Live Music & On-The-Water Fun The Centerpieces of Aquapalooza 2019

AquaPalooza, the Lake of the Ozarks' one-day on-the-water music festival, returns to Dog Days Bar & Grill on Saturday, July 20. 

There's a reason AquaPalooza is the Lake of the Ozarks' largest family-friendly summer
concert event each year; it combines many of the best things about the area, like on-the-water fun, live music, boating, swimming and great food and drinks.

Now entering its 14th year, AquaPalooza brings out about 1,000 boats and roughly 10,000 people to Dog Days Bar & Grill, 1232 Jeffries Road in Osage Beach or by water at the 19 mile-marker, for a day of fun and musical entertainment.

"We're proud to have continued AquaPalooza throughout the years and our goal is to make it better every year," says Denny Benne, owner of Benne Media and one of the event's organizers.  "I think this year's lineup is one of the best we've ever had. As AquaPalooza
gains more and more national exposure, we're able to attract bigger bands. It's going to be a great event and I look forward to seeing everyone July 20."

Sponsored by the Lake of the Ozarks Marine Dealers Association and presented by Benne Media, AquaPalooza is open to the public and free to attend. The festivities get underway at 12 noon and run until 5 p.m. and include live music performed on Dog Days' outdoor stage by four different bands as well as games, contests along with prizes.

The musical lineup for 2019 includes Dirt Road Addiction, a country-rock band hailing from Sedalia, Mo.; Machine Gun Symphony, an '80s-themed hair metal cover band that counts AC/DC, Guns 'n Roses and Def Leppard among their influences; the Nashville-based Chris Weaver Band, whose sound combines southern rock, soul and bluesy country rock; and Superjam, a popular party band from St. Louis that plays the biggest hits from the '70s and '80s.

Although the action doesn't officially get started until noon, many boats start lining up in the water in front of Dog Days in the morning to claim optimal viewing points for the afternoon's concerts. Come time for the fun to begin, a large, colorful fleet of boats and floats and tubes dot the immediate vicinity of the stage area.

In addition to the music, games and contests, attendees of AquaPalooza also take advantage of Dog Days' two swimming pools, family-friendly areas, swim-up bars, delicious food and cold drinks, making for a full day of fun and entertainment at the Lake of the Ozarks.

Complete details for AquaPalooza 2019 and a list of sponsoring entities can be found at

FunLake.com/aquapalooza.

For more ways to have fun at the Lake of the Ozarks and to get information on additional events, year around attractions, and lodging and dining options available at the Lake, visit the Lake of the Ozarks Convention and Visitor Bureau's award-winning website, www.FunLake.com, or call 1-800-FUN-LAKE (386-5253).

Live Music Takes Center Stage At The Lake Of The Ozarks This Summer

For great times and great bands, there's no better place than Central Missouri's Lake of the Ozarks this summer.

On any given day during the summer months, visitors will have no trouble finding live music at nearly any of the 200 restaurants and nightspots as well as the area's most popular resorts and entertainment complexes at the "Best Recreational Lake" in the Nation. Many venues around the Lake of the Ozarks feature up-and-coming local musicians as well as bigger names in the business. What's better than enjoying some delicious food, refreshing beverages, stunning Lakeside scenery and toe-tapping tunes with friends or family?

For those hoping to catch some of their all-time favorite performers, two of the Lake of the Ozark's largest outdoor music venues host many of the biggest names in the recording industry during their summer concert series. These shows alone are worth planning a trip to the Lake of the Ozarks.

Shawnee Bluff Vineyard, located off Highway 54 at 8 Tolwood Road between Eldon and Lake Ozark, features an outdoor wine garden and amphitheater set on 40 acres of rolling hills overlooking the winery's vineyard. Each summer Shawnee Bluff hosts a fine selection of country music's brightest stars. 

The month of June brings  Diamond Rio to the stage on Friday, June 14 to play their biggest hits "One More Time," "Meet in the Middle," and "Norma Jean Riley," which all spent time on the top of the country charts in the '90s. Saturday, June 29 sees  Craig Morgan, who has had 17 hits make the Billboard country charts, take to the Shawnee Bluff stage. 

