About this city
Also known as: The Magic Dragon
Lake of the Ozarks is a premier, world-famous resort region stretching across Miller, Morgan, Camden, and Benton counties in the high rugged hills of central Missouri. Formally centered around the state's largest man-made body of water, a stunning 54,000-acre serpentine crystal blue reservoir constructed in 1931 by the Bagnell Dam project, the region offers an incredibly scenic, high-end waterfront holiday lifestyle. Affectionately nicknamed 'The Magic Dragon' due to its distinct twisting aerial silhouette, it stands as the ultimate vacation capital of the Midwest, drawing millions of annual travelers. It pairs luxury lakeside mountain log villas with championship golf courses, active boating waters, and high-energy nightlife.
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Practical Tourism Metadata
Suggested stay: 2–5 days
Rent a high-performance speed boat, pontoon, or jet ski to cruise the endless twisting waters of Lake of the Ozarks. Splash around or enjoy poolside swim-up bars at the lively waterfront entertainment complexes. Hike past dramatic limestone cliffs and hidden sinkholes inside Lake of the Ozarks State Park. Tour the grand engineering marvel of the historic 1931 Bagnell Dam visitor center.
