Lake Ozark area over 4th of July

[julie]

Hey Tuggers,
How hard do you think it would be to get a trade around Lake of the Ozarks during 4th of July week? I have a good North Carolina summer beach trade. Also, which resorts would you recommend for a family (from 10 to 72) - we like fishing, hanging out playing games, swimming, shopping.
Thanks, Julie

 

[JLB]

We have some great resorts on Table Rock Lake, several great fireworks display, plus all that Branson has to offer.

 

[julie]

resorts?

Any ideas on how hard a trade would be around the Lake of Ozarks?
Thanks, Julie

 

[JLB]

Have someone search for you. If no one else will I will in three weeks. Drop me an email.

 

[somerville]

You don't say what exchange company you would be exchanging through, but in the past couple of years, I have seen a number of summer weeks at the Lake of the Ozarks when searching II, including the week of the 4th. I don't think it is a tough exchange, given the unit I am searching with is probably not as desireable as your summer beach week.

I have not stayed at any of the timeshares there, but I am familiar with the area, as I used to live in MO. There is a least one big outlet mall for shopping. Most of the II resorts are located in the 4 Seasons Resort area. There is also a Worldmark resort at the Lake.

 

[rapmarks]

We own at Lakewood Resort in Osage Beach. The resort is nice, but there are lots of steps to almost every unit. There is a new Worldmark resort, a couple of small ones, and then some at the 4 Seasons Resort. There is a big outlet mall nearby too.

 

[JLB]

I'm sitting in the Springfield, MO airport.

Through RCI at this time there are 13 Branson resorts and no LOO resorts available. Three of the Branson resorts are on Table Rock Lake and the best of them is Branson Yacht Club.

 

[julie]

thanks

Thanks for all of your replies. I would be exchanging with RCI. I'm trying to find Table Rock Lake - where is that?
Thanks, Julie

 

[riverdees05]

They would all be listed under Branson, maybe some in Arkansas Ozarks.

There are three big lakes in the area (Southwestern Missouri and Northwest Arkansas.

 

[dcmoony]

julie, using a Branson week I see 30 resorts however for the 4th there is only one I see that is on a lake. Which is Silverleaf Ozark Mountain resort. This has a lot of stairs. That is the only one for a check in of 7/1/06 that I see. As for Table rock Lake it Borders Arkansas and MO. Just south west of Branson Down to Arkansas I think that is its location.

 

[dougp26364]

Thanks for all of your replies. I would be exchanging with RCI. I'm trying to find Table Rock Lake - where is that?
Thanks, Julie

Table Rock lake is one of three lakes associated with the Branson area. Tannycomo is the second lake and I believe Bull Shoals (sp?) is the third lake in the tri-lakes region.

Table Rock lake is probably a little nicer than Lake of the Ozarks (IMO) and I feel like there is more to do. Lake of the Ozarks seems to have become a party lake as of late. We used to vacation on Lake of the Ozarks every year long before timeshares became what they are.

As it is, there are a ton of TS's in the Branson/Table Rock Lake area but not nearly as many in the Lake of the Ozarks area. I also believe (but could be wrong) that most people owning in the Lake of the Ozarks area tend to use their timeshares rather than trade.

I do see the timeshares around the Lodge of the Four Seasons come up fairly often with I.I. but not much else. I think RCI has more selections than I.I. but I can't search with them to see what comes up. If Worldmark were to be available, I think that would be a nice resort from what I've seen.

 

[boaterkathy]

If Worldmark were to be available, I think that would be a nice resort from what I've seen.

The WorldMark resort at LOTO is a very nice resort, so you would probably be happy there if you could get a trade. It's right on the Lake with all units having lake views. There is a dock where you can slip runabouts overnight while you are there. You can fish and swim off the dock and the first part has a large area for sitting in the sun or in the shade. It is ony about a mile off the main drag in Osage Beach, so you are close to shopping, etc.
We are WorldMark members and love the LOTO resort.

 

[Jestjoan]

We were at Lake of the Ozarks years and years ago....I think the traffic would be horrendous around the 4th of July.......

 

[riverdees05]

That is true, with being so close to St. Louis and Kansas City, any weekend in the summer is bad, but a holiday weekend is terrible for driving on the road and boating. If you don't want to drive or boat on the weekend and the holiday, then it might be OK.

 

[boaterkathy]

That is true, with being so close to St. Louis and Kansas City, any weekend in the summer is bad, but a holiday weekend is terrible for driving on the road and boating. If you don't want to drive or boat on the weekend and the holiday, then it might be OK.

That is true, the Lake is extremely busy on weekends and I am sure it is much worse on holidays.

 

[dougp26364]

That is true, the Lake is extremely busy on weekends and I am sure it is much worse on holidays.

It was in the mid 70's to early 80's when we used to visit LOTO yearly. At that time, we wouldn't boat on the main channel of the lake. With all the construction that's gone on over the last decade I can't imagine how busy and how rough it's probably become.

 

[michaelsmalley]

I like Table Rock over Lake of the Ozarks. TR isn't nearly as crowded and over run with big boats as LOTO is. Last time I was on LOTO with my 18' Bass boat I felt like I was crossing the Atlantic Ocean with all the rough water caused by the BIG cruisers and their wakes.

The water on TR is very clear and not rough at all. In addition, you've got Branson, Silver Dollar City, Eureka Springs and a lot more to do than around LOTO. Silverleaf's Ozark Mountain Resort is nice to trade into and use but I won't buy there because I hate Silverleaf management and their stupid rules. However, that's another story for another post. You might also check into the Kimberling Inn, which is in Kimberling City and is only about 20 miles west of Branson. I've never stayed there so don't know anything about it but I know it is right on the lake which is important if you have a boat. You will find TR is much easier to trade into than LOTO. Good luck and have a nice vacation.

Mike S.

 

[pittle]

Worldmark is nice - fairly new.

The Racquet Club is not on the water, but they have really large units. (Part of the Lodge of the Four Seasons group.) Same with Pines at Treetops.

I have not been in any of the Lakewood units. I think they are still GC. They are in a good location on the water and have boat rentals.

Port Elsewhere doesn't look great outside, but we visited some friends who own there and they are nice inside.

Holiday Shores is similar to the Four Seasons Treetops - Round individual units. They have GC designation so are probably nice.

The lake is crazy on Fourth of July. We hibernate that weekend ourselves. We can enjoy the lake weekdays.

Traffic is bad because we basically have only one big road that everything is off of - it is 5 lanes - 2 each direction with a turn lane in the center.

Actually they are starting work on a "by-pass" to help relieve traffic.