Why Visit the Lake of the Ozarks - Its Rich History!
There are a lot of reasons to visit the beautiful Lake of the Ozarks, year-round. One of those great reasons is the rich history the area has. Spend your vacation exploring the area and benefitting from rich stories and beautiful sights your whole family will love seeing. Keep reading to learn more about the Lake of the Ozarks, its original inhabitants, the start of the dam, and more! (And don't forget to reserve comfortable, beautiful lodging with Ozark Yacht Club while you're here!)
(Photo Credit: FunLake.com)
History Snapshot
The Lake of the Ozarks was first inhabited by the Osage Indians. As time passed, explorers came into the area (including Lewis and Clark) and started developing the land in order to install railroads and small communities. In 1929, Union Electric Company of St. Louis began constructing the dam that has created the Lake we know and love today.
Lake's Major Cities & Their History
The Lake brought a lot of businesses and homeowners to the area and began building a thriving community. Check out the history of each city, as told by FunLake.com...
Lake Ozark
"After Bagnell Dam was completed, enterprises moved to the west side of the Dam and re-opened, pioneering tourism. Very few of the original buildings of that generation have survived, although the White House, built in 1932, has been recently renovated."
Osage Beach
"Named for a man-made sand beach on the banks of the Osage River at the foot of a steep hill, Osage Beach was platted in 1928, by real estate developers who sold lots even before the Dam was completed. Two small towns, Zebra, originally on the Osage River and named for the striped appearance of nearby bluffs, and Damsel existed here. Eventually both were incorporated into Osage Beach. The Grand Glaize Bridge was finished before the Dam and was nicknamed The Upside Down Bridge because the framing structure was underneath to offer people an unimpeded view of the Lake."
(Photo Credit: FunLake.com)
Building the Lake of the Ozarks
The Lake of the Ozarks was created as the world's largest man-made lake in 1929, but it almost didn't happen. A few short months after construction started, the Great Depression began, sweeping the nation with panic and eventually poverty. The building of Bagnell Dam, however, didn't stop. Instead, it provided great economic growth and job opportunities for the area. In fact, over 4,500 workers were employed by the project. The dam is made out of concrete and has a power station, spillway, and two retaining sections to help it operate smoothly. In fact, it provides 215,000 kilowatts of energy to the state. The highway runs over it as well to provide transportation from one side of the Lake to the other. The Lake started to fill in February of 1931 and opened for travel that May!
Come Visit the Lake!
With so much to learn and explore at the Lake of the Ozarks, you're definitely going to want to spend several days here. Reserve a gorgeous lakefront cabin at Ozark Yacht Club so you can spend your down time relaxing, enjoying our outstanding amenities, and making great memories at the Lake. Give us a call to check our availability and make a reservation!
500 Yacht Club Landing Dr.
Lake Ozark, MO 65049
Phone: 573-552-8401
Lake Ozark, MO 65049
Phone: 573-552-8401
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