Wild tales of drug dealing, money laundering and gang violence may draw TV crowds who love the Netflix show 'Ozark,' but “The Lake,” as locals call it, is the real deal for water enthusiasts, nature lovers, thrill seekers & those who just want to get away.
And, over the better course of a week, our family of four found it to be an enjoyable vacation destination, a place where locals know how to navigate the lake and welcome those who do not. We found nothing but friendly folks who often called us “Hon” or “Love,” even “Darling,” which was, well, kind of nice.
Shortly after takeoff, we view the Bagnell Dam, which blocks the Osage River to form the lake. The stored water fuels the Osage Energy Center and produces electricity for local residences and businesses. On ground, we set up basecamp in Osage Beach, just as the Byrde family fictitiously did, but in a comfy condo instead of a sprawling lakefront house. We still had a nice view of the lake, and across the water was Dog Days Bar and Grill, where local bands belted out rock music into the night.
Next door to Malted Monkey is Tucker’s Shuckers, serving up drinks and bar food, and farther along Bagnell Dam Boulevard is Baxter’s for fine dining. “Ozark” enthusiasts can order “Darlene’s Killer Lemonade” or “Lickety Split Buckets” at Marty Byrde’s Bar & Grille, which opened in 2018 . We skip it in favor of more authentic experiences off the strip.
On dry land, the park’s trails are great for hiking, horseback riding and mountain biking. Camping is permitted, at primitive and more-modern campsites. We drive a few miles to Bridal Cave, a stunning underground passageway featuring many well-lit formations that included columns, soda straws and pools. Our guide says more than 4,000 wedding vows have been changed over the years in one wondrous, roomy expanse, and that’s easy to believe.
We choose to do some fishing when offered the services of Scott Pauley, a professional tournament fisherman and outdoor representative for the Missouri Division of Tourism. The lifelong Missouri resident teaches us how to find places where bass and other local fish like to hang out. There are plenty of charter companies and guides in the area that can help tourists who don’t want to go it alone.
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