July brings Missouri-born songstress Sara Evans to perform on Saturday, July 6 while Wynonna and The Big Noise, featuring Wynonna Judd - half of country music's biggest hit making mother-daughter duo, The Judds - will entertain crowds on Saturday, July 20. To close out the month, Trace Adkins brings his soulful country grooves to the vineyard on Friday, July 26. 

September offers a little bit more of a musical mix with Clint Black, one of the best-selling country music artists of all time, playing on Saturday, Sept. 7 followed by a performance by an up-and-coming Missouri-born country star, Tyler Farr, on Friday, Sept. 13. Southern rock giants38 Special closes out September with a high-energy rock show on Saturday, Sept. 28. 

The Shawnee Bluff Vineyard concert series concludes with a performance by Grammy-winners  The Oak Ridge Boys on Friday, October 11.

All of the shows at Shawnee Bluff Vineyard are billed as being all-ages shows. Doors open at 5 p.m. with live music being performed by local musicians on the patio from 5-7 p.m. to start the evening. Headliners take the stage at 8 p.m. during each concert, with professional fireworks displays to follow most performances at the close of the evening. Depending on the show, tickets start at $39 per person. For more details on the performers, or to order tickets, either call  573-365-1100 or visit   www.ShawneeBluffWinery.com/concerts/.

Shawnee Bluff's second location, Shawnee Bluff Winery, located on the Bagnell Dam Strip in Lake Ozark, features live music every weekend throughout the year. For more information on both locations - the Vineyard and the Winery - as well as a full events calendar, visit  www.ShawneeBluffWinery.com.

Ozarks Amphitheater, located at  2629 North Business Route 5 near Camdenton, is the Lake of the Ozarks' largest outdoor music venue. Voted the best large outdoor music venue in the state by readers of Missouri Magazine, Ozark Amphitheater's fifth annual summer concert series starts off with a bang with the Outlaws and Renegades Tour on Friday, June 7. The Outlaws and Renegades Tour features Travis Tritt, who has seven platinum-selling albums and two Grammys to his name, the legendary Charlie Daniels Band, best known for his  Grammy-winning smash hit "The Devil Went Down to Georgia," and up-and-coming southern rockers The Cadillac Three. On Sunday, June 9, Ozarks Amphitheater hosts the Missouri Symphony Orchestra for a "Hot Summer Nights" community concert called "Strike Up the Band." Nashville-based country music band Old Dominion, whose most recent album "Happy Endings" landed as the number one album on the Billboard Country charts, plays the amphitheater on Saturday, June 22 along with special guests Granger Smith and Murphy's Ford. St. Louis-born rapper Nelly, who won a Grammy in 2004 and whose first two albums reached the number one spot on the Billboard charts, plays with fellow St. Louisian Chingy on Friday, June 28. And, on Saturday, June 29, award-winning country music star Gary Allan takes to the amphitheater's stage.

In July, Ozarks Amphitheater hosts the Grammy-winning Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, best known for their hit "Fishin' in the Dark," and the southern rock sounds of The Ozark Mountain Daredevils, famous for their hits "Jackie Blue" and "If You Want to Get to Heaven," on Saturday, July 6. Five Finger Death Punch, one of the most successful heavy metal rock bands of the 2000s, plays on Tuesday, July 16. August heats up as award-winning rapper Wiz Khalifa entertains the crowds at Ozarks Amphitheater on Friday, Aug. 2. The much anticipated Crossover Christian Music Festival returns Friday through Monday, Sept. 20-23. There are more concerts to be announced, so it's recommended that visitors keep an eye on the Ozarks Amphitheater website, www.OzarksAmp.com, or Facebook page.

For most shows at the amphitheater, doors open at 6 p.m. with music starting at 7 p.m. Depending on the artist, tickets for each show run from $20 per person general admission up to $600 for VIP table seating.  For more information on the 10,000-seat Ozarks Amphitheater, or to order tickets for the upcoming concert series, please call 573-346-0000 or visit www.OzarksAmp.com . 

