Kansas City Region
Amarugia Highlands carries a southwest Cass County place name
Amarugia Highlands Conservation Area preserves a local Cass County name, hilly ground, Amarugia Lake, ponds, and a South Grand River access point.
Amarugia Highlands Conservation Area gives southwest Cass County a place name that does not sound like the Kansas City suburbs. Missouri Department of Conservation says the area sits in a region once known as the “Kingdom of Amarugia,” with prominent hills in the area still called the Amarugia Highlands.
MDC describes the area as 1,081 acres, purchased in 1983. Its named features include Amarugia Lake, a man-made 45-acre impoundment completed in 1987, plus small ponds and access to a short stretch of the South Grand River.
Amarugia Highlands puts prominent hills, an older regional name, a lake, and South Grand River access in Cass County’s southwest corner. It is a different landscape from the better-known Belton, Raymore, and Harrisonville side of the county.
Where to see it
- Amarugia Highlands Conservation Area
Use MDC for access, maps, area rules, and current public-land details.
References
More from Cass County: browse every local note for the county.
Last checked against the sources above: July 16, 2026.