For Immediate Release Media Contact: Pam Jones or Marjorie Beenders
June 28, 2010 Phone: 573-636-8282 « Email: pam@tbwgroup.net
Summer 2010 Lake Breaking News
What’s new at the Lake of the Ozarks this summer? ADVENTURE...by air, Lake and land! Read all the latest news in this edition of the quarterly Lake Breaking NewsLETTER. For more information, color images or other assistance, please contact us.
FLY HIGH IN A HELICOPTER!
Adventure awaits in the skies over the Lake of the Ozarks, thanks to Lake Ozark Helicopters. The three-year-old company has moved to a new location at 2101 Bagnell Dam Boulevard, Lake Ozark, in front of Paul’s Supermarket, a well-known area store. If you’ve never experienced helicopter flight, you are missing an unforgettable thrill—especially when the panoramic scene below takes in the shimmering Lake, hidden coves, million-dollar mansions and castle ruins, accompanied by a narrated tour through voice-activated headsets. Owner Jerry Bice assures a safe and comfortable ride on the twin-blade rotor R44 helicopter that accommodates up to three passengers, all with window seats—but what a thrill when it flies at more than 100 mph! Prices per person are $25 for the Shorty Hop 6-mile-loop flight; $40 for the 21-mile Bagnell Dam Special; $99 for the 26-mile Lake Ozark State Park Tour; $175 for the 50-mile Ultimate Aerial Tour; and $199 for the Ha Ha Tonka Castle Direct flight. Sunset and night flights also can be arranged. Hours are 1-6pm Monday-Saturday, 1-7pm Sunday; contact (573) 302-0022, www.LakeOzarkHelicopters.com.
THRILLS ON THE LAKE!
Enjoy another type of adventure as you soar over the Lake in the bright red and yellow Sea Rocket! Piloted by a Coast-Guard-licensed captain, the Sea Rocket offers an exhilarating ride for up to 12 passengers…similar to experiencing an exciting off-shore race. A thrilling 30-minute narrated ride is $25 per person with an online coupon. Hours are 9 a.m. to sundown Sunday –Friday, 9 a.m.-12 noon Saturday. Board the Sky Rocket at Lakewood Point, at the west end of the Grand Glaize Bridge in Osage Beach, also the new location of the Celebration cruise yacht. The Lake’s longest charter boat, the 80-foot, 150-passenger Celebration offers three public cruises a day, including luncheon cruises on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, for $25 per person; passengers also may enjoy the trip without dining for $15 (cocktails, soft drinks and snacks are available). A daily cocktail cruise from 3:30-5:00 p.m. will be $15. Dinner cruises, featuring restaurant-style service, will be offered for $42.95. Visitors also can enjoy a leisurely narrated cruise on the Tropic Island II yacht, docked at Tan-Tar-A, and the paddwheeler replica Tom Sawyer, docked at Bagnell Dam. For information on the Sea Rocket and Celebration, call (573) 286-4306, www.celebrationlakeozark.com.
HAVE A BLAST--IN A BALL!
Experience a most unique adventure—zorbing!—at one of the Lake-area’s newest attractions, Downhill Ruckus. Direct from New Zealand, this craze will have you spinning head-over-heels downhill, as adrenaline rushes through your veins! Choose from two awesome zorb rides: Harness zorbing (you stay dry) or Hydro zorbing (you get soaked). No matter which ride you choose, you will not be able to wipe the smile off your face! Prices start at $24. The ruckus is happening at 6336 W. Hwy 54 in Osage Beach. Hours are 11 a.m. –10 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. Sunday, Monday and Thursday; phone (573) 348-1979, www.downhillruckus.com.
ZIP IT ON THE STRIP…AND MORE!
Ready for more adventure? Fly through the sky on the single longest zip run in Missouri, the new attraction called Zip On The Strip at the new Bagnell Dam River Park below Bagnell Dam. This amazing zip trip stretches 1,500 feet to the first landing, then 800 feet back. It happens fast and it’s loads of fun! Try it at night for an extra special thrill! Hours are 12 noon to sundown, Sunday-Thursday, 12 noon to midnight Friday and Saturday. $20 per person. (573) 692-2012. Also at the new park you’ll find a new figure-eight demolition track, featuring four-cylinder stripped-down front-wheel drive vehicles looping the figure-8 course. Get set for crash-bang-boom with each car crossing the center two times during each lap. Races are scheduled for July 10, Aug. 21, Sept. 18 and Oct. 2. There’s bleacher seating for 1500. And there’s even more fun awaiting at this exciting new park as classic family-friendly drive-in movies will be shown every Thursday and Friday night through September!
