Spring Harbor Hop at Lake of the Ozarks

Kick off the spring boating season at the Lake of the Ozarks - and win big prizes - during the 18th Annual Spring Harbor Hop poker run on Saturday, May 2.  Spring Harbor Hop participants will try to complete the best poker hand (or hands) by traveling by lake or by land to their choice of waterfront checkpoints across the Lake (there are over 40 businesses consisting primarily of bars, restaurants and marinas on the Hop). While all the stops for the event are boater friendly, participants also can enjoy the day and the scenery by land, driving from one location to the next. "The Spring Harbor Hop happens at a time when many flowers and trees around the Lake are in full bloom, so it's just gorgeous," CVB Director of Member Services Heather Brown says.  "Many people make a full day of it, as the event lets them enjoy the food and fun of the Lake, all while taking in our beautiful spring scenery. This year we're expecting as many as 1,400 people to come out to celebrate the beginning of the boating season." Players will begin their "hop" by making a suggested donation of $20 per hand and drawing their first card at any of the participating locations. Six additional cards will be drawn for each hand as participants visit the various Harbor Hop locations around the Lake. When the seventh card is drawn, the hand is complete and is turned in at that final location. An additional card to help improve the hand can be obtained at that final location for a $5 donation.  Prizes will be awarded for the top 10 poker hands at the Hop, as well as the four worst hands and 10 randomly selected winners. All eligible hands must be turned in by 7 p.m. Winners will be notified by certified mail. There also will be prizes for "section winners" who complete their entire hand in one of these four sections: Section I is the Gravois Arm of the Lake Section II includes Bagnell Dam to the 10 mile marker on the Main Channel Section III runs from the mile markers 13-26 on the Main Channel Section IV includes mile markers 31-38 on the Main Channel and Big Niangua Arm Most Harbor Hop locations open at 11 a.m., though some open as early as 9 a.m. Hours will vary from location to location, so "hoppers" should consult the list of locations and operating hours by visiting FunLake.com/HarborHop. Complete rules for the Harbor Hop can also be found on that site, or by calling the Lake of the Ozarks Convention and Visitor Bureau at 1-800-FUN-LAKE (386-5253).

The 28th Annual Fall Harbor Hop

It's hard to believe that it is October already. Schools have been in session for almost 2 months and our summer vacations already seem like a distant memory. Boating traffic on the Lake has been getting slower by the day and cooler nights remind us that winter is not far away. But that doesn't mean that we're done having fun on the water quite yet. There is still plenty of warm days to get out to enjoy beautiful autumn colors and our changing landscape. Not to mention that most waterfront businesses are still open until the end of the month, some even into November. Then there is the annual Fall Harbor Hop, a day-long poker hop celebrating Autumn and the close of the boating season at the Lake. This year's event is set for Saturday, October 12th, 2013.

"What is the Harbor Hop?", you ask? It's just like a poker run, only without any racing between locations. "Hoppers" begin the day at any one of over 40 participating locations around the Lake. Poker hands (entries) are purchased for a $15 donation and the first card of 7 is drawn. From there, "hoppers" go by water or land to the next participating waterfront bar, restaurant or marina where the next card is drawn. After visiting and enjoying at least 7 locations, participants will have a complete poker hand. The completed hand is turned in at the checkpoint where the 7th card is drawn. To qualify, a hand must be turned in by 7:00 pm. Prizes for the 5 best hands are awarded as well as prizes for the worst 4 hands. For complete prize allocations and more information on the event itself, visit www.funlake.com/harborhop

The 28th annual Fall Harbor Hop is open to all ages, and is by far the most fun that you can have on Lake of the Ozarks this Fall. If you're not sure where to go or start your Harbor Hop experience, we have a full map of all participating locations available to view and download here: http://funlake.com/harborhop/HHmap.pdf