LAKE OF THE OZARKS — For many, it's the final farewell to the boating season: fall Harbor Hop returns to the Lake this weekend.
The fall and spring Harbor Hops are designed to help extend the boating season, giving marinas and on-water restaurants a reason to open sooner in the spring and stay open longer in the fall. The biannual event is put on by the Lake of the Ozarks Convention and Visitor Bureau (CVB) and is known to draw well over 1,000 boaters.
The timing of the event typically gives boaters a picturesque day on the water too (provided the weather cooperates). In the spring, dogwoods are often still in bloom in early May, and the Ozark hills are a bright lime-green with new foliage, as daffodils dot the shoreline. In the fall, yellows and oranges begin to blanket the hillsides around the Lake with the onset of cooler temps and shorter days. The late onset of fall colors this year might mean more green than gold, but the weather forecast more than makes up for it: the National Weather Service is calling for a high of 87 degrees under partly cloudy skies on Saturday: nearly a record high temperature for this time of year. Thunderstorms are possible on Saturday night, though, so boaters should watch the radar and check out LakeExpo.com's weather page to stay attuned to conditions.
PHOTOS: Spring Harbor Hop 2017 - Cruisers & Bowriders On Lake Of The Ozarks
The skies cleared just in time for Harbor Hop weekend at Lake of the Ozarks.
Hundreds of boaters cruised the waters, enjoying the sunshine and hopping from one Lakefront establishment to the next as they assembled their 7-card poker hand in the event that kicks off the official boating season at the Lake.
The water was a bit muddy thanks to flooding from the previous week, but Bagnell Dam operators had controlled the Lake level in anticipation of the event, and traffic at the Lake—both on and off the water—was buzzing.
The photos below are of cruisers and bowriders, on Saturday, May 6, 2017.
Photos by Lake Shots Photography
These photos are copyright protected! If you want to buy one, our photographer would love it, and we would too -- just email the photo ID number to lakeexpo@yahoo.com!
At Harbor Hop, participants draw cards at more than 40 locations around the Lake of the Ozarks to make a winning poker hand. Enter at any of the Harbor Hop locations and enjoy the stops around the Lake before turning in your hand by 7 p.m.
Enter the Harbor Hop by stopping at any of the checkpoints listed below. A player may enter more than once. The 1st card is drawn at the checkpoint where the hand is purchased, 6 additional cards are obtained by “hopping” to six more checkpoints drawing one card, per hand, at each location. The hand is complete when the 7th card is drawn.The completed hand is turned in at the checkpoint where the 7th card is drawn. To qualify, a hand must be turned in by 7:00 p.m. the day of Harbor Hop. Complete rules are posted at the bottom of this page.
Prize Allocations:
1st Place: 10%
2nd Place: 9%
3rd Place: 8%
4th Place: 7% each
5th - 10th Place: 5% each
4 Worst Hands: 4% each
Random Drawing for 10 Hands: 2% each
(all ties will share the allocated percentage for the placing)
The Bonus
In addition to the regular prize winners, a section winner will be recognized. To be eligible to be a section winner, a player must draw all seven (7) cards within one of the four sections listed below.
Fall Boating At Lake Of The Ozarks -- Harbor Hop 2016
Boaters cruised on a clear -- slightly cool -- day on what is for many the final weekend of the recreational boating season: Fall Harbor Hop. Were you or a friend on the water? Contact us to buy high-res digital photos (they make great gifts!)
Photography by Lake Shots
All photos under copyright protection. To purchase digital photos, e-mail ID number to lakeexpo@yahoo.com
Dealer Locations
Download the 2017 Fall Harbor Hop Dealer Map
Checkpoints Gravois Arm - Section I
Cabana Jones (Formerly Bump's) - 3.5 MM - 11:00 am to 7:00 pm
Jolly Rogers Grub & Grog - 4.5 MM - 11:00 am to 7:00 pm
Beauty View Resort/Gas Hole - 5.5 MM Soap Creek - 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Coconuts Caribbean Beach Bar & Grill - 7 MM - 11:00 am to 7:00 pm
Hillbilly Yacht Club Bar & Grill - 7 MM Gravois Arm - 11:00 am to 7:00 pm
Frog's Bar & Grill - 8 MM Gravois Arm - 11:00 am to 7:00 pm
Tap and Grill Lakeside Brew Haus - 6.5 MM Main Channel - 11:00 am to 7:00 pm
Checkpoints Main Channel, Dam to 13 MM - Section II
Beavers at the Dam - 0 MM - 11:00 am to 7:00 pm
Ozark Yacht Club/Lakeside Cafe - 1MM (Jennings Branch Cove) - 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Boathouse Lakeside Bar & Grill - 3 MM (Jobson Hollow Cove) - 11:00 am to 7:00 pm
Big Thunder Marina at Glencove - 3 MM - 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Shady Gators #1 - 7 MM - 11:00 am to 7:00 pm
Shady Gators #2 - 7 MM - 11:00 am to 7:00 pm
Camden on the Lake/H.Toads #1 - 7 MM - 9:00 am to 7:00 pm
Camden on the Lake/H.Toads #2 - 7 MM - 9:00 am to 7:00 pm
Bobbers Restaurant at Alhonna Resort - 8 MM - 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Big Thunder Marina - 8 MM (Buck Creek Cove) - 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Franky & Louie's #1 - 10 MM (Lynch Cove) - 11:00 am to 7:00 pm
Franky & Louie's #2 - 10 MM (Lynch Cove) - 11:00 am to 7:00 pm
Bikini Pier - 11.5 MM - 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Lake House 13 at Pointe Oasis - 13 MM (Chimney Cove) - 11:00 am to 7:00 pm
Checkpoints Main Channel, 13.5 MM to 26 MM, - Section III
Lodge of Four Seasons Marina - 13.5 MM - 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Backwater Jack's - 17.5 MM - 11:00 am to 7:00 pm
Dog Days #1 - 19 MM - 11:00 am to 7:00 pm
Dog Days #2 - 19 MM - 11:00 am to 7:00 pm
Kelly's Port - 19.5 MM - 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Bridgeview Marina & Shipstore - 1.5 MM Grand Glaize Arm - 9:00 am to 6:00 pm
Formula Boats of Missouri - 1 MM Grand Glaize Arm - 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Surdyke Port 20 - 20 MM - 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Shorty Pants Marina & Lounge - 21 MM (Woodland Cove) - 11:00 am to 7:00 pm
Redhead Lakeside Grille - 21 MM - 11:00 am to 7:00 pm
Paradise Tropical Restaurant #1 - 24 MM - 9:00 am to 7:00 pm
Paradise Tropical Restaurant #2 - 24 MM - 9:00 am to 7:00 pm
Papa Chubby's Food & Booze - 26 MM (Crab Tree Cove) - 11:00 am to 7:00 pm
Checkpoints Main Channel (28.5 MM to 38 MM) & Big Niangua Arm - Section IV
Larry's on the Lake #1 - 31 MM - 11:00 am to 7:00 pm
Larry's on the Lake #2 - 31 MM - 11:00 am to 7:00 pm
Pier 31 Marina - 31 MM - 11:00 am to 7:00 pm
The Fish & Company - 31 MM (Linn Creek Cove) - 11:00 to 7:00 pm
Bulldog's Beach House - 33 MM - 11:00 am to 7:00 pm
Chesnie's Cafe - 33 MM - 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Captain Ron's Bar & Grill #1 - 34.5 MM - 11:00 am to 7:00 pm
Captain Ron's Bar & Grill #2 - 34.5 MM - 11:00 am to 7:00 pm
Nautifish Rum Bar - 3.5 MM Big Niangua - 11:00 am to 7:00 pm
Pirates Point Gas Dock & Boat Rentals - 35 MM - 11:00 am to 7:00 pm
Bear Bottom Resort - 38 MM - 11:00 am to 7:00 pm
*** Locations are subject to change.***
The Rules
Enter the Harbor Hop by stopping at any of the checkpoints listed above. To obtain a hand, sign up and pay an optional $20.00 donation (per seven-card hand). A player may enter more than once. The 1st card is drawn at the checkpoint where the hand is purchased; 6 additional cards are obtained by "hopping" to six more checkpoints drawing one card, per hand, at each location. The hand is complete when the 7th card is drawn. An optional 8th Bonus card can be drawn for an additional $5. The completed hand is turned in at the checkpoint where the 7th card is drawn. To qualify, a hand must be turned in by 7:00 p.m. the day of Harbor Hop. Winners will be notified by mail. Prizes are based on entry donations. The Lake of the Ozarks Convention & Visitor Bureau will retain 60% for administering the program and promoting Lake of the Ozarks. Forty percent will be paid to the participants in the form of gift certificates.
This event is sponsored by The Lake of the Ozarks Convention & Visitor Bureau, Lake of the Ozarks Marine Dealers Association and the Lakes Waterfront Restaurants.
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