The Horny Toad Entertainment Complex at Camden on the Lake Resort, 2359 Bittersweet Road in Lake Ozark. The Horny Toad has been a summertime live music staple at the Lake of the Ozarks for years and has hosted big names such as Cheap Trick, Foreigner, Quiet Riot and Bret Michaels in the past. This summer, the Horny Toad features local and regional favorites on their lakeside outdoor stage every weekend beginning Friday, May 17. For more details on the calendar of events at the Horny Toad, visit www.HToads.com or call 573-365-5620.

Aquapalooza, The Lake's largest family boating and concert event on the water returns to Dog Days Bar & Grill on July 20th. This year's one day line-up includes regional favorites Dirt Road Addiction, Machine Gun Symphony, Chris Weaver Band and Super Jam; All starting at 12 p.m. noon and going until 5 p.m. Visit www.funlake.com/aquapalooza for more information. Aquapalooza is a Benne Media production. 

And that's not all! To find more live music taking place around the Lake this summer, visitors should head to the event calendar at www.FunLake.com or check the websites or Facebook pages of their favorite restaurants, bars and other venues.

For those looking to make a vacation out of their concert experiences, there is a wide selection of accommodations available at the Lake of the Ozarks. Visitors can choose from full-service luxury resorts, family-owned resorts, charming bed and breakfasts, rustic cabins, campgrounds and RV parks, spacious vacation rental homes and condominiums, as well as hotels and motels.

For more ways to have fun at the Lake of the Ozarks and to get information on additional events, year around attractions, and lodging and dining options available at the Lake, visit the Lake of the Ozarks Convention and Visitor Bureau's award-winning website, www.FunLake.com, or call 1-800-FUN-LAKE (386-5253).

Classic Cars, Cool Tunes and Fun Times Await at Central Missouri’s Lake Of The Ozarks

While May marks the beginning of the summer tourist season at Central Missouri's Lake of the Ozarks, it also marks the beginning of classic car season, with two separate events bringing in thousands of spectators for vintage automobiles, cool tunes and family fun.

Magic Dragon Street Meet Nationals, the largest car show of its kind in the Midwest, takes place May 3-5 along the historic Bagnell Dam Strip in Lake Ozark.
The Magic Dragon Street Meet, which takes its name from the serpentine-shape of the Lake of the Ozarks when viewed from the air, is celebrating its 31st year this May. This car show is open to a variety of makes and models and attracts roughly 10,000 attendees over the course of the weekend.

Magic Dragon is free to attend and features 1,000 registered vehicles spanning 30 different judging categories, ranging from the early 1900s to present day for "street rods," "rat rods," "street machines," "muscle cars," trucks and motorcycles.
The Bagnell Dam Strip will be closed to traffic on Saturday, May 4 so there will be ample display parking for the registered vehicles allowing the public the opportunity to get close-up views of these pristine autos.

In addition to all the vintage vehicles, there will be a special visit from the legendary Big Foot "monster" truck, along with a car-crushing demonstration at 2 p.m. on Saturday at Firestone Alley, located near Two-Bit Town on the "Strip." Attendees also will have the opportunity to meet the driver of Big Foot and get autographs as well. Other Magic Dragon events and activities  include a make-and-take model building station for children, golden oldies broadcast live on location by deejays from "Cool" 102.7 FM, a 50/50 raffle and a drawing for a brand new muscle car.

Show hours for the Magic Dragon Street Meet are 12 p.m. until 5 p.m. on Friday, 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. on Saturday and 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. on Sunday. Winners of the poker run, 50/50 raffle, and drawing for the new muscle car will be announced from the main stage located at Lake Ozark Live, 1508 Bagnell Dam Boulevard, at 5 p.m. on Saturday. Judging of the show vehicles will take place Sunday morning from 9-11 a.m. Winners in 30 different competitive classes and the overall grand champion will be announced at 1 p.m. at the main stage.
For more information on the Magic Dragon Street Meet, including a full schedule of events and judging categories, visit  www.MagicDragonCarShow.com,  or like the event's Facebook page at  www.facebook.com/MagicDragonStreetMeet .

