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.
Introduced by SkyView Partners and Tegethoff Development, and submitted to Osage Beach, Missouri, last week, the plan calls for developing a $300 million family “resort and entertainment district” called Oasis at Lakeport. The development will feature hotels and restaurants along with amusement rides and attractions.
“We’re excited about the opportunity to form a partnership with the Osage Beach community to build a new entertainment district for generations to enjoy,” Todd Schneider, co-managing partner of SkyView Partners, said in a statement. “We look forward to elevating 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 planning to open in summer 2024.
Plans For The New Resort
The 20-acre resort will be open year-round and include hotels, restaurants, an amphitheater, a marina, and a boardwalk, as well as amusement rides and attractions. The amusement offerings include plans for roller coasters, thrill and family rides, and a 200-foot-tall observation wheel.
That isn’t a surprise considering 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 on 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 family-friendly entertainment options, and I am proud to work with SkyView Partners and Tegethoff Development to help deliver such a large investment to our city,” Osage Beach Mayor Michael Harmison said.
Fred Ross, who owns Big Thunder Marine and the Lakeport property, added, “Our pursuit of this property was propelled by an unwavering vision of its eventual development into an iconic family-focused entertainment epicenter and a tremendous asset to the Lake of the Ozarks.”
A Unique, And Historic, Destination
Located in central Missouri, 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 significant tourist destination — and an economic boon for Missouri.
Indeed, 5.9 million people visited the Lake of the Ozarks in 2019. In 2020, however, when people were looking for outdoor 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 that Oasis at Lakeport will create more than 500 jobs and is expected to draw an additional 500,000 visitors to Missouri.
“I welcome this project for its future impact on mid-Missouri’s 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 thinking about the area, you can learn more about Lake of the Ozarks: