FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: NOVEMBER 30, 2015
CENTRAL MISSOURI'S LAKE OF THE OZARKS IS A SHOPPERS' PARADISE
Lake of the Ozarks, MO. - When most people think of Central Missouri's Lake of the Ozarks, generally on-the-water activities like boating or fishing come to mind. Or, the area's two state parks or 14 championship golf courses. But, in a recent multi-state survey of over 2,000 visitors, the activity most people participate in while staying at the "Best Recreational Lake" in the nation is... shopping! From kitschy souvenir shops to top brand-name outlet stores and from antique shops to specialty boutiques, plus nationally known retailers and "big box" stores, the Lake of the Ozarks is a shopper's paradise. Visitors can find everything they need and even a few things they didn't know they needed at the Lake. Of course, browsers are welcome, too.
   
Osage Beach Premium Outlets
Osage Beach Premium Outlets, featuring over 100 name-brand stores, is the largest outlet mall in Missouri.
Located off Osage Beach Parkway in Osage Beach, this 61-acre, 13-building shopping "city" is Missouri's premier (and largest) outlet center. It features more than 110 top-name manufacturer outlets that sell directly to the consumers, offering quality and bargains in clothing, housewares, electronics, shoes and personal items. Some of the most popular shops at the mall include The Gap, J. Crew, Brooks Brothers, Polo/Ralph Lauren, Liz Claiborne, BCBG Maxazria, Banana Republic, Eddie Bauer, Nike, Adidas, Levi's, Clarks, Coach Leatherware, Le Creuset, Mikasa and more. Extended hours are offered during the Christmas season and special sales are offered throughout the year. Customers at Premium Outlets can save anywhere from 25 percent to 65 percent off regular prices. For shoppers looking for a bite to eat as well as great deals, the center is home to several snack shops and a handful of restaurants are in close proximity as well. Osage Beach Premium Outlets is open throughout the year. For more information, including a complete store directory and hours of operation, visit www.PremiumOutlets.com/Osage/, or call 573-348-2065.
 
The Landing on Main Street
The Landing on Main Street is one of the most popular shopping centers at the Lake.
What first started as a homemade candy and gift store in the '50s, has transformed into a quaint Victorian-themed shopping village with over 20 different shops, complete with wooden sidewalks, a water wheel and wishing well. When Les and Geanie Blair first purchased the land in 1959, they were looking to move their confection operation out of their basement and bring it to the public. Over the years, the family built up the village around the original candy story, now named Blair & Company Confectionery, and added boutique shops - including clothing, shoes, hand-made crafts, jewelry, antiques, candles and home decor - as well as a bakery, tea room and more. The Landing on Main Street is now one of the most popular shopping centers in the Lake area. Three generations of Blairs are still very much involved in the operation and visitors can visit the original candy store to watch as the confectioners make sweet treats from scratch, and sample and purchase what's been made. In addition to all of the shops, there is the Main Street Music Hall, which offers two entertaining variety shows throughout the year and a special Christmas show during the holiday season. And, several bistros offering soups, sandwiches, sweets and other provisions are also interspersed throughout the village. The Landing on Main Street, located at 5845 Osage Beach Parkway in Osage Beach, is open throughout the year. For more information, visit www.FunLake.com/the-landing-on-main-street, or call 573-348-5101.
 
Boutiques, Antiques and More 
Visitors can find most everything they want and need at the Lake of the Ozarks.
Visitors to the Lake will enjoy finding that special something at various boutiques and specialty shops sprinkled around the area. Dozens of antique and vintage shops sell immaculate treasurers from yesteryear. Hand-made jewelry, fine art, housewares and crafts are easy to find. Looking for fine Amish furniture, nautical-inspired decor, European or Mexican imports, exotic plants, souvenir T-shirts or hand-sewn moccasins? You can find it all and then some at the Lake of the Ozarks.
 
Bagnell Dam Boulevard 
Dogpatch is longest continually operating store at the Lake.
The historic, mile-long Bagnell Dam Strip, adjacent to Bagnell Dam in Lake Ozark, is the original tourist area of the Lake and features a funky, retro vibe. One of the original, oversized "Muffler Men," a towering fiberglass icon of the 1960s, welcomes shoppers as they travel across the Bagnell Dam and enter the heart of "The Strip." The string of shops here includes specialty stores like Leather Man, which specializes in customized leather goods and apparel;  Grandma's Candy Kitchen, home to rich, homemade chocolates and 20 flavors of its award-winning fudge; and, Summer USA, the Lake's go-to source for swimwear. For vintage hounds, there's Richard's Relic Shack, which offers a unique selection of Native American jewelry, blankets, arrowheads and more; and A Vintage Boutique, home to one of the largest selections of antique and designer jewelry and accessories in the Midwest. The Dogpatch store, which opened in 1947 and has become a Lake institution, is the longest continually operated store at the Lake. Generations of visitors return to bring their children and grandchildren to hear the welcoming "howdy" from the hillbilly mannequin seated in the store's rocking chair. Dogpatch features an assortment of Ozark souvenirs and gifts, classic Americana memorabilia and just about everything in-between.

Shop and Stay Packages
Camden on the Lake Resort is one of many Lake-area lodging properties to offer "Shop and Stay Packages."
Just how popular is shopping at the Lake of the Ozarks? Well, let's just say that many shoppers make repeat trips to the Lake and even build entire weeks and/or weekends out of hunting for the perfect gifts or the hard-to-find "somethings" they've been looking for. Many of the Lake area lodging properties offer "Shop and Stay" or "Shop 'til You Drop" packages that include coupon books to the Osage Beach Premium Outlets worth hundreds of dollars in savings, and some even throw in a pre-paid gift card for up to $50. Most of the Lake's main shopping centers are conveniently located within a short drive or even a short walk from the various lodging properties. To find more information on the different lodging options - including full-service luxury resorts, family-owned resorts, bed and breakfasts, hotels, motels, condominium and home rentals, campgrounds and RV parks - visit the "Accommodations" page on www.FunLake.com.

To find out more about shopping, accommodations, as well as restaurants and year-around attractions at the "Best Recreational Lake" in the nation, call the Lake of the Ozarks Convention & Visitor Bureau (CVB) at 800-FUN-LAKE, or visit the CVB's award-winning website www.FunLake.com.

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For media assistance or high-resolution photography, please call The Beenders-Walker Group toll-free at 1-800-544-8474 or email Marjorie Beenders, Jo Duncan, or Kyle Stewart.

For a complete list of archived press releases for the Lake of the Ozarks, please visit www.FunLake.com/Press-Releases.
Lake Logo

LAKE OF THE OZARKS TRI-COUNTY LODGING ASSOCIATION 

& CONVENTION AND VISITOR BUREAU

Phone: 800-FUN-LAKE (386-5253) Fax: 573-348-2293  

P.O. Box 1498  Osage Beach, MO 65065

Website: www.FunLake.com  Email: Info@FunLake.com