r/joplinmo • • Aug 02 '25

Joplin Discord

6 Upvotes

Come join us on the Joplin, MO Discord!

https://discord.gg/RJ69feSHQk


r/joplinmo • • Oct 14 '24

Let's Make Joplin Fun. A list of things to do.

130 Upvotes

I am tired of the negativity on this sub about the town we call home. There are plenty of great things to do here. I'd love to hear some more ideas but these are the things I enjoy about living here.

Nature:

  • Wildcat Glades has a nice little nature center near the creek with some beautiful trails. If you enjoy fishing the small mouth fishing in this creek is pretty great!
  • George Washington Carver National Monument is a beautiful museum set around a short probably 1 mile trail that meanders through sites from his childhood
  • I love floating our local rivers on an innertube, canoe, or kayak. You need to self-guide a lot of this but Zan's campground rents tubes and shuttles you in the summer I believe.
  • Some other nice walking trails: Walter Woods (a short loop with bridges over water), Frisco Trail, this is a long trail with mixed paved and gravel sections through the woods, you can go from Joplin to Webb City, Ruby Jack is a longer trail on the outskirts of town it is the only one I haven't personally been on.
  • Grand Falls - This can get a little rowdy during peak summer but is a beautiful spot on the river
  • Riverside and Zan's a good spot to park a lawn chair in the river or camp overnight
  • A rather pleasant walking/running path circles Mercy Hospital

Dining:

Unique:

  • River's Bend- this is just burgers and hot dogs but they have a huge deck over the river where kids can feed the fish or even hop in for a swim.
  • Undercliff- is a neat spot on the outskirts of town with a restaurant build using a cliff wall for the back wall. Take the back roads and enjoy a drive
  • Downtown Burgers- a tiny shack on main street where you can get a traditional old burger. They serve the same ones at Whisler's and have a train car to dine in and a little train for kids to ride
  • Fred & Red's- This old school chili joint will take you back to the 50's with everyone sitting around a counter. They serve a specific unique type of chili, you can get it plain, on a tamale, or over noodles for the namesake Spaghetti Red

Good Local

  • 609- One of Joplin's longest running local restaurant with a mix of steaks, seafood, and sandwiches
  • Wilder's- A high end steakhouse with a great old school vibe and delicious steaks. A bit on the high end but worth it for the experience
  • Brunchanette- A hip brunch joint with fun specials, a must try on a weekend morning but we warned they will be busy
  • Royale Cinema- This used to be bookhouse so we will see shortly if this is the same. This place bridges across multiple categories as they do game nights and have an excellent small indie theater too. But their food is top notch especially for vegan and vegetarian fare
  • Woody's- A solid wood fired pizza place with a lunch buffet
  • Wiseguy's- A great Italian restaurant that is moving from the strip mall to a georgous downtown location repoeneing 11/1
  • Mexican- We have a lot of good Mexican restaurants some of my favorites are, Lalo's for super authentic, Habanero's for more traditional American style, Casa Montez has been around forever and has a unique take on some traditional dishes and good Margaritas. Latin Fusion serves up Central American faire
  • NYPD Pizza- Sandwiches and NY style Pizza. Very delicious and has a big city vibe.
  • Hungry Monkey - Amazing Hawaiian Food. Boozy slushies to top it off
  • Mytho's - Long standing Greek/Medeterranian restaurant thats good for date nights. Try the spicy feta dip
  • MacCheesy - Big crazy heart stopping portions of everthing thats bad for you
  • Red Onion - American food served in a historic building downtown. They have been in business forever too
  • Vietnamese - We have three that are all good. Phams Pho, Kim's Kitchen, and Pho Saigon.
  • Blackstone Gastropub: a lot of good meat-heavy dishes and a list of fancy cocktails.
  • Latin Fusion: Honduran and Mexican food, the Honduran is especially good.
  • Pan y Kafe: an excellent place to get breakfast, either American or Mexican style, plus a huge case of Mexican style pastries and sweet breads.
  • Sum'na Eat: Soul food localed on south main Bars

  • Blackthorn- local dive bar with friendly bar tenders and a bajillion beers on tap. Likely to have a live event. They also have good pizza

  • Whiskey Dick's- This is the young peoples bar and will be slammed with 20 somethings singing karaoke most weekends

  • 5:30 Somewhere- This is a good restarant too so I wasn't sure where to put it but it has a frozen bar top and good deals on coctails.

