It was personally a sad day when my sister left home for Canton, Mo., to take a writing job at Culver Stockton College. I found redemption in the fact that she moved smack dab to the middle of pontoon country, but I didn’t feel as though she ever took advantage of all the state has to offer. She and her husband consider themselves “boat people” because they own a couple of kayaks. Personally, I find it tragic to live in Missouri and never experience Lake of the Ozarks on a pontoon.
So my husband, Chase, and I decided that we would go for a visit and take them out on the lake in style. Since we live nowhere close to Missouri, we were going to need to rent a boat.
I wanted to do this right, so I spent a lot of time researching boat rentals on Lake of the Ozarks. Believe me, there are a lot of options. I decided to go with Iguana Watersports because they have three convenient locations and a plethora of boats to pick from. I went through their entire inventory and they have some great pontoons and deck boats for rent.
I was looking at converting people to a lifestyle so I needed something big. Iguana Watersports has something big in the form of its new Party Barge. With 500 square feet on the main deck and 150 square feet upstairs, this amazing boat can accommodate up to 25 people and is the perfect way to enjoy Lake of the Ozarks. Those of you who are familiar with lake realize what a hub of activity it is. But in this boat, we were attracting attention and people would turn heads to see this massive beast float by.
When we told our group what we had planned, my brother-in-law’s first response was that only this family would take four kids to Party Cove. He grew up in Southwest Illinois and this was his primary experience with Lake of the Ozarks. Party Cove is the popular name given for Anderson Hollow Cove, a cove that is a popular party hot spot. At about noon on any summer weekend, you will find hundreds if not thousands of boats, filled with people having a good time. For years now, Party Cove has been synonymous with some pretty wild stuff. It's been called the "wildest party in the Midwest." It's been deemed the "oldest established permanent floating bacchanal in the country." The activities here are just as you would expect with a name like Party Cove. Needless to say, we had no plans to head over there with our impressionable offspring. I only mention it in case you think it might be your thing. This story will remain family-friendly at all times.
My sister and her family live about three hours away from Osage Beach, so we got up early in the morning to head out. Between us, we had four kids, two husbands and a 78-year-old Grandma to get out on the lake. By the time we arrived at Iguana Watersports, we had some car-cranky people. Luckily, the staff was so wonderful and helped us blow up our towables and get on the water as fast as possible. It was definitely top-notch customer service, which made the experience even that much better.
Obviously a boat of this nature wasn’t designed to pull tubes at high speeds, even with two Mercury outboards strapped to the back. But we had four kids who were excited to tube. In retrospect, maybe this is why people were staring at us. We pulled those kids at six miles per hour all around the lake. This boat is perfect for families because it has a bar, which allowed Grandma Bev to sit comfortably and watch what was going on. There was also room for my two-year-old nephew, Harper, to take a nap away from the commotion.
The highlight of the boat for 7-year-old Isabelle, 6-year-old Marley and 4-year-old Cambri was the slide on the back. This same slide almost put Grandma into an early grave as she couldn’t believe her great-grandchildren would slide down into a very deep lake with, in her terminology, “reckless abandonment.”
The husbands, who both seem to have a problem with authority in a non-lawbreaking way, took great pride in who could do the craziest jumps off the boat. I spent a lot of time saying, “Now girls, just because Daddy did that doesn’t make it safe.”
Thank goodness for West Marine life jackets.
My husband, who is a self-proclaimed fishoholic, couldn’t wait for us to break for lunch. He made sure we were near a good fishing spot on the lake when he started whispering to the kids that they were probably hungry. Since he already had his out-of-state license, he gladly skipped food for fishing.
One of the reasons the Lake of the Ozarks is so popular for visitors is because of the great fishing activity. You might wonder if there really is a lot of fishing available in such a touristy spot. Yes, there is. You can fish for all types of species, like largemouth bass, black and white crappie, bluegill fish and catfish. In my husband’s opinion, one of the best things about fishing at the Lake of the Ozarks is “There is no off-season.” He did say that next time we head back it has to be in April because that’s when the catfish are moving. I am uninterested in keeping track of fish movements, but I included that just in case my man has a kindred spirit out there.
Lake of the Ozarks is one of the most popular reservoirs in the country and is a popular destination spot for tourists. This 93-mile lake has many options within its massive area, including Bagnell Dam, North Shore, Horseshoe Bend, Shawnee Bend, West Area, Grand Glaize and Gravois Arm. Plus it encompasses parts of 11 cities, all of which provide easy access to people traveling on boats. This lake is truly a boater’s paradise.
One way to fully experience the nature around the lake is to camp. There are several camping sites near to the lake. Some of these sites provide full hook-ups for water and electricity, while others are more like a resort, offering swimming pools and playgrounds.
You can camp out on land and then head right out to the lake to start playing on the water. There are even options to camp out on the lake by renting a pontoon or a houseboat. If you enjoy golfing, there are 13 courses to keep you busy. Plus there is an outlet mall at Osage Beach that is good for a fun afternoon. Another fun thing to consider is Casino Pier. This is not a real casino, but it offers entertainment as well as lunch and dinner cruises.
The best way to experience this reservoir is by taking a ride on the lake using a pontoon. By renting a boat from Iguana Watersports, you can enjoy the majesty of the Lake of the Ozarks up close and in person. Have a great time heading to sights on the water like the Swinging Bridge, the Millionaire’s Cove or Party Cove (which is only accessible via boat). While sightseeing on land is good for an afternoon, if you only admire the water from a distance, you have not experienced Lake of the Ozarks.
When our day was over, no one wanted to leave. We honestly lived a perfect day. When you think of dream vacation, the Midwest may not come to mind. But it should. Lake of the Ozarks was the perfect place to pontoon with my family. My sister even told me that they are planning on heading back soon without us.
I so hope that you will one day head to this lake because it’s truly a one-of-a-kind lake that has something for everyone. It’s the perfect pontoon-centered vacation hotspot.
Iguana Watersports
www.iguanawatersports.com
888-773-2199
Three locations serving Lake of the Ozarks:
Iguana @ North Shore
30703 Rustic Road
Rocky Mount, MO 65072
Iguana @ Sunset Beach Resort
4430 Sunset Dr.
Osage Beach, MO 65065
West Marine-Osage Beach
3872 Osage Beach Parkway
Osage Beach, MO 65065
573-302-0552
