Post by Okwes on Apr 3, 2007 20:29:49 GMT -5
‘Quiet side’ roots deep in Osage history
Osage River tie rafters c. 1925
WESTSIDE — Ever since the Lake of the Ozarks was created in 1931, its WestSide has been known as the “quiet side” of the lake. But that’s slowly changing.
When the Community Bridge opened in 1998, cutting travel time between the east and west sides of the lake in half, more visitors began to discover the scenic Highway 5 corridor.
Today the lake’s WestSide is experiencing growth in tourism, commerce and development. But, compared to the popular Osage Beach and Bagnell Dam areas, the “other” side of the lake still is calm, quaint - and quiet.
Whether you spend a couple of hours or a couple of weeks, here’s a brief tour of some highlights of the lake’s west side, traveling from north to south along Highway 5.
At the northern tip of the lake, Highway 5 twists and turns through beautiful Ozarks scenery on its way to Gravois Mills, population 208. Osage Indians lived here before the French settled in. The town is the oldest in the lake area, first platted in 1884. It’s the site of the Hummingbird Fest, held in late June.
“Zebulon Pike passed through Gravois Mills on his way to Pike’s Peak,” says Ted Whiting, owner of Village Antiques. “I saw this building and it was just like I remembered it,” Whiting says. “It still had all the original fixtures and hand-painted signs around the walls” - signs such as NATIVE MADE CHAIRS, INDIAN DOLLS, MOCCASINS, HAND MADE RUGS, LIFE PRESERVERS and more. “If you needed anything this was the place to get it,” he says.
Since acquiring Village Antiques, Whiting says, “I’ve had more fun here than I’ve had in years. When I quit having fun, I’m gonna lock that front door.”
Just past Village Antiques off Highway 5 is Lake Road 5-12 which leads to Troutdale Farm. If the blue gate is open, drive down the pretty country lane that crosses a creek and takes you to beautiful Collins Spring and the trout hatchery that has been in operation since 1932.
Dennis and Merritt Van Landuyt bought the scenic 140-plus-acre trout farm in 2002 and have been making improvements ever since. Van Landuyt farmed crops in the area before he became a fish farmer. “Raising trout is a form of agriculture,” he says. “Some of the challenges are the same.”
When everything’s working and the weather cooperates Van Landuyt can raise 100,000 rainbow and brook trout annually. Public fishing - with no license required and no limit - is available practically year-round. Ten dollars per person covers the first 2.3 pounds of dressed and iced trout; beyond that the fee is $4.25 per pound. Family rates are available. In fact, most of Troutdale Farms’ customers are families from across Missouri and the Midwest. “It’s not unusual to have three generations of one family fishing together here,” Van Landuyt says.
Returning to Highway 5, on the north end of the town of Laurie is the Shrine of St. Patrick Church, home of the National Shrine of Mary, Mother of the Church. This internationally recognized non-denominational shrine is dedicated to mothers everywhere regardless of race, color or creed, living or deceased. The centerpiece is a 14-foot stainless steel sculpture of Mary that slowly turns 360 degrees in a natural amphitheater, surrounded by fountains and a waterfall. Nearby the black granite Mother’s Wall of Life features the names of more than 2,500 mothers from 37 states and 14 nations. Anyone can honor any mother with an inscription on the wall. Visitors can stroll the gardens, the Prayer Path and the Avenue of Flags while serene music drifts softly through the area.
A short trip down Highway 5 to State Road O brings visitors to the original Old St. Patrick Church, Cemetery and Museum. Built in 1868, it has been restored to its original condition and is now listed on the National Registry of Historic Places.
Highway 5 from Laurie leads to Sunrise Beach, where Lake Road 5-33 takes visitors to an impressive veterans memorial at the American Legion building. Dedicated in 1995, the memorial features a sculpture of a soldier on bended knee, flanked by a deck gun from a battleship and a field artillery piece, along with flags of every American military division. Sunrise Beach also is the address of well established resorts that have welcomed generations of families to the Lake of the Ozarks.
Beyond Sunrise Beach on Highway 5 are the communities of Hurricane Deck and Greenview. The name “Hurricane Deck” comes from a 1.5-mile slice of high bluff along the Osage River. The Hurricane Deck Bridge crosses the Osage River here, where in the past cars were transported by a ferry that later became a showboat. Both this bridge and the Niangua Bridge, five miles down the road, were built in 1936.
“It’s a very exciting time on the west side of the Lake of the Ozarks. You can live or stay here and in 20 minutes be on the busy east side, then escape back over here to the quieter side again,” Mike Kenagy, Lake West Chamber Director says. “Or you can just stay over here because there are plenty of things to do. You’ll only be bored if you want to be.”
