Thanks for the clarification, Beckers, about our new stadium and AA affiliate. Cardinal baseball has really been in the news in these parts, along with the SMSU Lady Bears winning the WNIT, also Augusta Masters, and of course the Pope! Our Cardinals play the Tulsa Drillers tonight, Jocelyn, a 4th try to win a game in this new season!

So former tour director tinathetoad and others, what do you really think of the Branson scene? To you who don't know this is a real tour group destination for entertainment... many theaters featuring C&W, swing, 40s and 50s music, plus acrobat, magician and other shows. Andy Williams is about the only big name still performing, this year along with Petula Clark.
Ozarks Bill

Something I know a lot about- Springfield!
And Hammons Field!

Financial credit for the ballfield goes to JQ Hammons. He's got lots of hotels all over the USA.
I designed the dugout benches, ball racks, glove cubbies...snack bars....our arch. firm is pretty proud of that project.
If you are in the area, please check it out!!

Springfield has changed so much in the last 15 years. If you are headed our way be sure to try out one of the local great places to eat. (not necessarily cashew chicken...which was invented in Springfield.)

Local celebs include Brad Pitt, Kathlene Turner, and John Goodman went to SMSU.

I've been all over the country and overseas and the people in Springfield are THE nicest, in my opinion. My new eye doctor moved here from the east coast and said they loved the area, the people and nice quality of life.

Ya'll come visit, ya hear?
Haha. And--we wear shoes!

Go, Bill! Southern MO and Northern Arkansas are beautiful. I was surprised when I moved away from St. Louis that people didn't know what it meant to float - as in "we're going to float the Jack's Fork this weekend."

As for your question about Branson. I went last summer for the first time in about 15 years - what changes. The shows are not really my thing, but I really liked Silver Dollar City, and the area is beautiful. My kids could have spent more than a weekend, because they love all the putt-putts, waterparks, and other touristy things.

Yes, it is somewhat surprising how un-Ozarky Springfield is, but if you drive about 15 miles south, the terrain changes.

Now a question - tell me about the Chateau on the lake (not sure if that's the name, but the big new hotel on Table Rock Lake). We drove by and wondered what it was like. Thanks.

The Ozarks *are* wonderful and bravo to you Bill -- except I kinda like having them all to myself!

Jocelyn, if you enjoy culture, I can highly recommend the Tulsa Ballet -- one of the best regional ballet companies in the U.S., and gaining international reknown. And the Philbrook Museum is a delight!

Linda
A "Temporary Tulsan" for 9 years :)

The Chateau on the Lake, is another project the company I work for designed. This sounds like a 'me-me-me' post....lol...sorry.

http://www.chateauonthelakebranson.com/

This hotel is the best hotel within 200 miles..it overlooks the lake and is where everyone in the area goes for a special get away.

You can sit on the deck, feel the breeze off of the lake and hear...
nothing...it's really romantic!
There are a lot of proposals and honeymoons here!

Beachkomer,

Do you think the Chateau is better than Big Cedar Lodge?

I have not stayed at either hotel, and can only tell you from visits to the hotels.
The Chateau is more elegant, upscale. The view over the lake is beautiful. Big Cedar is more rustic, yet very nice. Both are great choices for a special get away.
I do know when friends of mine go away for an anniversary trip, they go to The Chateau.

It depends what you mean by "bigger". Chateau is not that big of a property - the hotel buiding and parking lot, with minimal grounds. Big Cedar is a resort - lots of independent cabins in addition to the three or four main lodges, several restaurants, activity buildings, etc. Big Cedar has a lot more to offer with on-site activities. If I were choosing, I would pick Big Cedar. Chateau may be more outwardly fancy, but Big Cedar is also up there, just a more relaxed kind of class. Great service and food, plus way more activities than Chateau.

Yep, you are right on all accounts.
We are designing a luxury spa, so that
will be a nice addition to the Chateau.

I'm glad you mentioned that, beachkomer - I forgot that there is a spa at Big Cedar. There's nothing more relaxing and romantic than a couples massage in front of the fireplace in your private cabin overlooking the lake.

How big is the spa supposed to be at Chateau? Is it going to have its own floor like the Crescent in Eureka Springs?

I have lived in the St. Louis area all my life, and am almost ashamed to admit that I just made my first trip to the Lake of the Ozarks this past summer, and it took a work conference to get me there. I was very pleasantly surprised. I have driven through them on my way south, but never really got off the interstate. The region really is beautiful, and the lake much bigger than I thought. We are planning on spending a nice, relaxing weekend there in June. Although I have to admit that Branson did nothing for me exept make me want to leave asap!

