Lake History: The Lake Of The Ozarks In The 1940s

Flickr photo by George Thomas – CC 2.0 License

The Lake of the Ozarks has evolved from a rustic hunting and fishing destination to the boating Mecca of the Midwest. Here’s a peek at the Lake’s second decade: the 1940s.

1940s — Boating Grows With Post-War Prosperity

Disposable Income Increases. Vacations Lengthen. Century Boats Arrives. Gar-Wood Abandons Wood Too Early. Aluminum Arrives On The Scene. Lake Of The Ozarks State Park Is Created.

In the ‘40s, throughout the country, the turbulence of the war years gave way to a new prosperity and hopefulness, as the world and America settled into a peaceful routine that included more leisure time and more money for discretionary spending. Lake of the Ozarks matured into a real destination for vacationers, as the American consumer had a greater amount of money to spend on boats and trips dedicated to hunting and fishing, and later into cruising in a family speed boat and waterskiing. Vacations were getting longer, too.

The one-day fishing trip was still popular, but weekend and even week-long camping, cabin, and lodge trips were becoming more common. And the boat-building industry was about to be revolutionized by technology, which would propel even more Americans into recreational boating.