For Immediate Release Media Contact: Steve Kappler or Marjorie Beenders
September 11, 2008 Phone: 573-636-8282 « Email: info@tbwgroup.net
Go Cruising Your Way
at Central Missouri's Lake of the Ozarks
Lake of the Ozarks, Mo. –It’s no wonder the main attraction at Central Missouri’s Lake of the Ozarks is … the Lake itself. With a meandering shoreline of 1,150 miles, covering 54,000 acres, and running 92 miles end-to-end, there’s plenty of room to go boating your way, no matter what kind of boat you prefer.
Your own boat is always welcome at the Lake of the Ozarks. Bring it along and launch it at a public access ramp. There are nine such ramps at the Lake, including ramps at Bagnell Dam, Gravois Mills, Sunrise Beach, three in Lake of the Ozarks State Park and other locations. Some charge a small access fee and offer gas and convenience items.
Or you can use the launching ramp and other facilities at one of the Lake’s many full-service commercial marinas, where you also can purchase gas and supplies. If you’re planning to stay overnight or longer, many Lake-area lodging facilities offer private boat slips, making it easy to step out your door, right onto your boat.
No boat? That’s no problem at the Lake of the Ozarks. Numerous marinas, resorts and campgrounds offer boat rentals for novices and experts alike. Speedboats, pontoons, fishing boats and personal water craft can be rented for the hour, day or longer. When renting a boat, be sure to check on Missouri’s requirements regarding boating safety certification for residents and visitors.
Whether you own or rent a boat, one recommended way to appreciate the Lake’s natural beauty is the nine-mile Aquatic Trail at Lake of the Ozarks State Park. Orange-and-white buoys indicate one of 14 fascinating geological sites, created naturally by water millions of years ago: outcroppings, caves, bluffs, plant life and more. Visitors often see fish, waterfowl, chipmunks and deer during the two-hour trip.
However, for the most effortless and enjoyable boating experience, take a leisurely Lake cruise. Several vessels operate from early spring through late fall and offer relaxing and informative scenic tours, as well as dinner, dancing and other special excursions. One popular vessel is the 75-foot Tropic Island II which takes up to 150 passengers on narrated Lake tours daily (except for Monday) from 3:00-4:30 p.m., complete with Lake history and up-close looks at million-dollar-plus homes.
“It’s a very pleasant cruise,” says owner and corporate dropout Captain Omer Clark. “In fact we try to make it not just a cruise, but an experience, so people can actually get a feel for the Lake of the Ozarks.”
Clark likes to play reggae and tropical background music to complement the laid-back tone on his double-decker luxury vessel. It’s frequently chartered for corporate events, reunions, birthdays and weddings. “We even held a couple of memorial services on the boat for people who love the Lake of the Ozarks,” he says. On the Memorial Day, July 4th and Labor Day weekends, Clark offers a fireworks cruise that includes the Lake tour, light appetizers and patriotic music during the fireworks display. Off-season, the Tropic Island II stays at its home dock at The Lodge of Four Seasons, and Clark and his wife, Jacquie, get a chance to travel.
The 80-foot Celebration Cruise Yacht, moored at Kirkwood Lodge in Osage Beach, offers lunch and dinner cruises and as well as leisurely scenic excursions for up to 149 passengers. Captain Mike Bouffiou says, “We have an extended season, starting with our St. Patrick’s Day cruise, fireworks cruises on Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Labor Day, plus special Offshore and Shootout cruises and we wrap it up with a great New Year’s Eve party.” He adds, “It’s a lot of fun being out on the Lake on New Year’s Eve. It’s like having the Lake to ourselves.”
New this season, on Thursdays the Celebration offers its Beach Party Cruise, a day-long trip that includes several hours on a private beach for sunning, parasailing, waverunning and lunch. “The Beach Party offers families a fun and affordable day on the water and a chance to experience a beach,” Bouffiou says. “The kids really enjoy having their own special Pirate’s Party.”
Also new this year is the Sea Rocket. Bouffiou’s newest vessel also is docked at Kirkwood Lodge and offers passengers “an offshore-style experience and the chance to get on the Lake at a fairly fast clip,” Bouffiou says. “It’s a good time and lets you see a little more of the Lake than you can on the Celebration.”
The Ozark Princess, docked at the Tan-Tar-A Resort marina, offers one-hour excursions, two or three times a week during the summer season. With room for 90 guests, the vessel is frequently chartered for private parties and meetings. Captain Keith Enloe also offers special cruises for viewing holiday fireworks.
Who would expect to find a 19th-century paddlewheeler cruising the Lake of the Ozarks? That’s the Tom Sawyer, a turn-of-the-(19th)-century-style riverboat offering daily, 90-minute narrated scenic cruises at 1:30 p.m., as well as sunset dinner cruises, Memorial Day through late October. One of three brothers from LaCross, Wis., who own the vessel, Greg Braun brought the historic-looking, 43-year-old boat to the Lake of the Ozarks from Dubuque, Iowa nine years ago and practically rebuilt it from stem to stern. The 120-person boat frequently is chartered by business groups, motorcoach tours, school groups, reunions and others. Braun notes the delicious all-you-can-eat buffet is catered by Huckleberry’s Restaurant at Bagnell Dam, which the brothers also own. His brother, Tom, serves as captain. “Occasionally I come along for a cruise,” Greg Braun says. “I do most of the cooking.”
Several charter services operate at the Lake of the Ozarks. Many people find chartering a boat for an hour or a day is just right for a romantic sunset cruise or a relaxing day out on the Lake. And why drive to a restaurant when you can cruise there? Some Lake-area charter services include First Mate Yacht Services, which features yachts by Sea Ray and Carver and offers the professional fishing-guide expertise of Captain Travis Coleman; Kuhl Breeze Charters, with a 37-foot Four Winns V358 featuring two flatscreen TVs; and Leisure Lake Charters, which has a Rinker 282 Captiva Bowrider.
Another unique way to cruise the Lake of the Ozarks is by houseboat. Forever Resorts Houseboat Rentals are available at Lake of the Ozarks Marina north of Camdenton. Rent a 56-foot, 59-foot or ultra deluxe 65-foot houseboat for an unforgettable Lake cruising experience. Spacious and comfortable, some have upper-deck hot tub and bar!
On or off the water, there’s always a lot to see and do at Central Missouri’s magnificent Lake of the Ozarks. For information on events, activities, dining and lodging, call the Lake of the Ozarks Convention & Visitor Bureau at 800-FUN-LAKE (386-5253) or visit www.funlake.com.
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