  • Tropicana- Architecturally cool spot with two level and great nautical theme and two patios. They have some great food and are more of a bar & grill than late night bar

  • OK- a recently remodeled pool hall that serves fish bowls of beer

  • Living Room- A cool 70's themed bar with engaging owners. They have fun events like Bingo and occasional live music

  • Chaos- Local brewery with nice people, they do trivia here on Wednesdays

  • Not technically in Joplin but Flag City Brewing is really good. Music Bingo, live music in the summer, open mic nights, food trucks a lot of times, and good beer. Really chill place with outdoor seating too.

  • The Short Rest - 532 S Joplin Ave. It’s a Dungeons and Dragons themed bar! They also host DnD one-shots on Sundays, Wednesday thru Sunday 6pm-2am

Things to Do

  • Spiva/Harry Cornell Center- A beautiful new building on 7th street that houses our art museum, there are classes and activities as well as constantly changing art. The Cornell Center is host to many different events including music, theater, dance, and other cultural events
  • 4th Street Bowl- A busy bowling alley with an old school feel Rock & Bowl on Weekend nights or Discount nights on Mondays and Wednesdays are always packed
  • Skate Park- Behind Ewert Park off 4th and School is a nice little city skate park the people here are usually very outgoing and friendly plus some are impressive just to watch. There is a new place called rooted that is supposed to be cool as well.
  • Theater- Beyond Spiva we also have some great local theater groups with Joplin Little Theater, Dream Theater, Stained Glass, and Stone's Throw
  • Disc Golf- We have 2 excellent courses at McClelland Park and Schifferdecker Park that are free to play
  • House Concerts- Usually only once a month but Coda House gets some great acts
  • Roller City- If you have kids this is a fun spot to spend a rainy day, it gets busy with older elementary and middle schoolers on Saturdays
  • Create & Sip - A fun instructed painting place thats a great date night idea
  • Firehouse Pottery - Pottery classes
  • Tee Time - Golf Bays and Pickleball
  • Escape Joplin - Escape Room
  • Upper Room - Smash Room (Reopening soon)
  • Rangeline and Schifferdecker golf - Rangeline has mini golf and batting cages too
  • Main Street Axe Co - Arcade and Axe Throwing
  • Centerfire Joplin - Shooting Range that offers rentals
  • Paintball Ridge - Paintball
  • Tilt - Mini golf and arcade
  • Changing Hands is not only a great bookstore but a great game store if you’re into board games, RPGs, or Magic
  • Doughman Kitchen - Cooking Classes
  • Pennington Station - VR Arcade
  • Royale Cinema Lounge - Cool local spot showing a mix of older and first run movies. Cocktails and food available.
  • Joplin Outlaws - Fun summer leage baseball in a beautiful stadium
  • Joplin Mineral and Mining Museum - a good collection of minerals and an interesting look at the history of the area
  • Comedy- Puff Puff laugh is a regular thing at JBs plus there are other local comedy shows all around from coffee shops to local bars. There is a growing comedy scene in town! Beefy Stool Comedy has a open mic every Tuesday night at Bites and Pipes hookah lounge. Free show at 8pm. Every Tuesday. 2nd Friday shows at the same place. Chaos Comedy at Chaos Brewing brings a lot of comics from Tulsa and OKC plus some nationally touring names from time to time. Also look up Joplin Improv! on Facebook for regular free shows. *Table top games - Changing Hands and Hurley's Heros both have MTG and other regular gaming meet up. There is a board game group that posts on here with regular game nights at local restaurants.

