Everyone just needs to unwind every now and then, or just blow off some steam when they are having “one of those days”, and the Lake of the Ozarks offers some great places to do just that. Whether it is an evening out with the guys (or girls) or just some down time with your friends, you are sure to be entertained – or to be the entertainment if you so desire.
The Horny Toad Complex at Toad Cove – the 7 mile marker by water or Hwy HH to Bittersweet Rd. 573-365-5500 or www.toadcove.com is a gourmet grill and entertainment complex that offers 2 Restaurants, Tiki Bars, a Night Club, Live Music featuring Donny Larson as well as other performers, a Benefit Concert Series including Dr. Hook with Ray Sawyer, The Charlie Daniels Band, Creedence Clearwater Revisited, Styx, Three Dog Night, none other than The Beach Boys and more. A 24-hour Marina is also on premises and an Arcade/Billiards Room. Great food and great entertainment can always to be found at “The Toad”.
(Big Dick’s) Halfway Inn supplies the more adventurous soul with the home of the “Minnow Shot”, and yes – it is exactly what it sounds like. Located at the 47-mile marker by water, or 1038 Cuptree Rd. off of Lk Rd 135-3, 573-374-1919 or www.bigdickshalfwayinn.com it offers some of the best food and fellowship in the area.
The Brass Door located in Osage Beach off Hwy 54 by the Elks Lodge 1/4 mile west of the Grand Glaize Bridge 573-348-9229 will take care of you if your tastes lean more towards being entertained in a pub type atmosphere with wonderful food, and great entertainment by Don and Suzy Akers, Karaoke and their famous Singing Bartender Suzette Dwinnells.
Shady Gators off Bittersweet Rd. in Lake Ozark, or at the 7 mile marker by water 573-365-6464 www.shadygators.com has not only great food and one of the best party atmospheres at the lake, but also the Miss Hawaiian Tropic contest every Saturday, Awesome Bands on Shady Sundays, Live Entertainment, a weekly crawfish boil, some of the best Cajun food in the area, newly added “Foam Parties” on Friday nights starting at 9:00 PM on the top outside Tiki Deck, and of course the Tiki Barzilla will round out your Shady Gator experience.
The City Grill and Blue Room Night Club located one mile west of the Grand Glaize Bridge in Osage Beach 573-302-0848 offers an 8,000 foot complex that will provide you with some of the best eats in the area with a casual lunch and dinner menu with a bit of flair. The Sports Bar boasts 33 TV’s, while the Blue Room offers some of the best “big-city” entertainment Wednesday thru Saturday nights. Every Wednesday night is Comedy Night featuring 2 national touring professional comedians, and following their live stand-up performance, it is Ladies Night after the show, with Showtime beginning at 8:30 PM. Thursday night’s feature live bands. Friday and Saturday nights feature a DJ with a light show.
Topsider in Osage Beach off Hwy 54 next to the Grand Glaize Bridge at the 19 mile marker 573-348-9801 offers a Night Club with a High-Tech Light Show and Videos with Top 40 Dance Music, a Tiki Bar that hosts live bands on Saturday nights, and The Clown Restaurant – “The Lake’s Original Floating Restaurant” for those of you who just want to dance and be merry.
Shooters 21 is located just down the road off of Nichols Road (Lk Rd 54-56) or at the 21-mile marker by water 573-348-2100. Boasting 2 full service Night Clubs, a Tiki Bar and the lakes largest waterfront pool, they now have “Filthy Fridays” at their Sports Bar, a restaurant and DJ. If you are lucky, you might even catch one of the occasional film crews that show up at Shooters 21 for assorted documentaries and such.
Shorty Pants Lounge is the Lake’s newest waterfront restaurant located at the 21.2-mile marker by water, or 1680 Autumn Lane at the end of Three Seasons Road in Osage Beach by land 573-302-1745 or www.shortypantslounge.com for more information. They offer world class Creole Cuisine and live entertainment that is guaranteed to make you want to dance.
Dog Days Bar & Grill is located at the 19-mile point by water, or 1232 Jeffries Road by land in Osage Beach. www.dogdays.ws or 573-348-9797 will get you more information and their complete menu and expanded entertainment line-up. This is the home of Dale Blue, sponsored by Budweiser Select. Also appearing are some of the summer’s hottest bands Wednesday nights thru Sunday nights. Open daily at 11:00 AM.
Docknockers Beach Bar & Grill is located at the 4-mile marker by water, or take Hwy HH to Cherokee to Crow Road to 245 Wheelhouse Court in Lake Ozark by land 573-365-6899. Sunday nights features Don Akers from 7:00 - 11:00PM inside, the NasCrab 2006 Show on Thursday nights with the Family Show starting at 7:00PM and the Adult Show starting at 9:00PM. On Friday nights Allen Ross performs starting at 7:00PM and the live entertainment on Saturday night is a surprise. Specializing in crab legs, shrimp, oysters and clams you are sure to fix your seafood cravings here.
So whether by land or by water, you are always sure to find somewhere to relax, unwind and be entertained when you are just not quite ready for the day to end at sundown. And who knows, you just may make some new friends, or at least walk away with some not soon-to-be-forgotten memories of a great stay at the Lake of the Ozarks. Just remember to always drink responsibly, use a sober chauffeur, or to call 573-365-CABS (2227) for your ride home. That way you always walk away with those great memories, and we may get to see you again the next time that you come to visit the lake.
