Lake of the Ozarks

Beautiful Lake of the Ozarks, just a short distance from St. Louis.  You will find all kinds of water sports, lots of golf, great shopping, music shows and much more. 

Check out some of the websites below for the Lake Area.

http://www.lakeoftheozarksgetaway.com/breaks.html

http://odd.net/ozarks/lakecam/    

From the very early days of exploration west of the Mississippi River, the Osage River valley area has been a desirable place to live. Strongly populated by the Osage Indian tribes, settlers began migrating to the area in the early 1800’s. The Osage River provided a great way of travel for moving goods and supplies from Kansas City and St. Louis.

Many river ports were located along the river from Warsaw to Old Linn Creek to a small town known as Bagnell Landing. Small river barges would make their way up the Osage River with supplies and goods, offload them at various landings and reload the barges with valuable resources from the Ozarks and transport them back to the populated areas of the state of Missouri . One of the most popular resources provided from the area was timber. The landing at Tuscumbia , Missouri was known for the largest lumber mill in the central part of the state, Anchor Milling. Long with the timber industry, the Osage valley was also known for its fertile farm land. Thousands of acres of corn was harvested each year and was also transported via barges on the Osage River . Of course, with the abundance of corn, came the occasional moonshine still.

Some of the finest whiskey was sent to the St. Louis and Kansas City areas using the river paths. Moonshine stills were known to be operating in the Lake of the Ozarks area as late as the mid 1970’s. But with the opening of highways and railroads across the state, the river traffic became a thing of the past. The river was still a great place for the sportsman and the men that used it to make a living. Commercial fishermen could be seen everyday on the river as well as the winter trade of trapping. This too changed with the construction of Bagnell Dam by Union Electric Company of St. Louis . Located five miles above Bagnell, the dam created the finest vacation spot for the entire midwest. Filling the valley with water, the Lake of the Ozarks was created. With its more than 1300 miles of shoreline, scenic views, beautiful homes, fantastic resorts and hotels, the Lake of the Ozarks remains one of the most popular vacation spots in the country. To commemorate the settlers and early people of the Osage valley, the first Mountain Man Rendezvous was held on the banks of the Osage River below Bagnell Dam in 1984. This event has become an annual event every year at the American Legion Campground below Bagnell Dam in Lake Ozark . Its popularity and size grows greater each year.

Today, you will find vacation attractions for all ages, hotels and resorts at the waters edge and vacation or permanent homes ranging from a modest $60,000 to well into the multi-million dollar range. Some of the finest award winning chefs are located at the Lake of the Ozarks and they are preparing your favorite dishes and meals for the greatest dining experience of your life. Over the years, the Lake of the Ozarks area has become the most desirable retirement area in the state. With 14 golf courses and over 225 holes of enjoyment, retirement is never dull. With one of the largest outlet malls in the state, everybody will love to go shopping here also. There’s something for everybody. If boating is your thing, one of our many marinas and boat dealers can provide you with a boat for every occasion. After all, you can’t enjoy the whole Lake of the Ozarks without seeing it from the water. Whether its from the water or on the highways of the Lake of the Ozarks , there is daytime fun and after hours partying for all ages. The oldest country music show in the state, Lee Mace’s Ozark Opry, is located in Osage Beach . From a humble beginning with a dirt floor next to Bagnell Dam in Lake Ozark in the 1950’s,the Lee Mace show is still going strong. If country music isn’t your thing, then don’t forget about the world known lake of the Ozarks Party Cove and the many different night clubs located on the water with great food and dancing.

So, there is something for everybody at the Lake of the Ozarks . Enjoy your visit.