Places to Meet People / Events

  • Church - There are several churches around here that aren’t your grandma’s Bible-thumping, old-school kind. St. Paul’s, Unity, and First Presbyterian are all known for being open and welcoming. A lot of young familes attend Hope City
  • The arts community is pretty active through connect to culture, Spiva, and Third Thursday/downtown Joplin. I know they are always looking for volunteers.
  • Joplin Young Professionals group that meets regularly.
  • There are some busy outdoor groups on Facebook for kayaking, hiking, camping, fishing, disc golf, pickleball, etc.
  • The Empire Market on Saturdays is a cool local shopping spot with friendly people
  • Joplin Parks & Rec events - Soccer, Volleyball, Softball, Pickleball, and more. Teams form regurarly and they have different skill levels
  • There's a nice running group you can connect with (look up Joplin Roadrunners).
  • The Joplin Y is a budget-friendly place to enjoy all the cardio equipment, weight lifting and pool time you could want. They have a lot of great classes too.
  • CRITICAL MASS group rides every final friday. 6pm at 4th and Joplin Ave. Slow roll of 5 miles and we end at Chaos Brewing. Join us! All ages and skill levels welcome
  • Roller City does an adult skate night every first friday! 18+ and starts at 9:30pm

r/joplinmo • • 11h ago

Halloween Raves?

2 Upvotes

A longshot considering the size of this lame city, but any Halloween raves going down in the area or neighboring cities?


r/joplinmo • • 1d ago

Open Mic Comedy Tonight 9pm @ Bites and Pipes

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3 Upvotes

r/joplinmo • • 1d ago

Freeman Health's New Patient System

10 Upvotes

Just a heads up to anyone who is a patient of any Freeman affiliated doctor - Freeman is rolling out a new patient portal system. Some of it might be good supposedly, I can't get it to work yet.

Part that sucks for sure is a new customer service system, basically it's outsourced from what I can tell. So if you want to call your doctors office directly now - well you can't. It's completely impossible, the person I spoke with confirmed that Freeman no longer allows you to call your doctors office directly. The numbers just redirect to this "onecall" system where you get put in a queue in a call center. It really blows.

I have generally been pretty fond of Freeman as a health system overall but I hope this move generates a shit ton of negative publicity.


r/joplinmo • • 1d ago

Family Court Questions

3 Upvotes

I'm not from Jasper county, but I've had some family law stuff going on down there. In my own experience, I was not allowed in the courtroom for my own family law related hearings, even though I was physically present each time. When I asked why I was not being allowed in, the bailiff literally walked toward me and told me to sit down. I've since spoken to the clerk, and done research, which says that as a party to the case under Missouri law, unless there's a documented reason we should not be allowed in the court room, we are entitled to be included our own hearings. I've spoken to other members of the Joplin community, and they claim to have had the same experience.

Is there anyone else here who has faced this? I'm not trying to cause problems, but at the same time it seems there are some really strange things going on down there, and I believe people need to start talking about them, for the good of the community as a whole. I'm fairly intelligent, and understand when things don't seem quite right. People should not be excluded from conversations that lead to decisions that can carry lifelong consequences for parents and children. What about the guy or girl working at a gas station who can't afford an attorney, has no idea of their rights, and just wants to see their kid?

Admins, please leave this up. People need a chance to actually be heard.


r/joplinmo • • 1d ago

What to you guys do on Saturday afternoons?

1 Upvotes

Silly question, but I am always really bored on Sunday afternoons. Basically looking for something social to do. If I need to, I will make something I guess.

Edit: I was distracted while typing, I meant Sunday both times. Omg, I am embarrassed lol


r/joplinmo • • 2d ago

Anywhere hiring?

4 Upvotes

Basically like the title says is there anywhere in Joplin hiring right now? I'm 17 and I'm hoping to be out of the house before I'm 19 so I really NEED a job right about now.


r/joplinmo • • 2d ago

Metal at Blackthorn Friday October 30th!

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3 Upvotes

Me and my band Solar Variance are playing with Deep Sea Fishing For A Killer Whale and Trauma Made Us. Anybody and everybody is welcome at our show. If you get the chance, come down and watch us play. We played a few weeks ago and we are excited to play again. It starts at 9pm. Solar Variance is playing second. We always look forward to brining people together with our music.


r/joplinmo • • 3d ago

TiConsidering moving to Joplin, MO for 3 years — tornado safety, family life, and Muslim community?

