What Ozark got wrong about the real Lake of the Ozarks...
Ruth, Marty, Charlotte, Wyatt, Jonah -- All characters so well drawn that we could both love them and hate them at the same time. The epic show "Ozark" gave us a look inside a criminal enterprise disguised as loving families and loyal friends. If you haven't seen it yet, it's definitely something to add to your watchlist. Now. Go do it.
If you have seen Ozark, then you already know how great it was.
One of the only things that bothered me about the series was how terribly it depicted one of the most awesome lakes I've ever been to. Lake of the Ozarks is not only a real place in Missouri, it's basically a summertime paradise.
To keep with the show's dark theme and darker characters, it felt like the entire series was filmed on an iPhone then edited with the cool filter and brightness set at -25. Dark and cold.
This really couldn't be much further from the real vibe at Lake of the Ozarks.
The lake is actually a giant manmade reservoir built in 1931. It was once the largest manmade body of water in the US with over 1150 miles of shoreline. To compare, California only has around 840 miles of shoreline. It's HUGE and it's literally a gigantic summertime playground.
The miles and miles of shoreline have turned into thousands of lakefront properties. From hotels and condos to cabins and mansions, the waterfront of this gorgeous lake is peppered with one-of-a-kind places to stay. And with around 200 sunny days a year, the region is prime for summertime getaways.
When I was a kid, my great aunt actually had a cabin right on the water on Lake of the Ozarks. We visited her a couple times and it's still one of the best lakes I've ever been to.
Since it's a reservoir, the lake is nestled into a low spot of surrounding hills. This does a couple incredible things.
One, it keeps the lake's hundreds of coves calm during almost any weather. The steep banks protect much of the lake's shoreline. So even on windy days (the bane of every person who's ever been to a lake), you can find countless calm spots to swim, fish, wake surf or just chill.
Two, with steeper banks, it's necessary that most houses are built higher up the hillside. This keeps them from getting too close to the waterline, which fluctuates given that it's a reservoir. The wonderful side effect of this is that most houses on the lake have incredible views out over the water. Think of it like a beach house on a bluff in Malibu, but with more trees and rednecks :)
Another thing to love about the lake is that, while its shores and coves can give a ton of privacy, you're only a short boat ride from tons of restaurants and bars right on the water. You definitely want to rent a boat while you're here, or at least a couple jetskis, but you can spend all day chilling on the water or you can motor up to a lakeside cantina and party it up.
There's something for everyone to enjoy here, all day and night, every day in the summer.
There's so much more to talk about but I recommend you check it out for yourself. The lake is centrally located in the US, has a great summer climate, and is still so much cheaper than a beach vacation.
If you want to know more or have any questions, give me a shout and I'll try to help!
Thanks!
Brett
brett@takonlife.com
