Missouri's Lake of the Ozarks already has a lot to offer, but two St. Louis-based companies have announced plans to make the area even more appealing.
Presented by SkyView Partners and Tegethoff Development and submitted in Osage Beach, Missouri, last week, the plan calls for the development of a $300 million family “resort and entertainment district” called Oasis in Lakeport. The development will include hotels and restaurants along with amusement rides and attractions.
“We are excited about the opportunity to partner with the Osage Beach community to build a new entertainment district that will be enjoyed by generations,” Todd Schneider, co-managing partner of SkyView Partners. he said in a statement. “We look forward to enhancing the family-friendly offerings at this proven tourist destination.”
The development will be located along the Lakeport property acquired by Big Thunder Marine in 2021 at Highway 54 and Jeffries Road near the Grand Glaize Bridge. Construction is scheduled to begin next year with Oasis at Lakeport scheduled to open in summer 2024.
Plans for the new resort
The 20-acre resort will be open year-round and will include hotels, restaurants, an amphitheater, marina and boardwalk, as well as amusement rides and attractions. Amusement offerings include designs for roller coasters, thrills and family rides, and a 200-foot-tall observation wheel.
That's no surprise, given that companies operating under the SkyView Partners corporate umbrella include the SkyView Atlanta Observation Wheel in Georgia. The San Francisco Carousel and Bay Plunge Tower located at Pier 39 at Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco. and the SkyStar observation wheel in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco.
“The Osage Beach community has been asking for more entertainment options for families, and I'm proud to partner with SkyView Partners and Tegethoff Development to help deliver such a great investment in our city,” said Osage Beach Mayor Michael Harmison.
Fred Ross, who owns Big Thunder Marine and the Lakeport, added: “Our pursuit of this property was driven by an unwavering vision of its eventual development into an iconic family-focused entertainment hub and a tremendous asset to the lake of the ozarks. “
A unique and historic destination
Located in central Missouri, the Lake of the Ozarks was originally built to provide hydroelectric power. Construction was completed in April 1931 and at the time it was the largest man-made lake in the United States.
After that, it quickly became a major tourist destination – and an economic boon for Missouri.
Indeed, 5.9 million people visited the Lake of the Ozarks in 2019. However, in 2020, when people were looking for outside destinations to visit during the COVID-19 pandemic, more than 9 million people visited the area, according to Gerry Murawski, who was mayor of Lake Ozark at the time, on KRMS radio.
Mike Kehoe, Missouri's lieutenant governor, said Oasis in Lakeport will create more than 500 jobs and is expected to attract an additional 500,000 visitors to Missouri.
“I applaud this project for its future impact on the Mid-Missouri economy as well as its commitment to bringing a centrally located, state-of-the-art entertainment district to the Osage Beach community,” said Kehoe.
Now that you're considering the area, you can learn more about Lake of the Ozarks:
