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...
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...
Pups On The Patio!
by Kate Robbins Looking for a great restaurant on the Lake of the Ozarks but want to bring your furry best friend along? Look no further than this list of dog-friendly restaurants on and off the water! On Water: Ozark Yacht Club: (outdoor seating only) 1 Mile Marker...
PHOTOS: Lake of the Ozarks Boat Parades
Boaters from more than a dozen states came to Lake of the Ozarks for a world-record attempt at the largest boat parade ever, in 2021. In all, 612 boaters were counted. The world record, set in Malaysia in 2014, is 1,180. So, no new record, at least not this time. The...
Anchor-Line Time
For many boaters, the weekend is spent on the boat or the community dock, where evenings jive and friendships thrive. They’re called “live-aboards.” by Christy Wagner, Lake Ozark The Miceks For Mike and Diane Micek, living the dock life started more than three decades...
Where To Buy?
You know the kind of Lake life you want, but where’s the best place for it? Lake of the Ozarks realtors know just the spot. by Kate Robbins The Lake of the Ozarks is one of the hottest real estate spots in the country. With vast waters to explore, and plenty to do...
No Dock-Blocking, No Trespassing
Two new rules of the water that Lake of the Ozarks boaters need to know by Nathan Bechtold A new Missouri law went into effect, late in the 2021 boating season, and it affects boaters and dock owners alike. The two big things to know? 1. No more anchoring your boat...
Healing Waters
Wake For Warriors gives wounded military members a place to carve wakes in the sunshine and connect with other veterans. MarineMax is bringing them to Lake of the Ozarks. by Kate Robbins For millions of people, Lake of the Ozarks is a place for fun-in-the-sun and...
SNAPSHOT: Lake Of The Ozarks In The ‘60s
by Al Griffin & Nathan Bechtold In the 1960s, the Lake of the Ozarks truly came into its own as the Midwest's playground. Amid the ups and downs of the tumultuous decade, Lake of the Ozarks proved to be the perfect place for a summer getaway. The magnet of a huge...
Finding Fish Their Way
Fishermen are always angling for an edge. Some love tech, some lean on tradition, and others say it’s all about big baits. by Brent Frazee When Andy Newcomb launches his bass boat at Lake of the Ozarks, it looks like a floating computer lab, filled with the latest...
The Locksmith, The Powerboat, & The Roller Coaster
Wife's Money, vintage boats and hillbilly engineering on the Gravois Arm, the Rickers are living Lake Life their way, and they're having a blast. by Kate Robbins The Lake of the Ozarks shoreline is covered with interesting sites to see, from million-dollar homes to...
The Small Waters
Beauty and brilliance upstream: boaters are exploring the Lake above the 40MM by Deanna Wolff It’s no secret that there’s absolutely nothing better than spending the day cruising, coving, and catching fish, and converging at waterfront restaurant/bars on the Lake of...
Up From The Deep
Missouri State Highway Patrol rescue divers see a lot… especially when they can’t see a thing. by Public Info. Spec. III Cheryl D. Cobb (Q/PIED), republished with permission In 1960, four troopers were trained in scuba diving to serve part time with a Water Rescue...
A Premier Pick-Up
With the purchase of Premier 54, Rick Ball and Steve Brink keep growing their marine business portfolio at Lake of the Ozarks. Here’s their secret. by Nathan Bechtold Where would the number-one dealer of Chaparral Boats in the world be located? Of course, the answer...
The North Shore
Homebuyers are finding this stretch of lakefront real estate appealing, for a host of reasons. Photo by Lake Shots Photography by Kate Robbins The real estate market has exploded at Lake of the Ozarks. In 2021, home sales were on-pace to show a 33% increase compared...
The Lake’s Lost Towns
Beneath these waters, a history lies… by Janet Dabbs, with additional information by Michael Gillespie (posthumous) Bagnell Dam was—and is—an engineering marvel, one that would supply electricity to Missouri and, in creating Lake of the Ozarks, bring economic...
Business In Their Blood
The family that founded Cobalt Boats just bought family-owned Summerset Boat Lifts at Lake of the Ozarks. Meet the St. Clairs. by Nathan Bechtold - all photos courtesy the Brooks & St. Clair families Ancient historians report when the Romans went to war, their...
From Ankeny To The Ozarks
by Kate Robbins Carl Moyer has had a storied career, from leading a successful racing career to growing a thriving auto group. This summer, the long-time Iowa auto dealer made Lake of The Ozarks his second home. Moyer always had a passion for cars. He got his start...
The Lake’s Best Beer Tour
by Emily Debert The number of breweries in America is at an all-time high. In January of this year, beveragedynamics.com predicted the total number of American breweries to exceed 8,000 in the not-too-distant future. For Lake of the Ozarks residents and vacationers...
The Lake’s First Seaplane Pilot
by Michael Gillespie The 1950s were interesting times at the Lake. Simple roadside attractions were the rule of the day, and that usually included a trip to the dam to sample the various amusements and souvenir shops, and maybe take an excursion boat ride. Those boat...
Through Your Lens
The Lake's scenic sunsets and perfect photo ops are endless. SHORE readers shared some of their favorite shots from 2020. Got the perfect sunrise, sunset, or scenic Lake photo? Send it to publisher@shoreboatingmag.comWant your crew included in SHORE 2022? Send photos...
Bear Bottom Resort: Explosive Flavors & Family Fun
by Connye Griffin & LakeExpo.com On the water’s edge at the 38MM, tucked into a cove at the edge of one of the Lake’s most picturesque bluffs, sprawls a family oasis like no other. Bear Bottom Resort is renowned for a 700-foot waterslide, swim-up pool bar, live...
