Taste locally made wines, practice your golf game and admire the ruins of a turn-of-the-century castle in this gateway to Lake of the Ozarks.
Life is all about leisure in Camdenton, a town that abuts the famous recreational area around the 93-mile-long (150-kilometer) Lake of the Ozarks. Get out on the lake. Discover beautiful natural attractions, including sinkholes and caves, in the area’s state parks. Taste the output of various local wineries.
The city of Camdenton, also known as the “Hub City of Lake of the Ozarks,” sprang up in the 1930s at the same time as the creation of Lake of the Ozarks. The lake was the byproduct of the newly constructed Bagnell Dam created by the Union Electric Company of St. Louis. At the time of completion, it was the largest man-made lake in the U.S.
With about 1,150 miles (1,850 kilometers) of shoreline surrounding Lake of the Ozarks, life here tends to revolve around the waterfront. Head to Ha Ha Tonka State Parkto experience the lake’s shoreline as well as wooded areas and rocky glades. Follow trails and boardwalks around the park and look for sinkholes, caves and a natural bridge.
Don’t leave without seeing the castle ruins in the park. These crumbling remains are all that is left of a mansion built in the early 1900s by Robert Snyder, who built a business empire in Kansas city.
For more outdoor fun, visit Bridal Cave just outside Camdenton. Tour its chambers, where you’ll see unusual formations, including fragile soda straws, gnarled stalagmites and warped columns. Choose from several scenic golf courses near Camdenton. Get in a game at the 18-hole course at Old Kinderhook or enrol for lessons at the Lake Valley Golf and Country Club.
Camdenton is also home to lots of local wineries. Hop between Casa de Loco Winery, Sugarloaf Vineyard and others, enjoying tastings and waterfront picnics with wine pairings.
Find the city of Camdenton south of Lake of the Ozarks. Public transportation is limited in this region, so rent a car or a boat to get around.
