Where is the best Lake of the Ozarks area to buy vacation home? (St. Louis: condo)

[BoatFamily]

We are considering buying a vacation home or condo at the Lake of the Ozarks. We want to be right on the water and close to some of the fun but do not need to be right in the middle of it.

I am not familiar with the layout, where is the best area to live?

I know there are several (Osage Beach, Sunrise Beach, etc), can anyone describe the different areas and possibly tell me the pros and cons of the different areas? Too touristy, too far from everything, good location, etc....

Thanks for any advice!

[MrsMo]

Where we are at now used to be very isolated, but man has the area grown since the 50's when my grandparents originally bought the property. I don't go by towns, I go by lake area. We are in Ivy Bend. Very nice area. Not alot of big boats, but in the last couple of years we have noticed they are getting bigger. We can still get out on the lake with the kids and ski, we let them tube. The big problem in our area is the wave runners, people turn their kids loose on them, they come too close to the dock.

Anyway, Ivy Bend is between the towns of Stover and Laurie on 135 hiway. Lake road 12. It is a good half hour drive to either town from home. Definitely not a touristy area where we are, mainly private homes, most right on the lake. Majority of people are retired and live there year round. We are weekenders, my dad lives there.

[Hillman]

Originally Posted by MrsMo

Where we are at now used to be very isolated, but man has the area grown since the 50's when my grandparents originally bought the property. I don't go by towns, I go by lake area. We are in Ivy Bend. Very nice area. Not alot of big boats, but in the last couple of years we have noticed they are getting bigger. We can still get out on the lake with the kids and ski, we let them tube. The big problem in our area is the wave runners, people turn their kids loose on them, they come too close to the dock.

Anyway, Ivy Bend is between the towns of Stover and Laurie on 135 hiway. Lake road 12. It is a good half hour drive to either town from home. Definitely not a touristy area where we are, mainly private homes, most right on the lake. Majority of people are retired and live there year round. We are weekenders, my dad lives there.

Yes Ivy Bend is good area.Since the MDC put the New Ramp in though are you seeing more traffic?

hillman

[MrsMo]

Traffic has not picked up. Still peaceful.

[Thepreacherswife]

Our place is on Horseshoe Bend between MM3 and 4. It's easy to get to, fairly close to shopping but not too close to the strip or Osage Beach. But the main channel is brutal on weekends and our docks take a beating from the waves. If we had to choose a new place we'd look along the north shore (off Hwy W) or somewhere on the east side of the Gravois Arm.

Another thing to consider is where you'll be coming from - east, west, or south? We used to live in Columbia (now Chicago) and my in-laws come from St. Louis so locations on the north and east side of the lake are easier for us.

[stlcitygirl]

Porta Cima is a beautiful area

[dfiddler]

Originally Posted by Hillman

Yes Ivy Bend is good area.Since the MDC put the New Ramp in though are you seeing more traffic?

hillman

I checked that new boat ramp out one afternoon ... its nice .
And we were the only car in the parking lot ... still peaceful back there.