Lake of the Ozarks, a sprawling reservoir in central Missouri, spans 54,000 acres with an impressive 1,150 miles of shoreline. Formed by damming the Osage River, the lake also encompasses parts of the Niangua River, Grandglaize Creek, and Gravois Creek. Its distinctive serpentine shape has given rise to the nickname "the Missouri Dragon." Covering a vast 14,000 square miles of drainage area, the lake's main channel, the Osage Arm, extends for 92 miles.
1912: Initial Pursuit of a Hydroelectric Power Plant
In 1912, Kansas City developer Ralph Street began the pursuit of building a hydroelectric power plant on the Osage River. He secured funding and started building necessary roads, railroads, and infrastructure with a plan to create a smaller lake. However, his funding ran out in the mid-1920s, leading him to abandon the project.
August 8, 1929: Start of Bagnell Dam Construction
Construction on the 2,543-foot-long Bagnell Dam began on August 8, 1929, undertaken by the Union Electric Company of St. Louis, Missouri, with Stone and Webster as the primary engineering firm.
1930: Grand Glaize Bridge Construction
The Grand Glaize Bridge was constructed in 1930, carrying U.S. Route 54 and connecting Osage Beach to Camdenton.
April 1931: Completion of Bagnell Dam
April 1931 marked the completion of Bagnell Dam's construction.
May 20, 1931: Lake Reaches Spillway Elevation
The lake formed by Bagnell Dam reached its spillway elevation on May 20, 1931.
1931: Bagnell Dam Construction
The Bagnell Dam, the primary dam on Lake of the Ozarks, was constructed in 1931 by the Union Electric Company (now Ameren). The dam, measuring 2,543 ft long and 148 ft tall, aimed to provide hydroelectric power to the Osage Powerplant and support traffic flow on Bagnell Dam Boulevard.
1931: Niangua Arm US 54 Bridge Construction
The Niangua Arm US 54 Bridge was constructed in 1931.
1934: Hurricane Deck Bridge Construction
The Hurricane Deck Bridge, a truss-arch bridge, was constructed in 1934 to connect Laurie and Camdenton.
1936: Niangua Bridge Construction
The Niangua Bridge was built in 1936 to facilitate crossing of the lake.
1946: Establishment of Lake of the Ozarks State Park
In 1946, 17,500 acres of land originally set aside for a national park were acquired by the State of Missouri. This land became Lake of the Ozarks State Park, the largest state park in Missouri.
1984: Second Grand Glaize Bridge Construction
A second girder bridge was added to the Grand Glaize Bridge in 1984, allowing for separate traffic flow in both directions.
1998: Lake of the Ozarks Community Bridge Opens
The Lake of the Ozarks Community Bridge, a continuous truss bridge spanning 2,695 ft, was opened in 1998. It connects the east and west sides of Lake of the Ozarks and is the only toll bridge in the area.
1999: Niangua Arm US 54 Bridge Replacement
A girder bridge replaced the original Niangua Arm US 54 Bridge in 1999.
2003: Niangua Bridge Replacement
The original Niangua Bridge was replaced with a girder bridge in 2003.
2011: FERC Renews Lease, Discovers Encroachments
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) renewed the lease for Ameren Missouri's power plant in 2011. During the process, FERC found many homes and structures encroaching on utility land, violating federal regulations, causing concern among lakefront communities.
April 1, 2012: Jeremy Wade Films on Lake's Catfish
Biologist and TV personality Jeremy Wade visited Lake of the Ozarks on April 1, 2012, to film an episode focused on the large catfish found in the lake.
2013: Hurricane Deck Bridge Replacement and Demolition
The original Hurricane Deck Bridge was replaced with a new structure in 2013. Following the opening of the replacement bridge, the original bridge was demolished. The original bridge's design was similar to the I-35W Mississippi River bridge, which had collapsed six years before its destruction.
2015: FERC Addresses Nonconforming Structures
In 2015, FERC issued an order allowing Ameren Missouri to seek permits for approximately 215 "nonconforming" structures. These structures remained unresolved after Ameren received permission to redraw project boundaries around Lake of the Ozarks.
November 2017: "Ozark" TV Series Boosts Tourism
Reports in November 2017 indicated that the TV series "Ozark," set in Osage Beach but filmed in Georgia, had contributed to increased tourism and awareness of the Lake of the Ozarks. However, the series did not have a substantial economic impact on the area.
February 2018: "Marty Byrde's" Restaurant Opens
Inspired by the TV series "Ozark," a real-life restaurant called "Marty Byrde's" opened in Lake Ozark, Missouri, in February 2018. The restaurant features menu items based on the show, including "Ruth's Smoked Wings."
2019: Floodgates Opened at Bagnell Dam
Due to the flooding that impacted Lake of the Ozarks in 2019, the 12 floodgates on Bagnell Dam were fully opened to manage the high water levels.
2019: Lake of the Ozarks Hit by Floods
The Lake of the Ozarks experienced significant flooding in 2019.
2021: Lake Freezes Over
In 2021, the lake froze over during a cold wave. According to Ameren Missouri, this was the first time the lake had completely frozen in 20 years.
2021: Osage Casino Announces Plans for Lake of the Ozarks
Osage Casino management announced plans to build a new casino in the Lake of the Ozarks area in 2021. While the former Quality Inn was demolished to make way for the casino, construction is contingent on the approval of a house joint resolution allowing a casino near the Osage River.
2022: Drought Leads to Low Lake Levels
A drought in 2022 resulted in significantly lower water levels at Lake of the Ozarks.
April 30, 2024: Planned End of Tolls for Community Bridge
The Lake of the Ozarks Community Bridge is scheduled to cease toll collection on April 30, 2024, earlier than the initially projected date of 2026.
2025: "Oasis at Lakeport" Amusement Park Planned
An amusement park named "Oasis at Lakeport" is planned to open in 2025.
2026: Marriott Hotel to Open at "Oasis at Lakeport"
A Marriott Hotel is scheduled to open in 2026 as part of the "Oasis at Lakeport" amusement park development.
2026: Initially Projected Toll-Free Date for Community Bridge
The initial projection for the Lake of the Ozarks Community Bridge to become toll-free was 2026, but this has since been moved up to April 30, 2024.