Get Outdoors at Lake of The Ozarks!
The Lake of the Ozarks is a beautiful place located in the midst of the Ozark hills. With 54,000 acres and approximately 1,150 acres of shoreline, there is a lot of space to cover! On a hosted trip I was able to get outdoors and enjoy the wonders of Lake, the resorts, dining and attractions that have made this area voted the “Best Recreational Lake in the Nation” by USA Today readers. My friend Rose Hammitt and I loved that there was even a stop that included some of the Netflix Series OZARK history.
Thank you to the Beenders-Walker Group, for hosting us and helping us get outdoors in Lake of the Ozarks.!
History of the Lake
Our first stop was at Willmore Lodge Museum. We learned the history of Lake of the Ozarks. This operates as both a museum, and the visitor center for the Lake Area Chamber of Commerce. The lake was not a natural phenomenon, but a manmade carefully planned venture that brought great joy to many, and sadness to those that lost their towns and homes.
Willmore Lodge was finished in 1930 for the Union Electric Company during the construction of Bagnell Dam. Today you can tour the 6,500 square foot lodge that houses the history of the Lake.
In the beginning, this was the land of the Osage and Missouri Indians. Next came the French and the English until the US obtained the property through, the Louisiana Purchase. The advance of the railroad required railroad ties. With the area thick with lumber one placard states, “Providing railroad ties was such a common profession that between 1880 and 1920, almost every family in the area had men who cut ties or rafted them down the river to Bagnell at some point in their lives.”
The museum has some amazing pictures of farming pre-dam and lake days.
Bagnall Dam construction.
The idea of the dam was to dam the Osage River to generate electricity. Construction on Bagnell Dam began August 6, 1929, right before the Stock Market Crash! This was the only major construction project in the nation at the time. Unbelievingly work continued with workers from every state and nine foreign countries. At the museum I learned that 20,500 people worked on the project at one time or another. Pay ranged from 35 cents, to $1.25 an hour. The placard Working on the Dam states, “Although there were some steam cranes and other power equipment much of the construction equipment was horse-drawn.”
The worker sites were like a small village. Some workers also lived in tents, shacks and a few in their own autos! For the project, 6,000 acres were purchased and about 30,000 acres of trees and brush was cleared. “Enough concrete was poured to build an eighteen-foot-wide highway from St. Louis to Topeka Kansas.” Work shifts took place around the clock and in 18 months, February 2, 1931, the lake began to fill. Bagnell Dam was the largest, and last major dam completed with private capital.
Bagnell Dam Strip fun
The Bagnell Dam strip is a place where you can find fun dining options like our stop at Roxie’s Roadhouse. I loved the Shrimp Scampi appetizer. You can find T-Shirt shops, flea market stores like the one we found.
We arrived ahead of the Memorial Day weekend, and many shops were not open yet. At this fun stop, though the owner had bought out a museum, and I enjoyed the “gator” section of the shop.
The Resort at Lake of the Ozarks.
When looking for a place to stay, to get outdoors, you hope to find nice accommodations, great food, and if possible, a bit of entertainment. The Resort at Lake of The Ozarks checks off all of the boxes. With 155 rooms, and six new luxury suites, the location was in the heart of the city of Lake of the Ozarks. My favorite aspect is you can check in, swim, dine, and enjoy entertainment all on one property! The view is magnificent, the staff great, and with two pools, a family pool, and a swim up bar, this is a family friendly stop, but can be an adult one as well.
When we checked in, we were greeted by Lori, Jason Jones, the General Manager, Justine, and Tim Jacobsen, the Director of Sales. Later I got the chance to meet and talk with owner Merlyn Vandervort and his wife Dawn.
Merlyn shared with us about the resort, “I bought this building two years ago. It was basically dilapidated, we did extensive renovations and turned it into what we have now, a 50,000 square foot entertainment venue. It’s got a nice restaurant, amphitheater, and swimming pool, three kitchens and four bars, and great boutique shop.”
Fun Dining Spots!
