08/22/2026
Who remembers Circle R Ranch in Eureka?
Located at 199 Allen Road in Eureka, Missouri, Circle R Ranch was owned by the Ruprecht family for almost sixty years. It sat in a desolate side of town, accompanied only by the sprawling Eureka Sand & Gravel facility and a railroad viaduct.
Officially opening in 1966, the ranch was built and developed by Edward C. Ruprecht II, who developed the property for area families to enjoy. Born in South St. Louis, Ed’s family owned the very successful Ruprecht Quarry, which operated plants in Affton and Lemay. He and his wife Dorothy Jean, who lived in his childhood home at 4 Zinzer Court in Grantwood Village, operated the ranch and had four children: Edward III, Linda, William, and Cynthia. All of the children worked at the ranch in some capacity.
Circle R featured a stable, pavilion, trail rides, and hay rides that were open to the public. There was also a clubhouse and swimming pool, both completed in the Spring of 1967, that was its own private club. The swimming facilities featured coin-operated laundry machines, a snack bar, recreation room, and modern showers. This was considered a rarity for ranch facilities at the time. In those days, there wasn’t a pool in the area with those accommodations and it was a popular place for locals to cool off on a sweltering summer day. There were even business meetings and club events held here!
After Ed passed away in April of 1977, his oldest son, Edward III, took over the operation of Circle R Ranch. With the help of his siblings, Billy & Cindy, and mom, Dorothy, they had many successful hayride seasons. Each group was provided a private area, a picnic table, and a barbecue pit. After each hayride, the family returned to a bonfire to finish off the evening. During this time, Ed II was also involved in matters connected to the changing landscape around Eureka, including the development of a new interstate exit. Tragically, he was killed in an automobile accident just outside of Eureka in September of 1987. His death marked a significant moment in the history of both the Ruprecht family and Circle R Ranch.
After her brother’s sudden passing, Cindy Ruprecht carried on the family's legacy and established a horse lodge at Circle R Ranch, keeping it open for horse enthusiasts across the United States and Canada. In 2020, she sold the property to the City of Eureka who tore down the ranch buildings to construct a levee designed to protect local businesses, homes, and Eureka High School. The biggest reason for her decision was increasingly severe and frequent flooding. It began with the devastating flood that destroyed the nearby town of Times Beach in December of 1982 and grew to three times a year. Because it is difficult to sell property in a flood zone, she ultimately determined that selling Circle R Ranch to the City of Eureka would be the best path forward. As hard as it was for her to leave the ranch, she felt that the sale was worth it to help the city grow. Nothing remains of the ranch today.
Today, the story of Circle R Ranch survives through the memories and photographs preserved by the Ruprecht family. Passed down to the children and grandchildren, they preserve the people, places, and memories of Circle R Ranch and ensure that the story of the property and the Ruprecht family will be remembered.
Photos from Linda Ruprecht Woodard and our archives
