St. Louis, home to the St. Louis Lambert International Airport. A freight railroad runs through town and sometimes causes traffic stops at intersecting roads. Cuba has several other industrial centers, including McGinnis Wood Products, a barrel-making company.