4 Upvotes

Hi everyone!
My husband is a cardiologist, and we’re considering relocating to Joplin, Missouri, for a job opportunity. We would only be planning to stay for about 3 years, and we’re hoping to get some honest opinions from people who actually live in the area.
We’re a Muslim family with four children, and we’re currently living in the Northeast, so this would be a pretty big change for us.
I have a few questions:
Tornadoes: This is honestly my biggest concern! How scary is tornado season in Joplin? Do you find yourself constantly worrying during spring and summer, or is it something you get used to? Especially after the devastating 2011 tornado, how safe do you feel living there?
Storm shelters: What’s the safest option for a family with young children—an underground shelter, an above-ground steel safe room, or a basement? Do most homes have shelters? Would you recommend buying a house that already has one or installing one ourselves?
Muslim community: How welcoming is Joplin toward Muslim families? Are there active mosques, Muslim families with young children, halal grocery stores, or community gatherings? Have Muslim residents experienced any discrimination or difficulties fitting in?
Family life and schools: Is Joplin a good place to raise children? Are there particular neighborhoods or school districts you’d recommend? We’re also considering Carl Junction and Webb City.
Safety and quality of life: How safe is the area overall? Are there neighborhoods you’d recommend or avoid? What do you love or dislike about living in Joplin?
Housing: We’re considering buying a four-bedroom house for under $300,000, preferably with a storm shelter. Since we’d likely sell after three years, which areas tend to be more desirable and easier to resell in?
We’re not necessarily looking for big-city amenities. We just want a safe, comfortable place where our children can be happy and we can feel welcomed for the next few years.
I’d especially love to hear from Muslim families, healthcare professionals, parents with young children, or anyone who has relocated to Joplin from another state.
Please be honest, even if your experiences haven’t been positive. We’d really appreciate hearing the good and the bad before making such a big decision.
Thank you so much!


r/joplinmo • • 3d ago

James river

16 Upvotes

Are churches allowed to have signs that say “VOTE YES ON AMENDMENT 3”?
I thought there was something that prohibits churches from voicing things like that.
I’m just curious. It’s a very large sign in front of James River.


r/joplinmo • • 3d ago

Halloween

10 Upvotes

Do young adults go out for Halloween around here? I just moved from Pittsburg so I'm used to dressing up and going out.

Is that a thing? If so, where do people go?

Thanks!


r/joplinmo • • 3d ago

Is Joplin really that unwelcoming to Muslim families? Considering moving for 3 years and feeling nervous.

0 Upvotes

Hi everyone!
My husband is a cardiologist, and we're seriously considering relocating to Joplin for a job opportunity. We have four children and would only be staying for about 3 years, not permanently.
We've been exploring opportunities all over the country, but so far, Joplin is ranking at the top because the hospital offers specific training and clinical experience that my husband is really interested in. It's a unique opportunity for his career, which makes this decision a little harder.
My biggest concern isn't really the cost of living or finding a house. It's whether our family will feel welcomed.
I've been reading that Joplin is very conservative, and I've come across some concerning things about how Muslims may be treated in the area. I also learned about the mosque being burned down years ago, which honestly made me really sad and nervous.
Is it really as bad as some people make it sound?
We're a Muslim family, and I just want my children to grow up feeling safe, accepted, and comfortable being themselves. I don't expect everyone to share our beliefs, and I completely respect people having different religious and political views. We just want to be treated with kindness and respect, like any other family.
We're planning to buy a house in a nice, family-friendly neighborhood, possibly in Joplin, Carl Junction, or Webb City. Tornadoes are another concern, but we're prepared to invest in a proper storm shelter, potentially an above-ground safe room in the garage if the house doesn't already have one.
I feel like we can prepare for the weather, but it's harder to prepare for feeling unwelcome in your own community. :(
I'd really appreciate honest opinions from people who live there, especially Muslim families, minorities, or families who have relocated from other states.
Have you found Joplin to be welcoming? Are there neighborhoods and schools where families from different backgrounds feel comfortable? Have things changed over the years?
We're not looking for a big city or anything fancy. We just want a peaceful three years where my husband can pursue his career goals and our children can be happy.
Please be honest, but kind. We're genuinely trying to make the best decision for our family, and I'd love to hear some positive experiences too.
Thank you so much! ❤️


r/joplinmo • • 4d ago

Free legal research tools through major universities and law libraries. Could be useful to some folks! (Not legal advice)

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jaspercountyfamilylaw.com
5 Upvotes

r/joplinmo • • 5d ago

Anyone looking for their dog?

