Every year, from mid-September through early November, the
hardwood forests that line the winding roads, rolling hillsides and shorelines
around the Lake of the Ozarks transform from verdant greens into a vibrant
palette of varying shades of red, orange and yellow.
"We have many visitors return every autumn for the
changing of the seasons," says Tim Jacobsen, executive director of the
Lake of the Ozarks Convention and Visitor Bureau. "A lot of them come from
around Missouri, but we get quite a few from all over the Midwest and even the
west coast because they don't get to experience fall like we do here in Central
Missouri. They plan their entire vacations around it."
Those that live at the Lake of the Ozarks enjoy the beauty
of the seasons on a daily basis, but for visitors, just driving from their
lodging to wherever their trip to the Lake may take them, it can be a very
special experience. And, stopping briefly off the beaten paths and main
roads throughout the Lake can reveal many colorful surprises for those hoping
to bask in the autumnal glory of the Ozarks.
There are multiple designated scenic overlooks in the Lake
area, each offering visitors a unique vantage point of the Lake and its
impressive features. The Ameren Scenic Overlook, located just off the
Bagnell Dam on Upper Power Plant Road in Lake Ozark, offers a unique
perspective of the Bagnell Dam and the Lake of the Ozarks. Visitors get a
distinct view of the Lake as well as the significant elevation change from the
Lake of the Ozarks to the Osage River, the Lake's main tributary. Just
down the road from the Ameren Overlook, visitors to Willmore Lodge, 1 Willmore
Lane, can enjoy in the panoramic view of the Lake from the back deck of this
Adirondak-style building that was constructed in 1930 as an administration
building and recreation hall for Union Electric executives. Willmore Lodge
now houses a history museum dedicated to the creation of the Bagnell Dam and
the Lake of the Ozarks.
In Camdenton, there are three noteworthy scenic overlooks
each offering an exceptional vantage point of the Lake and its fantastic fall
foliage. On the way to Bridal Cave, there's the Thunder Mountain Park overlook
located on Bridal Cave Road. From this overlook, visitors are afforded a view
of the lush hillside leading down to Bridal Cave as well as the shimmering
waters of the Lake. Nearby, located in the surrounding Camdenton Conservation
Service Center off Thunder Mountain Road, there is a 100-foot tall fire tower
with an observation deck situated 80 feet above ground that's open to the
public for expansive views of the rolling topography.
About four miles south of Camdenton, visitors to Ha Ha Tonka
State Park get a wonderful treat of colors at several overlooks located off
paved trails that circle around the park's iconic "castle ruins." Ha
Ha Tonka, which was voted the fourth best state park in the nation by readers
of USA Today, is a popular attraction at the Lake during the fall. This park
offers 14 walking trails covering more than 15 miles throughout the park,
making it easy for visitors to experience the different geological formations -
tunnels, caverns, springs and sinkholes - as well as the park's pristine
woodland areas and glades. There's also a wooden boardwalk that winds
around the natural spring, as well as 316 steps leading up to the stone
skeleton of the once-majestic rural estate of Robert McClure Snyder.
Lake of the Ozarks State Park, Missouri's most visited park
and also its largest at 17,626 acres, boasts 12 hiking trails ranging from 0.8
of a mile to 13.5 miles winding through the park, including trails that
accommodate mountain bikers and equestrians. These trails are great
for leisurely strolls and/or more vigorous hikes through a
variety of terrain and ecological systems, including hardwood forests,
glades, fens and prairies. They also take hikers along the shores of the Lake
and atop bluffs with picturesque views of the water below. This park is
very popular with anglers and boaters as it also offers boat rentals, public
ramps, docks and a designated self-guided aquatic trail.
For a birds-eye view, visitors can book an aerial tour with
either Lake Ozark Helicopters, located off Bagnell Dam Boulevard in Lake Ozark,
or Air Lake Aviation, located at the Camdenton Memorial Lake Regional Airport
in Camdenton. Both offer narrated photography tours throughout the year,
weather permitting. Lake Ozark Helicopters offers six different tour
options and Air Lake Aviation offers a 30-minute scenic plane ride which covers
most of the Lake area, including the historic Bagnell Dam, Ha Ha Tonka State
Park and everything in between. For more information, or to book a tour
with Lake Ozark Helicopters, visit www.LakeOzarkHelicopters.com
or call 573-302-0022. Complete details on Air Lake Aviation's scenic
flights can be found at www.AirLakeAviation.com
or by calling 573-348-1088.
Those interested in taking in the sights by water can
charter a narrated scenic cruise on one of three luxury motor yachts: the
Tropic Island, the Celebration and the Celebration II. The Tropic Island, which
accommodates 150 passengers, moors at Tan-Tar-A Resort in Osage Beach and
offers 90-minute cruises Tuesdays through Sundays. The original Celebration
docks near the Grand Glaize Bridge in Osage Beach, while the new Celebration II
docks near the Bagnell Dam in Lake Ozark. The original Celebration offers luncheon
and dinner cruises Tuesdays through Sundays while the Celebration II offers
90-minute afternoon and sunset cruises every day of the week except Tuesday.
Each ship captain's narration places an emphasis on the history of the Lake of
the Ozarks as well as the stunning homes and lakeside restaurants that overlook
the water. To learn more about the different cruise options available at the
Lake, visit www.TropicIslandCruises.com
for the Tropic Island or www.CruiseLakeoftheOzarks.com
for the Celebration yachts.
Two favorite Lake of the Ozarks pastimes heat up as the
temperatures begin to cool down in the fall. Anglers and golfers alike both
favor the fall weather when pursuing their favored hobby. Both fishing and
golf are four-season sports at the Lake, but, there is a certain charm in being
outdoors in the Ozarks in autumn. Anglers find the quieter waters favorable for
fishing in secluded coves along the 1,150 miles of shoreline, as their time on
the water proves to be both beautiful and productive. Largemouth bass and
catfish are plentiful, while white bass become a highly sought after target in
the shallower waters this time of year. Crappie become active again
around brush piles planted in the Lake in September and continue to
bite well into the winter.
For golfers, fall is great at any of the Lake's 13 courses.
"Autumn is probably the best time to play golf at the Lake because the
summer rush is over and the courses are all in great shape," says Paul
Leahy, president of the Lake of the Ozarks Golf Council and director of golf at
Tan-Tar-A Resort. "In mid-fall, especially, you have very comfortable
temperatures and more affordable tee times and the foliage is typically quite
stunning. It's certainly one of my favorite times to be out on the
course."
Visitors also can take advantage of reduced lodging rates
throughout the Lake of the Ozarks area as the peak summer travel season winds
down. "The Lake is a popular destination any time of year, but with
fall being a shoulder season, it's one of the most beautiful and also most affordable
times to visit," says Tim Jacobsen. "Many of the Lake's attractions
are open for business year-around, so the only thing you'll be missing are the
big crowds." Lodging options at the Lake range from full-service luxury
resorts to smaller family-owned resorts, comfortable cabins to familiar hotels
and motels, quaint bed and breakfasts to condominiums and vacation homes. For
more information on the different accommodations found at the Lake of the
Ozarks, click on the "Places to Stay" tab at www.FunLake.com.
To learn more about all the fun events, attractions, as well
as lodging and dining options available all year at the "Best
Recreational Lake" in the Nation, call the Lake of the Ozarks
Convention and Visitor Bureau (CVB) at 1-800-FUN-LAKE, or visit the CVB's
award-winning website, www.FunLake.com.
