The cultural history of the Ha Ha Tonka area is as spectacular as its natural features. Its wooded hillsides and abundant wildlife first attracted many American Indians, and according to local folklore, Ha Ha Tonka is an Osage Indian word for laughing waters. Trappers and settlers also explored the beauty of the spring and surrounding valley. The area was once known as Gunter's Big Spring, and its first post office was established in 1872. In 1895, the post office name changed to Ha Ha Tonka and it continued operating until 1937. In 1830, a man named Garland established the first permanent residence in the Ha Ha Tonka area. On the lower end of the spring he built a gristmill that was actually a front for a short-lived counterfeiting operation. After this clandestine business was discovered, the mill was burned to the ground. In 1869, Tom Garrison rebuilt a mill that served nearby settlers for many years, and that mill stood until 1930.