Demolition Delays: Here's The Latest Timeline For Oasis At Lakeport

OSAGE BEACH, Mo. — The development team for a $400 million entertainment and resort complex at Lake of the Ozarks had hoped to demolish the timeshares that stand in the middle of the project long ago. But the buildings continue to be a timeline-tangler: developer Jeff Tegethoff says demolition is now expected to begin in mid-January.

Tegethoff had previously hoped for demolition to start the week of Christmas. But he shared details about the project with LakeExpo, revealing extensive asbestos testing and abatement requirements that have pushed back the scheduled date.

The cable line has been removed, water and force-main have been capped, and refrigerant has been reclaimed, according to a timeline provided by the development team.

Tegethoff says his team just this week received final government approval for asbestos abatement and demolition. Now the timeline looks like this… (though it's worth noting, this timeline is very weather-dependent)

• Week of Jan. 12 — Asbestos abatement expected to be complete

• Fire department will have the opportunity to train on the building, but prefers temperatures to be above 32 degrees.

• The earliest full-demolition could begin would be the week of Jan. 19. However, because demo crews will use water for dust control, they need temperatures of 30 degrees or warmer.

The jobsite, once bustling with activity, sat mostly quiet this fall, and rumors abounded in the Lake community that contractors had left the job after not being paid. Both Tegethoff and the excavation contractor Kolb Grading flatly denied those were true.

Rather, Tegethoff said, the next major step in the project was the demolition of the timeshare building, so until all the pre-demolition requirements had been completed, it made no financial sense to keep a partial excavation crew on-site that would be handicapped by the undemolished buildings.

While delays like this can impact timelines and open-dates, Tegethoff says he still expects the Oasis docks to be ready for use in time for the Shootout, this summer.