The party continues the next weekend with the kick-off of the 2019 Hot Summer Nights cruise-in events. Hot Summer Nights, which has been n amed the best annual event at the Lake of the Ozarks by Lake Lifestyles magazine, features  more cool cars and family fun.
The free five-part cruise-in takes place from 6 p.m. until 11 p.m. on the second Friday of every month (with the exception of September, when it will be held on the first Friday of the month), rain or shine, with the first Hot Summer Nights event on Friday, May 10.

Thousands of visitors attend each Hot Summer Nights event, making it the largest cruise-in in Missouri. The overall theme for this year's Hot Summer Nights series is "Cruisin' Back to the Lake," but each monthly event has its own individual theme, too. "Summer Warm Up" is the theme for the opening event on May 10 and  "Pony Car Rendezvous" is the theme for June 14. The July 12 event is all about "Hot Rods and Hot Cars" and August 9 is "Since '69!" The September 6 event is called "Salute to Our Heroes... Military, Police, Firefighters and EMTs" and is dedicated to all the men and women serving in uniforms.

For more information and updates on Hot Summer Nights, visit the event's Facebook page at  www.Facebook.com/cruisehotsummernights/ or the event's website atwww.HotSummerNightsCruise.com.

The historic Bagnell Dam Strip, with its eclectic selection of restaurants, shops and arcades is an ideal host location for these popular, fun summer-themed events.

There are many lodging options available for those looking to plan a spring and/or summer getaway to the Lake of the Ozarks. From full-service resorts to smaller, family-owned resorts, romantic bed and breakfasts to rustic cabins and comfortable campgrounds and RV parks, as well as rental vacation homes and condominiums, visitors have no shortage of lodging choices. For a complete listing of accommodations available around the Lake area, visit the "Lodging" page on the Lake of the Ozarks Convention and Visitor Bureau's website atwww.FunLake.com.

Additional events, as well as year around attractions and information on all dining options available at the Lake of the Ozarks, also can be found on that website, or by calling 1-800-FUN-LAKE (386-5253).

Celebrate the Beginning of Boating Season with The 22nd Annual Spring Harbor Hop!

The annual Spring Harbor Hop, Saturday, May 4, marks the beginning of the boating season at the Lake of the Ozarks.

The Spring Harbor Hop, a highly-anticipated seasonal tradition at the Lake of the Ozarks, combines some of the best things about springtime in the area - warm weather, scenic beauty, boating, dining, live music and fun - along with the chance to win big prizes. 

According to Tim Jacobsen, executive director for the Lake of the Ozarks Convention and Visitor Bureau, the Spring Harbor Hop brings out around 1,000 participants.

"The Spring Harbor Hop is a great way to kick off the spring season at the Lake of the Ozarks," Jacobsen says. "We typically have some beautiful weather and the trees and flowers in bloom along the shores of the Lake make for a wonderful spring Saturday. On top of that, you get to visit an outstanding variety of the area's most popular restaurants and marinas, enjoy some good food, great live music and have fun with your friends. It's something I look forward to every year."

Harbor Hop participants can travel by water or by land to their choice of over 40 lakeside restaurants, bars, resorts and marinas in order to complete the best poker hand (or hands). Hoppers must travel to at least seven different locations to draw cards, but can visit as many of the participating venues as they wish.

The rules of this poker hop are simple. Participants begin the Harbor Hop by making a suggested donation of $20 per hand and drawing their first card(s) at any of the participating venues. From there, six additional cards are obtained by visiting at least six additional Harbor Hop locations to draw one card, per hand, at each location. Once the seventh card is drawn, the hand is complete and turned in at the location where that card was drawn. In order to help improve the hand(s), one additional card per hand can be obtained at that same location for a $5 donation. 

