Wednesday, April 29, 2015

How the Ozarks got a Lake

Isla Del Sol Waterfront Condominiums at the Lake of the Ozarks  is the only island condominium project in this area. To be considered an island, a piece of land must be completely surrounded by water and not large enough to be called a continent.  You probably knew that much already, but have you ever wondered how the Lake of the Ozarks got there in the first place, allowing us to build our private island escape in the middle of Missouri?



The lake was created by the construction of Bagnell Dam, which caused the Osage River to flood into surrounding valleys.  The Union Electric Company out of St. Louis, Missouri started construction in August, 1929.  Nearly two years later, in April, 1931, it was completed.  The lake reached it's spillway elevation a month later on May 20, 1931.  

A few interesting facts about the building of the dam are:

  • Building Bagnell Dam was a $30 million dollar project.
  • It created 10,000 jobs, which employed 25,000 workers over the course of the project
  • Workman moved over 900 miles of fence, 32 cemetaries (2,850 graves), and the entire 500-person town of Linn Creek!!
  • During Construction the lake was called both "Osage Reservoir" and "Lake Osage."  It was officially named "Lake Benton" after former Senator Thomas Hart Benton, but it was so popularly referred to by it's location in the Ozarks that the name "Lake of the Ozarks" just stuck.

The Lake of the Ozarks is now the second largest man-made lake in Missouri. At the time of construction, it was the largest in the united states, and one of the largest in the world!






The Osage River, Niangua River, and numerous creeks and streams all contribute to the formation of the Lake of the Ozarks.  It holds over 600 billion gallons of water.  The Lake itself measure more than 90 miles in length, but has over 1,100 miles of shoreline in four different Missouri counties!

This is due to the serpentine shape of the lake, which has earned it the nickname of "The Magic Dragon."  It may take a little imagination to see the resemblance, but it's there.



A wonderful place to learn more about the history of both Bagnell Dam and the Lake of the Ozarks is at Willmore Lodge.  It is the home to the Lake Area Chamber of Commerce in addition to the Bagnell Dam History Museum, and hosts an absolutely gorgeous view of the lake.

 You will find our luxury condominiums at the Lake of the Ozarks  near what would be the base of the head/ top of the neck of the "Magic Dragon" here on Google maps off of Knox Road.  You can see beautiful panoramic views of the Lake of the Ozarks from any location on our island.  Visit us today and see just why our private island paradise is just the place to make your Lake of the Ozarks home.

Come back often to see all of the exciting things happening at Isla Del Sol.


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Wednesday, April 22, 2015

Waterfront Dining at the Lake of the Ozarks

Summer is just around the corner, and nearly all of the waterfront restaurants and bars at the Lake of the Ozarks have already woken up for the season.  The lake has 1,150 miles of shoreline with a large variety of bars & restaurants along it. You will find a nice selection of some of the best ones close to home when you live in Isla Del Sol's luxury condominiums at the Lake of the Ozarks.

Waterfront dining is a perfect way to experience the beauty of the area while enjoying flavorful meals and tasty beverages by the water.  You can reach these places by car, but many are a little more difficult to get to that way, so they generally close in the Fall when the weather gets too cold.  The limited season that they are open makes the trip there even more special.  

Isla Del Sol is located at the 3MM (mile marker) in the main channel.  Here are a few great places to check out that are close to home for our residents.  


Beaver's at the Dam
Beaver's opens daily at 11am til ? (meaning the busier they are, the later they stay open!), located at the 0 MM.  Lunch, dinner, drinks, and live entertainment with both indoor and outdoor seating  Beaver's is located on the Bagnell Dam Strip if you feel like exploring a little before getting back on your boat.


Ozark Yacht Club Lakeside Cafe
You can enjoy breakfast and lunch indoors or by the water's edge at the 1MM. They are open Wednesday - Sunday & Holidays from 8am - 5pm.  They also offer boat side and carry-out service.





BoatHouse Lakeside Bar & Grill
The Boat House is a casual poolside restaurant & bar at the 3MM.  They offer lunch and dinner 7 days a week, and breakfast on the weekends.   




Jolly Rogers
Jolly Rogers, at the 4.5MM of the Gravois Arm, has all outdoor, covered seating.  They offer breakfast 7 days a week along with lunch and dinner options.  If you call ahead, you can get dockside "food to go." 







Momma's Market Bar & Restaurant
Momma's at the 5.5MM, boasts - "All fresh, all local, all the time!"  You can get breakfast, lunch, dinner, and even boxed lunches to go.  Local musicians perform regularly.







Shady Gator's & Lazy Gator's
At the 7MM you will find the "Party Capital of the Lake of the Ozarks!"  Shady Gator's has lots indoor & outdoor seating, and Lazy Gator's hosts a swim-up bar, cabanas, and beach volleyball.  Check their events schedule for a list of special parties & live music.  Lunch & dinner is served 7 days a week.