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11 Upvotes

Found this little guy in our yard, checked for a collar but he doesn't have one. He seems friendly, though a bit weary of new people. Asked the neighbors and he isn't theirs. Near Iron Gates Rd


r/joplinmo • • 5d ago

Delete if not allowed

22 Upvotes

My son Tony was 16 years old, I’ve raised him and his sister on my own since he was 4 and his sister was 8 months old. 4 weeks ago I walked into my sons room and he was dead…no signs of distress or anything, he ate good the night before and everything like a normal night and passed away in his sleep. Seems like everyone is dragging their feet on finding a cause of death because I still have no answers from Webb City PD who is handling the investigation, idk if he was given something by someone at the gym he worked out at or if he had some sort of health issue we never knew about that was never caught when he had gone to the doctors or what. He didn’t do drugs, he was a healthy kid, into exercising and eating organic. He had such a big heart and so many plans for his life. He was starting a clothing line and was gonna use it to help animal rescues, he had just gotten an internship with a pr company online that he was suppose to start the week he passed…nothing makes sense…my daughter and the promise I made to my son that I’d help get his clothing line off the ground are pretty much my only reason I’m even still here…this is the hardest thing my family has ever gone through and not having answers doesn’t make it easier. I started a gofundme for his clothing line and I plan to continue his plans and partner with an animal rescue (specifically a cat rescue) when it launches. He even rescued a kitten on his own that was found outside abandoned at 4 weeks old and nursed it back to health in his room and we still have her to this day. If anyone can donate or even just share the gofundme it would mean a lot. Please keep my family in your prayers. Thank you

gofundme


r/joplinmo • • 5d ago

Part time jobs?

1 Upvotes

This might be a long shot, but I figured it was worth asking. I currently work full-time overnight and am looking for a part-time job during the week, preferably somewhere between 8 AM and 12 PM.
I’m hoping to find something where I can come in, get my work done, and head home. I’m open to different types of work and willing to give just about anything a shot.
If anyone knows of any places hiring or has any suggestions, I’d really appreciate it! Thanks in advance for any help!


r/joplinmo • • 5d ago

Stolen motorcycle Springfield Mo

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1 Upvotes

r/joplinmo • • 6d ago

Halloween plans

6 Upvotes

What is everyone doing on Halloween this year? Who's passing out candy where? Where yall going trick or treating?

I'll be home passing out full size candy bars. I'm in the Oscie Ora Acres neighborhood of CJ.


r/joplinmo • • 8d ago

Missing cat found

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17 Upvotes

Idk what type of cat it is sorry but its tail is clipped (chopped off idk) found behind the highschool


r/joplinmo • • 8d ago

Bechmark Ruling in Taney County Missouri Strips Judicial Immunity

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3 Upvotes

r/joplinmo • • 9d ago

Enough with the sad faces… WE’RE BACK!!

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11 Upvotes

We missed you, and Joplin Improv is returning Saturday, October 24 for a Halloween night of improv, laughs and absolutely no idea what’s going to happen next.

FREE TO ATTEND!!!

🎃 Saturday, October 24

🎃 Joplin Avenue Coffee Company

🎃 Doors open at 7 PM

🎃 Show starts at 8 PM

🎃 PG-13-ish

Grab a coffee, bring your friends and come laugh with us.

COSTUMES ENCOURAGED!!!!

We can’t wait to see your faces again!


r/joplinmo • • 8d ago

Game night at the Carl Junction library 6 pm to 8 pm this Thursday, Oct. 22

3 Upvotes

Game night starts at 6 pm. A wide variety of games will be provided, please feel free to bring your own games. Have fun with both older and modern classic games.


r/joplinmo • • 10d ago

Hyvee? Are we getting one?

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22 Upvotes

r/joplinmo • • 10d ago

Brian Cowles, a sitting city council person, is suggesting that JPD enroll in the ICE participation program. The local DSA has setup a protest at the upcoming city council meeting

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51 Upvotes