The top 10 poker hands, as well as the four worst hands, will be awarded cash prizes. There will be 10 randomly selected winners as well. In order for a poker hand to be eligible for prizes, it must be turned in to one of the official Harbor Hop venues no later than 7 p.m. the day of the event. Winners will be notified by certified mail. In addition, there 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 13 mile marker on the Main Channel.
• Section III runs from the 13.5 mile marker to the 26 mile marker on the Main Channel.
• Section IV includes mile markers 28.5 through 38 on the Main Channel as well as the Big Niangua Arm.

Most of the Spring Harbor Hop locations open at 11 a.m., though some open as early as 9 a.m. Hours vary from location to location, so attendees should consult the list of locations and operating hours at www.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).

Additional events, as well as year around attractions and information on all lodging and dining options available at the Lake, can be found on the Lake of the Ozarks Convention and Visitor Bureau's award-winning website, www.FunLake.com, or by calling 1-800-FUN-LAKE (386-5253).

Make Central Missouri’s Lake Of The Ozarks Your Home-Away-From-Home For The Holidays

With many fun and festive events, spectacular shopping, impressive holiday light parks, delectable dining, entertaining musical shows and the entire community dressed up for the season, Central Missouri's Lake of the Ozarks is the perfect home-away-from-home this holiday season.

The festive season at the "Best Recreational Lake" in the Nation begins on Thanksgiving but holiday visitors can get a head start on the festivities as early as Friday, Nov. 16 with the lighting of the Enchanted Village of Lights. This 27-acre drive-through light park is located at the Laurie Fairgrounds in Laurie on the westside of the Lake of the Ozarks and is open through January 1, 2019. Over 8,160 vehicles and 25,600 people visited the Lake's most popular light park last year. The Enchanted Village of Lights is open from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m. on weekdays and open until 10 p.m. on weekends. Admission is free to the light park, though donations are welcome as they go toward maintaining and expanding the light displays for future years.

In addition to the Enchanted Village of Lights, the Lake of the Ozarks' three other light parks open Thanksgiving weekend. Vacationers can experience the glow of holiday lights at the Osage Beach City Park, the Festival of Lights at St. Patrick's Shrine in Laurie, and the Unity Circle of Lights in the Versailles city park at the junction of Highways 5 and 52. Admission to all light parks is free but donations are welcome. For more information about the light parks, including hours of operation, visit www.FunLake.com/lake-holiday-light-parks.

Thanksgiving also marks the opening of Old Kinderhook's annual Christmas Village and The Ice, Central Missouri's only outdoor ice rink. The resort's annual Christmas Village opens on Friday, Nov. 23, featuring visits from Santa and Mrs. Claus, elves, carolers, ginger bread house-making stations, horse-drawn carriage rides, and more. The Christmas Village will take place every weekend (Friday, Saturday and Sunday) until Christmas Eve. The Ice at Old Kinderhook will also be open for the season for casual holiday skating sessions and a "pond hockey" league. The hours for The Ice are from 1-10 p.m. Thanksgiving weekend. The rest of the winter, The Ice is open from 5-10 p.m. on weekdays and 1-10 p.m. on weekends. For more details, visit www.OldKinderhook.com.

Another longstanding Lake of the Ozarks holiday tradition kicks off on Friday, Nov. 23. Christmas on Main Street, at the Main Street Music Hall at 5845 Osage Beach Parkway in Osage Beach, features holiday carols, gospel hymns, comedy and musical impressions. The Christmas on Main Street shows take place at 7 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays and 3 p.m. on Sundays, from November 23 through December 22. For more details, including show dates, times and ticket prices, or to order tickets, call the Main Street Music Hall box office at 800-348-9501 or visit www.LakeMusicHall.com.

Visitors can take in the spectacular sights of lighted lakefront homes and boat docks during the Deck the Docks holiday dinner cruises aboard The Celebration motor yacht from November 24 through December 29. The Deck the Docks cruises feature dinner and live musical entertainment and occur on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday evenings. Boarding for these two-hour cruises begins at 5:30 p.m. at 5085 Davis Drive at the west end of the Grand Glaize Bridge in Osage Beach. Proceeds from these holiday dinner cruises go to benefit the Dogwood Animal Shelter. For additional details on different cruises, prices or how to book a reservation, visit www.CruiseLakeOfTheOzarks.com.