Thanks Ozarksbill for the suggestion! Its nice to see a middle america post listed among all the California and Hawaii posts every once in awhile! :)

Tracy

Tracy - do you mean Table Rock Lake? Lake of the Ozarks is several hours north of Branson, near Jefferson City. Where was your conference held? Was it a good facility?

beckers2482, we went to Branson on a separate trip, again last summer. We went to Table Rock Lake as well. The Lake was gorgeous. For our work conference, we stayed at the Lodge of the Four Seasons at the Lake of the Ozarks. The conference was nice, as was the hotel, although it looks like it may be a little past its prime. I had a room with a sliding glass door and a patio overlooking the lake.

I am not personally working on the spa, but will find out the sq. footage. I have seen the floorplans and finishes, it will be beautiful!

The spa will be located in a new building attachted to the hotel. It will be approx. 13,000 sf. Not sure how big the spa is that you are talking about in Eureka.

Thanks, everyone, for comments on the Ozarks. Like beachkomer most of us do wear shoes! BTW, I enjoy Kiwanis lunch on Fridays on 22nd floor of Hammonds Tower. Sounds like beckers knows the Ozarks way better than me!

Last Friday we did have a wonderful day at World Fest at SDC, world class performers from around the world. Yes,
Chateau on the Lake is impressive indeed...we've had family gatherings at Big Cedar Lodge.

Lake of the Ozarks...only when you get away from the traffic do you realize the beauty. As for Branson, there ain't much beauty left with all the development. You just have to get into the hills and hollers of Arkansas-Missouri to appreciate beauty.

We're selling our trailer but let me recommend the Corps of Engineers campgrounds at Aunt's Creek and Indian Point, each overlooking the lake. Trout fishing at Roaring River and Bennett Spring is fun. Then there are those float trips down the Niangua or Current.
ozarksbill

Hi! My husband, 10mth old daughter, and I will be driving out from Denver, CO to visit Lake of the Ozarks in September after a wedding in Kansas City. We will be driving our RV and pulling the boat. Do you know any good websites that discuss the best camping spots (reservable or non-reservable) around the lake?? Or any of your expert advice would be most appreicated. Also, do we have to rent a slip each night for the boat or can we beach it or buoy it? We look forward to visiting.

To kwcolorado:
Looks like no one has responded about camping and boating in Lake of the Ozarks. Actually, we aren't so familiar with the area, don't have a boat, but we have done RVing there.

Certainly would recommend Lake of the Ozarks State Park with marina...park office 573 348-2694 (don't know marina phone). Other possibilities: Linn Creek Campground 573 346-5488 www.geocities.com/lincreekcpgr
Sunset Beach Resort & Marina 888-SUN-LAKE www.sunsetbr.com (Osage Beach)
Cross Creek RV Park & Campground 888-250-3885 www.crosscreekrvpark.com
Riverview RV Park 866 242-0851
www.funlake.com/accomodations/riverview
Beachwoods Campground & Marina 573 365-0320 www.beachwoodsresort.com

Also: Lake of Oz. W. Chamber of Com.
877 227-4086 www.lakewestchamber.com
Lake Area Chamb. of Com. 800 451-4117
www.lakeareachamber.com

Maybe this will help.
ozarksbill

In the 1950s, I was the daughter of a teacher, living on campus at School of the Ozarks (now called College of the Ozarks) near Branson.
All of the faculty lived in houses on campus. We ate meals in the dining hall along with the students.
Since students didn't pay money for their education, they worked for their tuition and room & board.
My dad taught math and drafting. My mom ran the student bank and commissary.
We had a gardener, nanny, & handyman assigned to our household... all students.
My mom would send me to the campus dairy to bring home cheese, glass bottles of milk, & wire baskets of fresh eggs.
Our house was on the bluff, overlooking the river, right next to the museum. In those days, the museum was open and unattended 24 hours a day. There was a fully furnished log cabin inside that served as a wonderful playhouse for my friends and I.
I didn't realize until I was an adult what a very unusual childhood I had lived, on what was basically a commune.

Back then, Branson was NOTHING. Two restaurants, one hotel, and a motley collection of fishing camp type cabin resorts. The only country music show was a group called the Bald-Knobbers. They traveled around the region playing in school gyms, mostly.
Silver Dollar City was just a single small street with fake storefronts. It was designed to keep people occupied while they waited for their turn to tour Marvel Cave.