Can-Am Games To Bring $4M To Lake Economy

CAMDEN COUNTY, Mo. — The Can-Am Police and Fire Games will have an estimated $4 million impact on the Lake of the Ozarks community, when the event comes to the Lake in 2018. That’s according to Tri-County Lodging Association’s Director of Sales, Lagina Fitzpatrick, who unveiled details about the games at an official contract signing that solidified the plans for the event to come to central Missouri.

Signing The Can-Am Games Contract — Billl Merryless, CEO Can-Am Police-Fire Games Federation Board (left) and Lagina Fitzpatrick, CMP, CHSC, Director of Sales, Tri-County Lodging Association (right) signing the contract at a celebration announcing the 2018 Can-Am Games to be held at Lake of the Ozarks.
photo by Al Griffin

During the contract-signing event, Captain Kelly Luttrell with the Camden County Sheriff’s office also announced that the charity benefitting from the 2018 Can-Am Games is Special Olympics.

The games are coming to the Lake because of the monumental effort put forward by local officials and organizations devoted to promoting the area.

Fitzpatrick told the three-year story of landing the Can-Am games for Lake of the Ozarks. Having learned about the games at a 2012 trade show, Fitzpatrick contacted Jeff Dorhauer, Chief for the Osage Beach Fire Protection District. He agreed to support and help in efforts to secure the games for the Lake. Once Tri-County Lodging agreed to back those efforts financially, Fitzpatrick and Dorhauer brought in men and women from the Lake’s many emergency services, including sheriffs, police, firefighters, and emergency medical staff. These agencies and their administrators became part of a 25-person committee collaborating to bid for the Games.

The bid submitted in April 2013 moved Lake of the Ozarks into the top five finalists to host the 2018 event, but the Lake finished second behind Hampton Roads, Va. With this news, the local committee began working on a bid to secure the Games for 2020; that work is still progressing in spite of the recent change of venue for 2018. After Hampton Roads withdrew, the Can-Am board extended an offer to Lake of the Ozarks. With contracts signed this week, it’s official. The non-profit week-long event will be held here at the Lake. It features 40-50 events, including a biathalon, ice hockey, trap shooting, archery, golf, fishing, S.W.A.T., and contests to prove the toughest firefighter, and toughest competitor.

Fitzpatrick, Luttrell, and Dorhauer each expressed their gratitude to Tan-Tar-A Resort, the host hotel for today’s meeting and for the games in 2018. The three speakers also thanked local police, firefighters, the Convention and Visitors Bureau, Osage Beach, and Tri-County Lodging Association for their cooperation and tireless efforts to bring the Games to the Lake. Each speaker also welcomed three Can-Am Board members, but Bill Merrylees, CEO for the Can-Am Police-Fire Games Federation Board, spoke for those guests. He too expressed gratitude for the “due diligence” shown by all present for site visits and those not present but contributing. He also vowed to return to Lake of the Ozarks, not just in preparation for and participation in the 2018 Games. He said he plans to return as a guest because of the “good old-fashioned hospitality” he has experienced here and because of all that the Lake has to offer.

Merrylees’ desire to return to the Lake is why landing the Can-Am Games is so good for the Lake. People discover the beauty and the many amenities when they visit, and they then return. Thus, the economic boon is not simply for the period of the games, June 25 through July 1, 2018. It has potential for the future, especially in light of the Games’ proximity to the Fourth of July celebrations. Fitzpatrick noted that those dates were chosen in the hope that some of the approximate 1,200 participants and their families will decide to stay beyond the games for the holiday.

Chief Dorhauer, who will serve as the 2018 Can-Am Games Director of Sports, noted that he’s been asked often over the past three years why he chose to become involved with tourism. His answer is that he lives and serves in an area that thrives with the help of tourism. He added that he also looks forward “to showcasing what individually and collectively emergency services represent.”

Fitzpatrick closed by noting that the preparatory work has just begun. Tri-County Lodging and the Can-Am Games will need sponsorships and volunteers for such a comprehensive Olympic-style sport event involving Springfield, Lebanon, Osage Beach, and from Laurie to Camdenton. In fact, the opening ceremonies will be held at Camdenton R-III High. Moreover, the Can-Am Board plans to promote all the activities that the Lake has to offer during and after the games take place.

The six Can-Am 2018 Executive Board members are Fire Chief Jeff Dorhauer, Captain Kelly Luttrell, Lagina Fitzpatrick, Rebecca Green with Tri-County, Sargeant John Stephens with Camden County’s Sheriff’s office, and Osage Beach Police Chief Todd Davis.