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About the Lake of the Ozarks, MO Area

The Lake of the Ozarks

Lake of the Ozarks has been a choice vacation area since the opening of the lake on May 30, 1931. No one can match our recreation, scenery, and services. There are dense untraveled forests, rolling farmlands, dark gray cedar lined bluffs, and wildlife that surround the nearly 1200 miles of shoreline. The Lake of the Ozarks is about 175 miles from St. Louis and Kansas City, less than 90 miles from Springfield, and 140 miles from Branson, MO.

The Lake came into existence nearly 80 years ago through an undertaking known as the Great Osage River Project. Construction of Bagnell Dam began August 6, 1929 by Union Electric. In the midst of the Great Depression, several thousand employees labored day and night to build Bagnell Dam and what was, at that time, the largest man-made lake in the world.

Fed by five rivers the lake was opened to the public on May 30, 1931. Millions of people visit the Lake of the Ozarks each year, so whether you are an occasional visitor, a vacationer, part time resident, or someone who lives here all year, this Lake is "The Place".

Boating on our lake varies from super luxurious yachts to offshore racing craft; from house boating to sailing; from rowboat fishing to the fastest of bass boats. Boats can be rented from dozens of marinas, or you can even bring your own.

There are many launch areas and docking should always be reserved well in advance of your arrival. Water activities seem to be #1 with our visitors and can include swimming, skiing, jet skiing, wave running, parasailing, tubing, just floating leisurely on your air mattress in a secluded cove, or, if you have the time, all of the above. And as long as we're talking about water sports, if any lake can be known for fishing, it will be Lake of the Ozarks.

You can fish Bass, Crappie, Catfish, or just keep the kids busy pulling out Sun Perch from around the boat docks. You can fish the lake on your own or hire a professional guide service.

No matter what season it is, bringing that special person to the Lake is the reward hundreds of couples look forward to each year. You can have a great dinner, a couple hours of shopping, and spend the night at a nice motel and not feel like it was a budget buster.

There is a hundred or so restaurants (many near or overlooking the water) that you can practice your art of dining and a never ending search for your newest "most favorite" restaurant. You can satisfy any taste; from gourmet foods to quaint little mom and pop roadside restaurants, from continental cuisine, Bar-B-Que, home-style foods, small bistros, to the forever necessary quick burgers.

Accommodations at the Lake are as varied as the scenery. If you are working in the area and your expense is limited, there are many over-night budget type motels. There are family motels, luxury full service hotels, contemporary high-rise condos with one to five bedrooms, weeklong fishing cabins, and many lakeside family activities resorts. Lake of the Ozarks has an accommodation to fit any budget, any size group, and any taste.

The Lake has become one of the Midwest's premiere golf destinations. Excellent facilities provide nearly 200 holes of championship golf courses carved into our hills. So, when the northern states still have snow, we're playing a round. And when it is too hot to even be outside in the south, we're still hitting that ball.

Summer fun can be a day at the water park or an amusement park. Or you can load up your days with miniature golf, go-carting, helicopter and sea plane rides, excursion boat rides, attending boat races, horseback riding, bowling, festivals, and fireworks.

You can even cool off from the sun with a tour of one of the local caves. The Lake has several country music shows that are open nearly every night, from early spring until late in the fall. Some shows are open for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Three county museums offer fascinating history of the area's famous and infamous past. Mid-Missouri was, and is still, home to several Indian tribes that left a sketch of their art, crafts, and culture to be found in creek beds, camp sites, and burial mounds scattered across the Midwest.

Missouri was part of the 1803 Louisiana Purchase and even if we count only from then, Missouri has given rise to Harry S. Truman, Jesse James, a beginning point for the Pony Express, and a pathway to Lewis and Clark, Daniel Boone, Davy Crocket, and Zebulon Pike. A very remarkable heritage.

Enjoy the solitude of an undeveloped cove, hidden along the shorelines of one of Missouri's largest lakes, Lake of the Ozarks. The 17,441-acre Lake of the Ozarks State Park offers this opportunity, along with a variety of recreational activities on the lake or on shore.

On shore, hikers, backpackers, equestrians and bicyclists can use one of 12 trails that wind through oak-hickory forests and sunny glades and offer bluff-top views of the lake. Or visitors can take a guided tour of Ozark Caverns, best known for a formation of stalactites and waterfalls known as "Angels' Showers."

Water enthusiasts can make use of the park's two swimming beaches or rent a boat at one of the park's marinas. Necessary supplies for a day of fishing or fun on the water can be found in the park stores.

Year-round accommodations for overnight guests include more than 230 shaded campsites, ranging from primitive to those with electric hookups. Campground amenities include modern restrooms and laundry facilities. Eight camper cabins offer a rustic lodging experience.

Lake of the Ozarks State Park's natural beauty remains untouched, yet visitors are just minutes away from shopping, restaurants and a variety of entertainment options.

Wildlife

The wildlife around the Ozarks is plentiful. We have deer all times of the year, day or night. Wild turkey are found wandering the woods and shorelines of the lake. One especially nice thing about this area of the Ozarks is, THERE ARE VIRTUALLY NO MOSQUITOES. You can sit outside after dark and not be bothered by them.

Stripers are one of the biggest fishing attractions, but there are also walleye, largemouth and smallmouth bass, white bass, crappie, catfish, sunfish, or bluegill in the lake. Because the lake does not freeze, fishing is popular all year and the season never closes.

The Lake of the Ozarks Related Web-Sites

MO Ancestors Resource Guide

www.rainylake.com

www.lakesavings.com

www.aroundthelake.com

LOTO Online Hotel Reservations

www.lakeoftheozarks.net

www.odd.net