Lake of the Ozarks History

The Casablanca building was constructed back in the late 20's and became the best bar at the Lake of the Ozarks in the 30's - so if anyone knows about Lake of the Ozarks history, it's the oldest bar at the Lake of the Ozarks! The Lake of the Ozarks has been a vacation destination for years and years, but just two years ago we were voted THE vacation destination in the country by USA Today! When you're looking for a place to travel that is filled with fun, water activities, great music, and even better food - you come to the Lake of the Ozarks. Our family-friendly destination has seen a lot in the last hundred years, so we want to talk about a bit of history trivia for the area.

Photo Credit: FunLake.com

Bagnell Dam History

The Bagnell Dam construction project began on August 6th, 1929 by the Union Electric Company of St. Louis Missouri. It was called the Great Osage River Project and was considered the most skillful engineering feat of its day. Yet, only four months after the project began, the stock market crashed. The mammoth Bagnell undertaking continued on, though, and it brought growth and expansion to central Missouri. Some 4,600 workers were employed at one time, among 20,500 total individuals over two years.

About Bagnell Dam

Photo Credit: FunLake.com

Once the area was cleared, the reservoir was outlined, and the Osage River was impounded and the lake began to fill on February 2, 1931. The lake was opened to travel on May 30th, 1931. The lake reservoir covers 92 square miles which is around 54,000 acres. 30,000 of those acres were cleared to complete the project.

Fun Facts About the Lake

• At roughly 1,150 miles, the total shoreline of the Lake of the Ozarks is longer than the coastline of California.
• Roughly 3.5 million tourists visit Lake of the Ozarks from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
• Lake of the Ozarks covers 61,000 acres and contains 617 billion gallons of fresh water, what the city of St. Louis typically uses over a decade.
• At 17,741 acres, Lake of the Ozarks State Park is the largest park in Missouri.
• The total cost to build Bagnell Dam was approximately $30 million (nearly $360 million in today's money). The lake runs 92 miles end to end.

Plan a Trip to the Lake of the Ozarks

Have you wanted to visit the Lake of the Ozarks for a while? Now is the time to do it! Summer is a hopping time filled with great events, amazing food, and fun activities at the Lake of the Ozarks and we want you to be a part of it. Don't forget, when you plan to come see Bagnell Dam, you have GOT to stop at the best restaurant at the Lake of the Ozarks - Casablanca Pub & Grill! Our Lake of the Ozarks bar & grill is on the Bagnell Dam Strip and the perfect place for you to bring your friends and family. We have a diverse menu filled with burgers, delicious hot dogs, salads, appetizers, and even brick oven pizza at the Lake of the Ozarks. Come out and see us, you'll be glad you did!

Casablanca -  the best bar & grill and the best pizza under one roof!

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www.CasablancaLakeOzark.com

1312 Bagnell Dam Blvd
Lake Ozark, MO