Lake of the Ozarks Real Estate
The Midwest’s Best Kept Secret!
Voted a TOP 10 Recreational Lake in America by USA Today, the Lake of the Ozarks is an ideal place to live, work, invest, and play. It covers 54,000 acres with 64 billion gallons of water and features over 1,150 miles of beautiful shoreline (more than the entire coast of California!).
What IS the Lake of the Ozarks?
Imagine sitting on a dock and looking out over the sparkling water as the sun sets… The sky is painted a rich red and gold. You can picture your kids making life-long memories on the water. Friends are laughing together on summer nights. Everything is right in the world.
This is the Lake of the Ozarks.
And that is just one picture of what life at the lake can look like. With more shoreline than the coast of California, the Lake of the Ozarks has something for everyone.
So, whether you’re an energetic business owner who loves the hustle and bustle of a city, or a retired couple looking for a calm cove where you can relax and build your family legacy, there’s a piece of the Lake waiting for you.
Buying
Lake Real Estate
Life at the
Lake of the Ozarks
Selling
Lake Real Estate
Year-Round Life at the Lake of the Ozarks
A common question full-time residents at the Lake of the Ozarks hear is, “What do you do all winter at the Lake? Isn’t it just a summer destination?” While it’s true that some lakefront locations close in the winter, the Lake has so many incredible activities, events, and attractions to enjoy all year!
Spring at the Lake of the Ozarks
The weather starts to slowly warm; flowers and green grass return. It’s many people’s favorite season at the Lake… Fishing season!
The Lake of the Ozarks is known for its incredible fishing, and spring is when you’ll hear fishing boats roar to life and troll peacefully in and out of coves, looking for the catch of the day.
According to the Missouri Department of Conservation, the best bets for fishing at the Lake are Largemouth Bass, White Crappie, Blue or Channel Catfish, White Bass, Paddlefish, and Bluegill.
Travelers come from all over the country to fish the beautiful coves at the Lake of the Ozarks. The lake is also host to several high-level fishing tournaments, like the annual Big Bass Bash that pays out over $325,00 in cash and prizes.
Lake of the Ozarks in Summer
Clearly, Lake of the Ozarks is known for summer recreation on the water. Boaters from around the globe travel to the lake for vacation and the incredible boating offered on our beautiful lake. Second-home owners migrate from their city dwellings to our shores to enjoy time away with family and friends. And, of course, locals soak up the fun and sun better than anyone! With a multitude of resort-style pools at the many lakefront restaurants and bars, every day of the summer can feel like a perfect vacation whether you live here full-time, part-time, or just visit the area as a getaway.
Beyond the water and lakefront entertainment, you’ll also enjoy a host of other recreational activities around the area. Big Surf Water Park, located between Osage Beach and Linn Creek, offers smiles for all ages. Season passes are available for residents and frequent visitors to enjoy big savings. The Ozark Amphitheater hosts an incredible summer concert series under the stars and attracts some big names to the area. The Lake area also has multiple cave and cavern tours where the year-round temperature is a cool 56 degrees! If you enjoy hiking or mountain biking, you’ll find many beautiful trails with vast topography and incredible views of the Ozark hills and the Lake of the Ozarks.
The population increase over the summer months is noticeable. You’ll want reservations at your favorite fine-dining restaurants. Locals tend to do their grocery shopping Mondays through Wednesdays during the summer to avoid crowds that flock to the stores Thursdays and Fridays to stock up for their big summer weekends. Traffic coming into the lake on Fridays and leaving the lake on Sundays can be heavier than in other seasons, but it doesn’t take long to learn to navigate the side roads to avoid delays. The best part of the population influx is the incredible energy you’ll experience everywhere you go. Lake of the Ozarks is a happy place year-round, but the energy through the summer months sizzles!
Lake of the Ozarks in Autumn
The Lake of the Ozarks isn’t just about the water. In fact, the lake itself is surrounded by miles of gorgeous terrain to explore. Many full-time residents say that fall is one of their favorite times at the Lake.
The wakes calm, the air feels fresh and crisp, and the trees turn incredible shades of red, orange, yellow, and even pink. In fact, the Lake of the Ozarks was recently awarded 2nd place in a competition for the best destination to view fall foliage in the United States.
The autumn season also welcomes pumpkin patches and fall festivals in several towns and cities around the Lake. On the West side of the Lake, the town of Versailles hosts the beloved Old Tyme Apple Festival every year with baking contests, classic cars cruising, street performers and live music, and the annual parade. On the East side, the City of Osage Beach Fall Festival offers live music, food and drinks, a petting zoo and pony rides, several booths from local vendors, and even a pie-eating contest!
Less than two hours from some of the most beautiful wineries in the state, you’ll love the short drive to Hermann, MO for Oktoberfest in the Fall… and that’s just ONE of their fun seasonal festivals. Live music, incredible food, great wine, local brews, and shopping galore, Hermann is a favorite destination for Lake of the Ozarks locals ANY time of year.
Winter at the Lake of the Ozarks
Whether you call it the “off-season” or “recovery season”, winter at the Lake of the Ozarks is perfect for relaxing after the hustle and bustle of summer. The natural beauty of the lake area looks just as gorgeous as ever when covered with a soft blanket of snow or sparkling ice crystals.
If you do want to venture out of your cozy home, there are still plenty of fun things to do! Take advantage of the Lake’s movie theaters, axe throwing, crafting workshops, incredible cave tours (caves are naturally about 60-degrees Fahrenheit year-round!), live music in top-notch restaurants, holiday shopping, escape rooms, and so much more.