OPRY AND OLDIES ON MAIN STREET!
Now in its 15th season, the Main Street Music Hall in the Landing on Main Street in Osage Beach presents not one but two terrific shows! On Monday, Wednesday and Friday, don’t miss its all-new production, “Reeling in the Years,” featuring a trip back in time with great oldies music from the 60s, 70s and 80s…On Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, come back for “The Best of Main Street Opry,” the troupe’s fabulous variety show featuring country, gospel and patriotic music plus outstanding comedy by Gabby Gumm. Doors open at 7 p.m., show starts at 8 p.m. For information call (573) 348-9500, www.lakemusichall.com.
DINING UPDATE!
It’s easy to find delectable dining of all kinds at the Lake of the Ozarks. Here’s a brief rundown of some of the new restaurants at the Lake:
--Bahama Bistro in the Landing on Main Street, Osage Beach
--Cannon Smoked Saloon, the former B&P BBQ in Sunrise Beach
--Willie B’s in the former Pecker’s on Business 54 in Lake Ozark
--Road Boater’s in the former Risky’s in Monarch Plaza on Business 54 in Lake Ozark
MOUNTAIN MAN FESTIVAL MOVING TO A NEW LOCATION!
On Sept. 18-20, the 22nd annual Osage Mountain Rendezvous & Muzzleloader Shoot will move to a new location at Lake of the Ozarks State Park, Osage Beach. This fascinating and educational event pays tribute to the mountain men who opened the West in the 19th century through a living-history re-enactment that brings together traders, trappers, gunsmiths, artisans and storytellers in a frontier encampment circa 1800-1840. An eclectic Traders Row offers a variety of wares and gifts. Cover your ears during the French Artillery cannon shoots and the amazing anvil toss! For information call (800) FUN-LAKE (386-5253) or visit www.funlake.com.
Other upcoming Lake-area festivals include:
JULY 17 * AQUA PALOOZA. The Lake's largest family fun boating event will take place at Dog Days in Osage Beach, and feature boats, family, friends, prizes and giveaways. Enjoy zydeco, New Orleans blues, reggae and Caribbean music plus the LoCash Cowboys and a special concert by Otis Day & The Knights of “Animal House” fame!
AUG. 6-7 *& 18th ANNUAL LAURIE HILLBILLY BBQ COOK-OFF. Sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbecue Society, this popular free event offers prizes and bragging rights for the best BBQ. A dance, beer garden, prizes, raffles and a kids’ BBQ contest—as well as the delicious aromas—will attract the crowds to the Laurie fairgrounds.
AUGUST 28-30 * 21st ANNUAL LAKE OF THE OZARKS SHOOT-OUT. Named one of the nation’s eight must-see boating events by Powerboat magazine, the Shoot-Out is largest unsanctioned boat competition in the U.S., as more than 100 boats individually race to be named the Lake’s fastest boat. The action takes place at Captain Ron’s, Sunrise Beach.
SEPT. 16-19 * 4TH ANNUAL LAKE OF THE OZARKS BIKEFEST. Thousands of motorcycle enthusiasts will gather at the Lake for an action-packed weekend featuring poker runs, scenic rides, vendors, contests and concerts. Area bars, restaurants and attractions take part by offering special activities for participants. Activities will take place at the Lake Expo Center and Lake of the Ozarks Harley-Davidson in Osage Beach, H.Toad’s at Camden on the Lake in Lake Ozark.
COME SEE US! At Central Missouri’s Lake of the Ozarks, we love to host journalists. Let us know when you’d like to come and we will customize an itinerary just for you and take care of all your on-site hospitality arrangements. Just call Marjorie Beenders or Pam Jones at 800-544-8474 (marjorie@tbwgroup.net or pam@tbwgroup.net) and we’ll get to work for you!
Note to News Media: For your convenience, you may download an electronic version of this article. Simply go to www.funlake.com. At the top of the home page, click on “Professional Media” to access this article and other Lake of the Ozarks news.