We met Jo Duncan of The Beenders and Walker Group for diner at the tasty and decorative Sergio’s Taqueria. I had a great burrito, but it was the guacamole that Jo suggested that was the hit of the night! This is hands down the best guacamole I have ever had!
While they had a great meal without a doubt, Stewart’s Restaurant in Camdenton, Missouri is famous, and rightly so for their HUGE cinnamon rolls.
Stewarts original location is at the Bagnell Dam strip, so you have two places to enjoy their delectable dining options!
The most iconic dining stop was Alhonna Resort at Lake Ozark. This family friendly resort has been open for 40 years and they offer food, plus accommodations including cabins. Another claim to fame is the special relationship to the Netflix drama OZARK. The writer of the series Bill Dubuque worked at Alhonna during the summers of his late teens, and the Blue Cat Lodge is based on that experience. At the resort you can view the sign used on the set, they acquired it from show after filming completed.
Attractions
The beautiful National Shrine of Mary is located on the grounds of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in nearby Laurie, Missouri. This is believed to be the only one like it in the world. The 14-foot stainless steel sculpture even moves in a slow circle providing a great view of the statue. Check out I the Wall of Mothers engraved in black granite, the Ten Commandments and a Beatitudes.
Sunrise Market in Sunrise Beach offered an array of fresh foods, flowers, jams and jellies. My favorite was the horses made from corn by the Mennonites. Dottie Woods, owner said they have been located here for the past 25 years.
Bridal Cave!
Bridal Cave is located near Camdenton, Missouri. The # 1 Lake of the Ozarks attraction, they are open year-round. The cave is cool 60 degrees. The website shares the Osage Native American story. “Local folklore tells of a legendary Native American wedding ceremony held in the cave in the early 1800s. Today this magnificent natural wonderland is called Bridal Cave. In keeping with the tradition of the Native American legend, the Cave can be reserved for a romantic wedding chapel. Over 3,000 couples from around the world have exchanged vows in the stalactite adorned Bridal Chapel.”
Golf
Get outdoors at Old Kinderhook where they offer golfing, dining, lodging, and even a spa! Jack Madigan shared in the 19th century, Old Kinderhook was a cattle ranch belonging to a Jewish rancher. He fell in love with and married his Catholic immigrant housekeeper. He built her a chapel on the ranch so she could attend mass. Today that church belfry adorns the 14th fairway! When professional golfer Tom Weiskopf saw this area, developed it into a beautiful 18 hole golf course!
My husband, a history buff told me the story of the name Old Kinderhook. Here is a quick description from History News, about President Martin Van Buren. “Van Buren’s supporters came up with their own campaign rallying cry—“O.K.” Van Buren was born and bred in the upstate New York town of Kinderhook, and he developed the nickname “Old Kinderhook.” The Democratic president’s supporters began to form “O.K. Clubs” around the country.’
Keith had heard that with his nickname, President Van Buren shortened his signature to simply OK.
Get outdoors at Ha Ha Tonka State Park!
Ha Ha Tonka State Park with its scenic overlooks, caves and more, and the amazing ruins of the home originally built by Robert McClure Snyder, makes this is a very unusual State Park. Voted “the most beautiful place” in Missouri by Conde Nast Traveler it was also voted the fourth-best park in the nation by readers of USA Today.
They offer opportunities to get outdoors kayak, hike and more at this lovely park. Rose and I hiked to the “castle ruins” the home built by Robert McClure Snyder, a Kansas City Businessman. He bought 5,000 acres and began building a European style mansion from sandstone, walnut, and oak lumber all harvested from the area. Sadly around 1906, he was killed in an auto accident. The building was not finished until his sons completed it in 1922. The castle then burned on October 21, 1942. Today, while you can no longer wander through the ruins, you can enjoy walking around them.
Make Plans get outdoors, plan to visit!
Taking in the lake, and the surrounding area, there is so much to see and do, ways to get outdoors in this beautiful part of Missouri. Now all you have to do is plan your Lake of the Ozarks vacation! If you enjoy this area, you would also like the entertainment mecca of Missouri, Branson!
