Bringing In The Big Boats

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

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 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

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...
The ‘No-Toll’ Effect

The ‘No-Toll’ Effect

Now that the toll’s come to an end, is it a new frontier on Shawnee Bend? by Tegan Pasley   In April 2024, the last toll was collected on the Lake of the Ozarks Community Bridge, two years ahead of schedule. The end of the tolls was celebrated by residents and...