H. Toads Bar & Grill
Located next to Camden on the Lake Resort at the 7MM, H. Toad's provides gourmet dining in a casual atmosphere.  Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are all offered.  You will hear live music both indoors on stage and outside in their concert venue.   





                      Bobber's Restaurant & Lounge
Homemade food in a comfortable, family-friendly atmosphere inside Alhonna Resort & Marina at the 8MM is what you'll find here.  In season, they serve breakfast until noon, lunch until 3pm seven days a week, and dinner Thurs. - Sun.


So if you feel like jumping into your boat and heading out for a little food and entertainment, there are all types of choices nearby the best waterfront condominiums at the Lake of the Ozarks.  This is just the tip of the iceberg for waterfront dining.  Don't be afraid to explore a little further out each time that you go.  


Come back often to see all of the exciting things happening at Isla Del Sol.



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Thursday, April 16, 2015

Future shines bright for "Island of the Sun"!

The Lake of the Ozarks Business Journal wrote a wonderful article about Isla Del Sol Condominiums in the April 2015 edition.  Many thanks to Nancy Zoellner-Hogland and the Business Journal team for capturing a glimpse of the future for the best waterfront condos at the Lake of the Ozarks!


Future shines bright for ‘Island of the Sun’

By Nancy Zoellner-Hogland - Lake of the Ozarks Business Journal - April 2015
The causeway leading to Isla Del Sol Condominiums just might end up as the hottest spot to fish at Lake of the Ozarks. In late March, crews with Apperson Utility Contracting Company installed 12, 2-foot-by-8-foot concrete culverts that had one end stuffed with woody debris, at the base of the concrete causeway to act as fish caves. They also brought in 14, 40-to-50-foot-long trees and 18 tree stumps that were strategically placed and anchored along both sides of the base.

Apperson, who also built the new 570-foot long, 24-foot wide causeway that connects the island to the mainland, completed the causeway construction last November. However, crews had to wait until the winter drawdown to complete the fish habitat, which also features three, 8-foot culverts, 72 feet long, to provide for water transfer and allow fish movement. The habitat was built to assuage fears of local citizens who were concerned the causeway could harm the ecosystem and the “unique, underwater saddle” that spanned the distance between the island and the shore.

And as wonderful as life will be for the fish that take up residence in that new underwater habitat, it doesn’t compare to the luxury available to those who will live “above water.”
Known for years as “Hawaiian Island,” Isla Del Sol currently is home to three buildings housing 30 units each. When completed, Isla Del Sol, the only island development at Lake of the Ozarks, will include 180 units.

“Because the condominiums are all built right at the water’s edge around the perimeter of the island, every single condominium has an incredible view,” said the new developer Kevin Brown. “In March, we held an open house for realtors so they could familiarize themselves with the project and the view was something mentioned over and over again.”

And that view is about to get even better. Brown and Scott Frisella, who for the past five years have managed the island for Rockwood Bank but recently took over as developers of the project, are in the process of completely revamping the landscaping. They’re planting decorative trees – Magnolias, Red Sunset Maples and Cleveland Pears – along the seawall and around the buildings and grounds and they’re also removing and replacing all existing plantings, cleaning up all of the over grown brush around the sea wall and brush hogging and trimming of all the over grown areas that do not have building structures.



Brown said all the hard work already is starting to pay off.
“Prior to completion of the causeway, we’d go weeks without a showing but lately, we’ve had several showings every weekend – and people are loving what they’re seeing,” he said, adding that things are about to get even busier. “We’ll soon be launching an extensive marketing campaign for 2015 that will include a large number of local radio commercials and television commercials on the Cardinals Baseball Network in addition to print, social media and billboards. We’ll also be supporting local events like the Lake Race and Shootout. Truthfully, we just need to get people here. Isla Del Sol and the ‘Hawaiian island’ atmosphere will sell itself. Where else in the Midwest can you own a condominium on a private island and still be just a short drive down Route W and just 15 minutes from shopping, dining, entertainment and more? No place that I know of.”

Previously, the condominium project, located at the 3.5 mile mark or at 60 Knox Road in Rocky Mount, was accessible only by ferry – and that ferry had a limited operating schedule. To provide easier access and to provide quicker access for emergency vehicles, Rockwood Bank funded approximately $1.1 million for construction of the causeway. To recoup those costs, with approval of Miller County commissioners, a Community Improvement District (CID) was formed. A CID may be either a political subdivision or a not-for-profit corporation. CID’s are organized for the purpose of financing a wide range of public-use facilities and establishing and managing policies and public services relative to the needs of the district. In this case, the CID encompasses the island, the footprint of the causeway and a small sliver of land where the causeway will meet the mainland.
Under the CID, Isla Del Sol condominium owners will pay an additional $800 to $900 per year in real estate property taxes over the next 20 years to Miller County. The county will then disburse payments to the CID board, which also will establish a special reserve fund for maintenance of the causeway as well as for a portion of Knox Road leading to the causeway.



