Bringing In The Big Boats

Through seas, rivers and highways, Ernie Dampier’s team knows what it takes to get yachts to Lake of the Ozarks. by Nathan Bechtold   Whenever someone needs a huge boat hauled to Lake of the Ozarks, Ernie Dampier’s name comes up. It’s an incredibly difficult job:...

The One That Got Ate

Few people can say they’ve had a $100,000 meal. A couple of fellas on an Ozarks dock had one last year. by Nathan Bechtold, republished from LakeExpo.com   The Big Bass Bash, held twice a year on Lake of the Ozarks, draws thousands of anglers all hoping to catch...

The Rise & Fall of Fort of the Osage

The unlikely beginnings, exhilarating journey, and mysterious end of a legendary Lake of the Ozarks amusement park. by Nathan Bechtold   The first-ever amusement park at Lake of the Ozarks, Fort of the Osage Family Fun Park began — as so many ideas do — on a bar...

Lightning Rods

Are Tesla Cybertrucks a glimpse into the future of boat towing? by Nathan Bechtold & Janet Dabbs   In the summer of 2024, a new truck began turning heads on roads across the country: the Tesla Cybertruck. Everyone — literally 100% of the population — has an...

Roofers Who Stand Behind Their Work: Danner Roofing

by Christine Dean   You can’t live long with a leaky roof. That drip-drip-dripping and the knowledge that the problem gets worse with every rainstorm… The only question is: who to call? A third-generation roofing company, Danner Roofing and Construction doesn’t...
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American Sun Control Makes Outdoor Spaces Cooler

American Sun Control Makes Outdoor Spaces Cooler

by Adrienne Brown Living at the Lake of the Ozarks means plenty of fun in the sun. But while time on the Lake involves catching some rays, you don’t want to be sun-blasted every time you step outside your home. American Sun Control specializes in creating a perfect...

STORIES


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Bullish On The Lake

by Nathan Bechtold, Editor   One of my favorite aspects of my job: I get to talk to so many fascinating people. And over the past few years, I’ve noticed how many of these people are really bullish on Lake of the Ozarks. That’s nothing new. This place has always...

Since Last Summer

Four big developments that will change the Lake’s landscape in 2025. by Nathan Bechtold 1. Shootout Leaves Captain Ron’s The Lake of the Ozarks Shootout moved from Shooters 21 to Captain Ron’s Bar & Grill in 2008. And in late-2024, Shootout organizers announced...

Vintage Boat Tales

by Tegan Shockley Every summer weekend, the Lake of the Ozarks shines with flashy new boats, from catamarans to cruisers. But on the quieter days, a rarer breed of boater comes out to play: vintage boat owners.   The 1956 Larson Falls Flyer - Ernie Lierman  Ernie...

The Amazing Amphicar

The rare, amphibious car that cruises the Lake’s shorelines sports a fascinating back-story. by Tegan Shockley Is it a car? Is it a boat? Yes!  The Amphicar is the only civilian amphibious automobile to be mass-produced, and one resides right here at Lake of the...

The Great Loop

Boaters Tommy and Tina Osborne complete a year-long journey through salt and fresh water. by Annika Bringman & Nathan Bechtold   In a spur-of-the-moment decision in the fall of 2021, boaters Tommy and Tina Osborne decided to fulfill their decade-long dream of...
Embrace The Reputation, It’s Not Going Anywhere

Embrace The Reputation, It’s Not Going Anywhere

Lake of the Ozarks has a reputation.   Rough water, pool bars, party coves and hot nights: it’s a party lake. Water like glass, kayaking, paddleboarding, wakesurfing, morning Waverunner rides: it’s a watersports lake. Boat races, poker runs and a powerboat scene...

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Boatloads Of Memories

Boatloads Of Memories

From the heyday of excursion boats on Lake of the Ozarks, these four may be the most beloved and nostalgic. by Nathan Bechtold; Tom Sawyer reporting by Vicki Wood; Governor McClurg story from Damming The Osage, Lens & Pen Press.  Available at...

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The Blob!

The Blob!

These strange, jelly-donut-looking blobs are some of the Lake’s most curious critters. And when you spot one, it’s a good sign. by  Nathan Bechtold "What is that blob floating in the Lake?” It's a common question every summer, and it has an easy answer. While Lake of...

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GUIDES


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Roofers Who Stand Behind Their Work: Danner Roofing

by Christine Dean   You can’t live long with a leaky roof. That drip-drip-dripping and the knowledge that the problem gets worse with every rainstorm… The only question is: who to call? A third-generation roofing company, Danner Roofing and Construction doesn’t...

American Sun Control Makes Outdoor Spaces Cooler

by Adrienne Brown Living at the Lake of the Ozarks means plenty of fun in the sun. But while time on the Lake involves catching some rays, you don’t want to be sun-blasted every time you step outside your home. American Sun Control specializes in creating a perfect...

To Build An Oasis

It’s the first project of its kind at Lake of the Ozarks: the development of a massive entertainment complex and Marriott hotel & conference center in Osage Beach. Developer Jeff Tegethoff shared some enlightening numbers behind the project.   Oasis at...

What Docks Do

by Nathan Bechtold   The Lake of the Ozarks has approximately 40,000 docks. (If you’re ever trying to explain this place to someone who’s never heard of it, start there.) And while dock ownership is part-and-parcel for most waterfront homes on the Lake, docks...
Since Last Summer

Since Last Summer

Four big developments that will change the Lake’s landscape in 2025. by Nathan Bechtold 1. Shootout Leaves Captain Ron’s The Lake of the Ozarks Shootout moved from Shooters 21 to Captain Ron’s Bar & Grill in 2008. And in late-2024, Shootout organizers announced...

read more
The Blob!

The Blob!

These strange, jelly-donut-looking blobs are some of the Lake’s most curious critters. And when you spot one, it’s a good sign. by  Nathan Bechtold "What is that blob floating in the Lake?” It's a common question every summer, and it has an easy answer. While Lake of...

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Best Wake Lake!

Best Wake Lake!

The Lake of the Ozarks is a beloved summer hotspot for residents and visitors, and in 2023 it was voted the best lake for water sports in the country, by a USA Today readers poll. The Lake was among 20 destinations across the U.S. selected by a panel of travel experts...

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