In addition to the events and attractions listed above, there are many festive events taking place throughout the month of December at the Lake of the Ozarks. For a complete list of holiday open houses, Christmas parades, musical performances, plays, pageants and more, visit the event calendar at www.FunLake.com.

Those looking to create a memorable holiday excursion to the Lake of the Ozarks can easily find the perfect accommodations for groups and families of all sizes. Accommodations at the Lake include resorts, cabins, condos, vacation homes, hotels, motels, bed and breakfasts, and RV parks. And, with special winter and holiday lodging rates, travelers can save as much as 40 percent off in-season rates. For all the different lodging options available around the Lake of the Ozarks, click on the "Places to Stay" tab at www.FunLake.com.

The holiday season at the Lake of the Ozarks concludes with several New Year's Eve celebrations at many resorts, restaurants and bars. There will be live music, dinner and at dancing Camden on the Lake, The Inn at Grand Glaize, The Lodge of Four Seasons, Old Kinderhook and Tan-Tar-A Resort, just to name a few. 

For other holiday attractions, events, as well as all dining and lodging options available at the Lake of the Ozarks, visit the Lake of the Ozarks Convention and Visitor Bureau's award-winning website, www.FunLake.com. Or, call 800-FUN-LAKE (386-5253).

Central Missouri’s Lake of the Ozarks Voted Second Best Destination for Fall Foliage in US

It was announced on Friday, Oct. 12 that the "Best Recreational Lake" in the Nation, Central Missouri's Lake of the Ozarks, was voted the second-best "Destination for Fall Foliage" in America, according to a recent USA Today readers poll.

The survey, conducted by USA Today and www.10Best.com, asked readers from across the country to choose their top spot for viewing the stunning colors of fall. Central Missouri's Lake of the Ozarks finished in the polling behind Michigan's Upper Peninsula, but beat out eight other destinations, including the Pocono Mountains, Door County in Wisonsin, the White Mountains in New Hampshire and others.

"Every autumn, we have many visitors return to the Lake of the Ozarks area for the changing of the seasons," says Tim Jacobsen, executive director of the Lake of the Ozarks Convention and Visitor Bureau. 

"The majority of our fall visitors come from Missouri, but we get a lot from all over the Midwest and the west coast, as well, because they don't get to experience fall like we do here in Central Missouri. They plan their entire vacations around it. Perhaps with this recognition, we'll see more visitors from around the country traveling to our beautiful destination to enjoy our stunning scenery. We would certainly welcome them."

Traditionally, the peak of the fall color at the Lake of the Ozarks occurs in mid- to late-October, when the maples, ashes, oaks and hickories - which abound around the area - are at the height of their fall display. The peak season varies from year to year depending on the weather and can last until early November.

The Lake of the Ozarks features 1,150 miles of shoreline, much of it lined with pristine stretches of hardwood forests that turn vibrant hues of red, orange and yellow. The Lake stretches across four counties, running 92 miles from end to end, so this expansive area makes for prime "leaf-peeping" action every year.

There are many excellent ways to experience the splendor of the season at the Lake of the Ozarks. On land, visitors can take self-guided scenic driving tours, hike in the area's two state parks, play a round at one of 14 championships golf courses or enjoy the scenery from a delicious lakeside restaurant. On the water, "leaf-peepers" can take in the sights on a leisurely cruise on the Lake of the Ozarks or by fighting fish in a colorful cove. 

However visitors decide to spend their time at the Lake, they will want to bring their cameras because they'll be in for a treat during one of the most visually stunning times of the year in the Ozarks.

For other attractions, events, as well as all dining and lodging options available at the Lake of the Ozarks, visit the Lake of the Ozarks Convention and Visitor Bureau 's award-winning website, www.FunLake.com. Or, call 800-FUN-LAKE (386-5253).