After property owners in the Frelich’s Resort subdivision, located along Knox Road, expressed concern that they would lose their existing community boat ramp if the causeway was built, Rockwood Bank also redesigned the mainland access point. The bank tore out the old ramp, which was crumbling and falling apart, and built a new 20-foot-wide ramp with concrete aprons and a community parking area. The bank also improved a portion of Knox Road as well as the circle drive that serves the subdivision. Rockwood will not be reimbursed for those costs.

Brown and Frisella, commonly referred to as “The Condo Guys,” are currently the developers at Lands’ End, Sunset Palms and Monarch Cove. They also own ProBuild Construction Services and Property Management Professionals, (PMP), which, founded in 2009, also manages seven other condo associations consisting of more than 800 homeowners.
For more information, visit isladelsollakeozarks.com or call Tina Stotler at The Property Shop at the Lake at 573-480-7760.

Offering world-class attractions and natural beauty, Isla Del Sol offers premier luxury waterfront condominiums at the Lake of the Ozarks that puts you in reach of it all. Give us a call today @ 573-552-8418 or visit our website to see what we can offer you!

Come back often to see all of the exciting things happening at Isla Del Sol.



Visit our website

Thursday, April 9, 2015

Shopping - We Have What You Need at The Lake of the Ozarks!

The Lake of the Ozarks is a great vacation destination because of it's natural beauty, miles of shoreline, world class fishing, and plenty of dining choices.  In addition to all of these wonderful aspects of the lake, there are also plenty of shopping opportunities that will make you feel like you are in a big city!  Here are some of the shopping choices awaiting you at the Lake of the Ozarks.



The Outlet Mall

Located in Osage Beach, this mall boasts 110 Premium Outlet Stores.  You can find impressive savings at Adidas, Ann Taylor, Banana Republic, BCBG Max Azria, Brooks Brothers, Calvin Klein, Coach, Gap Factory Store, J.Crew, Nautica, Nike, Nine West, Polo Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger and more.

Regular Hours
Mon - Sat: 10am-9pm, Sun: 10am-7pm

Holiday Hours

Memorial Day Weekend Hours
Fri-Sat: 9am-10pm
Sun: 10am-6pm
Mon: 9am-9pm

July 4th Weekend Hours
Thu-Sat: 9am-10pm
Sun: 10am-6pm

Labor Day Weekend Hours
Fri-Sat: 9am-10pm
Sun: 10am-6pm
Mon: 9am-9pm


Stone Crest Mall

Serving the Lake Area since 1984, Stone Crest Mall is home to nearly 40 businesses ranging from retail stores, restaurants, home, marine, and specialty services, whether you are looking for fashions, fitness, home decor, or just a cup of coffee. Stone Crest Mall can better serve you!

Located at 3797 Osage Beach Parkway, Osage Beach MO on Hwy 54 in Osage Beach across from Hy-Vee. 

Image result for blairs landing lake of the ozarks

 

Blair's Landing

Quality, classic clothing for both women and men is why Blair's Landing is voted Best of the Lake every year. We carry the top designer clothing lines along with a large selection of jewelry, shoes, and accessories. Just a few of our lines include Brighton, Spanner, Joseph Ribkoff, Jubal, and Lynn Ritchie.

There are several retail shops at the landing with everything from shoes to eating establishments!

Located at 5845 Osage Beach Parkway in Osage Beach, MO.

Other Large Retail Stores

Home Depot
Lowes
Menard's
Walmart (several locations)
Target
Kohl's
Hy-Vee Supermarket
Deirberg's Supermarket
Paul's Supermarket

 When you find your perfect Isla Del Sol waterfront condominium at the Lake of the Ozarks, all of these shopping opportunities are just minutes away.  Experience a true Lake Life Style at its finest with Isla Del Sol. Hop right on to your Boat and enjoy some of the Best Waterfront Restaurants and Entertainment that the Lake has to offer. Or, motor back down the road into town, just 15 minutes away where you will find top notch Shopping, Dining, Entertainment and so much more!

See you soon!

Offering world-class attractions and natural beauty, Isla Del Sol offers premier luxury waterfront condominiums at the Lake of the Ozarks that puts you in reach of it all. Give us a call today @ 573-552-8418 or visit our website to see what we can offer you!

Come back often to see all of the exciting things happening at Isla Del Sol.



Visit our website