Got Gotti’s Boat?
When Shane Quam started digging into the history of his Fountain ICBM powerboat, he found connections to a dark past… by Tegan Pasley Sleek. Fast. And blood-red. Shane Quam's 1987 Fountain is the kind of boat that turns heads. And this powerboat has a...
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...
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...
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...
A Nauti Makeover
Nauti Renovations transforms boats with flooring that looks downright amazing. by Kate Robbins Since 2018, Nauti Renovations has been the exclusive dealer of AquaTraction in Missouri and the surrounding areas. During that time, Erica and Rick Butkovich have...
The Ceramic Difference
Midwest Coating Solutions helps boats shine like never before. by Adrienne Brown It’s a growing trend at the Lake: the application of a ceramic coating to boat surfaces, including the paint job, glass, and lights. Midwest Coating Solutions owner Alex Baum explains the...
$100,000 From Grandpa’s Honey Hole
Brock Boyher’s Big Bass Bash story has it all: underdog, nostalgia, drama, a hailstorm, and in the end: victory. by Kate Robbins You’ve never heard a fish story like this one. On his very first cast at his very first tournament, Brock Boyher won the 2023 Spring Big...
(Extremely) High Performance Marine
Johnny Alles knows boats that go zoom. And he helped build some of the most legendary ones of all. “I think I might have been conceived in a boat.” Whether a boat is truly where Johnny Alles first sparked to life or not (surely he wouldn’t be the first!), he’s been...
Katie Angles
She started fishing Lake of the Ozarks during Covid lockdowns. Now Katie angles like a pro. by Kate Robbins Covid-19 lockdowns of 2020 disrupted the lives of people across the country, and being stuck at home is a time that few look back fondly on. But for one woman,...
A Trail To Connect The Lake
The gloriously ambitious Magic Dragon Trail System is happening, and it could expand the Lake’s tourism profile in a groundbreaking way. by Kate Robbins & Nathan Bechtold It’s an enormously ambitious undertaking, and one that could play a major role in the Lake of...
The Gamble
The race to build a casino at the Lake resembles a well-known card game. by Nathan Bechtold The Deal In 2020, a group of local investors called Osage River Gaming pulled up to the table, announcing their intent to bring a casino the region. And then in October of...
Grand Welcome!
This new franchise is bringing national brand power to Lake of the Ozarks vacation rentals “Local heart, national reach.” That’s the tagline for Grand Welcome Lake of the Ozarks, a new vacation rental franchise making a major splash in the Lake area’s vacation rental...
Vacasa! Vacation Rental Management, Solved
Lake of the Ozarks is a top tourist destination in the U.S. with all the miles of shoreline, tasty restaurants, and amazing real estate. And that’s why Vacasa Missouri (“Vacasa”) entered the vacation market here in the spring of 2022. Vacasa is a premier full-service...
Avaria Means No Compromise
A luxury day boat for those who want to break away. by Sue Rodman, republished with permission from MarineMax Lifestyles Magazine They say every good party ends up in the kitchen. On the water, that kitchen is the exquisitely designed Aviara luxury day boat built in...
Kirby <3s Malibu
Champion wakeboarder Kirby Liesmann, of Kirby’s School of Wake, talks about his Stateamind/Iguana partnership, and reveals why he loves Malibu and Axis boats. by Nathan Bechtold When three-time wakeboarding world champion Kirby Liesmann started wakeboarding...
DockBloxx Roxx!
This ingenius device is taking docks by storm. Why? Because it holds everything. By Annika Bringman Keeping a dock tidy can be tough. From fishing poles to life jackets to kayaks, figuring out where to store boating accessories is a perennial challenge. It’s tempting...
Big Developments on the Lake
After two or three years of talking about it, my cousin Trevor and I finally got our families together for an afternoon of boating. On a cloudy Saturday in September, we climbed aboard his wake boat—me, my oldest three kids, Trevor, his son, and his dad David (the...
Tales From The Deep: How To Float A Giant On Lake Of The Ozarks
When big things sink in the Lake, Tim McNitt — aka ’The Walrus’ — gets to float them by Nathan Bechtold & Al Griffin Ask Tim McNitt of Atlantis Dive & Dock Salvage for an interesting story, and you'd better get comfortable. When your job is diving for sunken...
These Vintage Boats On Lake Of The Ozarks Take Us Back To Simpler Times
Keep your superyachts. These classic boat owners turn heads everywhere they go. by Kate Robbins From flashy catamarans to sleek cruisers, Lake of the Ozarks is home to some incredible boats. But for some, the best boats on the water are from years gone by. Antique...
The Filmmaking Accident At Lake Of The Ozarks That Changed Hollywood Forever
by Michael Gillespie (posthumous) with additional information by Shore While Netflix could be credited with thrusting Lake of the Ozarks onto the global stage, Hollywood actually discovered the Lake in 1938. A movie production company used the still-new body of water...
Captain Ron’s Dishes Delicious Fun
by Kate Robbins, photos by Lake Shots Photography It’s a favorite Lake of the Ozarks hotspot as well as the home of the Shootout and Aquapalooza: there’s no place at the Lake quite like Captain Ron’s! The prime location on the 34 Mile Marker, plus fabulous food and...
Whimsy & Nostalgia! The Aquarama Mermaid Show From Lake Of The Ozarks’ Past
by Nathan Bechtold Long ago—when The Clown was the best waterfront restaurant around, the Ozark Opry was roaring, and Tan Tar A had a ski resort—at Lake of the Ozarks had a mermaid show. The Lake’s tourism “golden age” produced plenty of zany attractions, but Aquarama...
High Tide: The Adults-Only Club, Lake Of The Ozarks Style
The adults-only club where pool bars abound and the music blasts after dark. by Kate Robbins Just up the road from RedHead Lakeside Bar and Grill, High Tide is bringing a beach club vibe to the 21 mile marker. This poolside bar is always a party. After dark, the Night...
Franky & Louie’s Brings Those Tropical Vibes
by Ariel Kralina, photos by Brad Glidewell On the Lake of the Ozarks 10 Mile Marker, Franky and Louie’s offers live music and fun games with a white sand beach for the family to enjoy. The kitchen staff clearly loves crafting a delicious and memorable experience, and...