Ha Ha Tonka State Park Named Most Beautiful Place In Missouri

In a recent article published by Condé Nast Traveler, the Lake of the Ozarks' Ha Ha Tonka State Park, located at 1491 State Highway D near Camdenton, was named the most beautiful place in Missouri.

The article, which listed the most beautiful and compelling place in each of the 50 states, urges readers to consider the list as a "starting point to the most epic cross-country trip ever."

According to Condé Nast: "Picking just 50 places isn't easy, but we polled our Facebook followers, did some digging and came up with this list of the must-see, must-visit spots in each state. Of course, it only scratches the surface of what this country has to offer, so consider it your starting point and start exploring."

Central Missouri's Lake of the Ozarks, named the "Best Recreational Lake in the Nation" by readers of USA Today, is worth a road trip all on its own. The Lake of the Ozarks covers 54,000 acres with 64 billion gallons of water stretching 92 miles end-to-end across a four-county area. The Lake boasts myriad attractions and events as well as over 200 restaurants and nightspots and more than 50 marinas for on-the-water fun along its 1,150 miles of shoreline.

However, Condé Nast honed in on the area and named Ha Ha Tonka as the "Show-Me" state's must-see, must visit destination.  Widely considered one of the shining jewels of the Missouri State Parks system, Ha Ha Tonka also was voted the fourth-best state park in America by readers of USA Today a few years back.

"We're thrilled that Ha Ha Tonka State Park has been recognized as the most beautiful place in Missouri," says Jim Divincen, administrator for the Lake of the Ozarks Tri-County Lodging Association. "The park truly is stunning and we hear time and time again from many of our vacationers that Ha Ha Tonka is the highlight of their trip. It's one of many reasons why five million visitors come to the Lake of the Ozarks each year."

According to Ozark folklore, the park's name  - Ha Ha Tonka - is derived from the local Osage Native American phrase thought to mean "laughing waters," in reference to the large natural spring that pumps out over 48 million gallons of water per day.

The park's main attraction is the ruins of the 20th century "castle" perched high on a bluff overlooking Ha Ha Tonka Spring and the Lake of the Ozarks. The skeletal stone structure was originally constructed as an opulent country escape for Robert M. Snyder, a wealthy Kansas City business man who perished in one of Missouri's first automobile accidents. Snyder never lived to see his dream realized but the home was completed by his sons and later operated as a hotel before being gutted by a fire in 1942. In addition to the outer walls of the estate, a stone water tower also remains to stand sentry over the park.

Over 520,000 visitors trek to Ha Ha Tonka annually to explore the ruins as well as the 14 different hiking trails and the numerous natural highlights, including the spring, which is the twelfth largest in the state. 

The park is Missouri's premier showcase of karst geology and features a massive natural bridge, a steep-sided sinkhole named "The Colosseum," a 150-foot deep sink basin with two bluff shelters that were used as hide-outs by bandits in the 1830s and 250-feet high bluffs that tower above Ha Ha Tonka Spring.

The park also is home to one of Missouri's best examples of a woodland landscape as well as several large glades.

Located on the Niangua arm of the Lake, Ha Ha Tonka State Park is accessible by water as well as by land and offers opportunities for fishing and swimming in addition to boat docks, picnic tables, pavilions and a visitor center complete with a topographical map of the park carved out of stone. Ha Ha Tonka is open year around from 7 a.m. until dark and admission is free. 

To learn more about Ha Ha Tonka State Park, visit  mostateparks.com/park/lake-ozarks-state-park .

In addition to Ha Ha Tonka, the area also is home to Lake of the Ozarks State Park. The largest in Missouri, Lake of the Ozarks State Park encompasses over 17,626 acres and is consistently Missouri's most visited state park. For all the details on Lake of the Ozarks State Park, visit  mostateparks.com/park/lake-ozarks-state-park.

Visitors that would like to find out more about lodging and dining options available at the Lake of the Ozarks, or to learn about all the different events and attractions, should visit the Lake of the Ozarks Convention and Visitor Bureau's (CVB) website at www.FunLake.com or call   800-FUN-LAKE (386-5253).