Osage River tie rafters c. 1925
WESTSIDE — Ever since the Lake of the Ozarks was created in 1931, its WestSide has been known as the “quiet side” of the lake. But that’s slowly changing.
When the Community Bridge opened in 1998, cutting travel time between the east and west sides of the lake in half, more visitors began to discover the scenic Highway 5 corridor.
Today the lake’s WestSide is experiencing growth in tourism, commerce and development. But, compared to the popular Osage Beach and Bagnell Dam areas, the “other” side of the lake still is calm, quaint - and quiet.
Whether you spend a couple of hours or a couple of weeks, here’s a brief tour of some highlights of the lake’s west side, traveling from north to south along Highway 5.
At the northern tip of the lake, Highway 5 twists and turns through beautiful Ozarks scenery on its way to Gravois Mills, population 208. Osage Indians lived here before the French settled in. The town is the oldest in the lake area, first platted in 1884. It’s the site of the Hummingbird Fest, held in late June.
“Zebulon Pike passed through Gravois Mills on his way to Pike’s Peak,” says Ted Whiting, owner of Village Antiques. “I saw this building and it was just like I remembered it,” Whiting says. “It still had all the original fixtures and hand-painted signs around the walls” - signs such as NATIVE MADE CHAIRS, INDIAN DOLLS, MOCCASINS, HAND MADE RUGS, LIFE PRESERVERS and more. “If you needed anything this was the place to get it,” he says.
Since acquiring Village Antiques, Whiting says, “I’ve had more fun here than I’ve had in years. When I quit having fun, I’m gonna lock that front door.”
Just past Village Antiques off Highway 5 is Lake Road 5-12 which leads to Troutdale Farm. If the blue gate is open, drive down the pretty country lane that crosses a creek and takes you to beautiful Collins Spring and the trout hatchery that has been in operation since 1932.
Dennis and Merritt Van Landuyt bought the scenic 140-plus-acre trout farm in 2002 and have been making improvements ever since. Van Landuyt farmed crops in the area before he became a fish farmer. “Raising trout is a form of agriculture,” he says. “Some of the challenges are the same.”
When everything’s working and the weather cooperates Van Landuyt can raise 100,000 rainbow and brook trout annually. Public fishing - with no license required and no limit - is available practically year-round. Ten dollars per person covers the first 2.3 pounds of dressed and iced trout; beyond that the fee is $4.25 per pound. Family rates are available. In fact, most of Troutdale Farms’ customers are families from across Missouri and the Midwest. “It’s not unusual to have three generations of one family fishing together here,” Van Landuyt says.
Returning to Highway 5, on the north end of the town of Laurie is the Shrine of St. Patrick Church, home of the National Shrine of Mary, Mother of the Church. This internationally recognized non-denominational shrine is dedicated to mothers everywhere regardless of race, color or creed, living or deceased. The centerpiece is a 14-foot stainless steel sculpture of Mary that slowly turns 360 degrees in a natural amphitheater, surrounded by fountains and a waterfall. Nearby the black granite Mother’s Wall of Life features the names of more than 2,500 mothers from 37 states and 14 nations. Anyone can honor any mother with an inscription on the wall. Visitors can stroll the gardens, the Prayer Path and the Avenue of Flags while serene music drifts softly through the area.
A short trip down Highway 5 to State Road O brings visitors to the original Old St. Patrick Church, Cemetery and Museum. Built in 1868, it has been restored to its original condition and is now listed on the National Registry of Historic Places.
Highway 5 from Laurie leads to Sunrise Beach, where Lake Road 5-33 takes visitors to an impressive veterans memorial at the American Legion building. Dedicated in 1995, the memorial features a sculpture of a soldier on bended knee, flanked by a deck gun from a battleship and a field artillery piece, along with flags of every American military division. Sunrise Beach also is the address of well established resorts that have welcomed generations of families to the Lake of the Ozarks.
Beyond Sunrise Beach on Highway 5 are the communities of Hurricane Deck and Greenview. The name “Hurricane Deck” comes from a 1.5-mile slice of high bluff along the Osage River. The Hurricane Deck Bridge crosses the Osage River here, where in the past cars were transported by a ferry that later became a showboat. Both this bridge and the Niangua Bridge, five miles down the road, were built in 1936.
“It’s a very exciting time on the west side of the Lake of the Ozarks. You can live or stay here and in 20 minutes be on the busy east side, then escape back over here to the quieter side again,” Mike Kenagy, Lake West Chamber Director says. “Or you can just stay over here because there are plenty of things to do. You’ll only be bored if you want to be.”