An iconic resort with more than half a century of history at the Lake is undergoing big changes.

The Resort at Port Arrowhead on Bagnell Dam Boulevard in Lake Ozark is in the process of renovation. The new owners, developers from Iowa, have set a soft opening date for the new hotel in spring 2017.

According to Lake Ozark Deputy Director of Community Development, Tim Haden, the city issued a permit for the remodeling project on Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2016, as well as permits for the demolition of three existing buildings, including two buildings that held hotel rooms, on Monday, Feb. 6 and Wednesday, Feb. 8. 

Renovating The Resort At Port Arrowhead

The Resort at Port Arrowhead on Bagnell Dam Boulevard in Lake Ozark is in the process of renovation. The new owners, developers from Iowa, have set a soft opening date for the new hotel in spring 2017.

photo by Janet Dabbs

“The City of Lake Ozark needs this type of hotel for our short term, weekend visitors. It has been closed for a while for repairs and bringing it back into operation will be a great thing!” Haden said.

The demolition and clean-up of the buildings, along with one outdoor pool, are currently in process, along with the remodeling and exterior cosmetic modernization of multiple buildings including a restaurant.

Local General Contractor J. Scott Frisella of T2 Construction Services (formerly Pro Build Construction) said an indoor pool, a restaurant and a building for registration will be completely updated and remodeled.

Registration for the hotel, formerly located near the back of the property, will be moved to a building at the front. The removal of multiple buildings will also open up additional space for parking.

Changes At The Resort At Port Arrowhead

The Resort at Port Arrowhead on Bagnell Dam Boulevard in Lake Ozark is in the process of renovation. The new owners, developers from Iowa, have set a soft opening date for the new hotel in spring 2017.

photo by Lisa Larsen

The renovated Resort at Port Arrowhead Hotel will offer approximately 148 units, an indoor pool, as well as a restaurant and facilities for group meetings, conferences and conventions.

Over 50 Years At The Lake  

According to the Port Arrowhead Resort website, CC Ziegler opened the first hotel on the property in 1965, under the name Holiday Inn.   

Born in St. Louis to Clarence and Florence Ziegler, C.C. Ziegler joined the Navy in 1943 and returned to Missouri in 1946. He married Margaret (Mickey) Pilgram in 1947 in St. Louis. In 1951 Clarence Ziegler started Ziegler Investment Company of Clayton.

Mr. and Mrs. Ziegler had 10 children: Mary Carol, John, Peggy Ann, Tom, Bob, Jimmy, Bill, Kathy, David and Krissy.

In the early 60s, Mr. Ziegler and a friend began talking about building a Holiday Inn. They initially looked for a site at several places, including the Virgin Islands, St. Thomas, and the state of California.

The Lake of the Ozarks came into the picture after attempting a vacation retreat for their family in the area. It was so crowded that they were not able to stay at the Lake and had to find accommodations in a nearby city.

Resort At Port Arrowhead, Through The Years

The hotel opened and was fully operational in 1965. The hotel’s opening was attended by the entire cast of The Beverly Hillbillies (starring Buddy Ebsen, Irene Ryan, Donna Douglas, and Max Baer, Jr.), a popular CBS American situation comedy TV Show from 1962-1971.

Mr. Ziegler bought out his partner and maintained ownership of the Holiday Inn during that first year of operation.

In 1966, the complex saw the addition of 50 more rooms. The restaurant burned in 1970 and was rebuilt, along with a new meeting room and another swimming pool.

In 1972, another 50 rooms were built. Not until 1984 were two handicap rooms added to the resort, bringing the total to 213 rooms.  Expansion of the resort’s meeting space facilities, as well as the recreation area, eventually followed.

Mr. Ziegler stayed actively involved in the renovation and construction, trying to improve the resort each year.

In 1999, the Ziegler family sold the hotel to Van Tuyl Enterprises, owned by Kansas City businessman Cecil Van Tuyl who also owned Port Arrowhead Marina, located right beside the resort. (Currently, the marina is owned and managed by MarineMax out of Clearwater, Fla.).

In 2004, the Holiday Inn name was dropped and it changed to The Resort at Port Arrowhead.

In 2006, Hulsing Hotels, a hotel management company, became the new owners of The Resort at Port Arrowhead.

In 2007, Hulsing Hotels sold The Resort to VN Hotel Investments. 

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