THE LAKE AREA

The Lake of the Ozarks came into being over 70 years ago.  The lake is actually a combination of four rivers: the Osage, Big and Little Niangua and the Glaize.  Construction of Bagnell Dam was started August 6, 1929; the lake began to fill February 2, 1931 and was open to the public May 30, 1931.  Today the lake covers approximately 54,000 acres, is 92 miles from end to end and has over 1300 miles of shoreline.  We owe all the individuals involved in bringing about this beautiful playground a debt of thanks.

The lake itself is the biggest attraction in the area and offers something for almost everyone, whether it’s swimming, boating, skiing, cliff jumping, parasailing, fishing, sailing or just relaxing by the waterfront.  With a body of water, this large you don’t have to see the same shoreline twice and there is always some quiet water cove just for you.

The lake area is made up of three counties: Camden, Miller and Morgan with over a dozen communities.  Camden County could be considered the heart of the area, as it is where most of the action is.  While Camdenton is the county seat, Osage Beach is where the action is and offers the largest variety of shopping from the 110-factory outlet store mall to small specialty shops, boutiques and restaurants.  The area offers many opportunities to see some interesting sites including Bridal Cave and  Jacob’s Cave, the castle at Ha Ha Tonka State Park, the Swinging Bridges and the Eagles in the fall.   If you enjoy live family entertainment there are 3 down-home country shows, and if that's not enough, check the Lake of the Ozarks Convention & Visitor Bureau for additional activities going on at the Lake.  Entertaining kids, try one of our many mini golf courses, go-karts tracks, or other fun centers like Big Surf and Miner Mike’s.  Whether, you travel by car or boat, you won’t have to look very far for one of the many great restaurants as they can be easily found throughout the lake area.  

In addition to water related activities, shopping and dining, the area is rapidly increasing its  notoriety by becoming known as a Midwest premier golf destination.  The lake of the Ozarks boasts over 13 golf courses open to the public, some designed by Ken Kavanaugh, Arnold Palmer, and Tom Weiskopf .  In all 225 holes appealing to both beginners and seasoned golfers.

The Lake of the Ozarks has not only become a popular recreational area, but a great place to raise a family or retire.  The Camdenton R-III schools are fully accredited (AAA) by Missouri Dept of Elementary and Secondary Schools and have strong extracurricular programs in athletics, art and music.  The R-III schools also have special programs for the gifted, talented students and those with learning disabilities.  The lake area also hosts various colleges and technical schools.  The local hospital, Lake Regional, has grown to meet the needs of the community especially with a state-of-the-art diagnostic including two digital cardiac catheterization suites, MRI, ABBI and a full range of standard tests.  Presently they are raising funds to add a cancer radiation therapy area.

The Real Estate market in the lake area has been strong with values increasing steadily.  Availability is good with condo’s ranging from $80,000 to $250,000; single-family lakefront, homes are always in demand when priced between 130,000 to 225,000.  With the lakes popularity, finding a nice home under $150,000 becomes increasingly more difficult every year.  If you are considering a 2^nd home or seasonal home in the lake area, serious consideration should be given to such a purchase today, as what sells for $150,000 today may sell for $156,000 or more next year.  On an average you can figure a 3-6% increase per year in the cost of a lake home per year. 

Our trained, customer friendly agents at FOUR WINDS REALTY will help you find that special home or help you sell you’re present home without making you feel pressured.  REMEMBER FOUR WINDS REALTY IS THE NAME TO REMEMBER, AND THE NAME TO TRUST.  For a free no-obligation market evaluation, please click on the link Thinking About Selling?.