A Dam Dumb Idea
A failed project from the outset, the first-ever dam on the Osage River was built 130 years ago, and it’s still causing problems. Introduction by Nathan Bechtold; article republished with permission from Damming the Osage Not every notion to “build something” is a...
Boat Gas 24/7/365
Need boat gas after hours (or in the winter)? We found three spots to get it. From October to April, cold weather imposes the “offseason” at Lake of the Ozarks. And as fall turns to winter, many marinas close or operate with reduced hours until the spring. ...
The Newest, Fastest Electric Boat
In the quest for electric-powered speed on the water, a group of college students thinks they may have discovered the secret formula. by Janet Dabbs A collegiate team is attempting to design and engineer the fastest electric boat the world has ever seen. The...
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...
Jellyfish In The Lake
Every August, with waters warmed by the summer sun, a creature begins to emerge in Lake of the Ozarks that most folks never suspected was there. It's a jellyfish. July, August, and September are the most common months to spot the tiny freshwater...
Shootout Poker Run 2024 Photos
It’s one of the biggest go-fast gatherings at the Lake. This year’s Poker Run is set for Friday, Aug. 22, 2025. Here’s a look at last year’s fun.
Lake of the Ozarks ~ The Great Unwind
By J.B. Simpson There’s nothing quite like the eve of the boating season — the anticipation of warm days to come. It matters not your favorite boating endeavor: sunrise fishing, morning waverunner runs, wake surf, powerboating for distance, afternoon...
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...
Throwback! The Lake Looked GOOD In The 70s & 80s
Ski shows, fast boats, and the Shootout is born by Al Griffin & Nathan Bechtold 1970s: The Ski Show Era The 1970s was the heyday of ski shows at Lake of the Ozarks; meanwhile behind the scenes, innovators and entrepreneurs were shaping the future of family...
The Toll Bridge: A Bold Dream That Changed The Lake Of The Ozarks Forever
The Community Bridge turned a lot of “nowhere” into one of Lake of the Ozarks’ hottest housing frontiers. by Nathan Bechtold Not very many years ago — in the early 1990s — the area of the Lake that is now known as Porto Cima and The Villages at Shawnee Bend was miles...
In 1933, A Boating Writer Discovers Lake Of The Ozarks
by H.H. Meyer - Reprinted with permission of Bonnier LLC. Introduction by Michael Gillespie The following article, “Missouri’s Lake of the Ozarks,” appeared in the May, 1934, issue of the long-gone Motor Boating magazine. The author was H.H. Meyer, a writer and...
Reader Photos!
We asked Shore readers, “How’s your summer going?” Here’s how they answered.Want your crew included in SHORE 2024? Send photos to publisher@shoreboatingmag.com
The Guide To Exploring Lake Of The Ozarks’ Islands (And A Few You Can’t)
Islands for visiting, living, and exploring on Lake of the Ozarks by Tim Snow Ask any true adventurer about the value of solitude in nature, and they’ll tell you there’s magic in the woods: a peace that can only be observed when no other humans are around. That same...
The Cave: Delicious Food And A Pool In A Cave! Need We Say More?
Swim in a cave, and sink your feet in the sand at the Lake’s newest, hottest (& coolest!) hotspot! Opened in 2022, The Cave — located on the 4 MM of the Niangua Arm, next to the Niangua Bridge — immediately became one of Lake of the Ozarks’ most popular waterfront...
