Things to Do at the Lake of the Ozarks

Whether you’re here to watch the casino story unfold or just here for the water, this is the short list — centered on the Bagnell Dam end of the lake, where the casino site and Osage Visitors Center sit.

The Bagnell Dam Strip

The Lake’s original tourist district: a walkable stretch of souvenir shops, arcades, ice cream stands, bars, and lake-view patios just below the dam. It’s kitschy on purpose and better for it. The proposed casino site sits at the Strip’s doorstep, which is exactly why the location matters — and the Osage Visitors Center will anchor the dam end from late summer 2026.

Get on the water

The Lake has more than 1,100 miles of shoreline, and boating is the default activity. Marinas around Lake Ozark and Osage Beach rent pontoons, ski boats, and personal watercraft by the half day. If you’d rather someone else drive, tour boats run from the Strip in season — including dinner cruises and paddle-wheel style sightseeing runs. Anglers come for bass; several national tournaments stop here every year.

Ha Ha Tonka State Park

A 30–40 minute drive from Bagnell Dam, Ha Ha Tonka is the best free half-day at the Lake: the stone ruins of a 1900s castle on a bluff, natural bridges, sinkholes, and one of Missouri’s largest springs, all connected by well-marked trails. Go early in summer — parking near the castle fills.

Golf

The Lake is quietly one of the Midwest’s densest golf destinations — The Cove and The Ridge at the Lodge of Four Seasons, the course at Margaritaville, Old Kinderhook in Camdenton, and Osage National between the highway and the river. Spring and fall rates are the value play.

Eat near the casino site

Within a few minutes of Bagnell Dam Blvd & Osage Beach Pkwy you’ll find the Strip’s burger-and-ice-cream standbys plus full-menu lakefront spots on the Lake Ozark side. Local favorites cluster in three zones: the Strip itself, the Horseshoe Bend corridor (resort restaurants and steakhouses), and the Osage Beach restaurant row along the parkway. We’ll publish a proper dining guide as the Visitors Center opening approaches.

Coming soon: Oasis at Lakeport

From 2026, Osage Beach adds a year-round amusement park — then an indoor waterpark and Marriott resort in 2027. Details on the development page.

Planning around a specific weekend? Check the events calendar, find a room on the hotels page, and see everything plotted on the map. For casino status before you book anything, the tracker is always current.