Boating History of Lake of the Ozarks – Grand Glaize Bridge

The Lake of the Ozarks began its climb as a favorite tourist destination with the completion of Bagnell Dam in 1931. Boating on the Lake was a big part of many family vacations, and lots of kids learned to water ski behind a boat that wasn’t any larger than a bass boat. Everyone had their favorite stops on the water that were as much a tradition as the trip itself. Boating was then, and continues to be today, a huge draw to our beautiful Lake area. Although the size and speed of the watercraft may have changed, the desire to enjoy the Lake of the Ozarks’ summer sun remains intact. It would be impossible in one article to touch on all of the boating operations that contributed to this area being such a boating drew, but here are a few highlights.

The boating craze was quick to start, as the first excursion boats sailed soon after the creation of Bagnell Dam. Actually, the first excursion boats on the Lake were operated by Union Electric in 1931. A very familiar boating icon for the Lake is the Larry Don. The Larry Don is a three-level riverboat-type vessel that, according to legend,
was built from a World War II landing craft. It began running its excursions up and down the Lake in 1948, much to the enjoyment of the throngs of tourists who had discovered our little gem in the Heart of the Midwest.
Bud Simmons, owner of Mariner’s Pier 31, chuckles as he thinks back to 1958, when he first visited what was, at the time, simply called The Mariner. “When I first came to The Mariner,” Simmons says, “I was 14 years old and in a canoe with a bunch of Boy Scouts. At that time, it was just the marina; the restaurant came along later.” Mariner’s Pier 31 is still in operation today with Simmons at the helm.

Bud’s family manufactured pontoon boats in the Eldon area. “Back then,” he says, “we would fly down the Lake in our 26-foot pontoon boat with a 40-hp Johnson on it, and that was a big boat on this Lake.” In 1964, Raymond and Charlene Ollison purchased a small marina on 135-3 called Ben’s, and Raymond’s Boat & Motor Sales was born. Charlene says, “Back then we carried the I.M.P. line of boats and sold a few docks and hoists. Now, Raymond’s offers Fountain Powerboats, Bryant, Avalon Pontoons and Sunsation lines.” Raymond’s Boat & Motor Sales now operates from three locations around the lake: Osage Beach, Gravois Mills and Raymond’s Landing at the 9mm of the Gravois Arm. Charlene, who still operates Raymond’s, says she has seen many changes to the boating industry over the years. “There are just so many more people living and vacationing here at the Lake than back then,” she says. “More people means more boats. The Lake has always been known as one of the best boating lakes in the country, and more people know that now. We think it’s the greatest.”

Port Arrowhead was a recognizable name and boating staple at the Lake for many years. The business was started in 1932 by W. W. Gore, and was known as Gore Boat Yards. When Jack and Gladys (Pee Wee) Rutledge bought it in 1946, they changed the name to Port Arrowhead. The name remained the same when the business was purchased by Cecil Van Tuyl in 1970, then finally by Marine Max in 2006. Area boaters have been served for more than 70 years under the familiar “boat in the sky” emblem. Marine Max currently offers premium brands—including Crest, Meridian Yachts and Sea Ray—known for their quality and durability. The operation has grown to 200 covered slips, fuel docks and a dry-stack storage facility with a call-ahead launch-and-retrieve service. They have a travel lift capable of handling most boats up to 60 feet long, mobile on-water and at-your-dock technicians, a year-round climate-controlled refurbish shop and more. They are located at the 17mm in Lake Ozark.

Many vacationers to the Lake of the Ozarks always kept their eyes peeled for the Grand Glaize Bridge and the helicopter that sat high atop Link’s Landing. Jim Muff of Eldon owned Link’s Landing for 30 years until he sold it to the highway department so the new bridge could be built. Jim actually came on as a seaplane pilot in 1963, giving rides to vacationers seeking a scenic thrill ride over the Lake. Over the years he owned four of those recognizable helicopters, which were also used for aerial tours. Back then, Link’s Landing was the world’s largest Century dealer, and also represented Pacemaker Cruisers. The marina rented house-boats as well, and operated a restaurant. We asked Jim how boating the Lake has changed over the years. “Well, back then you could watch the last car leave across the bridge on Labor Day Weekend, and then you knew everybody in town until spring,” he responded, with a chuckle. “People are here longer now, and they like the bigger boats.”

Village Marina is probably the oldest Lake of the Ozarks boating facility continuously operating under the same name. It was started by Les Wisuri in the mid-1960s. The marina was unusual because it served as a base for SCUBA instruction—it had a pool, which wasn’t very common then—as well as more traditional marina services. It was home to sales and service for Uniflight, a boat brand that was hugely popular at the time, and perhaps best known for having served as the frame for American gunboats in the rivers of Southeast Asia. In 1992, the Brick family of Des Moines, Iowa, purchased Village Marina and began the improvements and upgrades that make it one of the premier boating facilities at the Lake of the Ozarks today.

Operations are overseen by Ryan and Mark Brick, and the compound features more than 200 slips, a full line of service  facilities, the Boat House Bar and Grill, and is home to Carver Yachts, Marquis Yachts, Berkshire Tritoons and Four Winns boats. Village Marina is now the top Cobalt dealer in the U.S. Another successful entrepreneur of the marine industry at the Lake was Ron Thompson. In 1984, along with partners Dan Smith and Barry Moore, Ron purchased a small property at the 3mm called Glencove Resort. With that acquisition, Glencove Marine was born, and continues its operation today from that original site, although you may not recognize it as the small resort of yesteryear. At the time, there was a building that housed sales, the sea store and office personnel. Steve Lemens was there then, and still is.

“Glencove Marine represented the Chris Craft boat line and that was it,” Steve says. “At that time, if you stopped at the gas dock, you had to walk up the hill and up a long flight of stairs to pay for it.” Glencove took on the Formula boat line in 1987 and is now one of the largest Formula boat dealers in the world. They also represent the Sea Doo line of personal watercraft and jet boats, and the Can-Am line of ATVs. Glencove now has three locations at the Lake: at the 3mm; the 21mm; and the Highway 54 store. Although Ron Thompson passed away in 2006, original team members Steve Lemens, Sherry Jackson and Thompson’s wife Jan Donnelly continue on with Glencove Marine today.

Of course, these days, the Lake of the Ozarks continues to be a huge draw for boating enthusiasts, with many marinas dotting the shoreline, representing almost every major brand of boat available. You can see many of these boats on display at the Marine Dealers Association September Boat Show Clearance. Mark your calendar: September 10–12 at Captain Ron’s at the 341⁄2 mm.

For a complete list of your Lake of the Ozarks Marine Dealers, or for more information on the upcoming boat shows, visit our website at www.lomdaboats.com.

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