Don't Miss Any of These Things To Do on the Bagnell Dam Strip
The Bagnell Dam Strip in Lake of the Ozarks is a tourist haven with shops, activities, and great food for the whole family. Even if you want to spend most of your vacation time on the water, you'll want to plan a few hours to explore the historic Strip. People-watch, find the perfect swimsuit, grab a souvenir, or find fun things to do with the kids. With an array of entertainment, fun and food, everyone needs to visit at least once!
The "Strip" right above the dam on Bagnell Dam Boulevard started out as an area where constructions workers who lived near the dam could buy supplies and get a decent meal. After the dam was complete, the businesses transitioned to provide vacation fun for all the new visitors to the Lake. It's been providing good old fashioned fun since then. It's had its ups and downs, but the Strip now has many thriving shops and restaurants to keep you busy and well fed.
Kids Activities on the Strip
The south end of the Strip is chock full of fun for the whole family. Who can resist an arcade with cheap skee-ball and video games? Kids will also love going into Grandma's Candy Kitchen to see the taffy being made and choose treats from a wall of candy. Dogpatch is also well-loved by kids, who can enjoy the little displays, giving them a taste of Ozark Hillbilly life. If they don't get enough sweets at the candy shop, the ice cream shop will have them covered. With tons of hand-dipped flavors and even more shake flavors, everyone can find their own little piece of ice-cream heaven.
Apparel Shopping on the Strip
If you need to update summer vacation wardrobe, you'll no doubt have a blast on the Strip. Water 'n Rags offers beautiful swimwear for lounging on your boat. Summer USA has swimwear and lots of dresses and cover-ups, as well as shoes. The sandal shop has name brand shoes for walking the beach in style. There are lots of boutiques for finding your perfect beachwear, so be prepared to fill your closet. Don't forget to pick something out to take home for your relatives. Everybody loves a Lake of the Ozarks graphic tee.
Specialty Boutiques on the Strip
Lots of shops on the Strip cater to a specific type of shopper, but make great browsing for anyone. The Leather Man offers motorcycle gear, but has bracelets, Minnetonka Moccasins, and wallets that anyone can enjoy. They also custom size belts and chaps or sew on patches while you wait. Sunshine Daydream is a hippie shop, but who can resist taking home a little tie-dye? Richard's Relic Shack has been around forever with its shelves full of antiques and memorabilia. Garrison's Antiques and The Collector's Paradise are also filled with ephemera just waiting to be discovered. Rock lovers and crystal hounds have a blast perusing the shelves at Dirty Girls Rock Shop, but any kid will love picking out a shiny stone to take home.
Here's a little tip in case your phone or tablet breaks while you're on vacation: iPhone Krazy is conveniently located on the Strip. Just take your phone in for repairs and take a walk to enjoy the area while you wait. They service most phone brands, not just iPhones.
Activities for Adults on the Strip
The kids can have their fun, but adults have a blast on the Strip too. Old Time Photos lets you choose your outfit and scene, then snaps a photo for you to take home. Lake Escape is an escape room that challenges your groups' critical thinking skills. Solve the puzzle in time for bragging rights.
On-the-Water Activities
The portion of the Strip near the dam is on the water, which means that you can access activities that get you wet. For an out-of-the-ordinary experience, Paradise Parasail will surely deliver. Soar above the lake under a giant parasail to see a view that only the birds have. Celebration Cruises take you on a tour of the Lake on their giant cruiser. Enjoy lunch, dinner, or drinks as you take in the beautiful views and learn about the area. Iguana Watersports is one of the Lake's premier boat rental operations, and lucky for you, they have a location on the strip. Whether you rent a waverunner for a few hours, or take the family out on a pontoon for the day, they'll set you up right.
Restaurants on the Strip
Finding a place to eat on the Strip is easy- it's the choosing that's hard! Wise Guys Brew Pub serves up great sandwiches and has lots of craft beer to choose from. Wok-N-Roll has Thai and Chinese options if you're craving Pad Thai with Crab Rangoon. Casagrotto Pizza and Alley Cats will have your mouth watering for their cheesy pies. If you're visiting early, Stewart's diner will wow you with their giant cinnamon roll that can fill up a whole family. If you're looking for huge portions and rockin' nightlife, Tucker's Shuckers serves up nachos, sandwiches, and (of course) oysters. Top it off with a local or craft beer from their wall of taps. Visit in the evening for dancing, DJs, and live music.
Bars on the Strip at Lake of the Ozarks
Couples, singles, and groups love the nightlife on the Strip. You can easily walk from bar to bar or find your favorite bartender and settle in with a cocktail. Icehole is an absolute dream in the hot summer months, pouring flavored frozen cocktails like margaritas and daquiris. S.N.A.F.U. and Rock Island Bar are unpretentious bars where you don't have to worry about getting all dressed up for a bucket of beers. J. Wayne's is all about the live country & rock music and bar games like pool & darts.
Load up the family in the mini van, grab a buddy and your motorcycle, or take a leisurely drive with your partner to the Bagnell Dam Strip. No matter who you are, you'll have a blast discovering shops, restaurants, bars, and things to do as tourists have been doing for generations.
Photo by Will Myers on Unsplash