2006GetAwayMOpg30L


By Doug Rich If you have not made a trip to Osage Beach, Mo., for a while this would be a good year to go. This is the 75th anniversary of Bagnell Dam and the Great Osage River Project. The structure that backed up water to form the Lake of the Ozarks which is a premier travel destination for millions of people every year. Bagnell Dam Construction on the dam began on August 6, 1929 and lake area electric service began on December 24, 1931. Just months after construction of Bagnell Dam began the stock market crashed and that was followed by the Great Depression. Men all over the country were out of work but not in central Missouri. The huge construction project brought growth and economic expansion to the region. Over the two year period of construction 20,500 total individuals were employed in building the dam. The concrete dam is 2,543 feet long and has a 511 foot long power station, 520 foot long spillway, and two on-overflow retaining section adjacent to the river banks, according to Bagnell Dam historical documents.
	Clearing land for the reservoir began on September 5, 1929 and the lake began to fill on February 2, 1931. Lake traffic started for the first time on May 30, 1931. The Lake of the Ozarks covers 54,000 acres and impounds 646 billion gallons of water and has 1,150 miles of shoreline. The power plant produced 215,000 kilowatts of power for a large portion of Missouri.

		The first commercial operation of the power plant was on October 16, 1931. The Great Osage River Project not only brought power to remote areas of Missouri but created a tourism industry that is still flourishing today.


Willmore Lodge This year make your first stop at Willmore Lodge, which houses a museum about construction of Bagnell Dam and offices for the Lake Area Chamber of Commerce. Learn about the history of the area and pick up information about the numerous area attractions. The lodge was built by the same company that built Bagnell Dam, Stone and Webster Engineering Corporation. Built in 1930 at a cost of $135,000 the lodge was used by Union Electric as an administrative and entertainment center.
The Lodge has 29 rooms. When it was built it had five guest rooms with private baths, a two-story living room, a kitchen, servant’s quarters, and an executive suite.

The guest rooms were named Linn Creek, Zebra, Passover, Arnolds Mills, and Nonsuch after towns that were displaced by the lake. Willmore Lodge is constructed of Western Pine logs from the Pacific Northwest along with local stone and concrete. It was completely assembled in Oregon before it was dismantled and shipped to Missouri.

Excursion boat

For a leisurely ride on the lake go cross Bagnell Dam to the little village of Lake Ozark and buy a ticket for the Captain Larry Don. One and two hour excursions are offered. The two hour cruise takes you to Millionaires Cove. These tours will give you a good view of the dam and the beautiful homes that have been built along the shoreline of the lake. Dinner cruises are available also.

Fishing

Fishing is a major pastime on the Lake of the Ozarks. The lake is populated by largemouth bass, crappie, white bass, hybrid striped bass, catfish, and walleye. For experienced fishermen the season can last all through the year. Crankbaits and jig-n-frog lures can be used in the cool water then when the lake warms up switch to top water lures, according to lake information guides. Several state record catches have been recorded at the Lake of the Ozarks. These include a 40 pound freshwater drum, a 36 pound 12 ounce small mouth buffalo, a 41 pound 2 ounce muskie, and a 111 pound paddlefish. Paddlefish or spoonbill are a special treat for fishermen visiting the lake. These fish are caught using a technique called blind snagging. Paddlefish season runs from March 15 to April 30. Guide services are available.

Golf

In recent years Osage Beach, just down the road from Bagnell Dam, has reinvented itself as the golfing mecca of the Midwest. There are over 261 beautiful and challenging holes of golf available in the area. When the weather cooperates you can start golfing in February and not quit until Thanksgiving. There are 15 courses in the Osage Beach area many that feature dramatic elevation changes thanks to the Ozark hills.

Looking for a unique round of golf? Then tee it up at the Sycamore Creek Golf Club which has been voted the number one golf course at the Lake for the past seven years. The water hazards on the course are part of a fish hatchery business operated by the Kahrs family who built the golf course. Jim Kahrs along with his sons Pete and Steve have been in the fish business for nearly 50 years. Take a break from your round of golf this spring and stop by the world class fish hatchery. Spring is the height of spawning season for the paddlefish grown by the Kahrs. Their hatchery, known as Osage Catfisheries, Inc., sells fish all over the world. Several large reservoirs in the Midwest were stocked with fish from Osage Catfisheries, Inc. Day trips If time allows take a side trip to visit interesting spots around Osage Beach. Worth your time is an area called Swinging Bridges. When Bagnell Dam was built and water started to back up forming the lake country roads near Brumley, Mo., were covered with water creating the need for these swinging bridges. Swinging Bridges gets its name for a wood-planked suspension bridge that crosses Auglaize Creek. This bridge was one of 40 bridges designed by Joe Dice of Warsaw, Mo. Swinging Bridges is a popular spot for swimming, tubing, wading, fishing, and picnicking. Another spot worth your time is Ha Ha Tonka State Park. This park is known for its complex of geologic features and formations. Ha Ha Tonka is an excellent example of “Karst” topography characterized by sinks, caves, and underground streams. The park is also home to a European style stone castle built by Robert M. Snyder, a wealthy Kansas City businessman. Snyder started building the castle in 1905 but he died in a car accident before it was completed. His sons finished the construction project to honor their father’s dream. The castle was used as a hotel until 1942 when the structure was gutted by fire. Hiking trails take visitors to the castle as well as to the geologic features in the park. These trails range from a quarter mile to seven miles and from easy to challenging.

Take a drive to the Missouri Ozarks this year and celebrate the 75th anniversary of the construction of Bagnell Dam and the formation of the Lake of the Ozarks.

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